Roads, economic development and weed control were the three most concerning issues for Glen Innes residents, but the local library and parks were the most impressively reviewed, according to a council-commisioned phone survey.
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Glen Innes Severn mayor Steve Toms said council went to an independent firm to conduct the phone survey of 400 residents and is “taking the results seriously”.
“The survey results will help guide priorities for the 2017 Ten Year Community Strategic Plan,” he said.
“The facilities and services highlighted as having the greatest importance by residents were sealed roads, waste and recycling, economic development, street cleanliness and water supply in that order.”
Cr Toms said the Council commissioned the survey to get objective feedback from residents regarding its facilities and services.
He said the survey showed that Council needs to have better systems in place to be responsive with resolving issues.
“Unsealed and sealed roads, economic development, and weed control had low satisfaction levels and clearly we need to work on those things,” he said.
“Council will need to seriously consider these items as part of its ten year planning process.”
In July 2016 the Council commissioned Jetty Research to conduct a statistically valid telephone survey of 400 residents living in the Local Government Area.
“The facilities and services with good satisfaction levels were libraries, parks, reserves and parklands, and sewage management,” Cr Toms said.
Jetty Research Managing Director James Parker said their surveys create insights that can be easily and effectively used.
“We find that our reports aren’t just left to languish in filing cabinets,” he said.
“We are highly experienced in working with local government and understand the differing needs of all the stakeholders involved.”
Cr Toms went on: “There is the opportunity for public input to identify other facilities and services to supplement the current information base of Council in the development of the strategic plan.”
He said rural councils have struggled for adequate funding to supply a range of services to the community.
“Council’s strategy of special rate variations and extra loan funding will help address the backlog of infrastructure rundown,” Cr Toms said.
“The survey provided an avenue for representation for those quieter voices within our community and we have listened.”
Craig Thomson
I am a media and communications professional with experience across print, digital, social and radio broadcasts. I am currently the Editor of Australian Community Media's Launceston Examiner.
I am a media and communications professional with experience across print, digital, social and radio broadcasts. I am currently the Editor of Australian Community Media's Launceston Examiner.
