SOME interesting findings in the customer satisfaction survey results for the City of Greater Bendigo released yesterday.
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The council would be pleased with an overall performance index score of 63 out of 100 – three points higher than the state average.
The council has copped plenty of criticism of late, but it appears not everyone shares that opinion.
The survey revealed 74 per cent of residents thought the council was heading in the right direction,with
21 per cent going a little further in stating the council was “definitely” heading in the right direction.
No doubt the fact this survey’s findings were gathered from a tiny percentage of this community – 400 people – will be noted.
But the findings in regards to the most important council services reflect one of the biggest issues facing this community – aged services. Finding ways to accommodate and provide services for the elderly looms as one of the real areas of concern for all councils into the future.
Predictions that Greater Bendigo’s 75-years-and-older population would increase 40 per cent by 2026 have already prompted the City of Greater Bendigo to produce a survey of its own to gather ideas from the community on how to tackle this growing issue.
That’s a wise move, given this problem will need a solid working partnership between the council and the community to solve.
Another interesting aspect of the review was that arts centres and libraries were ranked lowest in terms of importance.
That revelation is sure to create questions for a council that has committed to serious spending on a $26 million 1000-seat theatre at the city’s former jail and a Bendigo library redevelopment expected to cost around the $8 million mark in the near future.