Satisfaction among residents with a series of council-led services is up this year, while crime, roads, street trees, and transport remain areas of concern, according to a recent council survey.
Tabled at a recent council meeting, this year’s community satisfaction survey was conducted from May to June as face-to-face interviews with 800 randomly selected residents.
According to Melton council, the survey measures satisfaction across a broad range of council’s services, facilities, governance, and more.
This year, satisfaction with the overall performance of Melton remained at seven out of 10 – a result lower than the Metropolitan Melbourne and western region councils, which have an average score of 7.1.
The average satisfaction with the 32 council services and facilities included in the survey was 7.8, which is up two per cent on the 7.6 recorded in last year’s survey.
There was an increase in satisfaction for ‘health services for babies, infants, and toddlers’ seven per cent, and increases for ‘services for people with disability’ and ‘services for young people’ by two per cent.
The services with the highest levels of satisfaction this year include regular garbage collection at 8.8 out of 10, regular recycling at 8.8, green waste collection at 8.7, Hard rubbish collection at 8.4, and library services at 8.4.
The perception of safety in the public areas of the municipality during the day remained at 7.7 and at night declined to 5.7 from 6.0 in last year’s survey.
The average perception of safety in all situations and locations declined by two percent this year.
The perception of safety remains lower than the metropolitan Melbourne, western region, and growth area councils’ averages.
The main issues identified in this year’s survey were traffic management – 23 per cent up from 18 per cent – safety, policing and crime – 19 per cent up from six per cent – roads including roadworks – 15 per cent up from eight per cent – street trees six per cent down from nine per cent – and public transport – six per cent up from five per cent.
Melton director of city life Troy Scoble said that the survey results highlight areas where the council is performing well, and identify areas of improvement – including those that are delivered by other levels of government.
