Community Survey Results

In January 2023, Council commenced preparations for the upcoming financial year and development of the 2023-24 budget and Annual Business Plan.

A key priority of Council was to involve the community in the process and invite the public to participate in a number of community engagement activities. We’re pleased to share the results of both community surveys that were circulated early in the year and invite residents to stay connected with us by giving feedback on the Draft Annual Business Plan for 2023-24.

Community Sentiment Survey

At the end of January, a Community Sentiment Survey was distributed across multiple communication channels to gather community feedback and understand the community’s current perception of the district, and of Council’s activities.

The survey was shared across social media, email (subscription list), website, newspaper, and hard copy in various locations.

Community Priorities Survey

Following on from Council’s previous survey, a Community Priorities Survey was created and published. The aim of the survey was to gain an understanding of what the community would like to see prioritised in the upcoming financial year.

The survey included 20 different categories that participants were asked to rank in order of priority, a comment section for additional items or surveys not already listed, and 7 short questions focused on respondent demographics.

217 community members participated in the survey, enabling Council to develop the above priority order for Council services and activities. When asked to list any additional items the community would like to see prioritised, ‘community’ was the most common category.

Outcome

Both survey results were highly valuable for both staff and Elected Members in preparation for the upcoming financial year. The ability to understand the needs and wants of the community and ensure they are factored into the decision-making process is very important, and positively contributed to the development of this year's Annual Business Plan.

Public consultation closed 5pm Wednesday 7 June 2023, and a report containing all submissions on the Draft Annual Business Plan 2023-24 was presented to next the Council meeting. A finalised Annual Business Plan is available to view here.