Positive community satisfaction results

Hepburn Shire Council has received positive results in the recently released statewide Community Satisfaction Survey. 

The survey, which is conducted by JWS Research using a representative sample of 400 community members, found there to be an improvement in satisfaction over last year in overall performance, value for money, community consultation, making community decisions, customer service, overall Council direction and waste management.  The sample of 400 people is now being surveyed on a quarterly basis (100 per quarter), rather than at one point in time in the year.  

Satisfaction fell in relation to sealed local roads, which the Mayor of Hepburn Shire, Cr Brian Hood, said was expected. 

“Due to the repeated extreme weather events experienced over the past few years we recognise our roads are adversely impacted. We are continuing to invest in roads and have allocated $2.73 million to renewing, resealing and re-sheeting roads in our recently released 2023/24 budget, as well as continuing our multi-million-dollar storm recovery works, with over $4.7 million spent since October 2022.” 

“There is also some confusion in the community regarding which roads Council is responsible for and those under the control of Regional Roads Victoria.  We have been issuing proactive communications identifying the roads that Council manages and how to raise service requests, to help educate the community.” 

“The upward trend across a number of measures is extremely positive – especially given there has been a downward trend in small rural councils and statewide. We also acknowledge there is much more work to be done,” he said. 

The Community Satisfaction Survey is commissioned each year by the State Government to ask the opinion of local people about the operations of Council. The Community Satisfaction Survey also makes comparison to other small rural councils and statewide benchmarks. The Community Satisfaction Survey is one of many tools that aim to inform future planning and programs of work and supports continuous improvement in service delivery. 

“Thank you to everyone who took time to answer questions about Council and provide ideas about how we can improve our services to the community,” said Cr Hood. 

“We will be closely analysing the survey results and will use the data to devise ways to continue to improve the way we work.”