COAL mining impacts, maintenance of roads and unemployment have been identified by Upper Hunter residents as the top three biggest issues facing the shire over the next five years.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The community attitudes and perception survey cost $20,000 and was conducted by consultants Micromex Research for Upper Hunter Shire Council.
The key findings and recommendations of the telephone survey were presented to Council at Monday’s ordinary general meeting by the CEO of Micromex Research Mark Mitchell.
Other issues of concern identified by residents included the impacts of the proposed bypass on the environment, development of infrastructure, youth services and illegal drug use.
Of the 401 people randomly selected and telephoned for the survey:
- 47 per cent (approximately 189 people) were from Scone;
- 15 per cent (approximately 60 people) were from Merriwa;
- 15 per cent (approximately 60 people) were from Aberdeen;
- nine per cent (approximately 36 people) were from other Upper Hunter locations;
- eight per cent (approximately 32 people) were from Murrurundi;
- four per cent (approximately 16 people) were from Cassilis; and
- two per cent (approximately eight people) were from Gundy.
The most valued aspect of living in the shire, identified by 40 per cent of those who took part, was the sense of community spirit.
Residents also believed the lifestyle of the shire was important, with quite and peaceful, rural, natural environment, clean air and close to family and friends identified as important.
Issues survey participants would like Council to focus on, or improve, included delivering better value for money, lighting in public places, offering greater support to current business and promotion of new business.
Residents interviewed also want better stormwater drainage, provision of clean public toilets; more involvement in Council decision-making; and Council acting more quickly to resolve complaints.
The survey also revealed residents aged over 65 were largely satisfied with the performance of Council, whereas those in the 35-49 age bracket were less satisfied.
After the council meeting, Mark Mitchell told The Scone Advocate Upper Hunter Shire Council’s overall performance in the survey was good.
“We have done this for many, many councils across NSW and the [satisfaction] score for Upper Hunter Shire Council is above our average for regional councils.
“Residents seem to want more detail [and] they were concerned about issues like engagement, planning for the future, roads and economic development.
“Roads are important, governance is important and they are the ones with the low satisfaction rating.
“[So] it is a mix of improving in those areas and better communicating what Council has already done and is doing in those areas,” Mr Mitchell said.
