August 14th, 2022Hepburn Shire still can’t get no satisfaction
THE 2022 Victorian Community Satisfaction Survey has found that Hepburn Shire Council has shown a decline in 14 of 16 key areas since last year including Overall council direction, Overall performance, Community decisions and Sealed local roads.
The two areas where it remained the same as last year were Tourism development and Consultation & engagement.
The survey is held every year and Hepburn Shire Council has continuously performed poorly in many areas and often under the average benchmark of small rural councils and state-wide results.
The survey seeks views, by landlines and mobile phone surveys, on councils’ overall performance, value for money in services and infrastructure, community consultation and engagement, decisions made in the interest of the community, customer service, local infrastructure, facilities, services and overall council direction.
The results for Hepburn Shire Council, from the largest declines, were: Overall council direction – 39, down from 47 in 2021, with small rural councils’ average of 51 and state-wide average of 50; Sealed local roads – 39 47 50 53; Value for money – 39 44 51 53; Customer service – 61 66 67 68; Appearance of public areas – 62 67 73 71; Overall performance – 47 51 58 59; Business & community development – 51 55 57 58; Planning & Building permits – 40 44 48 50; Community decisions – 41 44 54 54; Enforcement of local laws – 55 57 62 63; Slashing & weed control – 42 44 50 49; Recreational facilities – 59 60 69 69; Environmental sustainability – 54 55 59 61; and Lobbying – 44 45 54 53.
Tourism development was 63 for this year, the same as last year, just above the average of small rural councils at 62 and above the average for statewide councils at 60.
Consultation & engagement was also the same this year as last year at 44 but significantly behind the average for small rural councils at 54 and the average for statewide councils, also at 54.
The report by JWS Research said after “a marked improvement in community perceptions of Hepburn Shire Council’s overall performance in 2021”, the council experienced a significant four-point decline in 2022.
“This is reflected in significant decreases in performance ratings across four individual service areas over the last 12 months.
“In the next 12 months, the council should aim for greater consistency in performance, to halt any further declines and begin to build more steady long-term trends of improvement. Community views of the council’s performance in most service areas have been more favourable in the past, so there is evidence the council can do better.
“Consultation and good communication and transparency with residents about community priorities and decisions provides the greatest opportunity to improve perceptions of council’s overall performance.”
Mayor, Cr Tim Drylie, inset, said the survey data showed that community satisfaction with councils right across Victoria had fallen since last year.
“We expect the significant flooding and storm events over the last year, which impacted so much of our shire, has influenced community satisfaction, as has major decisions such as our aged care transition, the Aquatic Strategy and The Rex.
“However, the results certainly give us an understanding of where the community would like us to improve, particularly around demonstrating value for money, reiterating council direction, sealed local roads, planning and building permits and council decisions.”
Cr Drylie said the annual survey would now be conducted quarterly. The cost to the council remains the same but the shorter time period is a more accurate reflection of themes at different points throughout the year.
The survey is on the council’s website.
Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Kyle Barnes
