The highest priority issues for residents in 2023 were:
- Affordability/availability of housing and land – 51% of residents
- Managing development – 31% of residents
- Condition and maintenance of roads – 28% of residents
The three most important services for residents were:
- Local Roads
- Planning for the future
- Management of development
The three services residents were most satisfied with were:
- Libraries
- Garbage collection
- Community halls
The three services residents were least satisfied with were:
- Affordable Housing (a service provided by NSW State Government)
- Public Transport (a service provided by NSW State Government).
- Local roads
Summary of results
It can take time for Council decisions to start to return results and there is often an interval, sometimes years, between decisions being made and positive outcomes being seen ‘on the ground’ by residents.
One example is the past Council decisions and projects to generate revenue that are now enabling record investment in roads, culverts and bridges – which was the one service in 2023 where resident satisfaction increased.
Overall, the 2023 results are lower particularly in Mullumbimby and northern areas of the Shire where were most badly impacted by the devasting 2022 floods. Council will continue to focus on flood recovery works in those areas and also focus across the Shire on:
- Local roads and infrastructure and management of development.
- Council leadership and future planning, with a focus on keeping community informed and involved.
- Housing affordability, which is a State Government responsibility but because of its importance to our community, it remains an area where Council will look to innovate and strongly lobby for improved outcomes in the Shire.