bega community survey 2012 · service/facilities provided by council, analysis using an opportunity...

2012 Bega Shire Local Government

Community Survey

Management Report

Prepared for

Bega Shire Council

Prepared by

IRIS Research Ltd

November 2012

IRIS Research ABN 16 002 278 793 Level 1, IC Central Innovation Campus, Squires Way, Fairy Meadow

Postal address: Northfields Ave, Wollongong. NSW 2522 Telephone: (02) 4285 4446 Fax: (02) 4285 4448 Net: http://www.iris.org.au Email: [email protected]

I n s i g h t f o r

B u s i n e s s & G o v e r n m e n t

2012 Bega Shire Council – Management Report page i

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................III

1 INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................1

1.1 BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................................1

1.2 STUDY OBJECTIVES ..........................................................................................................................1

1.3 ATTITUDE MEASUREMENT ..................................................................................................................2

1.4 DATA ANALYSIS...............................................................................................................................2

1.5 SURVEY RESPONSE ...........................................................................................................................4

SURVEY RESULTS ...........................................................................................................5

2 COUNCIL SERVICES AND FACILTIES .....................................................................6

2.1 A LIVEABLE PLACE...........................................................................................................................7

2.2 AN ENTERPRISING PLACE................................................................................................................10

2.3 A SUSTAINABLE PLACE ...................................................................................................................12

2.4 AN ACCESSIBLE PLACE ..................................................................................................................14

2.5 A LEADING ORGANISATION ...........................................................................................................16

2.6 ALL SERVICES AND FACILITIES - IMPORTANCE .....................................................................................18

2.7 ALL SERVICES AND FACILITIES - SATISFACTION ....................................................................................20

3 PRIORITISING SERVICES AND FACILTIES .............................................................22

3.1 QUADRANT ANALYSIS.....................................................................................................................22

3.2 GAP ANALYSIS ..............................................................................................................................27

4 COUNCIL PERFORMANCE...................................................................................32

4.1 OVERALL SATISFACTION WITH COUNCIL’S PERFORMANCE ...................................................................32

5 FUTURE AND STRATEGIC PRIORITIES....................................................................35

5.1 AWARENESS OF COUNCIL'S LONG TERM COMMUNITY PLAN ..............................................................35

5.2 PRIORITY ACTION AREAS ................................................................................................................36

5.3 AGREEMENT STATEMENTS................................................................................................................41

2012 Bega Shire Council – Management Report page ii

6 SAFETY IN AND AROUND YOUR HOME ..............................................................43

6.1 HOW SAFE YOU FEEL ......................................................................................................................43

7 ACCESS TO SERVICES..........................................................................................44

7.1 THE LOCATION OF YOUR HOME AND ACCESS TO SERVICES ..................................................................44

7.2 CURRENTLY RECEIVE INFORMATION..................................................................................................45

7.3 PREFER TO RECEIVE INFORMATION ...................................................................................................47

7.4 INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM COUNCIL .........................................................................................50

8 APPENDIX.............................................................................................................51

8.1 SURVEY METHODOLOGY.................................................................................................................51

SAMPLE DESIGN .......................................................................................................................................51

DATA COLLECTION ..................................................................................................................................52

RESPONSE PERFORMANCE .........................................................................................................................52

DEMOGRAPHICS ......................................................................................................................................53

SURVEY ACCURACY .................................................................................................................................53

8.2 SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN MEAN IMPORTANCE BY KEY DEMOGRAPHICS .........................................54

8.3 SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN MEAN SATISFACTION BY KEY DEMOGRAPHICS ........................................55

8.4 SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN OVERALL SATISFACTION BY KEY DEMOGRAPHICS ....................................56

8.5 SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES KEY SERVICE AREAS BY KEY DEMOGRAPHICS .............................................56

8.6 SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN COMMUNITY SAFETY BY KEY DEMOGRAPHICS.........................................57

8.7 SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN ACCESS TO SERVICES BY KEY DEMOGRAPHICS .......................................57

8.8 BENCHMARK DATA........................................................................................................................58

8.9 REASONS FOR BEING DISSATISFIED...................................................................................................71

2012 Bega Shire Council – Management Report page iii

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Overall Satisfaction with Council Performance

The level of satisfaction amongst the community with Council’s performance is statistically

unchanged from 2009. In 2009, the results showed that 36% felt Council’s performance was

good, 44% thought it was OK and 20% provided a poor rating. In 2012, the results showed 35%

felt Council's performance was good, 41% thought it was ok, while 23% provided a poor rating.

Older residents (those aged 65+) as well as younger residents (18 to 24 years) were significantly

more satisfied with Council’s overall performance compared to other age groups. This was

also the case in 2009. Overall satisfaction did not vary by geographic area, as was the case in

2009.

Prioritising Services and Facilities

After asking respondents to rate their level of importance and satisfaction with 39

service/facilities provided by Council, analysis using an opportunity matrix revealed the

following service priorities for Council:

� Appearance and adequacy of public toilets

� Maintaining sealed roads

� Cleaning and maintenance of public toilets

� Planning with the community for the future of the Shire

� Council responsiveness to community requests

� Consulting and engaging with the community

� Maintaining unsealed roads

� Informing the community of Council decisions, activities and services

� Promoting economic development and business growth

� Weed Control and protection of natural bush land

� Planning for town commercial centres

� Clean lines of creeks and waterways

� Appearance and presentation of the town centres

� The way residential and rural lands are being developed

� Promotion of Tourism and recognition of brand

� Adequacy and maintenance of car parking in the town centres

2012 Bega Shire Council – Management Report page iv

This list was arrived at by comparing resident’s stated importance of services provided by

Council against their satisfaction with the provision of these services. The services listed are

those that rated as high importance but low in satisfaction.

Gap analysis was the second tool used to identify priorities for service improvement. The table

below shows where both quadrant (opportunity matrix) and gap analysis overlap to identify

the services in most need of improvement. If a service or facility has a tick in both the quadrant

analysis box and the gap analysis box, it is a good confirmation that this area should be given

priority. Table E1 highlights 14 services and facilities that overlap in both forms of analysis.

Table E1 Areas in need of improvement

Identified as not meeting resident

expectations in …

Quadrant

Analysis (Higher importance

/ lower satisfaction)

Gap Analysis (Higher than

average gap

between importance and

satisfaction)

Appearance and adequacy of public toilets � � Maintaining sealed roads � � Cleaning and maintenance of public toilets � � Planning with the community for the future of the Shire � � Council responsiveness to community requests � � Consulting and engaging with the community � � Maintaining unsealed roads � � Informing the community of Council decisions, activities and services � � Promoting economic development and business growth � � Weed Control and protection of natural bush land � � Planning for town commercial centres � � Clean lines of creeks and waterways � � Appearance and presentation of the town centres � � The way residential and rural lands are being developed � �

Promotion of Tourism and recognition of brand �

Adequacy and maintenance of car parking in the town centres �

2012 Bega Shire Council – Management Report page v

Table E2 outlines the services and facilities that Council is delivering on with regards to resident

expectations. These were services and facilities highlighted in both quadrant and gap analysis.

The services and facilities identified in quadrant analysis are considered to have an above

average importance and an above average level of satisfaction relative to the other services

and facilities. Gap analysis also found that these services and facilities had a lower

performance or expectation gap than the average gap based on all 39 services and facilities.

Table E2 Services and facilities where Council is performing well

Identified as exceeding resident

expectations in …

Quadrant

Analysis (Higher importance

/ Higher satisfaction)

Gap Analysis (Lower than average gap between

importance and

satisfaction)

Environmental monitoring and protection � � Planning and implementing bushfire protection � � Appearance and adequacy of Parks, Playgrounds and Reserves � � Sewage and septic services � � General waste and recycling collection � � Appearance and adequacy of sporting fields � � Operation of Library services � �

Safety in and around the town

Results showed that the overwhelming majority of residents felt quite safe walking around town

during the day as well as being at home, with more than 90% of residents indicating so. The

perceived level of safety by residents to walking around town at night was lower than the

perceived safety of walking during the day. In saying that, three out of four residents (74.6%) still

felt a 'High' level of safety. Compared to 2009 results, perceived safety of walking at night has

increased, with the mean score improving from 3.69 out of 5 to 4.12 out of 5.

Access to services

With regards to residents ease of access to educational, recreational, retail, health and

community services, 7 out of 10 residents (70.4%) felt 'Educational services including libraries'

were quite easy to access. Residents also indicated that their level of access to 'Recreational

services' as well as 'Retail services' was about the same as each other, with 65% of residents

2012 Bega Shire Council – Management Report page vi

suggesting it was easy to access these types of services. Compared to the other services,

'Health and Community services' was slightly more difficult to access, however close to 6 in 10

residents (58%) still mentioned these services were easy to access.

Agreement statements

Residents were asked to rate their level of agreement with regards to Council's provision of

resources into the 5 key service areas. Results showed that agreement levels towards the

statements on 'Sustainability', 'Liveability', 'Enterprising' and 'Accessibility' were classified as

having 'Medium' agreement status. The statement on 'Sustainability' attained the highest

agreement level, with 51.2% of residents either agreeing (32.8%) or strongly agreeing (18.4%)

with it.

The second most agreed to statement was the one on 'Liveability' where one third of all

residents (34.0%) either agreed (22.3%) or strongly agreed (11.7%) with it.

The statement concerning 'Leading Organisation' attained a 'Low' agreement rating overall,

with 26.9% agreeing 'highly' to the statement (4 or 5 out of 5) and the same proportion (26.8%)

giving a 'Low' agreement rating of 1 or 2 out of 5.

How residents currently receive information from Council

Around 6 in 10 residents (58.3%) receive information from Council through the community link

page in the three local papers. This result is unchanged from the 2009 survey measure (57.8%).

When looking at how residents would prefer to receive information, the community link page

falls to 41.5%.

Receiving information via direct mail (rates notices) increased significantly from 2009 where

only 1.1% received information via that source, compared to 18.1% now. Preference for this

method of receiving information stands at 2.9%.

Radio news grabs is statistically unchanged from 2009, with 16.8% receiving their information via

this form of media, while preference for this source is also steady at 14.3%.

Receiving information via 'mail/newsletters/leaflets' decreased significantly since 2009 where

46.9% received their information in that way, compared to 13.4% today. Preference for this

media also fell significantly from 54.6% in 2009 to 34.0% in 2012.

2012 Bega Shire Council – Management Report page vii

Preference for receiving information via the Council website / internet rose significantly in 2012

to stand at 15.3%, up from 4.4% in 2009.

Priority action areas

Overall, one in three residents (32.0%) are aware of Council's long term community plan and

other various plans.

A greater proportion of male residents (37.0%) were found to be aware of Council's long term

community plan, compared to female residents (27.4%).

With regards to mentioning a priority action area for the Shire over the next 10 years, a total of

88.8% of residents were able to mention at least one priority action area.

Residents felt 'Management of roads / pathways / parking' was the number one priority for the

Shire, mentioned by one in five residents (20.6%). This was followed by 'Promoting tourism'

(15.7%) and 'Planning for growth / development / sustainability' (13.4%).

2012 Bega Shire Council – Management Report page 1

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND

This study was commissioned by Bega Valley Shire Council as a way of measuring the

community's assessment of Council’s performance in the delivery of key services and facilities.

Overall the survey aimed to provide Council with an understanding of the perceptions and

needs of the local community with respect to both Council’s services / facilities and to

customer service.

1.2 STUDY OBJECTIVES

The broad objectives for the Community Survey process were to:

• Measure the importance of and satisfaction with, services and facilities provided by

Council;

• Compare levels of satisfaction for Council services and facilities where applicable, with

the benchmark results of 2006 and 2009, as well as IRIS' Council benchmark database;

• Assist Council in identifying service use priorities for the community;

• Identify key drivers of resident dissatisfaction;

• Gain an understanding of the perception held by residents towards how safe they feel

in their area;

• Identify priority action areas for Bega Valley Shire over the next 5 to 10 years.


1.3 ATTITUDE MEASUREMENT

Throughout the survey residents were asked to give their attitudes and opinions on a range of

services, facilities and issues. This was achieved by using a five point rating scale. The four

separate attitude scales used in this survey are shown below. Results from these ratings form the

basis of much of the analysis in this report.

Importance scale Satisfaction Scale Agreement scale Safety scale

1 = Not important 1 = Very dissatisfied 1 = Totally disagree 1 = Very unsafe

2 … 2… 2… 2…

3 … 3… 3… 3…

4 … 4… 4… 4…

5 = Very important 5 = Very satisfied 5 = Totally agree 5 = Very safe

For all rating scales, those respondents who could not provide a rating, either because the

question did not apply to them or they had no opinion, were coded as a non-response (i.e. 6 =

‘Can’t say/ Declined’).

1.4 DATA ANALYSIS

Results have been presented in a standardised way in this report. Rating scale results have

generally been presented in two basic forms. Firstly, the numeric values recorded for each

attribute have been converted into an overall mean score out of five. To derive the mean

score for an attribute, all respondents' answers are 'averaged' to produce an overall rating that

conveniently expresses the result of scale items in a single numeric figure. The mean score

makes data interpretation considerably easier when comparing across results.

On the whole, a mean score is a good measure of the overall agreement, importance,

satisfaction or priorities measured in the sample group. However, two services with the same

mean score could have vastly different dispersions of opinion leading to a gap in any

interpretation of results. This potential problem can be avoided by considering the collapsed

frequency distribution tables presented in this report, which serve to highlight possible

differences between seemingly similar mean scores. Hence, the results have also been

summarised into collapsed frequency distributions as shown below.


Based on similar community surveys that IRIS have done in the past it is possible to place mean

scores into a ‘low’, ‘medium’ and ‘high’ category. Table 1-1 outlines these categories.

Table 1-1 Mean score categories

Mean importance score Importance

category Mean satisfaction score

Satisfaction

category

0 – 2.99 Low 0 – 2.99 Low

3.00 – 3.99 Medium 3.00 – 3.74 Medium

4.00 – 5.00 High 3.75 – 5.00 High

Table 1-2 Reporting collapsed frequency distributions

Scale values

Scale type 1-2 3 4-5

Satisfaction Low Medium High

Importance Low Medium High

Priority Low Medium High

Safety Low Medium High

Analysis of the survey results was carried out by IRIS using SPSS statistical analysis software.

Frequency counts, cross tabulations and charts have been used to present basic descriptive

results in most sections of the report. Other statistical procedures were used to conduct

significance tests. Where proportions have been reported for groups of respondents (e.g. males

65% vs. females 75%) Pearson’s Chi-Square was the test statistic used to determine whether

group results were indeed significantly different. When comparing mean scores for interval data

(e.g. 16-24 year olds = 4.40, 25-39 year olds = 4.60 & 40-54 year olds = 4.80) analysis of variance

(ANOVA) was the primary statistical test used to investigate whether results were significantly

different. Where more than two groups were being compared, post-hoc tests were applied.


1.5 SURVEY RESPONSE

A total of 750 completed interviews were collected from a random sample of residents that live

in the Bega Valley Shire Council area. Strict sampling procedures ensured that characteristics of

selected respondents mirrored those of the overall adult population of the area (based on

Census data). Table 1-3 provides an overview of the distribution of key respondent

characteristics unweighted, however it should be noted that the final sample was weighted to

provide a more accurate portrayal of the catchment area. Table 1-4 gives the breakdown of

the completed surveys collected in each catchment area. Since IRIS endeavoured to collect

150 completed interviews from each of the catchment areas, this meant that according to the

population of each catchment, some areas were over sampled and others under sampled. This

also meant having to weight the data by the area proportions.

Table 1-3 Sample Respondent Characteristics

Characteristic

Proportion of Area

(%)

Sex

Male 45%

Female 55%

Age Group

18-29yrs 3%

30-49yrs 19%

50-64yrs 41%

65 + 38%

Table 1-4 Catchment area for the survey

Areas surveyed

Number of

interviews

collected

Eden and surrounds 153

Merimbula and Surrounds 154

Bega and surrounds 154

Bermagui and surrounds 132

Rural 157

Total 750

Please refer to Appendix for a detailed description of the survey methodology.


SURVEY RESULTS


2 COUNCIL SERVICES AND FACILTIES

This section presents both the importance and satisfaction levels amongst residents towards 39

key services and facilities provided by the Bega Valley Shire Council. Services and facilities

were grouped under headings relating to key service areas.

In all, there were 5 key service areas identified:

1. A Liveable Place: To support a place where everyone regardless of age or

circumstance can enjoy a safe, involved and affordable community life.

2. An Enterprising Place: To support a creative and innovative business community

invigorating growth in employment and economic activity, in partnership with

government.

3. A Sustainable Place: To ensure the unique environment is protected to maintain

biodiversity and water quality and managed for our community, to provide

growth and economic opportunity.

4. An Accessible Place: To plan and provide a comprehensive mix of public and

private sector services and facilities for residents and visitors to access.

5. A Leading Organisation: To shape an organisation that supports the agreed

aspirations of the community and the capacity of the organisation.

Residents were asked to rate the importance of each of the 39 Council services and facilities

on a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 = ‘not important’ and 5 = ‘very important’. They were also asked

to provide their level of satisfaction with the provision of this service; this was again done on a

scale of 1 to 5, where 1 = ‘very dissatisfied’ and 5 = ‘very satisfied’. Residents that gave a rating

of 1; that is very dissatisfied, where subsequently asked why they were dissatisfied with that

particular service or facility.


2.1 A LIVEABLE PLACE

Table 2.1a A Liveable Place - Importance

Importance

"A Liveable Place"

DK

%

(6)

Low

%

(1 – 2)

Medium

%

(3)

High

%

(4 – 5)

Mean

Operation of Library services 3.1 6.2 8.7 82.0 4.26

Council operated services and facilities for the elderly 6.7 10.6 7.6 75.1 4.18

Council operated services and facilities for people with disability 8.4 10.6 12.0 69.0 4.10

Appearance and adequacy of community centres and

community halls 3.4 11.2 20.5 64.9 3.87

Social and cultural planning 9.4 10.4 19.8 60.5 3.84

Protection of Aboriginal heritage and sites 2.8 16.6 20.3 60.3 3.73

Protection of European heritage values and buildings 4.2 15.6 25.2 54.9 3.62

Council operated Youth services and facilities 12.9 26.9 11.7 48.6 3.37

Operation of the Regional Art Gallery 7.9 24.8 26.4 40.8 3.23

Council operated Children's Services 13.1 40.0 11.6 35.3 2.87

High Importance score Medium Importance score Low Importance score

Key Results:

� Within the key service area of "A Liveable Place", mean importance scores ranged from 4.26 for

‘Operation of library services’ through to 2.87 for ‘Council operated Children's services'.

� Similar community surveys undertaken by IRIS in the past have found that mean importance

scores that fall between 4 and 5 are considered to be of ‘high’ importance. This means 3

services and facilities within this key service area are viewed by the community to be of ‘high’

importance. These include 'Operation of library services' (4.26), 'Council operated services and

facilities for the elderly' (4.18), and 'Council operated services and facilities for people with a

disability' (4.10).

� 'Council operated children's services' attained a mean importance score of 2.87 out of 5, which

falls into the 'Low' importance range. Looking at the distribution of responses for this service,

shows that two out of five residents (40.0%) provided a low importance rating of 1 or 2, while

one in three residents felt the service was important, giving a rating of 4 or 5. It should be noted

that this service is most likely lower in importance as it is a service targeted at people with

children.


Table 2.1b A Liveable Place - Satisfaction

Satisfaction

"A Liveable Place"

DK

%

(6)

Low

%

(1 – 2)

Medium

%

(3)

High

%

(4 – 5)

Mean

Operation of Library services 8.7 10.5 21.4 59.3 3.82

Operation of the Regional Art Gallery 24.4 11.4 29.0 35.3 3.42

Council operated Children's Services 57.4 8.0 17.3 17.4 3.35

Protection of Aboriginal heritage and sites 27.8 12.7 33.1 26.5 3.29

Council operated services and facilities for the elderly 28.9 15.7 28.3 27.1 3.23

Protection of European heritage values and buildings 19.8 12.7 40.1 27.4 3.23

Council operated services and facilities for people with

disability 36.0 18.4 25.4 20.2 3.03

Social and cultural planning 22.1 17.1 42.5 18.3 3.02

Appearance and adequacy of community centres and

community halls 11.9 30.1 30.7 27.2 2.94

Council operated Youth services and facilities 45.3 25.2 17.1 12.4 2.67

High Satisfaction score Medium Satisfaction score Low Satisfaction score

Key results:

� Within the key service area of "A Liveable Place", mean satisfaction scores ranged from 3.82 for

‘Operation of library services’ through to 2.67 for ‘Council operated youth services and

facilities'.

� Similar community surveys undertaken by IRIS in the past have found that mean satisfaction

scores that fall between 3.75 and 5 are considered to be ‘high’ satisfaction scores. This means 1

service within this key service area was identified as having a 'high' level of satisfaction. This

service is 'Operation of library services' with a mean satisfaction score of 3.82 out of 5. The

distribution of rating scores showed that three out of five residents (59.3%) provided a 'satisfied'

or 'very satisfied' rating.

� Two services and facilities were within the 'Low' mean satisfaction range of 0 and 2.99, these

were 'Appearance and adequacy of community centres and community halls' (2.94) and

'Council operated youth services and facilities' (2.67).

� It should be noted that there were a large proportion of residents that provided a 'Don't know'

response with regards to rating their level of satisfaction with these services and facilities. Some


of these services included 'Council operated children's services', with close to three out of five

residents (57.4%) providing a 'Don't know' response, ' Council operated youth services and

facilities', where 45.3% could not rate this question and 'Council operated services and facilities

for people with disability', where one in three (36.0%) did not provide a rating.


2.2 AN ENTERPRISING PLACE

Table 2.2a An Enterprising Place

Importance

"An Enterprising Place"

DK

%

(6)

Low

%

(1 – 2)

Medium

%

(3)

High

%

(4 – 5)

Mean

Promoting economic development and business growth 1.6 3.6 13.3 81.6 4.37

Appearance and presentation of the town centres 0.4 1.6 13.2 84.7 4.35

Planning for town commercial centres 2.3 3.4 10.4 84.0 4.32

Promotion of Tourism and recognition of brand 1.5 5.3 13.0 80.1 4.30

Development and operation of Merimbula Airport 2.1 12.0 13.0 72.9 4.08


Key results:

� Within the key service area of "An Enterprising Place", mean importance scores ranged from

4.37 for ‘Promoting economic development and business growth’ through to 4.08 for

‘Development and operation of Merimbula Airport' (4.08).

� Results showed that residents placed a 'High' level of importance to all services and facilities

within the key service area of "An Enterprising Place".


Table 2.2b An Enterprising Place - Satisfaction

Satisfaction

"An Enterprising Place"

DK

%

(6)

Low

%

(1 – 2)

Medium

%

(3)

High

%

(4 – 5)

Mean

Development and operation of Merimbula Airport 9.3 22.1 35.8 32.8 3.17

Promotion of Tourism and recognition of brand 4.5 23.1 41.4 30.9 3.12

Appearance and presentation of the town centres 0.9 29.0 43.9 26.2 2.97

Promoting economic development and business growth 6.5 28.4 45.9 19.2 2.88

Planning for town commercial centres 5.8 30.8 43.4 20.0 2.85


Key results:

� Within the key service area of "An Enterprising Place", mean satisfaction scores ranged from

3.17 for ‘Development and operation of Merimbula Airport' through to 2.85 for 'Planning for

town commercial centres'.

� 'Development and operation of Merimbula Airport' (3.17) and 'Promotion of tourism and

recognition of brand' (3.12) recorded mean satisfaction scores in the 'Medium' range. The

distribution of ratings for these two services showed that one in three residents provided a

'satisfied' or 'very satisfied' rating for both of these services.

� Three services and facilities were within the 'Low' mean satisfaction range of 0 and 2.99, these

were 'Appearance and presentation of the town centres' (2.97), 'Promoting economic

development and business growth' (2.88), ' Planning for town commercial centres' (2.85).


2.3 A SUSTAINABLE PLACE

Table 2.3a A Sustainable Place - Importance

Importance

"A Sustainable Place"

DK

%

(6)

Low

%

(1 – 2)

Medium

%

(3)

High

%

(4 – 5)

Mean

General waste and recycling collection 1.5 1.7 4.9 91.9 4.66

Planning and implementing bushfire protection 1.4 2.3 5.2 91.2 4.65

Operation of quality water services 3.5 4.3 3.9 88.3 4.63

Clean lines of creeks and waterways 1.1 1.5 10.0 87.4 4.55

Sewage and septic services 4.3 4.5 5.8 85.4 4.53

Weed Control and protection of natural bush land 1.2 1.1 12.5 85.2 4.44

Environmental monitoring and protection 2.4 2.6 12.4 82.6 4.40

The way residential and rural lands are being developed 3.7 3.4 12.1 80.8 4.31

The way trees are managed on both private and public land 1.8 3.9 21.0 73.4 4.14

Control of dogs and cats 1.3 9.1 16.8 72.7 4.10


Key results:

� Within the key service area of "A sustainable Place", mean importance scores ranged from 4.66

for ‘General waste and recycling collection' through to 4.10 for ‘Control of dogs and cats'

(4.10).


within the key service area of "A Sustainable Place".


Table 2.3b A Sustainable Place - Satisfaction

Satisfaction

"A Sustainable Place"

DK

%

(6)

Low

%

(1 – 2)

Medium

%

(3)

High

%

(4 – 5)

Mean

General waste and recycling collection 1.8 18.3 19.3 60.5 3.69

Operation of quality water services 9.7 12.7 26.2 51.4 3.60

Sewage and septic services 10.9 16.2 23.1 49.9 3.58

Planning and implementing bushfire protection 8.0 14.0 26.3 51.7 3.57

Environmental monitoring and protection 8.4 15.1 40.1 36.4 3.31

Control of dogs and cats 5.8 22.5 36.8 35.0 3.17

Clean lines of creeks and waterways 6.0 25.3 38.0 30.7 3.07

The way residential and rural lands are being developed 9.1 24.0 41.1 25.8 3.04

The way trees are managed on both private and public land. 6.5 28.3 40.6 24.6 2.97

Weed control and protection of natural bush land 5.6 32.3 35.8 26.3 2.92


Key results:

� Within the key service area of "A Sustainable Place", mean satisfaction scores ranged from 3.69

for ‘General waste and recycling collection' through to 2.92 for 'Weed control and protection

of natural bush land'.

� Eight of ten services and facilities within this key service area attained mean satisfaction scores

in the 'Medium' range. The stand out performing service amongst this group was 'General waste

and recycling collection' with a mean score of 3.69 out of 5.

� Two services and facilities were within the 'Low' mean satisfaction range of 0 and 2.99, these

were 'The way trees are managed on both private and public land' (2.97), 'Weed control and

protection of natural bush land' (2.92).


2.4 AN ACCESSIBLE PLACE

Table 2.4a An Accessible Place - Importance

Importance

"An Accessible Place"

DK

%

(6)

Low

%

(1 – 2)

Medium

%

(3)

High

%

(4 – 5)

Mean

Cleaning and maintenance of public toilets 1.7 0.7 6.0 91.7 4.68

Maintaining sealed roads 0.4 1.9 4.1 93.6 4.63

Appearance and adequacy of public toilets 0.5 1.0 6.5 92.0 4.61

Maintaining unsealed roads 1.7 3.8 7.8 86.7 4.43

Appearance and adequacy of Parks, Playgrounds and

Reserves 0.5 1.7 9.4 88.3 4.41

Adequacy and maintenance of car parking in the town

centres 0.3 4.6 11.9 83.1 4.32

Appearance and adequacy of sporting fields 1.5 5.1 11.5 81.9 4.26

Adequacy and maintenance of boat ramps and foreshore

areas 3.4 6.1 12.3 78.2 4.19

Operation of swimming pools or aquatic centres 5.6 6.2 15.6 72.6 4.16

Adequacy and maintenance of kerb and guttering 1.7 5.6 22.2 70.5 4.06


Key results:

� Within the key service area of "An Accessible Place", mean importance scores ranged from

4.68 for ‘Cleaning and maintenance of public toilets' through to 4.06 for ‘Adequacy and

maintenance of kerb and guttering' (4.06).


within the key service area of "An Accessible Place".


Table 2.4b An Accessible Place - Satisfaction

Satisfaction

"An Accessible Place"

DK

%

(6)

Low

%

(1 – 2)

Medium

%

(3)

High

%

(4 – 5)

Mean

Operation of swimming pools or aquatic centres 15.1 7.1 28.5 49.3 3.70

Adequacy and maintenance of boat ramps and foreshore

areas 11.5 4.7 35.2 48.6 3.66

Appearance and adequacy of sporting fields 6.4 6.2 35.0 52.5 3.62

Appearance and adequacy of Parks, Playgrounds and

Reserves 2.1 12.8 41.7 43.4 3.39

Adequacy and maintenance of kerb and guttering 3.0 18.3 50.2 28.6 3.14

Adequacy and maintenance of car parking in the town centres

1.1 26.6 40.7 31.6 3.07

Cleaning and maintenance of public toilets 4.1 33.5 35.8 26.6 2.89

Maintaining unsealed roads 5.2 36.5 36.4 21.9 2.79

Maintaining sealed roads 0.8 40.7 35.1 23.5 2.76

Appearance and adequacy of public toilets 2.1 42.0 35.9 20.0 2.72


Key results:

� Within the key service area of "An Accessible Place", mean satisfaction scores ranged from 3.70

for ‘Operation of swimming pools or aquatic centres' through to 2.72 for 'Appearance and

adequacy of public toilets'.

� Six of the ten services and facilities within this key service area attained mean satisfaction

scores in the 'Medium' range. The three stand out performing services amongst this group were

'Operation of swimming pools or aquatic centres' (3.70), 'Adequacy and maintenance of boat

ramps and foreshore' (3.66) and 'Appearance and adequacy of sporting fields' (3.62).

� Four services and facilities were within the 'Low' mean satisfaction range of 0 and 2.99, these

services were; 'Cleaning and maintenance of public toilets' (2.89), 'Maintaining unsealed roads'

(2.79), 'Maintaining sealed roads' (2.76), and 'Appearance and adequacy of public toilets'

(2.72).


2.5 A LEADING ORGANISATION

Table 2.5a A Leading Organisation - Importance

Importance

"A Leading Organisation"

DK

%

(6)

Low

%

(1 – 2)

Medium

%

(3)

High

%

(4 – 5)

Mean

Planning with the community for the future of the Shire 1.1 0.9 3.4 94.5 4.68

Consulting and engaging with the community 2.1 1.7 7.0 89.2 4.57

Informing the community of Council decisions, activities

and services 0.7 0.8 7.3 91.2 4.56

Council responsiveness to community requests 2.3 0.5 7.0 90.3 4.54


Key results:

� Within the key service area of "A Leading Organisation", mean importance scores ranged from

4.68 for ‘Planning with the community for the future of the shire' through to 4.54 for ‘Council

responsiveness to community needs'.


within the key service area of "A Leading Organisation".


Table 2.5b A Leading Organisation - Satisfaction

Satisfaction

"A Leading Organisation"

DK

%

(6)

Low

%

(1 – 2)

Medium

%

(3)

High

%

(4 – 5)

Mean

Informing the community of Council decisions, activities

and services 3.8 28.6 41.9 25.6 2.96

Planning with the community for the future of the Shire 5.2 30.3 41.9 22.6 2.91

Consulting and engaging with the community 5.4 31.5 38.4 24.8 2.88

Council responsiveness to community requests 8.3 33.4 40.5 17.7 2.77


Key results:

� Within the key service area of "A Leading Organisation", mean satisfaction scores ranged from

2.96 for ‘Informing the community of Council decisions, activities and services' through to 2.77

for 'Council responsiveness to community requests '.

� All services within this key service area attained mean satisfaction scores placing them into the

'Low' satisfaction range of 0 and 2.99.


2.6 ALL SERVICES AND FACILITIES - IMPORTANCE

Table 2.6 shows the mean importance scores for Bega Shire Council over the past three

measures and identifies whether importance has increased or decreased since 2009.

Table 2.6 Mean score comparisons for all services - Importance

Importance Mean

2006

Mean

2009

Mean

2012

Sig.

Change

General waste and recycling collection 4.5 4.6 4.7* NA

Cleaning and maintenance of public toilets 4.2 4.7 4.7 -

Planning with the community for the future of the Shire - - 4.7 -

Operation of quality water services 4.3 4.6 4.6 -

Planning and implementing bushfire protection 4.6 4.8 4.6 �

Clean lines of creeks and waterways 4.7 4.8 4.6 �

Maintaining sealed roads 4.6 4.4 4.6 �

Appearance and adequacy of public toilets - 4.6 4.6 -

Consulting and engaging with the community - 4.7 4.6 �

Informing the community of Council decisions, activities and services 4.5* 4.7 4.6 �

Sewage and septic services 4.2* 4.5 4.5 -

Council responsiveness to community requests 4.5 4.6 4.5 �

Weed Control and protection of natural bush land 4.3 4.5 4.4* NA

Appearance and presentation of the town centres 4.2 4.3 4.4 -

Promoting economic development and business growth 4.2 4.4 4.4 -

Environmental monitoring and protection 4.2 4.4 4.4 -

Maintaining unsealed roads 4.2 4.0 4.4 �

Appearance and adequacy of Parks, Playgrounds and Reserves - 4.3 4.4 �

Operation of Library services 4.3* 4.3 4.3* NA

Adequacy and maintenance of car parking in the town centres 4.4 4.4 4.3* NA

Promotion of Tourism and recognition of brand 4.4 4.4 4.3 �

Planning for town commercial centres - 4.6 4.3 �

The way residential and rural lands are being developed 4.3 4.3 4.3 -

Appearance and adequacy of sporting fields - 4.2 4.3 �

Council operated services and facilities for the elderly 4.5 4.6 4.2* NA

Adequacy and maintenance of boat ramps and foreshore areas 3.5 4.0 4.2* NA

Operation of swimming pools or aquatic centres 3.6* 4.0 4.2* NA

Development and operation of Merimbula Airport - 4.2 4.1* NA

Adequacy and maintenance of kerb and guttering 3.7 4.1 4.1* NA

Council operated services and facilities for people with disability - - 4.1 NA

The way trees are managed on both private and public land 4.2 4.4 4.1 �

Control of dogs and cats 4.1 4.3 4.1 �

Appearance & adequacy of community centres & community halls 4.2* 4.3 3.9 �

Social and cultural planning 4.0 4.1 3.8 �

Protection of Aboriginal heritage and sites 3.6 3.9 3.7 �

Protection of European heritage values and buildings 3.7 3.9 3.6 �

Council operated Youth services and facilities 4.3 4.4 3.4* NA

Operation of the Regional Art Gallery 3.1* 3.3 3.2 -

Council operated Children's Services 4.0 4.2 2.9* NA

* Indicates wording changes between measures and therefore comparison is not possible.


Key results:

� When comparing the mean importance scores achieved in this measure to those in 2009, 13

services and facilities recorded statistically lower mean scores than 2009. These included:

'Appearance & adequacy of community centres & community halls', 'Protection of Aboriginal

heritage and sites', 'Protection of European heritage values and buildings', 'Social and cultural

planning', 'Promotion of Tourism and recognition of brand', 'Planning for town commercial

centres', 'Planning and implementing bushfire protection', 'Clean lines of creeks and

waterways', 'The way trees are managed on both private and public land', 'Control of dogs

and cats', 'Consulting and engaging with the community', 'Informing the community of Council

decisions, activities and services', and 'Council responsiveness to community requests'.

� In comparison four services and facilities statistically increased in importance, these included:

'Maintaining sealed roads', 'Maintaining unsealed roads', ' Appearance and adequacy of

Parks, Playgrounds and Reserves', and ' Appearance and adequacy of sporting fields'.

� Results showed that the top three most important services and facilities overall were ' General

waste and recycling collection', ' Cleaning and maintenance of public toilets', and ' Planning

with the community for the future of the Shire'.

� Of the 39 services and facilities, 32 attained mean scores that placed them into the 'High'

importance range, 6 were classified as having a 'Medium' level of importance to the

community, while 'Council operated Children's Services' was considered to be of 'Low'

importance overall.


2.7 ALL SERVICES AND FACILITIES - SATISFACTION

Table 2.7 Mean score comparisons for all services - Satisfaction

Satisfaction Mean

2006

Mean

2009

Mean

2012

Sig.

Change Operation of Library services 3.7* 3.8 3.8* NA

Adequacy and maintenance of boat ramps and foreshore areas 3.2 3.5 3.7* NA

General waste and recycling collection 4.0 4.0 3.7* NA

Operation of swimming pools or aquatic centres 3.0* 3.5 3.7* NA

Planning and implementing bushfire protection 3.6 3.3 3.6* NA

Operation of quality water services 3.6 3.9 3.6 �

Sewage and septic services 3.4* 4.0 3.6 �

Appearance and adequacy of sporting fields - 3.5 3.6 �

Operation of the Regional Art Gallery 3.4* 3.6 3.4 �

Appearance and adequacy of Parks, Playgrounds and Reserves - 3.3 3.4 -

Council operated Children's Services 3.1 3.4 3.3* NA

Protection of Aboriginal heritage and sites 3.3 3.5 3.3 �

Environmental monitoring and protection 3.1 3.4 3.3 -

Council operated services and facilities for the elderly 3.2 3.4 3.2* NA

Development and operation of Merimbula Airport - 4.2 3.2* NA

Protection of European heritage values and buildings 3.2 3.5 3.2 �

Control of dogs and cats 3.1 3.3 3.2 �

Adequacy and maintenance of car parking in the town centres 2.4 2.6 3.1* NA

Adequacy and maintenance of kerb and guttering 2.9 3.1 3.1* NA

Promotion of Tourism and recognition of brand 2.9 3.2 3.1 �

Clean lines of creeks and waterways 3.0 3.2 3.1 �

Council operated services and facilities for people with disability - - 3.0 NA

Social and cultural planning 2.9 3.2 3.0 �

Appearance and presentation of the town centres 2.8 3.1 3.0 �

The way residential and rural lands are being developed 2.7 3.1 3.0 -

The way trees are managed on both private and public land 2.8 2.9 3.0 �

Informing the community of Council decisions, activities and services 2.6* 3.0 3.0 -

Promoting economic development and business growth 2.9 3.1 2.9* NA

Weed Control and protection of natural bush land 3.3 3.4 2.9* NA

Consulting and engaging with the community - 3.0 2.9* NA

Appearance & adequacy of community centres & community halls 3.0* 3.1 2.9 �

Cleaning and maintenance of public toilets 2.7 2.8 2.9 �

Planning with the community for the future of the Shire - - 2.9 NA

Planning for town commercial centres - 2.8 2.8 -

Maintaining sealed roads 2.7 2.8 2.8 -

Maintaining unsealed roads 2.4 2.6 2.8 �

Council responsiveness to community requests 2.4 2.7 2.8 -

Council operated Youth services and facilities 2.5 2.7 2.7* NA

Appearance and adequacy of public toilets - 2.5 2.7 �

* Indicates wording changes between measures and therefore comparison is not possible.


Key results:

� When comparing the mean satisfaction scores achieved in this measure to those in 2009, 11

services and facilities recorded statistically lower mean scores than 2009. These included:

'Appearance & adequacy of community centres & community halls', 'Operation of the

Regional Art Gallery', 'Protection of Aboriginal heritage and sites', 'Protection of European

heritage values and buildings', 'Social and cultural planning', 'Appearance and presentation of

the town centres', 'Promotion of Tourism and recognition of brand', 'Operation of quality water

services', 'Sewage and septic services', 'Clean lines of creeks and waterways', and 'Control of

dogs and cats'.

� In comparison 5 services and facilities statistically increased in importance, these included: 'The

way trees are managed on both private and public land', 'Maintaining unsealed roads',

'Appearance and adequacy of sporting fields', 'Appearance and adequacy of public toilets',

and 'Cleaning and maintenance of public toilets'.

� Results showed that 'Operation of library services' was the only Council service to achieve a

mean satisfaction score that placed it in the 'High' range.

� Of the 39 services and facilities, 26 attained mean scores that placed them into the 'Medium'

satisfaction range, while 12 were classified as having a 'Low' level of satisfaction amongst the

community. The 12 services and facilities with 'Low' levels of satisfaction overall were: '

Promoting economic development and business growth', ' Weed Control and protection of

natural bush land', ' Consulting and engaging with the community', ' Appearance & adequacy

of community centres & community halls', ' Cleaning and maintenance of public toilets', '

Planning with the community for the future of the Shire', ' Planning for town commercial

centres', ' Maintaining sealed roads', ' Maintaining unsealed roads', ' Council responsiveness to

community requests', ' Council operated Youth services and facilities', and ' Appearance and

adequacy of public toilets'.


3 PRIORITISING SERVICES AND FACILTIES

Given the range of services and facilities Council has to manage, it can often be a difficult task

to prioritise. The shear number of services and facilities under management can diffuse focus

and distract attention away from the areas of critical importance to improving resident

satisfaction. This section of the report aims to identify the key drivers of resident satisfaction via a

deeper analysis of the importance and satisfaction scores presented in the previous section.

3.1 QUADRANT ANALYSIS

Quadrant analysis is a useful way of simultaneously analysing the stated importance a service

holds for residents against their satisfaction with the provision of that service. To do this, mean

satisfaction scores are plotted against mean importance scores for each Council service or

facility. In order to form the quadrants (or opportunity matrix) that separate higher and lower

level priority services combined mean importance and satisfaction scores were calculated for

the entire set of 39 council services and facilities. These scores were: Importance score = 4.24 &

Satisfaction score = 3.15. Thus, for example, services or facilities with a mean importance score

of less than 4.24 (i.e. a score lower than the overall mean importance score), were classified as

having ‘lower’ importance. Conversely, services or facilities with a mean score above 4.24 were

classified as having ‘higher’ importance. The results of the quadrant analysis are displayed in

Chart and Table 3.1. Each of the four quadrants has a specific interpretation:

1. The upper right quadrant (high importance and high satisfaction) represents current council

service strengths.

2. The upper left quadrant (high importance but relatively lower satisfaction) denotes services

where satisfaction should be improved.

3. The lower left quadrant (relatively lower importance and relatively lower satisfaction)

represents lower priority services.

4. The lower right quadrant (relatively lower importance and high satisfaction) is often

interpreted as representing ‘overkill’ services where effort exceeds expectations.

The attributes in the upper left quadrant are all candidates for immediate attention. Residents

placed a high importance on these attributes but also reported relatively lower satisfaction.


Graph 3.1 Quadrant analysis for all services and facilities

Youth services

Child Services

Facilities for elderly

Facilities for disabled

Community centres

Art Gallery

Library services

Aboriginal heritage

European heritage values

Social & cultural planning

Merimbula Airport

Town centresEconomic development

TourismCommercial centres

Water services

Sewage & septic

General waste & recycling

Bushfire protection

Environmental monitoring

Creeks

Natural bush land

Residential & rural lands

Trees on both private &

public land Dogs & cats

Sealed roads

Unsealed roads

Car parking

Parks, Playgrounds &

Reserves

Sporting fields

Boat ramps

Kerb & guttering

Appearance public toilets

Maintenance public toilets

Swimming pools

Consulting

Planning future

Informing

Council responsiveness

2.8

3.3

3.8

4.3

4.8

2.5 3.0 3.5

satisfaction

importance


Table 3.1 Opportunities matrix for council services and facilities

2. HIGHER IMPORTANCE

LOWER SATISFACTION

1. HIGHER IMPORTANCE

HIGHER SATISFACTION

• Appearance and presentation of the town centres

• Promoting economic development and business

growth

• Promotion of Tourism and recognition of brand

• Planning for town commercial centres

• Clean lines of creeks and waterways

• Weed Control and protection of natural bush land

• The way residential and rural lands are being developed

• Maintaining sealed roads

• Maintaining unsealed roads • Adequacy and maintenance of car parking in

the town centres

• Appearance and adequacy of public toilets

• Cleaning and maintenance of public toilets

• Consulting and engaging with the community

• Planning with the community for the future of the Shire

• Informing the community of Council decisions, activities and services

• Council responsiveness to community requests

• Operation of Library services

• Operation of quality water services

• Sewage and septic services

• General waste and recycling collection

• Planning and implementing bushfire protection

• Environmental monitoring and protection

• Appearance and adequacy of Parks, Playgrounds and Reserves

• Appearance and adequacy of sporting fields

3. LOWER IMPORTANCE

LOWER SATISFACTION

4. LOWER IMPORTANCE

HIGHER SATISFACTION

• Council operated Youth services and facilities • Council operated services and facilities for people

with disability

• Appearance and adequacy of community centres and community halls

• Social and cultural planning

• The way trees are managed on both private and public land.

• Adequacy and maintenance of kerb and guttering

• Council operated Children's Services • Council operated services and facilities for

the elderly

• Operation of the Regional Art Gallery

• Protection of Aboriginal heritage and sites

• Protection of European heritage values and buildings

• Development and operation of Merimbula

Airport

• Control of dogs and cats • Adequacy and maintenance of boat ramps

and foreshore areas • Operation of swimming pools or aquatic

centres


Table 3.2 Quadrant analysis of Council services and facilities - comparison from 2009 to 2012

Quadrant

Position

2009

Quadrant

Position

2012

Change

Operation of Library services* 4 1 NA

Operation of quality water services 1 1 ↔

Sewage and septic services 1 1 ↔

General waste and recycling collection* 1 1 NA

Planning and implementing bushfire protection* 1 1 NA

Environmental monitoring and protection 1 1 ↔

Appearance and adequacy of Parks, Playgrounds and Reserves 4 1 �

Appearance and adequacy of sporting fields 4 1 �

Appearance and presentation of the town centres 3 2 � Promoting economic development and business growth* 2 2 NA

Promotion of Tourism and recognition of brand 2 2 ↔

Planning for town commercial centres 2 2 ↔

Clean lines of creeks and waterways 1 2 � Weed Control and protection of natural bush land* 1 2 NA

The way residential and rural lands are being developed 3 2 � Maintaining sealed roads 2 2 ↔

Maintaining unsealed roads 3 2 � Adequacy and maintenance of car parking in the town centres* 2 2 NA

Appearance and adequacy of public toilets 2 2 ↔

Cleaning and maintenance of public toilets 2 2 ↔

Consulting and engaging with the community 2 2 NA

Planning with the community for the future of the Shire* - 2 NA

Informing the community of Council decisions, activities and services 2 2 ↔

Council responsiveness to community requests 2 2 ↔

Council operated Youth services and facilities* 2 3 NA

Council operated services and facilities for people with disability - 3 NA

Appearance and adequacy of community centres and community halls 3 3 ↔

Social and cultural planning 3 3 ↔

The way trees are managed on both private and public land 2 3 LPQ

Adequacy and maintenance of kerb and guttering* 3 3 NA

Council operated Children's Services* 4 4 NA

Council operated services and facilities for the elderly* 1 4 NA

Operation of the Regional Art Gallery 4 4 ↔

Protection of Aboriginal heritage and sites 4 4 ↔

Protection of European heritage values and buildings 4 4 ↔

Development and operation of Merimbula Airport 4 4 ↔

Control of dogs and cats 4 4 ↔

Adequacy and maintenance of boat ramps and foreshore areas* 4 4 NA

Operation of swimming pools or aquatic centres* 4 4 NA

* Denotes word change from previous measure � Improvement in quadrant from previous measure

� Deterioration in quadrant from previous measure LPQ - Denotes movement from previous measure to a Lower Priority Quadrant


Key results:

� Quadrant analysis found two services and facilities that have improved their position in the

quadrant from 2009 to 2012; these include 'Appearance and adequacy of Parks, Playgrounds

and Reserves', and ' Appearance and adequacy of sporting fields'.

� Results also showed four services and facilities that have worsened with regards to their position

in the quadrant from 2009 to 2012; these include 'Appearance and presentation of the town

centres', 'Clean lines of creeks and waterways', 'The way residential and rural lands are being

developed', and ' Maintaining unsealed roads'.


3.2 GAP ANALYSIS

Despite its usefulness, quadrant analysis is not a complete priority assessment tool. For example,

it does not explicitly identify the gaps between importance and satisfaction. It is possible that a

large gap could exist between importance and satisfaction, even though a service or facility

appeared in the ‘high importance and high satisfaction’ quadrant.

Consequently, gap analysis was used as the second component in analysing the results. Gap

measures were calculated by subtracting the mean satisfaction score from the mean

importance score for each attribute. Usually, the larger the gap between importance and

satisfaction, the larger the gap between Council’s performance in provision of a service and

residents’ expectations

Gap scores are presented in Table 3.3. The table ranks services and facilities from highest gaps

to lowest gaps. Those services with a gap score significantly above the mean gap score for all

services (ξ=1.20) were given top priority (i.e. a rating of 1). Services with a gap score statistically

equal to the mean gap were given second priority (rating of 2) and services with a gap score

significantly below the mean gap were given third priority (rating of 3).


Table 3.3 Performance gaps for Council services and facilities

Council Services and Facilities

Performance

Gap

Priority

Level

2009

Priority

Level

2012

Appearance and adequacy of public toilets 1.89 1 1

Maintaining sealed roads 1.87 1 1

Cleaning and maintenance of public toilets 1.79 1 1

Planning with the community for the future of the Shire* 1.77 NA 1

Council responsiveness to community requests 1.76 1 1

Consulting and engaging with the community* 1.70 NA 1

Maintaining unsealed roads 1.67 1 1

Informing the community of Council decisions, activities and services 1.59 1 1

Promoting economic development and business growth* 1.52 NA 1

Weed Control and protection of natural bush land* 1.52 NA 1

Planning for town commercial centres 1.49 1 1

Clean lines of creeks and waterways 1.48 1 1

Appearance and presentation of the town centres 1.39 2 1

The way residential and rural lands are being developed 1.30 2 1

Council operated services and facilities for people with disability* 1.32 NA 2

Council operated Youth services and facilities* 1.31 NA 2

Adequacy and maintenance of car parking in the town centres* 1.27 NA 2

Council operated services and facilities for the elderly 1.23 2 2

Promotion of Tourism and recognition of brand 1.20 2 2

The way trees are managed on both private and public land 1.18 1 2

Operation of quality water services 1.12 3 2

Environmental monitoring and protection 1.11 3 3

Planning and implementing bushfire protection* 1.07 NA 3

Appearance and adequacy of Parks, Playgrounds and Reserves 1.03 3 3

Sewage and septic services 1.03 3 3

Appearance and adequacy of community centres and community halls 1.03 2 3

Development and operation of Merimbula Airport* 1.00 NA 3

General waste and recycling collection* 0.98 NA 3

Control of dogs and cats 0.98 3 3

Social and cultural planning 0.95 3 3

Adequacy and maintenance of kerb and guttering* 0.94 NA 3

Appearance and adequacy of sporting fields 0.70 3 3

Adequacy and maintenance of boat ramps and foreshore areas* 0.61 NA 3

Protection of Aboriginal heritage and sites 0.60 3 3

Protection of European heritage values and buildings 0.58 3 3

Operation of Library services* 0.56 NA 3

Operation of swimming pools or aquatic centres* 0.55 NA 3

Council operated Childrens Services* 0.45 NA 3

Operation of the Regional Art Gallery 0.08 3 3

* Denotes word change from 2009 to 2012 so comparisons between years is not possible


Key results:

� Gap analysis found three services and facilities that have been moved up the priority level

order from 2009 due to a widening in the performance gap; these include 'Appearance and

presentation of the town centres' and 'The way residential and rural lands are being

developed', which have gone from priority level 2 to priority level 1. 'Operation of quality water

services' was the other service with a larger expectation gap compared to 2009, going from

priority level 3, to priority level 2.

� Results also found two services that improved their gap score from 2009, these were 'The way

trees are managed on both private and public land', which was previously at priority level 1

and is now a priority level 2 and the 'Appearance and adequacy of community centres and

community halls', which is now at priority level 3.


Table 3.4 outlines the services and facilities that were identified as not meeting resident

expectations in either quadrant analysis or gap analysis. If a service or facility has a tick in both

the quadrant analysis box and the gap analysis box, it is a good confirmation and this area

should be given priority.

Table 3.4 Quadrant and Gap analysis summary

Identified as not meeting resident

expectations in …

Quadrant

Analysis (Higher importance / lower satisfaction)

Gap Analysis (Higher than

average gap

between importance and satisfaction)

Appearance and adequacy of public toilets � � Maintaining sealed roads � � Cleaning and maintenance of public toilets � � Planning with the community for the future of the Shire � � Council responsiveness to community requests � � Consulting and engaging with the community � � Maintaining unsealed roads � � Informing the community of Council decisions, activities and services � � Promoting economic development and business growth � � Weed Control and protection of natural bush land � � Planning for town commercial centres � � Clean lines of creeks and waterways � � Appearance and presentation of the town centres � � The way residential and rural lands are being developed � �

Promotion of Tourism and recognition of brand �

Adequacy and maintenance of car parking in the town centres �


Table 3.5 outlines the services and facilities that Council is delivering on with regards to resident

expectations. These were services and facilities highlighted in both quadrant and gap analysis.

Table 3.5 Quadrant and Gap analysis summary - Services where Council is performing well

Identified as exceeding resident

expectations in …

Quadrant

Analysis (Higher importance / Higher satisfaction)

Gap Analysis (Lower than average gap

between

importance and satisfaction)

Environmental monitoring and protection � � Planning and implementing bushfire protection � � Appearance and adequacy of Parks, Playgrounds and Reserves � � Sewage and septic services � � General waste and recycling collection � � Appearance and adequacy of sporting fields � � Operation of Library services � �


4 COUNCIL PERFORMANCE

At the end of the first section of the questionnaire, residents were asked to rate the overall

performance of Bega Valley Shire Council. The results are provided in graph 4.1.

Question: Given the answers you have just provided, how would you rate your overall

satisfaction with Bega Valley Shire Council as an organisation?

4.1 OVERALL SATISFACTION WITH COUNCIL’S PERFORMANCE

Graph 4.1 Overall performance of Council (n = 750)

22.7

40.7

35.4

1.2

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Low Medium High Can't say

%

Key results:

� Over one third of all residents (35.4%) gave a high satisfaction rating (4 or 5) when asked how

satisfied they were with Bega Valley Shire Council as an organisation.

� Just under one in four residents (22.7%) provided a low satisfaction rating (1 or 2), while 40.7%

provided a medium rating.

� The mean score achieved in this measure (3.13 out of 5) was statistically the same as that

recorded in 2009.

Mean Score (2012) 3.13




Table 4.1 Overall satisfaction with Council performance

Satisfaction rating

(% of residents)

Group

Can’t

say

Low

(1-2)

Medium

(3)

High

(4-5)

Mean

Score

(2012)

Mean

Score

(2009)

Mean

Score

(2006)

Overall 1.2 22.7 40.7 35.4 3.13 3.15 2.9

Age group

18 – 29 0.0 15.3 29.6 55.1 3.42 3.28 3.0

30 – 49 0.0 29.5 41.0 29.5 2.99 3.05 2.7

50 – 64 1.4 23.6 43.5 31.5 3.05 3.04 2.8

65+ 3.2 15.7 42.7 38.4 3.29 3.36 3.1

Sex

Male 0.0 25.4 40.8 33.8 3.06 3.16 2.8

Female 2.3 20.2 40.8 36.8 3.20 3.14 2.9

Area

Eden and Surrounds 0.0 23.3 37.8 38.9 3.18 3.13 3.0

Merimbula and surrounds 4.0 23.9 38.9 33.2 3.10 2.90 2.6

Bega and surrounds 1.4 17.4 46.8 34.4 3.20 3.32 2.9

Bermagui and surrounds 2.4 14.3 42.9 40.5 3.27 3.24 3.0

Rural 0.7 23.8 44.4 31.1 3.06 3.29 3.2

Significantly higher relative to red cells Significantly lower relative to green cells

Key results:

� Further analysis showed that older residents, (those aged 65 years plus) as well as younger

residents (18 to 24 years) were more satisfied with the overall performance of Council,

compared to residents aged 30 to 64 years. This was also the case in 2009.

� Female residents also attained a statistically higher mean score (3.20) than male residents

(3.06).

� There were no statistically significant differences amongst results at an area level.


Residents that provided a 'dissatisfied' (Low) rating with Council's overall performance (22.7%),

that is a rating of 1 or 2 out of 5, were subsequently asked why they felt the way they did about

Council. The results are shown in Graph 4.2.

Question: You said that you were dissatisfied with Council's overall performance. In just a few

words, what is your main reason for feeling that way?

Graph 4.2 Overall performance of Council (n = 174)

2.3

3.1

1.2

1.3

3.1

3.2

3.3

3.7

5.1

6.4

8.2

8.5

13.8

17.8

19.0

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20

N/A

Other

Too focused on Bega

Lack of facilities available

Councillors have own agenda

Wasting money in the wrong areas

Eden is left out

Rural areas left out

Lack of maintenance of infrastructure

Corruption within Council / favouring large businesses

Hard to deal with

No planning or foresight in the Shire

Rates are too high for the service received

Council is incompetent / not performing

Not responsive to community / lack of consultation

% (n=174)

* Proportions are out of dissatisfied residents ONLY (22.7%, n=174) and not of the entire sample.

Key results:

� One in five dissatisfied residents (19.0%) felt that Council was not responsive and lacked

consultation with the community. A similar proportion (17.8%) felt Council was incompetent and

was not performing. A further 13.8% said Council was not performing because rates were too

high for the services they receive.


5 STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

Residents were asked to comment on what they felt the priority action areas are for the Shire

over the next 10 years. Subsequent to this they were also asked what role they felt Council

should play in addressing these priorities. The results to these questions are found in this section.

5.1 AWARENESS OF COUNCIL'S LONG TERM COMMUNITY PLAN

Question: Over the past three years Council has been working with the community and other

agencies to make the Bega Valley Shire a better place. Are you aware of the Council's long

term community plan and other various plans?

Graph 5.1 Awareness of Council's Long Term Community Plan

%

Group Yes No Don't

know

Overall 32.0 66.1 1.9

Age group

18 – 29 22.7 77.3 0.0

30 – 49 34.4 64.1 1.5

50 – 64 35.2 62.0 2.8

65+ 29.9 67.9 2.2

Sex

Male 37.0 60.8 2.2

Female 27.4 70.9 1.8

Area

Eden and Surrounds 27.5 68.1 4.4

Merimbula and surrounds 32.4 65.2 2.4

Bega and surrounds 37.6 61.0 1.4

Bermagui and surrounds 31.0 66.7 2.4

Rural 27.2 70.9 2.0

Significantly higher relative to red cells Significantly lower relative to green cells

Key results:

� Overall, one in three residents (32.0%) are aware of Council's long term community plan and

other various plans.

� A greater proportion of male residents (37.0%) were found to be aware of Council's long term

community plan, compared to female residents (27.4%).


5.2 PRIORITY ACTION AREAS

Question: Thinking at the big picture level consider the following. What do you see as the

priority action areas for our Shire over the next 10 years?

Graph 5.2 First priority mentioned

11.2

1.7

0.6

1.0

1.4

1.8

2.3

2.7

2.8

3.2

3.2

4.8

4.8

5.5

6.3

6.3

7.6

9.4

10.5

12.8

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14

Could not mention a priority

Other

Provision of education services

Services and facilities for the elderly

Keeping rates down / better financial management

More attention / funding for Eden

Economic / population growth and development

Upgrade airport facilities

Better council communication with the community

Water and waster management

Improved general appearance

Protecting the environment / heritage

Improve public facilities / infrastructure

Youth / child services and facilities

Commercial and industrial development of the area

Increasing employment opportunities

Improving health services / hospital

Planning for growth / development / sustainability

Promoting tourism

Management of roads / pathways / parking

% (n=750)

Key results:

� The number one 'first' response given by residents in relation to the priority action area for the

Shire over the next 10 years was 'Management of roads / pathways / parking', which was

mentioned by 12.8% of residents. This was followed by 'Promoting tourism' (10.5%) and 'Planning

for growth / development / sustainability' (9.4%).


Table 5.2 outlines the roles that residents feel that Council should play in addressing the top 6

'First' responses given. The other action areas where not included in the table below as their

sample size is too small to break down any further.

Table 5.2 Role Council should play - First priority mentioned

Provider

%

Advocate

%

Planner

%

Don't know

%

Management of roads / pathways / parking 57.4 7.8 18.6 16.2

Promoting tourism 27.2 27.9 38.4 6.4

Planning for growth / development / sustainability 14.6 11.6 65.9 7.9

Improving health services / hospital 25.6 30.7 32.5 11.2

Increasing employment opportunities 11.7 37.7 41.8 8.8

Commercial and industrial development of the area 18.3 30.9 40.6 10.2

Key results:

� Close to 6 in 10 residents (57.4%) believe Council should play the role of 'Provider' when it

comes to the 'Management of roads / pathways / parking', while 18.6% feel Council should be

the 'Planner' with this provision.

� Council's role in 'Promoting Tourism' was mixed, with 27.2% saying Council should be the

'Provider' in this instance, 27.9% indicating 'Advocate' and 38.4% believing Council should play

the 'Planner'.

� Two thirds of residents (65.9%) felt Council should be the 'Planner' when it comes to 'Planning for

growth / development / sustainability.


Graph 5.4 second priority mentioned

2.0

0.8

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

1.9

2.0

2.4

3.1

3.3

3.4

3.8

4.0

4.0

5.2

5.5

6.1

7.8

27.4

11.2

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Other





Water and waster management


Services and facilities for the elderly / disabled








Promoting tourism




Could not mention a second priority


% (n=750)

Key results:

� The number one 'second' response given by residents in relation to the priority action area for

the Shire over the next 10 years was again 'Management of roads / pathways / parking', which

was mentioned by an additional 7.8% of residents. This was followed by 'Improve public facilities

/ infrastructure' 6.1%.


Table 5.3 outlines the roles that residents feel that Council should play in addressing the top 4

'First' responses given. The other action areas where not included in the table below as their

sample size is too small to break down any further.

Table 5.3 Role Council should play - Second priority mentioned

Provider

%

Advocate

%

Planner

%

Don't know

%

Management of roads / pathways / parking 57.5 12.7 29.8 0.0

Improve public facilities / infrastructure 75.7 13.0 10.0 1.3

Youth / child services and facilities 56.0 10.7 30.8 2.5

Promoting tourism 33.6 15.2 41.8 9.4

Key results:

� A similar proportion to the 'first' mentioned response, 57.5% believe Council should play the role

of 'Provider' when it comes to the 'Management of roads / pathways / parking'.

� Council's role in improving public facilities / infrastructure was very much seen as being the

'Provider' (75.7%).


Graph 5.5 Total priorities mentioned - First and second responses combined

1.7

0.6

1.8

1.4

1.0

2.3

2.8

3.2

2.7

3.2

4.8

6.3

6.3

4.8

5.5

7.6

9.4

10.5

12.8

11.2

2.0

1.2

0.8

1.4

2.0

1.9

1.6

1.8

2.4

3.3

3.8

3.1

3.4

6.1

5.5

4.0

4.0

5.2

7.8

27.4

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Other




Services and facilities for the elderly / disabled



Water and waste management










Promoting tourism



% (n=750)

1st Mentioned

2nd Mentioned

Key results:

� A total of 88.8% of residents were able to mention at least one priority action area for the Shire

over the next 10 years.

� Residents felt 'Management of roads / pathways / parking' was the number one priority for the

Shire, mentioned by one in five residents (20.6%). This was followed by 'Promoting tourism'

(15.7%) and 'Planning for growth / development / sustainability' (13.4%).


5.3 AGREEMENT STATEMENTS

Residents were asked to rate their level of agreement with regards to Council's resourcing of

the 5 key service areas. This was done on a 5 point scale, where 1 is 'Strongly disagree' and 5 is

'Strongly agree'.

Table 5.4 Council resourcing of the 5 Key Service Areas

Agreement

Statements

DK

%

(6)

Low

%

(1 – 2)

Medium

%

(3)

High

%

(4 – 5)

Mean

Sustainability: Council currently devotes adequate resources in

providing water, sewer and waste services as well as protecting the natural environment

3.4 12.2 33.2 51.2 3.56

Liveability: Council currently devotes adequate resources to

develop services and facilities to encourage cultural and social diversity and support for its community

7.1 15.5 43.4 34.0 3.30

Enterprising: Council currently devotes adequate resources to

stimulate the local economy 4.8 27.0 39.9 28.3 3.07

Accessibility: Council standards for maintaining community assets

currently meet my expectations 1.7 31.1 34.0 33.2 3.01

Leading Organisation: Council staff are well trained, responsive and

provide an innovative way for the community to be involved in

decision making

10.9 26.8 35.3 26.9 2.98

High Agreement score Medium Agreement score Low Agreement score

Key results:

� Results showed that agreement levels towards the statements on 'Sustainability',

'Liveability', 'Enterprising' and 'Accessibility' were classified as having 'Medium' agreement

status.

� The statement on 'Sustainability' attained the highest agreement levels, with 51.2% of

residents either agreeing (32.8%) or strongly agreeing (18.4%) with it.

� The second most agreed to statement was the one on 'Liveability' where one third of all

residents (34.0%) either agreed (22.3%) or strongly agreed (11.7%) with it.

� The statement concerning 'Leading Organisation' attained a 'Low' agreement rating

overall, with 26.9% agreeing highly to the statement (4 or 5 out of 5) and the same

proportion (26.8%) giving a 'Low' agreement rating of 1 or 2 out of 5.


Residents were asked how Council should fund greater investment in the five key areas.

The results are displayed in Graph 5.6.

Question: How should Council fund greater investment in these areas?

Graph 5.6 Ways to fund greater investment

1.0

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.8

0.9

0.9

1.5

1.6

2.0

2.3

2.6

3.4

3.7

4.5

5.5

11.0

56.6

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Other

Population growth

Continue as is / don't know

Borrow money

Encouraging employment

Educate / train staff

Seek advice / better planning

Communication / Consultation with the community

Develop / sell land

Through environmentally efficient methods

Promoting tourism

Private enterprise / local business

Community events / fundraisers

Seek grants

Increase rates

Cut council admin costs / red tape

Better use of current funds

Federal / State government

No response given

% (n=750)

Key results:

� 11% of residents felt that the Federal and State Government should fund the investment

needed in the 5 key areas.

� 6% of residents thought better use of current funds would assist in funding these areas.

� Over half of all residents (56.6%) could not provide a response to how Council should

fund greater investment in these 5 areas.


6 SAFETY IN AND AROUND YOUR HOME

This section is concerned with the perceived level of safety that residents feel in and around

their home and neighbourhood.

6.1 HOW SAFE YOU FEEL

Table 6.1 Safety in an around your home

Safety scale

Statements DK

(6)

Low

(1 – 2)

Medium

(3)

High

(4 – 5)

Mean

2012

Mean

2009

Walking around your town or village during the day 0.3 0.5 2.5 96.7 4.75 4.76

In your home 0.3 0.8 4.8 94.1 4.67 4.65

Walking around your town or village at night 1.5 6.4 17.5 74.6 4.12 3.69

Key results:

� Results showed that the overwhelming majority of residents felt quite safe walking around

town during the day as well as being at home, with more than 90% of residents indicating

so.

� The perceived level of safety by residents to walking around town at night was lower

than the perceived safety of walking during the day. In saying that, three out of four

residents (74.6%) still felt a 'High' level of safety. Compared to 2009 results, perceived

safety of walking at night has increased, with the mean score improving from 3.69 out of

5 to 4.12 out of 5.


7 ACCESS TO SERVICES

This section looks a range of services and facilities and tries to ascertain whether they are easy

to access for residents. Residents were asked to rate the ease of access to four types of services

in the local area on a five point scale, with 1 being not at all easy to access and 5 being very

easy to access.

Question: “How would rate the access to the following services which are provided to the

broader community but not necessarily by Council".

7.1 THE LOCATION OF YOUR HOME AND ACCESS TO SERVICES

Table 7.1 Access to services

Access scale Statements DK

(6)

Low

(1 – 2)

Medium

(3)

High

(4 – 5) Mean

Educational services including libraries 4.1 4.9 20.6 70.4 4.01

Recreational services 4.7 5.2 25.3 64.8 3.88

Retail services 0.8 6.9 27.0 65.3 3.86

Health and community services 2.1 15.4 24.6 57.8 3.63

Key results:

� Results showed that 7 out of 10 residents (70.4%) felt 'Educational services including libraries'

were quite easy to access, with 38.3% providing a rating of 4 out of 5 and a further 32.1% a 5

out of 5.

� Residents felt their level of access to 'Recreational services' as well as 'Retail services' was

about the same, with mean scores of 3.88 and 3.86 out of 5 respectively.

� Of the four statements put to residents, access to 'Health and community services' was the

lowest with 57.8% indicating access to these services was easy. This equated to a statistically

lower mean access score of 3.63.


The section deals with how Council can best reach its constituents in order to inform them

of what is going on.

Question: How do you currently receive information from Council?

7.2 CURRENTLY RECEIVE INFORMATION

Graph 7.2 Currently receive information from Council (n = 750)


1.8

0.8

0.4

0.4

0.3

0.6

0.3

1.8

4.9

3.7

46.9

16.7

57.8

5.0

0.0

0.2

0.8

1.1

1.2

1.6

2.8

9.1

11.5

13.4

16.8

18.1

1.1

58.3

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Don’t recall ever receiving info

Telephone

Library

Notice board

Council chambers / building

Tv / local news

Public meetings

Email

Word of mouth

Council website / internet

Mail / newsletters / leaflets

Radio news grabs

With rates notices

Community link page

%

2009 2012

Key results:

� Currently 58.3% of residents receive information from Council via the community link

page in the three local papers. This result is unchanged from 2009 (57.8%).

� Receiving information via direct mail (rates notices) increased significantly from 2009

where only 1.1% received information via that source, compared to 18.1% now.


� Radio news grabs is statistically unchanged from 2009, with 16.8% receiving their

information via this medium.

� Receiving information via 'mail/newsletters/leaflets' decreased significantly since 2009

where 46.9% received their information in that way, compared to 13.4% today.

7.3 PREFER TO RECEIVE INFORMATION

Question: How would you prefer to receive information from council?

Graph 7.3 Prefer to receive information from Council (n = 750)


3.1

1.2

0.1

1.0

2.3

0.2

0.7

0.9

0.7

9.5

0.0

13.7

4.4

54.6

40.7

3.4

0.4

0.2

0.6

1.0

1.1

1.4

2.1

2.9

4.8

6.9

14.3

15.3

34.0

41.5

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Don't know

Other

Notice board

Telephone

Public meetings

Council chambers / building

Tv / local news

Word of mouth

With rates notices

Email

Social Media

Radio news grabs

Council website / internet

Mail / newsletters / leaflets

Newspaper/Community link page

%

2009 2012

*Respondents could select multiple media

Key results:

� Results showed that the proportion of residents that prefer to receive their information

via the 'newspaper / Community link page' has remained steady since 2009, with 41.4%

nominating this as their preferred source.


� In 2009 'mail / newsletters / leaflets' was the number one preferred source for receiving

information for 54.6% of residents. In 2012 this source now ranks second and the

proportion preferring this source now accounts for one third of residents (34.0%).

� Preference for receiving information via Council's website or the internet is up on 2009,

with 15.3% indicating they would prefer to receive information in this way.

� Radio news grabs are statistically unchanged from 2009, currently standing at 14.3%.


7.4 INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM COUNCIL

Question: Now concerning the information you currently receive from Council. To what extent

do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

Table 8.1 Information received from Council

Agreement scale Statements DK

(6)

Low

(1 – 2)

Medium

(3)

High

(4 – 5) Mean

The information I receive from Council is accurate 9.5 10.2 31.5 48.8 3.58

The information I receive from Council is up to date 9.4 11.5 30.7 48.4 3.57

The information I receive from Council is informative 6.1 13.5 35.5 44.9 3.44

Key results:

� The mean agreement scores for the three statements that were put to residents were

classified as ‘medium’ level agreement scores.

� About half of all residents (49%) provided a high agreement rating (4 or 5) with the

statement ‘the information I receive from Council is accurate’.

� 48% of residents also gave a high rating (4 or 5) to the statement ‘the information I

receive from Council is up to date’.

� A total of 45% of residents agreed highly with the statement ‘the information I receive

from Council is informative’.


8 APPENDIX

8.1 SURVEY METHODOLOGY

SAMPLE DESIGN

A telephone-based survey, aiming to secure a response from 750 residents (around 150 from

each of the following areas: Eden and surrounds, Merimbula and surrounds, Bega and

surrounds, Bermagui and surrounds and rural areas) from throughout the Bega Valley Shire

Council area, was used. The survey unit was permanent residents of the Bega Valley Shire

Council area for 6 months or longer. Respondents also had to be aged 18 years or older to

qualify for an interview. The 2006 Census was used to establish quotas to ensure a good

distribution of response by age and sex was achieved (See Appendix 2).

The sample base for the survey was the electronic White Pages. This sample is known to be sub

optimal, as the churn of telephone numbers due to people moving and new numbers being

added as dwellings are occupied affects about 12% to 15% of possible numbers. To deal with

these issues, we began with the population of numbers listed in the telephone book and added

new and unlisted numbers using a technique called the ‘half open’ method. In this method, all

numbers were incremented by five to create new numbers in the ‘gaps’ between the listed

numbers. The resultant universe of numbers was then de-duplicated to remove any numbers

that may be repeated. This process was repeated five times to create a new, theoretical

universe of telephone numbers. This provided the opportunity for all potential numbers to be

selected in the sample. This equal and known opportunity for selection is the first criterion of

good random sampling.

Once the potential universe of numbers had been generated, a computer programme was

used to randomise the database. Following this, another computer programme was used to

take a sequential sample (e.g. every 110th number) from the database. Unique strata within the

numbers universe were developed for each planning area. Therefore the sample was

geographically stratified and evenly distributed within strata. This process gave a very even

distribution of potential numbers across the whole survey area and within the two survey sub

areas. Every household therefore had an equal and known chance of selection and every

part of the survey area received a fair proportional representation in the final sample drawn.


DATA COLLECTION

Interviews were conducted over the period 30th October to 14th November on weekday

evenings between 4.30 and 8.30 p.m. If the selected person was unavailable at that time to do

the survey, call backs were scheduled for a later time or day. Unanswered numbers were

retried three times throughout the period of the survey. These procedures ensure a good

sampling process from the sample frame used so that statistical inferences could be made

about the entire resident population.

Non-private numbers and faxes reached during the selection process were excluded from the

sample.

The survey was implemented under IQCA quality guidelines. Interviews were conducted using

our computer-aided telephone interviewing (CATI) system. Continuous interviewer monitoring

was used and post interview validations were conducted within five days of the close of the

survey.

RESPONSE PERFORMANCE

At the end of the survey period, 750 completed interviews had been collected. Table A2 below

shows the compliance rate achieved for the entire sample. The compliance rate is the number

of refusals as a proportion of completed surveys plus refusals. A compliance rate of 62% is a

very good result.

Table A2 Survey compliance rate

Response sequence Outcome

Interviews 750

Refusals 454

Valid contacts (Excludes disqualified – businesses, out of area, under 16yrs etc) 1204

Compliance rate 62%


DEMOGRAPHICS

Table A3 shows the gender and age composition of the sample compared to the ABS 2006

Census figures. The table demonstrates a very good age by sex distribution was achieved.

Given the level of response to the survey and the fact that it represents a good random cross-

section of the Council area the findings presented in this report provide a sound basis for

gauging community opinion.

Table A3 Bega Valley Shire Council area - Age by Sex Distribution

Proportions (%)

Males Females Total Age

Sample Census Sample Census Sample Census

18-29 years 1% 6% 2% 6% 3% 12%

30-49 years 8% 16% 11% 18% 19% 34%

50-64 years 18% 15% 23% 15% 41% 30%

65+ years 18% 12% 19% 13% 38% 25%

Total 45% 49% 55% 51% 100% 100%

Table A4 Catchment Areas

Areas surveyed

Numbers of

surveys

collected

Population Proportion

collected

Proportion

of total

area

Eden and surrounds 153 2834 20% 12%

Merimbula and Surrounds 154 7130 21% 33%

Bega and surrounds 154 6450 21% 29%

Bermagui and surrounds 132 1260 18% 6%

Rural 157 4450 21% 20%

Total 750 22124 100% 100%

SURVEY ACCURACY

When analysing results for the entire sample, the maximum error rate will be about ±3.8% at the

95% confidence level, assuming a proportional response of 50%. Put another way, we can be

confident that if the survey were to be repeated there would be a 95% chance that the new

result would lie within ±3.8% of the result achieved in this survey.


8.2 SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN MEAN IMPORTANCE BY KEY DEMOGRAPHICS

Graph A1 Mean importance by key demographics

Characteristic Overall

Sub-group Male Female 18 to 29 30 to 49 50 to 64 65+ Eden Merimbula Bega Bermagui Rural

Base 336 414 20 144 304 282 153 154 154 132 157 750

Service / Facility

Council operated Children's Services 2.74 2.99 3.56 3.29 2.45 2.34 2.86 2.66 2.65 2.54 2.44 2.87

Council operated Youth services and facilities 3.17 3.55 4.17 3.56 3.13 2.92 3.13 3.32 3.06 3.16 3.21 3.37

Council operated services and facilities for the elderly 4.16 4.20 4.42 4.10 4.01 4.36 4.23 4.30 4.11 4.31 3.97 4.18

Council operated services and facilities for people with disability 3.95 4.24 4.28 4.25 3.84 4.12 4.05 4.18 4.04 4.03 3.86 4.10

Appearance and adequacy of community centres and community halls 3.73 3.99 3.51 3.92 3.96 3.86 3.98 3.77 3.96 4.07 4.00 3.86

Operation of the Regional Art Gallery 2.98 3.46 3.20 3.04 3.27 3.50 3.17 3.25 3.54 3.03 3.28 3.23

Operation of Library services 4.13 4.38 4.19 4.33 4.26 4.20 4.38 4.15 4.33 4.35 4.27 4.26

Protection of Aboriginal heritage and sites 3.52 3.93 4.01 3.79 3.61 3.64 3.51 3.74 3.66 3.46 3.78 3.73

Protection of European heritage values and buildings 3.54 3.69 3.60 3.54 3.62 3.75 3.69 3.64 3.67 3.50 3.65 3.62

Social and cultural planning 3.61 4.06 3.99 3.83 3.84 3.78 3.87 3.89 3.87 3.72 3.72 3.84

Development and operation of Merimbula Airport 3.84 4.30 3.71 4.24 4.05 4.05 4.32 4.32 4.04 3.74 3.77 4.08

Appearance and presentation of the town centres 4.24 4.45 3.77 4.45 4.47 4.37 4.54 4.58 4.40 4.21 4.15 4.35

Promoting economic development and business growth 4.23 4.50 4.09 4.39 4.43 4.44 4.71 4.50 4.35 4.21 4.31 4.37

Promotion of Tourism and recognition of brand 4.20 4.40 3.76 4.35 4.36 4.45 4.57 4.54 4.33 4.23 4.14 4.30

Planning for town commercial centres 4.26 4.38 4.19 4.27 4.39 4.39 4.50 4.47 4.37 4.26 4.15 4.32

Operation of quality water services 4.61 4.64 4.79 4.66 4.48 4.66 4.70 4.83 4.66 4.70 3.96 4.63

Sewage and septic services 4.46 4.59 4.53 4.50 4.41 4.69 4.66 4.78 4.59 4.68 3.91 4.53

General waste and recycling collection 4.59 4.72 4.77 4.65 4.58 4.71 4.76 4.77 4.70 4.74 4.31 4.66

Planning and implementing bushfire protection 4.51 4.77 4.62 4.48 4.71 4.84 4.80 4.81 4.63 4.58 4.68 4.65

Environmental monitoring and protection 4.19 4.60 4.61 4.38 4.38 4.34 4.27 4.49 4.40 4.27 4.31 4.40

Clean lines of creeks and waterways 4.43 4.67 4.50 4.55 4.54 4.60 4.62 4.70 4.48 4.52 4.47 4.55

Weed Control and protection of natural bush land 4.32 4.55 4.42 4.41 4.41 4.54 4.43 4.55 4.42 4.35 4.48 4.44

The way residential and rural lands are being developed 4.21 4.41 4.10 4.26 4.46 4.33 4.29 4.42 4.44 4.45 4.22 4.31

The way trees are managed on both private and public land. 4.04 4.24 3.90 4.09 4.22 4.28 4.25 4.28 4.19 4.18 4.10 4.14

Control of dogs and cats 3.88 4.31 3.71 4.10 4.12 4.30 4.38 4.30 4.15 4.25 3.92 4.10

Maintaining sealed roads 4.58 4.67 4.47 4.62 4.61 4.73 4.78 4.77 4.56 4.67 4.54 4.63

Maintaining unsealed roads 4.34 4.52 4.29 4.48 4.48 4.37 4.48 4.36 4.40 4.26 4.68 4.43

Adequacy and maintenance of car parking in the town centres 4.14 4.49 4.44 4.15 4.26 4.58 4.42 4.59 4.35 4.27 4.08 4.32

Appearance and adequacy of Parks, Playgrounds and Reserves 4.30 4.51 4.31 4.45 4.40 4.40 4.49 4.47 4.47 4.52 4.19 4.41

Appearance and adequacy of sporting fields 4.21 4.31 4.24 4.30 4.21 4.28 4.41 4.33 4.25 4.40 4.03 4.26

Adequacy and maintenance of boat ramps and foreshore areas 4.12 4.25 3.90 4.23 4.17 4.30 4.62 4.38 4.05 4.44 3.93 4.19

Adequacy and maintenance of kerb and guttering 3.93 4.19 4.06 3.81 4.08 4.42 4.31 4.44 4.10 4.05 3.72 4.06

Appearance and adequacy of public toilets 4.49 4.73 4.43 4.65 4.54 4.73 4.69 4.76 4.52 4.68 4.59 4.61

Cleaning and maintenance of public toilets 4.56 4.78 4.47 4.67 4.68 4.78 4.72 4.83 4.61 4.74 4.70 4.68

Operation of swimming pools or aquatic centres 3.99 4.31 4.21 4.16 4.12 4.18 4.24 4.13 4.21 4.10 4.13 4.16

Consulting and engaging with the community 4.53 4.61 4.42 4.49 4.66 4.65 4.53 4.65 4.65 4.58 4.60 4.57

Planning with the community for the future of the Shire 4.60 4.76 4.55 4.69 4.70 4.73 4.66 4.84 4.62 4.67 4.69 4.68

Informing the community of Council decisions, activities and services 4.47 4.64 4.43 4.51 4.60 4.63 4.56 4.67 4.59 4.59 4.53 4.56

Council responsiveness to community requests 4.47 4.60 4.41 4.60 4.50 4.55 4.56 4.54 4.56 4.58 4.51 4.54

Cells with sig. higher scores relative to yellow cells within particular demographic.

Cells with sig. lower scores relative to green cells within particular demographic.

Gender Age Area


8.3 SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN MEAN SATISFACTION BY KEY DEMOGRAPHICS

Graph A2 Mean satisfaction by key demographics


Sub-group Male Female 18 to 34 35 to 49 50 to 64 65+ Eden Meriumbula Bega Bermagui Rural

Base 336 414 20 144 304 282 153 154 154 132 157 750

Service / Facility

Council operated Children's Services 3.14 3.53 3.32 3.38 3.18 3.56 3.44 3.14 3.68 3.27 3.19 3.35

Council operated Youth services and facilities 2.42 2.86 2.95 2.48 2.49 3.01 2.68 2.66 2.71 2.66 2.67 2.67

Council operated services and facilities for the elderly 3.10 3.36 3.37 3.11 3.09 3.47 3.35 3.34 3.33 3.20 2.92 3.23

Council operated services and facilities for people with disability 2.93 3.12 3.31 2.91 2.89 3.23 3.18 3.14 3.01 2.88 2.86 3.03

Appearance and adequacy of community centres and community halls 2.89 2.99 3.24 2.91 2.73 3.08 2.96 2.87 2.70 3.69 2.99 2.94

Operation of the Regional Art Gallery 3.26 3.56 3.27 3.38 3.49 3.51 3.16 3.35 3.69 3.30 3.55 3.42

Operation of Library services 3.77 3.86 3.74 3.79 3.72 4.02 3.57 3.79 3.99 4.13 3.80 3.82

Protection of Aboriginal heritage and sites 3.20 3.38 3.39 3.36 3.15 3.31 3.35 3.29 3.32 3.10 3.13 3.29

Protection of European heritage values and buildings 3.10 3.37 3.50 3.29 3.04 3.18 3.36 3.32 3.07 3.14 2.96 3.23

Social and cultural planning 2.91 3.11 3.13 3.07 2.81 3.09 3.10 2.99 2.96 2.95 2.96 3.02

Development and operation of Merimbula Airport 3.02 3.32 3.09 3.18 3.13 3.25 3.15 3.22 3.18 3.26 3.17 3.17

Appearance and presentation of the town centres 2.91 3.03 3.30 2.97 2.84 2.95 2.89 2.83 3.01 3.28 2.88 2.97

Promoting economic development and business growth 2.78 2.98 3.15 2.78 2.82 2.93 2.46 2.81 3.12 2.98 2.84 2.88

Promotion of Tourism and recognition of brand 2.97 3.27 3.54 3.13 2.95 3.10 2.95 3.03 3.20 3.27 2.94 3.12

Planning for town commercial centres 2.74 2.95 3.19 2.82 2.70 2.87 2.57 2.74 3.01 2.78 2.79 2.85

Operation of quality water services 3.65 3.56 3.58 3.51 3.51 3.86 3.80 3.74 3.60 3.63 3.33 3.60

Sewage and septic services 3.45 3.70 3.76 3.40 3.39 3.94 3.83 3.66 3.73 3.82 3.09 3.58

General waste and recycling collection 3.60 3.78 4.21 3.61 3.42 3.86 3.33 3.90 3.85 3.62 3.15 3.69

Planning and implementing bushfire protection 3.41 3.72 3.83 3.59 3.38 3.62 3.41 3.52 3.71 3.40 3.44 3.57

Environmental monitoring and protection 3.25 3.36 3.89 3.37 3.01 3.22 3.27 3.25 3.20 3.13 3.04 3.31

Clean lines of creeks and waterways 2.89 3.26 3.16 3.17 2.90 3.09 3.20 3.22 2.87 3.22 2.89 3.07

Weed Control and protection of natural bush land 2.70 3.14 3.05 3.06 2.73 2.88 2.99 3.07 2.80 2.92 2.59 2.92

The way residential and rural lands are being developed 2.95 3.13 3.43 3.07 2.74 3.15 3.06 3.07 3.01 3.05 2.74 3.04

The way trees are managed on both private and public land. 2.94 3.00 3.28 2.94 2.80 3.04 2.90 3.03 2.83 2.87 2.95 2.97

Control of dogs and cats 3.09 3.25 3.31 3.19 3.13 3.13 3.09 3.30 3.12 3.02 2.99 3.17

Maintaining sealed roads 2.71 2.80 2.69 2.70 2.77 2.87 2.80 2.52 2.92 3.24 2.90 2.76

Maintaining unsealed roads 2.78 2.79 3.12 2.72 2.73 2.76 2.76 2.64 2.89 3.03 2.65 2.79

Adequacy and maintenance of car parking in the town centres 3.04 3.10 3.02 3.05 3.05 3.14 3.35 2.72 3.26 3.42 3.19 3.07

Appearance and adequacy of Parks, Playgrounds and Reserves 3.39 3.39 3.51 3.29 3.36 3.51 3.52 3.48 3.36 3.65 3.18 3.39

Appearance and adequacy of sporting fields 3.59 3.65 3.88 3.51 3.61 3.67 3.64 3.60 3.70 3.68 3.50 3.62

Adequacy and maintenance of boat ramps and foreshore areas 3.62 3.70 3.76 3.74 3.51 3.65 3.60 3.83 3.53 3.55 3.39 3.66

Adequacy and maintenance of kerb and guttering 3.07 3.20 3.12 3.23 3.18 2.97 3.16 3.01 3.18 3.24 3.13 3.14

Appearance and adequacy of public toilets 2.77 2.67 2.76 2.66 2.75 2.74 2.86 2.68 2.66 2.90 2.75 2.72

Cleaning and maintenance of public toilets 3.03 2.75 3.07 2.77 2.95 2.89 3.07 2.80 2.86 2.98 2.90 2.89

Operation of swimming pools or aquatic centres 3.61 3.79 3.87 3.68 3.63 3.74 3.42 3.82 3.76 3.43 3.58 3.70

Consulting and engaging with the community 2.72 3.03 3.14 2.83 2.75 2.96 2.87 2.93 2.85 2.86 2.77 2.88

Planning with the community for the future of the Shire 2.80 3.01 3.25 2.89 2.72 2.96 2.89 2.89 2.88 2.80 2.80 2.91

Informing the community of Council decisions, activities and services 2.92 3.00 3.31 2.95 2.79 2.97 2.95 2.97 2.85 2.95 2.83 2.96

Council responsiveness to community requests 2.76 2.79 3.01 2.81 2.61 2.79 2.75 2.76 2.77 2.56 2.62 2.77



Gender Age Area


8.4 SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN OVERALL SATISFACTION BY KEY DEMOGRAPHICS

Graph A3 Overall satisfaction with Council by key demographics



Base 336 414 20 144 304 282 153 154 154 132 157 750

Service / Facility

Overall satisfaction with Bega Valley Shire Council 3.06 3.20 3.42 2.99 3.05 3.29 3.18 3.10 3.20 3.27 3.06 3.13



Gender Age Area

8.5 SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES KEY SERVICE AREAS BY KEY DEMOGRAPHICS

Graph A4 Mean scores regarding Council resourcing of the 5 key service areas by demographics



Base 336 414 20 144 304 282 153 154 154 132 157 750

Service / Facility

Sustainability: Council currently devotes adequate resources in providing water, sewer and waste services as

well as protecting the natural environment 3.57 3.55 3.75 3.52 3.35 3.76 3.56 3.60 3.63 3.69 3.28 3.56

Enterprising: Council currently devotes adequate respurces to stimulate the local economy 2.99 3.14 3.52 2.94 2.89 3.22 2.89 2.98 3.20 2.96 3.03 3.07

Liveability: Council currently devotes adeqaute resources to develop services and facilities to encourage

cultural and social diversity and support for its community3.27 3.32 3.60 3.33 3.12 3.29 3.28 3.28 3.31 3.27 3.06 3.30

Accessibility: Council standards for maintaining community assets currently meet my expectations 2.97 3.05 3.27 2.94 2.88 3.14 2.91 3.01 3.03 3.18 2.95 3.01

Leading Organisation: Council staff are well trained, responsive and provide an innovative way for the

community to be involved in decision making2.84 3.12 3.18 2.87 2.90 3.15 3.01 3.04 3.04 3.18 2.81 2.98



Gender Age Area


8.6 SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN COMMUNITY SAFETY BY KEY DEMOGRAPHICS

Graph A5 Mean community safety by key demographics



Base 336 414 20 144 304 282 153 154 154 132 157 750

Service / Facility

In your home 4.62 4.72 4.72 4.71 4.64 4.64 4.56 4.72 4.59 4.58 4.74 4.67

In your townb/village during the day 4.70 4.79 4.83 4.74 4.74 4.73 4.66 4.75 4.70 4.70 4.84 4.75

In your town/village at night 4.15 4.09 4.13 4.13 4.13 4.09 3.88 4.16 3.89 4.07 4.49 4.12



Gender Age Area

8.7 SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN ACCESS TO SERVICES BY KEY DEMOGRAPHICS

Graph A6 Mean access scores by key demographics



Base 336 414 20 144 304 282 153 154 154 132 157 750

Service / Facility

Health and community services 3.47 3.78 3.38 3.68 3.56 3.77 3.59 3.66 3.79 3.56 3.58 3.63

Educational services including libraries 3.89 4.11 4.29 3.96 3.89 4.06 3.84 3.97 4.14 4.10 3.85 4.01

Recreational services 3.89 3.87 4.14 3.88 3.78 3.87 3.71 3.89 3.93 3.85 3.71 3.88

Retail services 3.80 3.92 4.04 3.85 3.83 3.81 3.76 3.82 3.99 3.59 3.74 3.86



Gender Age Area


8.8 BENCHMARK DATA

Benchmark Index

IRIS has compiled data on the performance of Councils of which 15 are comparable (Regional

Councils) to Bega Valley Shire Council and are included in the graphs below. Where

appropriate results include how Bega Valley Shire Council compares with the (1) worst

performing Council (2) best performing Council and (3) comparable Councils. For a service or

facility to be considered significantly different to the benchmark, IRIS recommends a 5

percentage point differential be present between Bankstown’s index result and any of the

other 3 measures provided in the graph.

On occasions individual Councils use variations on the 5 point rating scale including 7 and 11

point scales. In order to facilitate ease of comparison the benchmark data has been

standardised to an index score out of 100.

The benchmark comparisons commencing with graph A7 can be interpreted as follows: In

terms of overall satisfaction, Bega Valley Shire Council received an index satisfaction score of

54%. Given Bega Valley Shire Council’s result is below 5 percentage points of the index

achieved by the 15 comparable Councils (67%) we can say that Bega Valley Shire Council is

performing below this group. Bega Valley Shire Council is performing on par with the lowest

performing Council on the IRIS database (52%), and below the best performing Council (80%). It

should be noted that the comparable measure is out of a population of 15 Council’s, whilst the

best and worst is out of the entire database of Council's that IRIS has.

All other graphs can be interpreted in this same manner.

Percentage Satisfaction Graph

In addition the proportion of Bega Valley Shire Council residents that rated their satisfaction as

being higher (rating points 4 and 5), medium (rating point 3) and lower (rating point 1 and 2) is

provided as a summary measure titled ‘Percentage satisfaction’.


Graph A7 Overall Satisfaction

Graph A8 Consultation with the community by Council


Graph A9 Council responsiveness to community needs

Graph A10 Children's services within the area


Graph A11 Community centres and community halls

Graph A12 Facilities and services for people with a disability


Graph A13 Library services

Graph A14 Services and facilities for older people


Graph A15 Youth services and facilities

Graph A16 Car parking in CBD


Graph A17 Kerb and guttering

Graph A18 Sealed roads


Graph A19 Unsealed roads

Graph A20 Promotion of economic development and job opportunities


Graph A21 Promotion of tourism

Graph A22 Appearance of Town centres


Graph A23 Cleaning and maintenance of public toilets

Graph A24 Appearance and adequacy of sporting fields


Graph A25 Appearance and adequacy of parks, playgrounds and reserves

Graph A26 Control of cats and dogs


Graph A27 Clean creeks and waterways

Graph A28 Garbage collection


Graph A29 Operation of quality water services


8.9 REASONS FOR BEING DISSATISFIED

You said you were dissatisfied with Council operated Children’s services. Why did you say that?

Verbatim responses:

Not enough in Eden and no contact when called

No reason to be in particular

Charge too much

Because I don’t think that there is enough of them

More programs like clubs for children

There is nothing locally: have to travel to Eden / Pambula Beach

There are not many services in Towamba

They is no after school activities or pre-school care in Bermagui

Council doesn’t support much in the area

Shortage of child care places and quality very poor

Need more child care centres at a cheaper rate

Need more activities e.g. places to go: community centres

Not enough day care centres

There is nothing in Wolumla

You said you were dissatisfied with Council operated Youth services and facilities. Why did you

say that?

% (n = 80)

Not enough / No youth services provided 71.0

Services provided are inadequate / not maintained 11.0

Not aware of any youth services 3.8

N/A 10.3

Other 3.9

You said you were dissatisfied with Council operated services and facilities for the elderly. Why

did you say that?

% (n = 34)

Not enough / no services provided 39.3

Services are difficult to access / find information about 16.6

Services provided are inadequate 18.0

Not aware of these services 8.8

N/A 11.3

Other 6.0


You said you were dissatisfied with Council operated services and facilities for people with

disability. Why did you say that?

% (n = 44)

Not enough / no services offered 43.4

Services for the disabled are inadequate 21.4

Disabled toilet services are inadequate 10.8

Inadequate disabled parking facilities 5.4

N/A 7.0

Other 12.0

You said you were dissatisfied with Appearance and adequacy of community centres and

community halls. Why did you say that? Verbatim responses:

A lot are run down, neglected, tired and need upgrading

Because they want to pull it down and instead of making it heritage listed

Bega hall not usable, nothing to accommodate over 50 people

Bega has town hall in Bega

Bega town hall is a disgrace and unusable with no toilets

Bega town hall is run down and could have been restored

Bermagui not very good at organising halls

Can’t get a new town hall built

Council are not taking notice of the community Re: town hall

Council demolished hall at Eden and didn’t replace it

Council needs to decide to whether to fix town hall or supply new facility

Council needs to improve them

Council took over- council took hall comm. funds –consolidated into 1 account

Disused facilities need removing and cleaning sites

Do not have one in Eden

Don’t have any

Don’t have a town hall, miss out on lots of events

Don’t have enough centres / halls

Don’t have many provided

Don’t think council has been responsive to needs of the users

Eden community hall and Bega community hall has graffiti

Eden doesn’t have a community hall

Grounds are scruffy

Haven’t got one in Bega and would like one

Improve and make more available and user friendly

In Bega the community centre is closed

Inadequate facilities within hall and badly maintained

It doesn’t appear to be very important, more funding needed

Lack a hall in Bega so things are going elsewhere

Lots are shabby and need upgrading

Mainly volunteer groups look after it not council

Make them more inviting places

Merimbula community hall and facilities is neglected


Merimbula hall is disgusting

More money could be spent on hall at Kiah

More money should be provided for the halls etc

Need more maintenance- old looking

Needs new town hall in Bega, not enough funding

Never seen one

No community hall at Burragate

No community hall here at all

No public consultation and no hall available

None in Eden

Not enough interest, everything goes to Merimbula

Not getting the volunteers to change appearance of halls

Not very well maintained

Only have a town hall built by community in Bega

Overall picture of Bega needs beautification

Service not provided in Bega

Severe shortage of good community centres

The hall in Bega town is in tatters since Woolworths began using

There is a lack of community centres in Eden

There is limited, not big enough for a large function

There is none

There’s simply not enough activities for children

They are let down, run down, shabby

They’ve built Woolies: but town hall needs revamping desperately

Town hall in Bega is shut and have no community centre

Town hall in Bega was damaged and needs to be replaced

Town hall is still standing after 2 years promising to rebuild

Town hall is the perfect example of neglect

Very badly maintained.

We don’t have any proper community halls in Bega

We haven’t got any

Wonboyn Lake has none

You don’t have in Eden, we need one

You said you were dissatisfied with the Operation of the Regional Art Gallery. Why did you say

that? Verbatim responses:

Where is it

Waste of money

Under funded

They are not operating it correctly

There is too much money put into it, and too far away

There is no art gallery anywhere near Wandella

Should not be funded by tax payer: privately funded

Should be better marketed and more inclusive to the general public

Nobody knows where it is - it is not well promoted

Money should be spent elsewhere


I just don’t go there, I wouldn’t have a clue

Don’t have one

Don’t even know where it is

Doesn’t seem to be a very friendly or inviting place

You said you were dissatisfied with Operation of Library services. Why did you say that?

Verbatim responses:

Took away mobile library service Wonboyn Community

They took the library away from Merimbula

There is no library in Merimbula

The Merimbula library hasn’t got enough books

The library in Merimbula is terrible

The library in Eden is always closed

The bus doesn’t operate any more

No service

No librarian at lunch times in Eden

Mobile library service in my area has been axed

Mobile does not stop at Burragate any more

Library is very outdated; too much old stock

Library doesn’t open on Saturday; should have more opening times

Eden library has been closed and replaced with mobile library

Cut the service-remote

Cut mobile service for library

Collection available is terrible, staff are rude

Can never get any help- not enough books and very strict

A decent and attractive library area for reading for children

You said you were dissatisfied with Protection of Aboriginal heritage and sites. Why did you say


Wallaga Lake mission council doesn’t do anything to help e.g. no facilities

They get too much sometimes

They get much and abusive what they get

They are not protected

The Aboriginal settlement is never looked after

The Aboriginal culture centre Umbara had to close down

State forest illegally logged Aboriginal land Mumbulla Mountain

Public access denied to headland due to aboriginal camp ground

Not interested

Not enough care given to heritage

Mumbulla sites desecrated

More recognition of Aboriginal heritage

Logging of Mumbulla Mountain

Locked up area in Murruna point, will not be able to access beaches in area

Feel they put to much focus on this

Existing sites used are desecrated by locals

Don’t look after them enough


Don’t place much importance on their heritage

Don’t think there is any protection

Council giving way to these sites disadvantages other residents

Because they are a pain in the back side: I don’t like them at all

Aboriginal sites have been exploited, neglected and unprotected

You said you were dissatisfied with Protection of European heritage values and buildings. Why

did you say that? Verbatim responses:

Wonboyn lake has none other than private house

Why they pulled down the stables behind the central hotel in Bega

Westpac bank, town hall, facades, buildings in Main Street not looked after

Unreasonable restraints for improvement to buildings

Too many heritage buildings are being demolished for development

To know our heritage is important

They ruined Bega in the 1960’s

There is too much of it

The town hall is a good example of neglect: rose garden and fountain

The changes in Bega CBD

The buildings are not enough for heritage tourism

Should of been do not know

Regional people do not understand European culture

Properties can’t be sold easily under heritage listing - rate payers disadvantaged

Not interested, doesn’t appeal

Not enough done in that area

New developments: town hall run down and put aside

Lost heritage village in Lamont Street, Bermagui

Heritage houses in Cobargo are always pulled down

Heritage buildings sometimes are listed unnecessarily

Heritage off has to travel vast dist and buildings knowledge

Heritage buildings being ruined

Had most beautiful dairy built 1862, council put tip next door

Don’t think that there is any protection of them

Council don’t appreciate heritage

Council demolished heritage building on Cobargo main street

Can’t see any protection in evidence

Bega town hall could have been looked after better by council

Planning dept is in complete chaos Re: golf club development Bermagui

Demolish historic stables and rebuild in historic style in Bega

You said you were dissatisfied with Social and cultural planning. Why did you say that?

Verbatim responses:

Woolworths was built on prime real estate

Too much emphasis on indigenous people and culture

They are not obvious in what they are doing in Bega


There should be more consultation with ratepayers

See a lot of talk and not enough action in this area

Planning hasn’t taken into account needs of community

Not taking advantage of cultural opportunities

Not enough for the Europeans here

Not aware of services provided

No forethought

No evidence that anything is happening

Never heard of any

Need some sort of performance space

Need more culture; e.g. festivals and social for the community

More background information

Merimbula tourism should be promoted more

Lack of communication

It is not comprehensive enough : needs to incorporate community

It is a non event

I can’t think of anywhere where I believe they have done anything

Don’t think it is Council’s responsibility

Doesn’t seem to be any

Do not do much in that area

Council plans only for the short term

Council have their own agenda in these areas

Council has not organized any social and cultural events in Bermagui

You said you were dissatisfied with Development and Operation of Merimbula Airport. Why did

you say that?

% (n = 44)

Needs to be upgraded / expanded 44.6

Airport does not need to be developed 18.3

High cost involved / waste of money 16.0

Rate payers should not have to pay for development 3.6

Need other air services 3.5

N/A 4.0

Other 10.0

You said you were dissatisfied with Appearance and presentation of the town centres. Why did

you say that?

% (n = 49)

Inadequate maintenance 29.9

Dissatisfied with appearance / needs upgrading 23.0

Being overlooked / not enough being done 17.0

Many shops closed 5.9


Lack of toilets / parks / seats 4.2

Dissatisfied with chain stores being opened 3.2

N/A 6.7

Other 10.2

You said you were dissatisfied with Promoting economic development and business growth.

Why did you say that? Verbatim responses:

We used to own a business in Bermagui, no employment for young people

Two pubs in Eden and one is shut economic growth desperately needed

Tried to establish business but have had no help

Too much red tape and too many barriers to development

Too many shops changing hands, needs encouragement from council

They make it too tough for small business, too much red tape

They forget about Eden

They are bad at encouraging the business area

There is none

So many businesses have closed up and not enough worry about that happening

Nothing seems to be done to promote the little towns that are failing

Nothing happening in Eden, all youth are leaving the district

Not enough being done

Not aware of council doing anything in that area

No notice is taken by council of nearby residents of the development

No incentive for new developers, fees and charges are too high

No evidence of promotion

No communication to businesses from council

Needs to focus on other small towns as well e.g. Eden

Most money sent to Tathra, Bega, Merimbula

Many approvals have been dismissed that should be here

Main street in Bega needs urban renewal projects

Incentives needed for people to set up businesses in Merimbula

Idealistic for want of growth ideas don’t been carried thru

I do not see this happening

Focus is on Bega, Merimbula needs to be focused on

Eden: Snug Cove wharf lack of infrastructure and development and red tape

Eden misses out on promotion - no employment

Eden is dying, needs local state and federal government investment

Don’t think they do promote economic growth

Don’t promote things that could create more business

Does not encourage business due to planning charges

Development in the areas is very hard to do

Council try and stifle any developments in this shire

Council stops development

Council make it difficult - no strategy

Council is closing down its information centres

Council don’t promote it at all


Cobargo town centre is ignored for facilities, business promotion

Businesses are dying we need more support

All businesses finding it hard to survive

A lot talk and no action

A lot of business are closed, need more jobs

You said you were dissatisfied with Promotion of Tourism and recognition of brand. Why did you

say that? Verbatim responses:

A lot of talk and no action

All goes to Merimbula

Bega visitors centre is located at cheese factory it should be in town

Bermagui is magnificent and not promoted enough

Council concentrates on one area Re: tourism not shire wide

Council does not promote Eden compared to other areas

Council doesn’t put enough money into tourism marketing

Council fails this way Bega is promoted not the rest of the shire

Don’t promote enough tourism

Don’t support Merimbula tourism at all

Have not seen anything to promoting Eden

Haven’t seen evidence of council doing it.

I own holiday units - selling because too expensive

Important to bring people to the area

Information centre Eden - council took over- then gave back volunteers

Lack of foresight and promotion

Like to see bike paths and dual use paths

Merimbula should be better promoted to encourage tourists

Need more promotion in the area, beautification in area issue

Need more promotion of the whole valley especially Bega not just Merimbula

Need more tourism in the area it is very important to bring people in

Need to do more to get tourists back

Need to promote more

Need to promote more as council doesn’t do enough

Need to promote more tourism - need visitors centre

Need to promote national parks and smaller towns more

Need to provide services and facilities for tourist time

No promotion in this area Cobargo

No promotion of the wilderness coast for the three years it has been in

Not enough funding for tourism in Eden

Not enough signs to tourist destinations

Not happening in Eden

Not much evidence of promotion in Eden

Not promoted enough

The closing down of the information centres

The council doesn’t place enough importance on it

They don’t promote tourism enough

They do not do a thing in the shire


They do not seem to be doing much

Tourism money taken away from budget

Tura Beach is not advertised enough or promoted

Very little promotion at all in Bega

You can not promote a town which is run down

You said you were dissatisfied with Planning for town commercial centres. Why did you say


All goes to Merimbula

All talk and no action

Bega is a mess; Merimbula -chopped and changed no master plan

Bega not pedestrian friendly and no planning seems to be done

Believe that there is a very one sided development

Better planning needed generally throughout the shire

Big business is too much of an issue and too much influence

Big chain stores come in, other stores need support

Businesses not getting enough promotion

Coastal towns being overrun with Woolies chains

Commercial centres are not easily accessible

Council done very little in planning in Bermagui

Council is not listening to the communities that are affected

Council promotes Merimbula, overlooking Eden’s tourists sites

Council won’t do community plans. They do what the developers want

Detracts from rural town characteristics

Development applications for business are too slow in processing

Do not think there is any plan

Dominated by large supermarkets

Don’t promote things that could promote business

Don’t consider the integrity of the area, only consider the money

Don’t have comm. Centres in Merimbula - lots of empty shops

Don’t know of any planning being done

Don’t support any developments in town

Eden misses out on beautification dollars

Eden progress association were given empty promises from council

Eden volunteers do gardening- maintain cemetery, info centre

For Cobargo there is no planning

I think it is fairly hap-hazard

Inappropriate commercial development, Tura Beach

Mall in Bega not a great effect on the town as a community

McDonalds in Bega has not accepted the da: lack of statutory planning

Merimbula has too many small businesses closing; unplanned and chaotic

Merimbula needs more diversity

Merimbula should have diverse industry to encourage employment

Merimbula - forgone conclusion, no feedback given to rate payers

Mismatch of commercial areas

More commercial goes to Bega rather than the entire shire


Most towns are drab

Need a theatre in Bega

Need minimum 10 year plan - should be run by independent body

New mall in Bega has made it hard for small business owners to set up

No commercial land available

No industrial land to purchase or rent anywhere

No new planning for Eden - need updating shopping centre

No planning for commercial facility in Wonboyn Lake

Not enough facilities for residents

Not happening in Eden

Not happening would create growth and employment if it was

Not much planning done

Nothing is being developed in the towns

Nothing seems to happen in Eden

Permit approval too slow takes almost a year to be passed

Planning has been done poorly, need more experienced people

Planning is not in keeping with community needs

Planning just falls away, does not happen, affects tourism

Possibilities of commercial buildings taking residential land

Self serving

Shops are closing not opening

Shops closing in Bega after shopping centre opened: bad location for McDonalds

The allowing of big business in town centres

The Woolworths in Bermagui goes against the Council’s lmp. document

There does not appear to be any done by the council

They have done nothing, has caused the traffic congestion

They have it all wrong: over commercial, sapphire market place

Think McDonalds coming is a disgrace

Too many restrictions on businesses to get up and running

Very disjointed in how streets and footpaths are planned

Very little planning for Merimbula: no parking, nothing happens.

Whole town built in reverse, money wasted in wrong areas

Woolworths and Coles need more competition

Woolworths in Bega is an eye-sore flat cement build. Horrible

Woolworths want another store in Bermagui, taking away from IGA

You said you were dissatisfied with Operation of quality water services. Why did you say that?

Verbatim responses:

Anchorage Pl has no town water connected

Bega doesn’t provide water from Bamboka, Candelo water becomes toxic

Bermagui tap water is not up to standard due to odour taste

Don’t get this service

Have no town water services in Anchorage place, Bermagui

Have to provide own water

I don’t like the fluoride

In Bega, in Newtown Rd lots of sludge and dirt in water after renewing pipes


It costs too much and water in Cobargo tastes chlorinated

Live on Brogo river, very poorly managed big issue

Metering inexact and too costly to challenge

My water in Kirland Avenue is rusty needs to be better quality

No bubblers for the public to use in Eden

No kerb and guttering, water flows through property

No mains water where I am

No service available

No service provided

No water pressure

Sometimes experience high levels chloride in water

Taken Bega water and given it to Merimbula stealing water is short sighted

Tathra water is filthy, sometimes brown water too prevalent

Tathra is gritty, sandy and discoloured and wears out the taps

The water in Eden is very bad quality

The water quality is very bad

Trouble with drinking water, black soot settles in bottom of glass

Upstream development has impacted on the flow, quality of water no say

Water is a bit murky in Bermagui Northern side

Water is brown, smelly and slimy

Water quality is poor at Nullica- easements not maintained repair

Water tastes disgusting not filtered correct part Merimbula

We have no access to it

You said you were dissatisfied with Sewage and septic services. Why did you say that?

Verbatim responses:

We pay a rate but are responsible for it ourselves

We don’t have access to it

Very expensive

Unnecessary and expensive septic tank inspection.

Treated effluent should not be in the bay

There are not sufficient serves to cater to everyone

There are frequent breakdowns - beaches get closed

The ocean outfall is a huge worry, it should be recycled; take on rob high’s plan

The costs of the annual rate charge for the sewage

Still running into the ocean and bay at Eden

Still pumping in ocean - lack of pedestal sites - design new sewer

Sewage runs past my house but not allowed to use it

Sewage effluent in George St is very smelly

Service charges too expensive

Septic system don’t like the way they have planned this

Put in pump out at Wolumla, should of been sewerage system

Put a new and expensive septic service into Bears beach; waste going into ocean

Pumping sewage into ocean at Bermagui

Pump goes straight in to the ocean causing algae

Pod system is more expensive on electricity


Pay for sewage rates and pay for own pump

On septic but still get charged rates for sewage

Not provided by council

No sewage service

No sewage or septic services in Anchorage St, Bermagui

No availability to sewage in Strathmore Cres, Kalaru

Mainly because of the sewage that ends up in the ocean regularly

In rural area they charge a fee to come and look at it

In Bega St, Pambula for 20 yrs we have to have septic tank and pump paying for sewage

Have to provide own

Have an enviro cycle, pay own main - council still charges

Had to pay a big amount of money for pump when we pay rates

Get extreme runoff, flooded from runoff

Expense and damage to Merimbula bay

Don’t have the service

Don’t get this service

Don’t have any sewage in Bemboka

Do not come to see to our system

Dissatisfied with ocean outpour

Council inspected my tank broke the plastic top of it cost me $100

Charges are to expensive

Charged a lot to inspect septic to do nothing

Because of waste that flows into bay, algae bloom

Because of the state of Pambula beach, sewage in ocean

Battled with council Re septic services no satisfaction

Anchorage Pl has no facilities connected

You said you were dissatisfied with General waste and recycling collection. Why did you say


Operating hours at recycling facility used in landfill dump in creeks

A lot more should be recycled should be separated by owner

Bemboka recycling collection is unsatisfactory - just awful

Bemboka tip open only half a day per week and is too expensive

Cannot access transfer station except on Sundays cost excessive

Charged funds for a service which the community doesn’t require

Cobargo tips hours need extending; staff are argumentative

Council does not listen to the residents

Council is too slow in pickup of trees, tip charges are too high

Council provided bins too small and then we have to pay to tip

Every time I go to tip I have to pay and I travel 50kms to get there

Garbage tip is expensive, general waste is an issue on Brunker St.:

Gets charged garbage rate without a pick up - then charged at tip

Green waste collection needed and tip costs too high

Green waste is charged for at tip and sells mulch it is not fair

Green waste is not done often enough

Green waste more often especially in summer


Greens waste should be fortnightly

Had to wait 3 months to get a garbage bin

I would like the green bin to be fortnightly, kerbside pickup yearly

Inconsistency of times and pick up and information inaccurate

It’s too expensive for farmers

Kerbside pick up like other council areas twice a year

Kerbside collection needed at least once per year

Live out of town only have a red / yellow bin

Lot of dumping in bush - Council tip fees too expensive

Need kerbside clean ups like Sydney

No cleanup service so people dump in the bush tip cost to high

No free tip tickets like other councils - people dumping in bush

No green waste disposal tip shut at Wonboyn Lake bush fire hazard

No meaningful reuse at the tips - I would like no recycling happening

No once a year general collection including mattresses dump in national park

No roadside collection and exp. to take things to the tip

No service and have to pay get rid of waste in Cobargo

No service available; should be no tip fees, inconsistent rates

No service available has to take all these items to tip

Not happy with having to pay fees to drop off rubbish

Not provided heavy rubbish pick up and lost general waste

Only pickup green waste once a month, needs to be more often

Pay for bins to be emptied but overcharged for tip

Pay for non collection and have to pay for rubbish disposal

People in rural get charged for this but get no services for it

Recycle bin only collected once a fortnight and other bin too small

Recycling gets dumps in the garbage

Should do it more often, it should be on call pickup

Should have kerbside collection

Shutting down tip Wonboyn

Supertip is not the answer

The price for the people in the country is too expensive

The recycling at the local tip has decreased

There’s no recycling system in place: major mismanagement

They are shutting my partners scrap metal yard down

They have taken our big bin off us, we are in the country and we need it

Tip hours are difficult rates are to high which creates dumping

Too expensive

Too expensive

Towamba used to have a tip it was great we managed it ourselves

Waste collection fee rise

Waste management control at Wanata tip is bad

We are charged to drive 3km to access a service

We are here 3 months of the year the red bin is not adequate for summer

We don’t have a collection and still have to pay for it and the tip fees

We don’t have the service - tip fees too high. Include in rates

We have to pay take green waste to the dump, too expensive


We need a 12 monthly kerbside pickup or vouchers to the tip

You get charge even if not used

You said you were dissatisfied with Planning and implementing bushfire protection. Why did you


All agencies should work together, too many chiefs not enough Indians

Biodiversity values need to be protected

Council don’t provide it - provided by volunteers

Council never clears long point area - massive hazard

Don’t give enough support

Fire hazards around Eden, Palestine Creek too much rubbish, overgrown bush

Fire trail badly maintained with fallen trees and blockages.

I never see anybody

Issue with fire on property. Bush land took a long time to come out

Land near twofold court to the cannery site need clearing it is dangerous

Last resort place in Burragate is more dangerous than before

Live in high bush zone - seen no council officer to assess risk

Live on edge of bush, hasn’t had burn off for 20 years

Need more policing of residents lighting fires in backyards

No council involvement where we are

No idea how to put this one in place

No protection done in Greendale Lane proposed tip site

Not allowed to do controlled burn offs in national parks

Not enough back burning

Not enough control burns conducted in the area

Not enough funds for burn offs

Not enough of it done.

One road in and one road out, dangerous in the case of fire

Our property backs onto a fire track, Kembla Close, Merimbula overgrown

Relies on volunteers, council services not sufficient

Should be more tree removal for hazard reduction only

Should not build new homes in high risk areas

Slugged with restrictions and laws - no one else had too comply

Some localities get money allocated but others get no allocation

The local fire brigades are under-funded

There hasn’t been a burn off in the Wandella area in over 10 years

There is not enough done around Eden

They have not had any controlled burns lately

Too much combustible material left on ground in Tathra

Too restricted to clear trees without a permit

Very little hazard reduction in Eden being done

You said you were dissatisfied with Environmental monitoring and protection. Why did you say



Council does not do enough for to tree planting

Council is over vigilant and spends too much money on it thus rates are too high

Council is very backwards, took 6 years to get a recycling bin

Council disregard any ideas or efforts of these issues

Don’t think there is any being done

Don’t monitor foresting practice properly

Don’t feel that it is council’s role

Flying foxes in the thousands - carry disease, should be moved

Have no evidence of any protection Upper Boggy Creek Rd

Ill planned development interfering with the environment not enough green space

Love grass comes from council unwashed vehicles and spreads

No evidence of it

No protection done in Greendale Lane for 13 years

Not aware of council doing anything for the environment

Not enough maintenance

Not protecting the headland areas

Not satisfied with how sewerage is monitored

Nothing happening in Bermagui

Pristine beaches covered in rubbish inadequate cleanup

Rubbish dumped next door to tip. Tip fees are too high

The council is not green enough and is short sighted

The sewage outflow from Pambula beach is disgrace

There should be preservation of old trees

They are doing enough for the protection of native habitat animals

They do not put enough people and staff into this sort of thing

You said you were dissatisfied with Clean lines of creeks and waterways. Why did you say that?

Verbatim responses:

A lot more could be done to make them cleaner

After cyclone, rubbish went into lake and not cleaned

All flood and debris never cleaned in Bega area

All the creeks are full of weeds

A lot of sediment running of dirt roads

Because they are full of soot, they don’t do anything with them

Bega river is full of green rubbish; maintenance needs to be done to clear the river

Bega river is polluted and too much sand in it

Bega river not maintained needs to be look at

Bega river overgrown with willow, needs sand and trees cleaned

Bega river is very chocked up with weeds

Cattle and horses too close to the edges and faeces pollute them

Cattle in creeks and waterways should be fenced out

Council does not help organise the cleaning of creeks

Council doesn’t clean out the creek

Council have no vision. A lot of silt in waterways from roads

Council don’t have resources to clean waterways

Creek running in property - causeway gone in, stops the water


Creeks are very chocked up, full of rubbish

Creeks need cleaning out and better monitoring

Depend on creek for drinking water and it is not very clean at times

Don’t consider council issue

Don’t take willows more maintenance needed to get weeds

Dumped rubbish littering waterways due to closed recycling centre

Farming practices need to be monitored nr them, chemical reduction

I’ve asked the council to clean Kakora logon but council has never done it

Ill planning of development impact on purity

Just doesn’t happen

Lake Carolo smells and sewage leaks through - for tourism

Merimbula creek has a lot of junk etc in it

Merimbula creek is never cleaned out too much stagnant water

No kerb or guttering. Water flows through property

No maintenance done building a tip in this area

No plan for the clean lines of creeks and waterways

Not cleaning them out enough causing flooding in Nethercote

Not enough of done, not doing it often enough

Not enough work done with noxious plants

Should not putting toxins in the river

Silt traps are not being maintained run off needs attention

The Bega river choked up with trees, made floods worse

The dog trap creek is filthy now

The trees need to be cleaned out of Bega river

They create so much scouring in cleaning out the creeks

They don’t do enough to clean up creeks

They need to be cleaned due to rubbish in it all they time

Too much overgrowth

Waterways need to be protected

We have the dirtiest creeks in the state: improving fencing on farms

When it rains all the council dirt from road washes in to the waterways

Too much debris in waterways close to bridges

Willow trees are still blocking rivers Bega and Candelo Roads

You said you were dissatisfied with Weed Control and protection of natural bush land. Why did

you say that? Verbatim responses:

African love grass, Patterson’s curse serrated tussocks fire weed are out of control

All done by volunteers - concerned citizens

Bears beach has too many weeds not controlled

Burragate area fireweed has infested badly as well as the shire in general

Council does not appear to conduct in looking after public land

Council doesn’t look after its own land i.e. fire weed

Council doesn’t control weeds in the valley. Needs more planning

Council has given up controlling fireweed as it was too hard

Council is talking but not doing, residents are doing the work

Council land not maintained weed free


Council waited until the horse had bolted to attack fire weed

Council will not answer call regarding dangerous weed

Don’t do it

Don’t do any work in relation to this at all

Few areas get resources, whilst others get none

Fireweed, Paterson’s curse not doing enough to eradicate it.

Fireweed growing all over area. Road ways should be sprayed by council

Fireweed pervasive on nature strip, nothing done to eradicate it.

Fireweed on council land is not dealt with. They should walk the walk

Fireweed and African a huge issue and not addressing

Fireweed and nutgrass all over the area not controlled

Fireweed is out of control and needs controlling

Fireweed issue - council properties needs to be cleaned up

Fireweed not controlled in Bermagui

Have no inspectors - both neighbours need control

I don’t think anything is done

Lantana on highway to Bega - needs maintenance

Logging of bush land and weed control in non existent

Lots of fireweed on side of roads, Wandella road

Lots of fireweed and blackberries

Love grass is spread by council vehicles not being washed

Making everything wilderness; no one allowed in, no weed control

Need to clean up noxious weeds in all areas

Never see it where I live

No evidence of weed control

No one seems to care about fire weed being spread around

Nobody is looking after the place for the next generation

Not being controlled enough

Not enough control of plants, animals in rivers

Not enough done or control of the weeds

Nothing being done: one officer for the shire; noxious weeds bad

Over grown areas all time

Paterson’s curse and fireweed in Bemboka area is very bad

Spread of African love grass is not being controlled by council

Streets in Bega are infested with noxious weeds as our other roads.

The grading of the roads has spread fire weed. They need to clean their machines

The natural bush land is infested with weeds

The weed department is ignored by other departments

There are to weeds in bush land not enough control

There is too much fireweed

There’s no effort to stop fire weed

They do nothing about it

They has been extensive logging in the area forest destroyed

They have done nothing about weeds

They only did weed control hap hazard

Too much overgrowth

Too many weeds - e.g. love grass


Too much fireweed around

Too much fireweed left on council roads

Too much undergrowth, will be a hazard

Verona road blackberry growing all along the road

Victoria terrace to the wharf noxious weeds need clearing

We try to keep our land weed free but get no help of council

Weeds along the roads should be sprayed so they won’t spread

Weeds are out of control

Weeds on council ovals and beside roads

You said you were dissatisfied with the way residential and rural lands are being developed.

Why did you say that? Verbatim responses:

Building inspectors need better people skills

Choices that have made are unnecessary in this area.

Coast resort development unmanaged

Community plans are being ignored, council a slave to developers

Council fees inhibit me to developing my blocks: $40,000 per block

Don’t see it as being consistent and develop more rural blocks

End the subdivision of quality agricultural land and remove (staff member)

Farmers should be able to sell blocks of rural land anytime

Farming families are very disadvantage due to development rules

Head works charges too expensive

In or out the town water zone: properties are not looked after

Lack of consultation with the community

Large development in Bermagui not handled well

Leaving developed lands unmaintained especially fire trails and reserves.

Not adhering to zoning

Not consistent in decision making

Not happy with Council’s implementation of development strategy

Nothing being done by council

Only planning is greed

Own a property and want the right to do what we want to do with it

Prime farmland is being turned into urban sprawl

Productive land being subdivided e.g. bread bowl

Putting a land full in the Bega Valley catchment area

Rural lands need to be a priority and preserved

Selling off too much local land to foreign owners

Services are not sufficient for development

Should be more rural land allocations for sub-divisions

Should give more leeway into sub-divisions

Some residential land is not suitable of humans

Stupid designs of houses, houses should be not so big

Subdivision at Glen Mia being built on productive agricultural land

Takes too long for processing applications

There’s not enough control of development of individual land

They are building in unsuitable areas


This all happens too quickly

Too many restrictions

Too much red tape and takes to long

Too many good farms split up

Too much development spoils the environment

Too much red tape for people who want to build

Too much red tape and ridiculous rules for subdivision

Too much subdivision going on and not the market

Too much valuable food producing farmland is being subdivided

Trees are being removed

You said you were dissatisfied with the way trees are managed on both private and public

land. Why did you say that? Verbatim responses:

Because of logging

Becomes hard to remove trees. Won’t let you even if it is dangerous

Been waiting ten years to have dead trees from Bermagui River

Council is too slow in making decisions regarding the trees

Council destroy trees and vegetation for no apparent reason

Dangerous gum trees stressed in playground: 3yrs still standing

Dangerous trees are left standing difficult to get removal permit

Difficult to be able to get trees cut down in town areas

For the last ten years tress have destroyed sewer mains; we need to review removal

Forests are being cut down

Getting feral trees cut down is too difficult

Have removed every tree, get planning permission on 5 acre blocks

I believe people should be able to control trees on their land

In Bega in the park large gum trees should be removed

Logging - big issue on Mumbulla state forest

Logging between Tathra and Bermagui - koalas

Native trees taking over; the public tree area needs cleaning up

Need to spend more time checking for dangerous trees

Neighbour’s trees are out of control, council needs to recognise dangers

No control over tree heights in towns

No evidence of anyone seeing to problem trees on my land

No tree plan for Bega, we should be greening the valley

Not allowed to cut trees down without permission

Not enough maintenance to trees before any damage is done

Not enough of them trimmed and controlled

Not permitted to plant or fell tree but council chops everything

Ongoing issues with forestry and logging Re: its protection

On my land I should have the right to manage my trees

Over logging in the area - keep the trees

Overhanging trees on residential too long for council action

Reckless and illegal logging is destroying pristine environment


Rang council and they did nothing about it

Risks are involved when we can’t remove - fire wind etc

Robbing our heritage by the unnecessary removal of trees. Use plantations

Should be able to make decisions about own property

Should have the right to cut a tree down on your property

Should not be dictated to on their own private land

Some trees need to come down - mismanaged

Some trees that shouldn’t be protected are

Strict removal process of hazardous trees

The way trees are being removed

They cut down too many trees on public land

Too much red tape to cut a tree down

Too much red tape to lop a tree on own property

Too many trees near fire station in Tathra need trimming

Too much waste, logging leaves too much waste

Too restricted to get permit for clearing trees

Twofold - large gumtree is dangerous and drops branches

Tree cutting for power lines causes problems for houses

Tree preservation order makes no sense

Trees are more oxygen giving, trees provide protection of land

Trees in gully at bottom of Andrea stare a real hazard to homes

Trees on nature reserve near home are hazardous: took a long time to cut down.

Trimming vandalises trees and rips them to shreds

When you need to get trees cut down it is very difficult

You said you were dissatisfied with Control of dogs and cats. Why did you say that? Verbatim

responses:

A lot of dogs in the area not controlled

A lot of owners don’t care about their dogs barking

A lot of dog droppings within the area- a lot of barking dogs

A lot of wild animal problems

Always dogs running around unleashed

Around Bega shopping centre always 2-3 big dogs running around

Cat situation is out of control, eating the birds

Cats and dogs run everywhere they are not controlled

Cats roaming at night killing wildlife barking dogs not controlled

Cats should have a curfew

Controls are too strict

Council pours resources into accessible towns not way out ones

Dog got picked up by pound, just sitting by the road and was expensive for us

Dogs and cats are roaming around, killing wildlife

Dogs and cats roaming street not desexed etc


Dogs are running around loose

Dogs run around wild here

Dogs run wild around the town

Dogs run wild no ranger serves at all at Wonboyn Lake

Feral dogs and cats constantly in bush, wildlife disappearing

Greater ranger presence in Bermagui, effort animal registration

Had pit bull loose the other day running after me

I was recently attacked by a dog at the Cannery at Eden

In Pambula too many barking dogs in Bega street

Lots of unrestrained dogs and people can own too many

Many dogs off leads running rampant. Dangerous dog in area

Moorehead Street – cats and dogs everywhere

More information regarding prevention of cats on property

Neighbours barking dogs aren’t controlled

Need more rangers and animal control

Need to control more to many stray dogs

Neighbours have barking dogs

Neighbours have unruly dog - complained nothing done

Neighbour’s dogs have broken into backyard and chased horse, ranger needs greater

presence

No control on at Tathra beach

No evidence of it where I am

Not enough rangers to enforce it

Only seen one ranger in the street in the last 20 years, ranger should work nights

Regulations are not enforced

Regulations on unleashed dogs not enforced

Roam wild and free

Run loose in semi rural areas

The rangers are fantastic but they need more resources and power

The ranger’s hours should be wider: dogs bit residents in Cocora Beach

There are too many unleashed dogs on Haywards Beach

They run free - no registration no control

Too many cats are out at night chasing wildlife

Too many dogs and cats running around

Too many cats and dogs near Corona Street, Bermagui wandering

Too many dogs on beaches from Cuttagee to Mystery Bay

Too many dogs on the beach

Too many wild cats in bushland

Towns and beaches - too much dog mess around

Wandering loose on the beach

We have a cat left around here by previous owners in area - nuisance

We have stray cats and dogs dumped - West Bemboka

You never see council actually do anything

You said you were dissatisfied with Maintaining sealed roads. Why did you say that? Verbatim

responses:


A lot of work needs to be done on roads around Eden

Always potholes on the road to Cobargo - not maintained

As a truck driver roads are terrible

Back Creek Rd: potholes everywhere

Bermagui to Tilba Roads in shocking condition - breaks up

Between Candelo and Wolumla road is very bad

Develop really big holes and is dangerous for tourists

Don’t properly fix roads: just patch over patches

Drive on the Candelo and Wolumla Road should explain that

Economically it is not viable to maintain sealed roads: too many

Eden - maintain roads they are very dangerous

Eden has terrible potholes

Full of potholes

Government Road they sprayed the holes with bitumen while they are still wet

Haven’t refilled the road - roads around town falling apart

High coast drive in very bad condition.

Highway should be redesigned

Holes in roads and maintenance roads e.g. Bemboka and Candelo

I am on a sealed road and there is always pot holes on the side and everywhere

Imlay street, Eden: potholes, dips in road all the time - no changes

It took 20 years to reseal Old Mill Lane, Wolumla

Jet patcher

Lack maintenance - too many pot holes

Lack of maintenance - especially Wallaga Lake Road

Loose gravel - need maintaining properly

Lorikeet Place in Mirador - bad drainage surface is breaking up

Main road to Bermagui needs more maintenance and widening

Main Street, Imlay street, Eden needs constant repair

Maintenance on Candelo Rd was not adequately displayed

Monaro Street: bumpy and pot holes

Most of roads in Bega have pots holes very important issue to fix

Most roads in Bega not maintained including Auckland Street

Need repaired properly in Merimbula - streets need developing

No maintenance being done on roads out of Eden: Towamba road

No maintenance done on Love Street for years; dangerous

Not fixing pot holes properly, temporary fix

Not maintained adequately. They do a poor job

On the highway - potholes everywhere damages vehicles

Patch potholes: they are not done properly

Pay $3,000 in rates, live 0.7km from town and no sealed road

Poor maintenance - pothole repairs don’t last

Potholes in Bega is a large issue no maintenance on these road

Potholes in roads and don’t fix the roads e.g. Main Street, Merimbula

Potholes main roads patch fix and then rains and sinks, e.g. Sapphire Coast Dr

Potholes need to be fixed

Potholes and patchy fix ups

Potholes 6 inches deep- Mount Darragh Road


Potholes always come back after rain, always repatching

Potholes are not filled properly

Potholes in Main St in Eden are dreadful

Potholes jetsprayed and does not last roads need proper repair

Potholes need to be fixed properly

Roads full of pothole lack of maintenance

Repairs need to be done properly

Road isn’t maintained: Main Road in-between Eden and Pambula:

Road not maintained Ramble Street, Eden

Roads are full of potholes: temporary fix them

Roads are disgraceful potholes

Roads full of pot holes constantly patching Tura Beach

Roads full of potholes due to bad construction

Roads half gravel half tar- sealed 18 months ago now dirt

Roads in Bega valley repaired in patches that do not last

Roads need maintaining properly

Roads need repairing properly

Roads need to be fixed properly

Sealed roads not being maintained, grass impacting on road

Secondary level roads poorly build and maintained

So many holes in the roads e.g. Princes Highway

Some in Bega have pot holes they are repaired properly

Spend far too much money, sealing areas not required

The roads are all far beyond repair, they all need rebuilding

The roads between Towamba and Bega are in shocking condition

The streets around Bega town are shocking: council should be ashamed

There are always pot holes on Main Street

There are too many holes on the road

They don’t know how to repair them: pot holes all the time

They don’t redo the roads properly

hey never fix potholes properly in Pambula

Too many potholes - Princes Highway- Sapphire Coast Drive

Too many potholes verges breaking off

Town centre roads need maintaining through whole shire

Verges are breaking not repaired properly

You said you were dissatisfied with Maintaining unsealed roads. Why did you say that?

Verbatim responses:

A lot of unsealed roads and not all maintained enough

Access to Nungatta Rd hasn’t been sealed for 15 yrs

Alcock Collins Rd has been badly sealed

All the roads should be sealed

Bad maintenance

Bemboka - had to put in driveway - others did not have too

Browns Mountain Rd is breaking up and pot holes


Burragate Rd needs to be sealed due to being main thoroughfare

Coopers Gully Rd, Bega has a lot of potholes and corrugation

Corridgeree Rd, Tarraganda often in need of repair

Council have decided that residents have to maintain Upper Brogo

Council very slow maintaining Corridgeree rd

Council won’t grade roads that need it

Doctor George road has very large potholes

Doctor George Mountain Rd needs regrading and better maintaining

Don’t do it often enough

Don’t get around enough, not enough equipment

Eden - not graded enough

Finish Tarring Wanatta Lane sealing to tip - entrance staff protected

Floods - council taking a long time to clean up

Full of potholes

Full of potholes: not graded all the time

Full of potholes: very dangerous

Graded more often and maintained to a higher standard

Lack of maintenance

Live on the end of unsealed road Upper Brogo Road:

Lot of building going on - need to be maintained properly

Machinery fine but end result is very poor due to lack of material

Maintenance is not regular enough

Maintenance not being carried therefore dangerous for cars

Most need to be sealed

Need attention

Need grading more often

Need grading more than every 6 months

Need work Eden area

Nethercote Rd full of holes: corrugations upkeep is not adequate

Not being maintained

Not graded

Not graded enough

Not graded often - holes are being avoided and dangerous

Not graded properly-grading grass areas near property

Not maintained in satisfactory manner

Nothing is done to the roads

Our unsealed road is full of holes and doesn’t drain

Poor maintenance - not regularly enough

Pot holes and patchy fix ups. Damage after rain takes a long time to be fixed

Potholes: dangerous when wet

Potholes and ditches in roads

Potholes and uneven surface, Sapphire Drive and Arthur Cain Drive

Potholes need to be fixed properly

Road to Davidson whaling station is in shocking condition

Roads are done on a roster basis, not when needed

Roads are not graded enough in Nethercote area

Silt runoff in creeks when roads are graded


Some of them need grading: potholes not attended to

The council still hasn’t paved the road Towamba and Eden

The field bucket extension road is never graded; no drainage

They are rough and dusty, only get graded once a year

They do very poor workmanship

They do not grade the roads properly

Too many pot holes in roads

Too many unsealed roads and very poorly maintained

Too many pot holes in the area

Travel over Doctor George very rough - needs maintenance

Upper Brogo rain after rains washes away quickly poor drainage

Vastly poorly maintained

Very muddy untamed unsealed road - Comben Lane:

We only get our road graded once per year - Doctor George Mountain Rd

Worlands Road and Doctor George Mountain road need major attention

You said you were dissatisfied with Adequacy and maintenance of car parking in the town

centres. Why did you say that? Verbatim responses:

Absolutely insufficient in Merimbula, no parks for cars with trailers

Badly maintained and too many parking restrictions

Because I need more disabled parking often have to get taxi as no parking available

Big shortage of car parking in Merimbula

Can never find parking in any town, not enough parking

Car park in town was not maintained properly

Car parks have potholes never fixed

Council charges for car space in rates and can’t find parking

Difficult to get parking in the area - not enough

Eden - not enough car parking available

General shortage and the location of parking spaces in Bega

Impossible to get parking in the town centre

Insufficient parking. Lack of planning

It is not policed correctly

Merimbula still has a gravel carpark

Merimbula parking restrictions make it impossible

Merimbula carpark is full of pot holes

Need more parking in merimbula

Need more parking merimbula and Bega

No adequate or inviting no sings to display car park

Not enough car parking in Merimbula

Not enough car parking, particularly during peak tourism season

Not enough car parking

Not enough in Merimbula

Not enough parking for disabled or access in shire Not enough parking in Bega

Not enough parking in Carp St, Bega

Not enough parking in Cobargo area


Not enough parking in Merimbula

Not enough spaces for me to park in Bega trees take up spaces

Not parking spots available in Bega

Not sealed properly and potholes everywhere

One carpark is not maintained. Other potholes and not easy access

Parking in Bega is non-existent: have to walk too far, bad look

Parking is very bad in Merimbula

Peak hours not enough parking and also on special occasions in Merimbula

Shrubs and bollards take too much space

The carpark in Merimbula for Woolworths isn’t paved

There has been a reduction in car parking and time limits

There is none in Bega and surrounds

There is nowhere to park a caravan that is attached to a car

There isn’t enough parking in Merimbula during the Christmas holidays

There’s not enough parking

They don’t provide adequate parking for disabled people

Very difficult - especially in summer tourist season in merimbula

Very hard to find and use disabled parking spaces

You said you were dissatisfied with Appearance and adequacy of parks, playgrounds and

reserves. Why did you say that? Verbatim responses:

Lack of maintenance

More playgrounds near the back of the mall in Bega

More shaded areas needed in parks

No good parks in Bega

Not maintained and limited areas

Park in Bega is absolutely abysmal - so artless and bare

Parks don’t appeal - not user friendly e.g. toilets, playground

Parks in Eden are wrecked

Play equipment has been removed Cocoa Beach

The new part of Bega park roses and fountains replaced with grass

The park in Wopingo Street, Bermagui needs far more maintenance

There should be more of them and more attractive poor maintenance

There are not enough of them

Too many weeds Lions Park, Bega

Tura Beach area - there are none.

Wonboyn Lake has none provided

You said you were dissatisfied with Appearance and adequacy of sporting fields. Why did you


Cater 800 people for soccer game with not facilities at all

Council controls sporting grounds not maintained


Not being maintained not mowing needs better maintenance

They don’t have the right people managing sporting fields


Would clear burned building in AFL field

You said you were dissatisfied with Adequacy and maintenance of boat ramps and foreshore

areas. Why did you say that? Verbatim responses:

I have a boat and our boat ramp is like a rubbish tip: council won’t do anything

Lack of facilities: more tables etc

Not enough boat ramp facilities - foreshores disregarded

Rate payers meet costs users should pay

Silt runoff from creeks impacts on foreshores

Talk a lot about it but do not do anything

The foreshore program run by the council is always delayed and put off

They upset the environment

You said you were dissatisfied with Adequacy and maintenance of kerb and guttering. Why did


25% of Bermagui is kerbed and complete lack of public footpaths

Barragga Bay have no kerb / guttering

Bega Street has no kerb and guttering, rates too high

Certain areas are too often ignored

Don’t have in Tura Beach along Pacific Way

Eden guttering needs repairs; dangerous

Every town has it but Eden

George Lane is missing guttering - garage gets flooded

Have none

I have been waiting 15 years to get the drains fixed in Merimbula

In a disgraceful condition in Eden

In Bermagui kerb and guttering needs urgent attention specifically shop area

In Eden, kerb and guttering not being maintained

In Eden we have fought for kerb and guttering

In Merimbula Imlay Street: no kerb and only half guttering

In Monaro St there are no footpaths or kerbs: very dangerous

Inadequate - need badly

Kerb needs to be lowered in Sharp St, Candelo

Kerbs are high in Eden - dangerous for elderly

Kerbs in Eden are too high and cracked

Lack of even distribution through shire

Lamont Street, Bermagui - no kerb and guttering need some now

Little Bimmil St - no kerb or gutter needs doing

Majority of the area that are paying rates have none


More maintenance needed

Mountview Close - no kerb and guttering; flooding major problem

Need maintaining in all areas

Never witnessed any kerbs and guttering maintained

No kerbs and guttering in Victoria Terrace

No foot paths in Murrah Street - only in main streets

No kerb and guttering in Collins street and is dangerous

No kerb or guttering in Quaama at all.

No kerbs or guttering - causing flooding from storms

No kerb / guttering on Greendale Lane

None in our area: Towamba Valley

None in Tathra

None on my road

Not maintained properly

Ocean Drive between Elizabeth Street.: Dunns Lane no kerb or guttering

Service not provided: Bemboka and Candelo

Some areas of Merimbula and Pambula need more done

They have panted trees in town and roots have destroyed some kerbing

Verges breaking off, potholes everywhere

You said you were dissatisfied with Appearance and adequacy of public toilets. Why did you


A disgrace - very old and shabby looking

A lot of vandalism: in bad shape

A toilet cistern fell off wall and drenched client, no disabled

After hours not available toilets in Eden

All stainless steel, very sterile

Badly maintained, not safe cracked seats, cisterns fell on a tourist

Because there is none at all

Because there is not enough disabled toilets here in Merimbula

Bega central toilets are too far away for the elderly

Bega needs more public toilets

Bermagui needs maintaining badly

Bermagui toilets are in a bad state and are not even three years old

Built 50 years ago - need replacing

Cobargo village, Bega needs upgrading

Cobargo public toilets are a disgrace

Cocora Beach toilets have no roof on them

Quaama, Cobargo area no disabled toilets and in bad condition

Could be better looking a bit drab looking

Do not have any

Don’t have any in the main street at Bermagui

Graffiti all over them very unappealing

Inadequacy of toilets and not very clean for tourism

In Bega a lot have shut – very difficult for disabled people


Inadequate and not enough around

It’s a joke - where are they in Bega:

Lack of availability of public toilets

Lack of, and are filthy

Merimbula toilet smells all the time- close it down

Miss the toilet near Woolworths, existing toilets too far away

More toilets needed in central Bega

Most are aesthetically unpleasing

Need toilet Tathra, Bega in town area

Need more - only 1 toilet in town

Need more toilets upgrading in Bega

New complex replaced park toilets new toilets are too far away

No public toilets in all areas

No public toilets in Wolumla - asked for over 13 years

Not as clean as could be

Not clean enough

Not enough

Not enough in town

Not enough advertised as to positions

Not enough and the ones available are really scummy

Not enough in the area

Not enough of toilets and they look daggy

Not enough public toilets in Bega

Not enough public toilets in Bega city precinct we need more

Not enough, rough looking

Not enough signage around

Not enough toilets in Cobargo, also no disabled / baby change facilities

Not enough toilets in Merimbula, we need more in city centre

Not enough toilets in shire - no toilets in Bega main area

One lot in Merimbula: over used, smells and vandalism

Opening and closing times of toilets before dark inconsiderate

Public toilet lost to Woolies and no signs to locate alternatives

Public toilets in Merimbula are very smelly

Removed some and need cleaning and tidy of existing

Roof of toilets blew of and hasn’t been fixed Cocora beach

Service not provided

Shabby graffiti everywhere, doors falling off; not enough

The equipment poor quality

The Palmer Street toilets smells badly

The public toilets in Bermagui need updating

The roof on the toilet on Cocora beach has been damaged from the storm

There aren’t any in Bega

There are enough in particular towns e.g. Merimbula

There are insufficient toilets in Bermagui

There are not nearly enough public toilets

There aren’t any toilets

There are not enough toilets


There isn’t any in Bega, only ones in Woolworths centre

There’s not enough of them

They’re revolting

They are falling apart – ugly, horrible

They are often grotty

They have a lot of vandalism in them

They need replacing - they are a disgrace

They need to be opened out of hours, asbestos door at skateboard park

They’re old dirty toilets

Toilet facilities inadequate in Bermagui

Toilets and outdated in Cobargo, not well lit also Bermagui

Toilets are dilapidated in Dickinson park

Toilets are run down and in terrible shape

Toilets in Lions Park are never clean, dripping taps

Toilet vandalism and in Eden not maintained regularly

Took the toilets out in Bega

Towamba public toilet needs refurbishing complicated septic arrangement

Ugly, poor design - not enough

Unclean appearance not suitable for family use

Very dirty toilets needs cleaning big issue

Virtually no public toilet in main area of Bega, Cobargo is tragedy

You said you were dissatisfied with Cleaning and maintenance of public toilets. Why did you


A lot of vandalism

Adequacy of toilets is never enough

Always are unclean

Always dirty

Always dirty

Always grotty

Always unclean

Always very dirty - tourists complain

At times they need cleaning

Because of age, smell of toilets

Because they have none in area to clean

Being stainless steel they only hose them don’t clean properly

Bermagui toilets not maintained as well as could be

Bermagui - not cleaned often enough. They need revamping

Carpark toilets in Bega always terrible

Council fixed the toilet by shoving cardboard on back

Disgusting - some have needles, not well maintained at all

Do not have any

Don’t clean them enough

Doors don’t lock properly, no soap, bit grotty

Existing toilets should be cleaned more often


Generally they are filthy with little effort in keeping them clean

Graffiti and in bad shape

Level of cleanliness is disgusting

Limited and disgusting

Merimbula toilets are poorly maintained and very few of them

Merimbula: needs more frequent cleaning

Need frequent maintaining

Need regular maintenance

Not cleaned enough

Not cleaned or maintained enough in Merimbula or Eden

Not cleaned properly or at all

Not cleaned well enough

Not enough time to clean toilets properly

Not maintained properly: gross

Not maintained: not inviting to visitors

Not up to scratch

Not very clean and maintained

Not well cleaned

Palmer St toilets are not up to scratch

Poor reflection on Bega Valley to newcomers to area

Public toilet in Bega was in very bad condition

Service not provided

So many of them a so dirty

Some are very filthy

Some toilets in Bega are in a shocking condition

The existing toilets are not cleaned adequately not often enough

The Sapphire centre toilets are terrible, needs a flush urinal

The toilets are abysmal, had to go to Centrelink to use theirs

The toilets are generally in poor condition and filthy

The toilets are over used and are gross

The toilets in Bermagui are never clean

The toilets in Eden are either damaged or locked

They’re not cleaned - e.g. vandals

They are dirty, they smell something horrible

They are filthy and smell

They have faeces around the toilet bowl in most areas

They smell and are never clean

Toilet at Saltwater Harbour is very old and needs attention

Toilets always need cleaning; bad for tourism

Toilets are in bad state in Bermagui

Toilets at boat ramp and beach are not being maintained

Toilets in the centre of Bega are not clean

Toilets need to be rebuilt they are too old

Towamba toilet is very dirty and ill maintained

Unclean

Used to be one in park above swimming pool, never looked after

Very dirty and always wet on floors


Very dirty and not cleaned and maintained

Very smelly and no toilet paper

Volunteers have to clean these toilets

When they were around they were not cleaned

You said you were dissatisfied with Operation of swimming pools or aquatic centres. Why did


Bega pool should have longer opening hours plus cover

Bega pool too small and few facilities

Cost of going is expensive

Don’t have any

Hours of operation should be extended in summer

In Eden, running of the pool isn’t good

Lack of heating, not open all year round, expensive

Swimming pool in Eden could be more attractive for kids

The price of the pool in Eden is too much

There are not enough of them. In Bermagui there is none

There’s one and its expensive, can’t afford it

Too small and dirty at Pambula

We don’t have any - it was private funding


You said you were dissatisfied with Consulting and engaging with the community. Why do you


Access is denied certain hours over weekend not informed

Because they do not consult

Community doesn’t know enough of what is going on

Council does not consult

Council does things because they can without consulting

Council engages with community that has nothing to do with council

Council favours certain people - not equal representation

Council has not listened to community just do what the want

Council ignoring request for a street light: Endeavour drive:

Council lack of communication very poor and political

Council loathe to consult with community

Council members are unapproachable

Councillors more concerned in business than the community

Disenfranchise from the community because of narrow-mindedness

Do not reply when requests are made to council

Don’t see it happening

Don’t do it at all. Bega is essential area Merimbula forgotten


Don’t keep community informed of even basic routine changes

Everything happens in Merimbula, Bega - not much concern for Eden

Feel the ignore the majority for the minority

Have had engineer and councillors agree that something should be done but it has

Have not heard any consulting with the community

Have not replied to 2 letters on different matters.

I do not believe it happens properly

I have never had any sort of engagement with council in 34 years

It feels like the council do what they want and don’t listen

Lack of information to public - dishonesty

Letters sent to council responded but no satisfaction achieved

Little consulting of any worth

Need to actually communicate

No clear process for consultation for any issue; very hap-hazard

No community consultation

No consultation is done with residents

No consulting council tells you what they are doing

No notice of what the community is asking for

Not aware that council consults with the community

Not enough engaging with the community

Not enough of opportunity for input from public on decision

Not enough services to Cobargo and smaller towns

Not widely advertised when council engages with community

Paying lip service to community concerns flash input

PR is bad; people that are sent out are abrupt - military attitude

Previous council basically ignored what public wanted

Problems and questions aren’t answered by council

Representation mostly for Bega and central area

Smaller towns outside main areas are ignored

The public enough have not got enough say

There should be more surveys done instead

They don’t take notice of what community at these meetings

They are liars about maintaining reserves; don’t keep records, bad management.

They do not consult community

They do not engage : have meeting in middle of day

They do not listen to the people of Tathra

They don’t communicate with us at all

They don’t consult or engage at all

They don’t ask anyone else

They don’t confer with the population

They don’t consult the community

They don’t do it often enough

They have a hidden agenda and when mind is made up won’t change

They have not communicated; too slow in decision making

They just do what they want to do and never consult anyone

They make their final decision prior to consulting with people

They never come and ask the community anything


They never listen: I asked for street light 9 yrs ago - Jinjera Pde, Pambula beach

They seem to have secret meetings - no consultation with public

They tend to make decisions then inform the public

Town hall would be fixed and used again and now say it has to be demolished

Towamba very rarely sees councillors; empty promises

Try but can do better needs to be more effective

Wanatta lane no consultation at all

We rarely get enough notices for public meetings

Whenever I have reported vandalism in Merimbula, no reply from council

Woolworths in Bermagui planning decision made before public told

You said you were dissatisfied with Planning with the community for the future of the Shire. Why

do you say that? Verbatim responses:

Need traffic lights corner Gibbs and Princes Hwy in Bega

Street here is now dirt road only - Love Street, Eden

Almost impossible to get done in Eden

Bermagui needs facilities for kids - e.g. skate park

Built sub-division no infrastructure

Can’t ever remember them doing any

Community requests are ignored

Consult irregularly irrationally and without follow up

Council doesn’t listen to Bermagui - no high rise please

Council is forgetting what is councils jobs are

Council just do what they want

Council lack of communication and up to who you know

Council members are too old and in it for themselves

Council seems hap-hazard in their planning

Don’t plan with community

Don’t see that happening at all

Don’t follow their own plans

Don’t really listen to community

Have not heard anything about future planning

Lack of community involvement

Lack of consultation

Led by few of the minority on town planning issues.

Merimbula has been waiting 20 years for a town plan

Might be asked but they don’t follow through

More consultation for the future

Nation parks at Bitsry: their agenda

Needs to be consultation

Never stay to plan

No avenues for input

No community consultation or community meetings

No consideration on costs to residents, more effective staff


No transparency and no accountability no clear process secret society

No vision of the council

Not aware this is done with residents

Not enough attention for services

Not enough happening in Eden other communities getting more

Not concentrating on Nethercote or Eden at all

Nothing been done for ten years

People who are doing the planning aren’t intelligent enough

Same as last answer

Shire needs long term plans and put into force

Should have more foresight for the area to create jobs

There doesn’t seem to be a plan, what is it?

There is no communication with Wonboyn lake residents

They don’t consult with community

They don’t consult: so how can they plan

They don’t take any notice of residents

They have no support for tourism in Merimbula - dying

They haven’t done anything

They just look after themselves

They run around it circles, nothing happens

Towamba has bad communication Re bridge repair what is going on in Knight St

We hear talk - but nothing much happens

Will not talk to community

You said you were dissatisfied with Informing the community of Council decision, activities and

services. Why do you say that? Verbatim responses:

McCarthy house decision not transparent

Any development you have to go to council to read

Because I have grand kids growing up and they want to do some sport

Because the don’t they just do it

Communication poor

Council’s flow and un-responsiveness

Council did not consult about broadband network satellite dishes

Council does not consult

Council has too many closed sections not open to the public

Council not forthcoming with credible information

Councils decisions are not always made public or delayed

Do not give full content of the decisions

Don’t inform us at all

Don’t inform community

Don’t know anything about many services

Don’t consult with community as they should

Don’t get response from council

Don’t inform community about the tip and Wanatta lane


Don’t inform often enough

Has not been informed by council on services and facilities

Hear about decisions after the council has done it

Hidden agendas we only get to know on a need to know basis

In adequate community and public notification

It is not transparent

Last year’s firework cancellation was a shock notice for the community

Make decisions and then inform afterwards

McDonalds issue needed to more transparency - explanation needed

Need to inform before they do

Need to more improvement

Needs to dealt with in more ways

Never been informed by council

Never done

Never hear about what is happening

Never know what they are doing - forgone conclusion

Never see anything about decisions

No communication. Have own agenda and don’t inform community

No transparency in decision making totally not responsive, not professional

Not really listening to the community

Same no response, councillors not attending and not informing community

There’s a feeling of council making up there minds before asking for input

They may consult us but they have already made up their decisions

They do not put feedback into the paper, they run own show

They don’t communicate with community - only in newspaper

They never let us know what’s going on at all

Towamba bridge in Knight St has a lot of money being spent, why?

Unaware of what council does

We are told very little about what is going on

We pay their wages and rate payers don’t seem to be consulted

You said you were dissatisfied with Council responsiveness to community requests. Why do you


2 contacts - no responses to letters regarding DA approvals

A lot of requests answered poorly and not informed

Asked for help with walkways and access etc to beach: no help from them

Asking for upgrade airport 4 yrs, need brand new one done

Because of my problem with Bruce Steer Pool railings

Because they don’t get back to you

Bermagui wants / needs bike track and can’t get anywhere

Community requests aren’t answered or resolved

Contacted them many times about reserve but nothing’s done

Council do not reply to written letters and their verbal promises are not done

Council does not act until you take your complaint to the media


Council does not respond: front desk may not hand on messages

Council doesn’t think - and bulldoze residents, our voice not heard

Council don’t listen to general public

Council don’t do anything

Council have disrespect for people that voted them in

Council ignore some community requests

Council ignores community requests on some issues

Council ignores people’s views on development

Council not responding to our requests

Council please themselves

Council responsiveness is directed to junior people

Don’t believe they listen to the community

Extremely political and slow response

Generally speaking things get done but not quickly

Get no response from them

Had a hard time getting council to maintain nature reserve and vacant blocks.

Have approached council re building next door - nothing done

Have to write to council for a request - it takes too long

Ignored any assistance requests from residents

Information requests and enquires get poor responses

It takes 3 years to get a response

Lacks in public relations - still waiting for return phone call

Left messages are never return your call

Neighbours tree wanted to cut down were not allowed to; tree was a danger

New gardens replacing fountain are not adequate

New toilets requested for 7 years still ignored

No response from council - don’t buy local paper

Not a big believer is doing anything they say need to practice openness

Not aware of council responsiveness to residents

People are outraged with how council contempt for the public

Public input on sewerage subdivision are completely ignored

Remote areas are left out - too hard basket

Representations made by community have been ignored

Request have not been done as agreed by council - engineers

Requested are not responded to for Eden

Rude response on previous complaint

Same thing - ask community and continue with what they want to do

Seems to be non-existent

Takes months to hear anything on community issues

The community has been requesting info about the airport: nothing substantial came

The request for Wopingo Street in Bermagui was ignored

There are several things that the community have tried to get done and was stopped

They are ignored

They are not responsive to community

They do listen to the community and do what they want

They do not listen - Bega Park is and example; they took fountain away

They don’t acknowledge letters


They don’t respond

They don’t respond: and they fob you off

They ignore you if you make a request

Tip fees are too high we need free vouchers to the tip

Too slow in making decisions

Towamba never gets consulted on road works

Trying to get Pambula hospital amenities; council done nothing

Vandalism reporting is not acknowledged by council

Very rarely get return calls

Waiting 10 years to get kerb and guttering fixed - still waiting

Waiting reply for Woolworths application

Wanata lane: responses to community concerns unsatisfactory

We seem to ask and ask and keep hitting a brick wall

Woolworths Bermagui and golf club development we were not consulted

Wrote for info and then wanted to charge for a written answer

bega community survey 2012 · service/facilities provided by council, analysis using an opportunity...

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