At last night’s meeting, Councillors received the results of Campaspe Shire Council’s 2026 Annual Community Satisfaction Survey, noting the strongest result since the survey began, sitting well above the long-term average.
A significant improvement across overall performance, governance, community engagement and customer service, showcases results exceeding both the Victorian and regional local government averages,
The independent survey found overall satisfaction with Council increased to 61 per cent, up from 54 per cent last year and above both the Victorian average of 58 per cent and the regional large council Victoria average of 57 per cent.
The survey also revealed a significant shift in community sentiment. The proportion of residents who reported being highly satisfied with Council increased from 19 per cent to 28 per cent, while the proportion who were dissatisfied fell from 29 per cent to 18 per cent.
Campaspe Shire Mayor Cr Mackrell said the results reflected Council’s ongoing commitment on delivering the four main priorities of Council and Wellbeing Plan 2025-2029, which include working to revitalise assets and infrastructure, accelerating economic development, invigorating public spaces, and enhancing community capacity and wellbeing.
“These priorities guide the work we do every day and help ensure we remain focused on the services, spaces and opportunities that matter most to our community.
“These results show community confidence is moving in the right direction and demonstrate the positive impact of the work being undertaken across Campaspe,” Cr Mackrell said.
“While there is always more work to do, it is encouraging to see satisfaction with Council reach a record high and exceed both state and regional benchmarks.”
Council recorded improvements across every measure of governance and leadership, including community consultation and engagement, responsiveness to community needs, understanding community needs, decision-making in the interests of the community, and opportunities for residents to provide feedback.
Of particular note was the result for opportunities to engage or be consulted on Council decisions, which increased to 58 per cent, above the Victorian average of 55 per cent and the regional large council average of 56 per cent.
“Building strong relationships with our community is a key priority for Council,” Cr Mackrell said.
“We are continuing to expand the ways people can have their say, whether through face-to-face conversations, surveys, community meetings or digital engagement opportunities. It is pleasing to see those efforts reflected in the survey results.”
Customer service satisfaction also continued to improve, increasing to 65 per cent. Residents reported particularly positive experiences regarding staff courtesy and professionalism, and the provision of accurate information when interacting with Council.
Waste services remained one of Council’s standout strengths, with 82 per cent satisfaction – well above the Victorian average of 72 per cent. Satisfaction with waste services remains at a consistently high level and continues to be one of the most highly rated services delivered by Council.
The survey also highlighted areas important to residents. Road maintenance and repairs remained the issue most commonly identified by the community, with 68 per cent of respondents nominating roads as a key issue facing the shire. However, satisfaction with Council-managed sealed local roads has continued to improve over recent years, demonstrating progress in an area of ongoing community importance.
The survey provided valuable insight into how residents prefer to receive information from Council, with social media, printed newsletters and email newsletters identified as the most popular communication channels.
“These results provide valuable feedback and help Council understand both what we’re doing well and where we need to improve,” Cr Mackrell said.
“We will continue to focus on the issues that matter most to our community while building on the strong foundations reflected in this year’s survey.”
The survey was conducted by independent research company Metropolis Research between March and April 2026 and involved 402 randomly selected residents from across Campaspe Shire.
The full 2026 Annual Community Satisfaction Survey report is available by clicking here.
