High scores for Rural City of Wangaratta in Community Survey
Published on 23 June 2021
Residents have given Rural City of Wangaratta its highest ever scores in the annual independent Community Satisfaction Survey, with strong improvement across almost all service areas.
Council achieved an overall performance score of 66, which was 4 points higher than last year’s result of 62. The score of 66 places Rural City of Wangaratta above the regional centre average of 60 and the state-wide council average of 61.
Mayor Dean Rees welcomed the results, saying they are testament to Council’s commitment to improve areas that residents rate as important. “We’re tremendously proud to receive our highest ever scores in nearly every single one of the main categories, including waste management and customer service,” he said. “This is evidence of our continued focus on listening to our community and improving areas that they tell us are important.”
Randomly selected Rural City of Wangaratta residents took part in the annual survey - coordinated by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and conducted by independent group JWS Research earlier this year.
Council’s strongest performing areas were Waste management (78, up from 68 in 2020), Customer service (75, up from 70), Recreational facilities (76, up from 69), and Sealed local roads (64, up from 57).
Each of these areas rated significantly above the regional and state-wide averages. “We’ve made major improvements to our waste management, with the leading-edge Organics Processing Plant opening last year, so it’s great to see that people value this improvement and are appreciating its importance,” Cr Rees said.
The lowest rating service areas relative to their performance in other areas were parking facilities (51) and unsealed roads (52), though public perception of the latter has improved 4 points since 2020 and is in line with the regional average.
Cr Rees said, “While there’s plenty to celebrate, the results from the 2021 customer satisfaction survey provides Council with valuable information on areas of importance to our community and how we can work to improve more.”
“This doesn’t stop with the survey – with our Shape Wangaratta community panel, made up of 126 community members, we now have another valuable, continuous way to find out what’s important to our community.”