Challenging year reflected in satisfaction survey results

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Indigo Shire has recorded a slight decline in overall satisfaction with its performance in the annual state-wide Community Satisfaction Survey.

Overall performance dropped from 61 points in 2019 to 57 points this year, with residents aged 50 to 64 the least satisfied with Council.

Mayor Jenny O’Connor says while disappointing, she is not surprised with the result, given that the survey was undertaken at a time when many people were reeling from the summer bushfires and the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Naturally we would like to have seen us build on the positive results of last year, but we concede that some of our residents were not happy with us during the fires, with feedback suggesting we could have done more to communicate with people, especially the more vulnerable in our community.”

The annual survey, coordinated by the Department of Land, Water and Planning on behalf of Victorian Councils, surveyed 400 residents across the shire between 31 January and 22 March.

Indigo Shire’s overall performance rating of 57 was higher when compared to the small rural group average and on a par with the state-wide average. Residents aged 18 to 34 years were the most satisfied, with an index score of 62.

Council also performed significantly higher than both the state-wide and small rural group averages in the areas of lobbying and community decisions.

Cr O’Connor says it was particularly pleasing to see a positive result for lobbying, given the advocacy work council has undertaken over the past 12 months across a range of issues.

Customer service is another area where council continues to perform well and consultation and engagement returned the best performance score for 2020, however is lower than the 2019 result.

The biggest decline in performance ratings was sealed roads, which fell 4 points on the 2019 result.

“The survey results provide us with a good benchmark which we can use to help guide our decision making and also where we may need to increase our efforts in the future,” Cr O’Connor said.

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