Interviewing for this year’s Local Government Services Survey is underway.

Each year around 400 residents aged over 18 are randomly selected for interview and they are asked to rank the Council’s performance based on a number of indicators such as customer service and service delivery.

The survey by JWS Research enables those interviewed to have their say on what the city does well and what improvements can be made. 

City chief executive officer Craig Niemann said the survey was part of council’s commitment to engaging with the community, hearing what residents have to say and making improvements when appropriate to do so.

“The survey enables us to collect important information about public perceptions about the work we do and is one of many community engagement activities undertaken each year,” Mr Niemann said.

“I encourage residents contacted by JWS Research to take the time to participate in the survey as residents’ views are very important to us and help us to continuously improve the way we serve our community.”

The survey results will be given to council around the middle of the year.

It is part of a statewide telephone survey used to collect direct feedback from the community about councils, covering the following main areas: council's overall performance, community consultation and engagement, advocacy – lobbying on behalf of the community, making community decisions, sealed local roads, customer service and overall council direction.

Last year’s results were a mixed bag for Bendigo.

Council’s overall performance rating was down to 60 – from 63 in 2014, 2013 and 2012. 

However this was still two points higher that the average for Victorian regional centres and equal with the statewide average. 

There was growing concern amongst residents about the overall direction that council is taking, with the index score dropping six points to 52.