Council’s performance improves, but challenges remain

The result represents a two-point increase compared to three previous surveys, and bucks a 15-year trend where the council had dropped one point per year on average.

Mayor Garner Smith said the survey sent the council a message from the community.

“That message is never wrong. It is telling us that we need to do a bit better and we need to take this on board,” he said.

“I would like to thank all residents for contributing to the survey. Participants must give up their valuable time and consider a broad range of issues.”

The council’s best performing results came from the appearance of public areas (score of 72) and arts centres and libraries (70), although these results fell compared to last year.

No changes were recorded in community consultation results (51), overall council direction (48), while making community decisions increased to 51 from 48 last year.

Declines were recorded in some areas compared to last year, including recreational facilities, which fell from 68 to 65, and enforcement of local laws, from 61 to 58.

The survey also enabled residents to pinpoint which local roads were of concern, with 75 per cent of the more-than 60 roads identified managed by the Victorian Government.

Council-managed roads identified included sealed roads connecting to the Murray Valley Hwy, and urban roads in Cohuna, Leitchville and Koondrook.

“Actions such as forming the Roads Focus Group will provide ongoing feedback on local road-related matters to council,” Cr Smith said.

“It will also be a valuable tool to take our residents’ concerns on our many state-maintained roads to the state government.”

Interviews for next year’s survey are currently under way, and Cr Smith said he was looking forward to seeing a sustained increase in overall council perception.

“This will take time and consistent effort," he said.

“I have enormous faith in the current group of councillors to listen to the messages outlined in this survey’s results.”