Performance data compares councils
Residential ratepayers in Baw Baw Shire pay on average $229 more than ratepayers in other Victorian municipalities, according to latest Know Your Council data.
The statistics were revealed in the latest council performance data released for Baw Baw Shire through the state government’s Know Your Council website.
The performance data looks at 13 key service areas of council including roads, rubbish and rates as well as pools, libraries, animal management and planning.
The website gives residents and ratepayers an insight into areas where Baw Baw is improving, as well as where they need to do better. The data is compared to similar councils in the state as well as all councils across the state.
Local Government Minister Adem Somyurek said the website gave residents the information they need to hold their councils to account and weigh up their performance.
“The latest data shows that councils are working to improve delivery across key areas and that our Fair Go Rates cap is working,” he said.
The financial data showed the average rates charged on average for each residential property were $1898 compared to $1669 for all other councils and $1731 for similar councils.
The amount of council expenditure per property was $3147 compared to $3542 for similar councils.
Council received a total of 600 requests in relation to sealed local roads, which was the equivalent to 54.8 requests per 100 kilometres of road; a 3.6 per cent decrease on previous figures.
Similar councils received 22.7 requests per 100 kilometres of road.
Almost 97 per cent of council’s sealed local roads are maintained to condition standards which is comparable to all other councils across the state.
However, the community’s satisfaction with sealed roads was well below other councils across the state. Residents scored council 40 out of 100 for their satisfaction with local sealed roads, compared to 57 for all other councils.
In governance, council was well below other municipalities on its decisions made at meetings closed to the public. Figures showed Baw Baw made only 1.65 per cent of decisions at confidential meetings, compared to 9.55 per cent of all other councils.
Planning matters continue to be a bugbear for council with the median number of days taken to decide on a planning matter being 99 days. This is a third more than similar and all councils who were at 62 days and 69 days respectively.
Council said the 99-day timeframe was an increase on the previous year and was the result of factors including “unexpected staff vacancies.”
Only half of the planning matters presented to council are decided within the required timeframes compared to 77 per cent for similar councils and 70 per cent for all councils.
The cost of council’s kerbside collection service is slightly more than other councils at $121 per bin compared to $102 for similar councils; but recyclables collection is $12 lower than similar councils at $47.66.
Throughout the year, 257 bins missed their collection, which was 1.49 bins per 10,000 households.
The time taken to action animal management requests remained relatively consistent with previous year’s results, with most animal management requests responded to on the same day they are received.
Council’s performance is quicker than the average performance of other councils and the number of animal management prosecutions in Baw Baw (15) was higher than all other councils (12).
The cost of residents visiting indoor pools in Baw Baw is only $2.88 per visit compared to $5.85 for similar councils.
However, the cost to council for residents visiting outdoor pools is much higher at $29 per visit, compared to $16 for similar councils.
Council said there had been a small increase in cost per visit due to increased operating costs, however it remained relatively consistent with the previous year, with five visits made per head of population.