Roads need more attention

Annual community survey results have sent a message to Baw Baw Shire that sealed roads need to be improved.

The report card showed the condition of sealed roads was the area needing most attention.

The report also showed council’s results to be significantly lower than the state average in consultation and engagement; lobbying; making community decisions; and sealed local roads.

The survey, conducted by JWS Research on behalf of the state government, involved random telephone calls to 400 respondents.

While council made some gains in sealed roads over the past three years with an improving score card, it remained council’s lowest performing area with a score of 42.

But the report showed council’s score was “significantly lower” than the state average of 53 and one point lower than the large shires index rating.

While council’s performance has improved in three areas compared to 2016 results, the survey showed Baw Baw Shire’s performance was below state figures and results for comparative large rural shires in all seven key performance areas.

Council’s performance was stable in three areas – community consultation, decision making and lobbying.

However, the report said council needed to focus on making community decisions so that perceptions did not continue to decline.

Council’s customer service was its top performing area with a score of 61. But, even this was five points lower than last year’s figures and eight points below the state score.

Council’s overall performance improved marginally by two points on last year but at a score of 50, was well down on the state average of 59 and the large rural shires index of 54.

The report said the 2017 result was not as high as the 2014 and 2015 results of 57 and 54 respectively, “it does signal a small rebound in perceptions of performance from last year and is much improved from 2012 and 2013 (45 and 41 respectively). Some of the key findings included: Best aspects – parks and gardens; customer service; community and public events.

Areas for improvement – sealed road maintenance; community consultation; financial management; communication.

Most satisfied with customer service – women aged 65-years plus.

Least satisfied with customer service – men aged 35 to 49-years-old.

Cr Tricia Jones said the results showed there was a lot of room for improvement and council needed to set a target and work towards that target.

“We have to think about the way we engage with the community and think more seriously about the decisions we make that affect the community,” she said.

Cr Jessica O’Donnell said council’s performance had remained stable.

She said council’s strongest performing area was customer service.

“Council should strive to better our community satisfaction results,” she said.

Cr Michael Leaney said it was very important the figures and results were put out.

Cr Leaney said the survey was undertaken in February so the results related to council’s performance in 2016, which was largely the previous council.

“So there’s hope for us (the new council) this year.

“The general direction and trend is moving…and it will have to be one of the major directions that the new ceo will have to look at.

“Community satisfaction is a very important element for this current council over the next four years,” he said.

Cr Danny Goss said he was not going to spin it any other way other than “they aren’t very good figures.”

“The incoming ceo has a fair job to assist us to improve those figures.

“Good decision will eventually flow through and people will reflect that.

“We have made some good decision and if we can continue to do that, we will see change,” he said.

Mayor Joe Gauci said council had to communicate better with the community.

“This sets the whole tone on how we move forward. We have to keep communicating and get the message out to the community,” he said.

Cr Gauci said it was encouraging to see improvements from last year across four of the seven performance measures including overall performance, overall direction and sealed local road conditions.

“We are pleased to see some satisfaction points on the rise, but as councillors we are still not entirely satisfied with these results and we’ll be working hard over the next 12 months to address areas that need improvement.

“Customer service is one area that we continue to do well in and although satisfaction is slightly down from last year, it remains our strongest performing area which is a positive sign,” Cr Gauci said.