Results of the annual Local Government Community Satisfaction Survey have been released, showing positive results and areas for improvement for the City of Greater Geelong.
The City’s overall performance rating of 58 out of 100, although dropping from last year, remains higher than both the Regional Centres and State-wide averages (56).
The City has performed as well as or significantly higher compared to the regional centre averages in 20 out of 25 service areas, and state-wide averages in 22 out of 25 service areas.
A total of 600 respondents participated in the survey, conducted by Local Government Victoria on behalf of councils between 16 June 2022 and 19 March 2023. Respondents were asked to rate the City’s performance on core measures, and the importance and performance of service areas.
The survey found the council’s top-rated areas, largely unchanged from 2022, were arts centres and libraries (75), customer service (73), waste management (70), and recreational facilities (69).
Seven in 10 residents (70 per cent) provided a positive customer service rating of ‘very good’ or ‘good’.
Tourism development represented the City’s highest rating increase, rising from 62 in 2022 to 67 this year.
Council’s Value for Money result was significantly higher than the regional and state-wide averages.
The unsealed roads category was the council’s lowest rating service but was still significantly higher than the state-wide average and in line with regional centres. In addition, 17 per cent of Greater Geelong residents suggested sealed road maintenance needed improvement.
Other areas for improvement reflect the theme of growth – including town planning policy, and population growth.
The biggest influence on community perception of Council’s overall performance was found to be good communication and transparency with residents about decisions Council has made in the community’s interest.
The City of Greater Geelong’s overall result was reflective of a trend across the state, with Local Government Victoria’s state-wide report noting that, ‘In 2023, almost all councils that participated in the Victorian Local Government annual Community Satisfaction Survey received lower overall performance index scores than in 2022.’
Mayor Trent Sullivan:
The survey provides valuable insight into where the Council is doing well, and where attention is needed.
Relative to scores for like councils and across Victoria, there are many aspects of these results that are positive, but we also note the overall drop from last year.
We aim to be a high performing Council and organisation, so we will take these results very seriously and will aim to achieve improvements in the areas highlighted, in order to lift our overall performance rating next year.
Acting CEO Kaarina Phyland:
The results will be used to benchmark the organisation’s performance and will assist in strategic planning.
With rising financial pressures affecting all levels of government, we are facing significant challenges in delivering the expected level of service across a number of areas.
The survey provides important insight into the services and infrastructure that matter most to our ratepayers and helps us to continue refining what we do, in line with our aim to be a financially sustainable organisation that provides high quality service to the community in the most efficient way we can.
The state-wide survey commenced in 1998 and is conducted by an independent research group (JWS).
Participation in the survey is optional. In 2023, 66 of the 79 councils in Victoria took part.
The City’s final report and a summary of results are available to view online here.
