The decision handed down by the Bendigo Council, denying Catherine McAuley College’s Premiere League Senior Football team the opportunity to play their home semi-final at the QEO (Queen Elizabeth Oval) is incredibly disappointing for the College community.
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This decision begs the question of what is the point of maintaining such a ground as well renowned as the QEO, if it cannot be utilized by our local community first and foremost?
The reality that the ground will not be used by schoolboys to play a standard, yet significant game of footy astounds me.
It is also almost embarrassing to think that this group of young adults are not being encouraged and rewarded for their efforts in their extremely respected football competition.
This example of repudiate only highlights how local sporting needs will always come off second best when it comes to inflexibility.
Best of luck to the boys who will now play their well-earned home semi-final at the Epsom Huntly Reserve today.
Emily Patterson, Jackass Flat
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Survey results are in – there’s still a way to go
I welcome the improvement in the 2018 Greater Bendigo City Council Community Satisfaction Survey (CSS) results. There is still a way to go.
Council’s overall performance score was 59 out of 100, up from 2017’s 56; in 2012 and 2014 it was 63.
The research company that conducts the survey for councils and government notes that a score between 50 - 60 indicates, “performing satisfactorily, but needs to improve”.
Given the above, residents will find it hard to accept CEO Craig Neimann’s June 14 media statement, “We continue to perform strongly”, when council clearly “needs to improve”.
In the same media release Mayor Margaret O’Rourke attempted to undermine the survey, “Councillors understand that this is a small survey sample”. The sample size is statistically sound and credible, otherwise it would not be government approved.
Bendigo’s results could be much better if Council set performance targets, as the 2013 Independent Review recommendation 55 so skilfully set out. Council must aim for something above mediocrity.
I have previously notified the Mayor and CEO proposing a more customer focussed approach, with council setting a solid overall performance target score for next year, and in each of the other survey areas, and publish them. Only then can the community fairly judge council’s efforts.
Both ducked the issue. How Council expects significant improvement without setting targets beggars belief. Not good enough.
Maybe councillors should talk to Bendigo Bank leaders to see how they achieved a customer satisfaction score of 89.
The problem our Council has is executive officers and certain councillors have a different set of priorities to those of everyday residents as shown by key questions in the 2014 and 2015 surveys. Council has since dropped those questions.
Let’s see a public accountable CSS results report to Council. Councillors excusing middling results and avoiding the need to improve will not achieve best outcomes, More forcefully align with residents. Set targets and speak up on our behalf.
Michael Mc Kenzie, Strathdale
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