Community Survey Results

Council undertakes a community survey every two years to understand the community’s priorities, overall level of satisfaction with Council performance, identify priorities for Council, and to improve on methods to engage and consult with the community.

Council engaged research company, Micromex Research to undertake the surveys that involved the random surveying of 500 residents in the Ballina Shire.

Here is a highlight of the survey findings:

OVERALL PERFORMANCE

90% were at least somewhat satisfied with the performance of Council over the last 12 months. Since 2017 satisfaction has continued to improve.

OVERALL COMMUNICATION

79% were at least somewhat satisfied with the level of communication Council currently has with the community.

OVERALL CONTACT

83% of residents that made contact with Council were at least somewhat satisfied with the way their contact was handled.

COUNCIL PUBLICATIONS

77% of residents want to be informed of Council activities by ‘Council publications in the mail’.

BENCHMARKS

Residents agreement scores for ‘health facilities are sufficient’ and ‘the road network is effective and in good repair’ were rated above our Regional Benchmark. ‘There is enough public transport’ was one of the lowest ranked statements and fell below our Benchmark norms.

POPULATION GROWTH

Managing development for the growing population’ was the most frequently mentioned goal for the community in the next 10 years.

INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES

Infrastructure services, in terms of importance, ‘general garbage collection’ is considered to be the most important, whilst the ‘cycleways and bicycle facilities’ is the facility of least relative importance.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

64% of residents agreed with the statement ‘people volunteer and get involved in their community’.

HUMAN SERVICES

Human Services, in terms of importance, ‘crime prevention and law and order initiatives’ is considered to be the most important, whilst the ‘child care services’ is the facility of least relative importance.

QUALITY OF LIFE

The vast majority of residents (92%) agree that ‘the area offers a good quality of life’.

HIGH PERFORMERS

Agreement scores for ‘the area has an attractive appearance’, ‘there is a wide range of recreation and leisure opportunities’, and ‘the natural environment is well managed’ were all significantly greater than our Benchmark norms.

COMMUNITY FACILITIES

Community Facilities area, in terms of importance, ‘beaches and foreshores’ is considered to be the most important, whilst the ‘boating facilities’ is the facility of least relative importance.

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

43% of residents value the ‘natural environment’ when living in the Ballina Shire area.

To read the full results of the Community Satisfaction Survey visit ballina.nsw.gov.au/engagement