Loddon Shire Mayoral Column 3 August
Published on 03 August 2021
Community Satisfaction Survey
Residents in the Loddon Shire have rated Council’s overall performance, its customer service and waste management higher than both the state-wide average and small rural council average.
Council’s Local Government Community Satisfaction Survey, conducted by JWS Research, collected responses from 400 residents in Loddon on a range of council services.
Council’s overall performance scored 63 this year – up from 61 in 2020. This score is higher than the state-wide average of 61 and the average for small rural councils of 60.
With a score of 74, Council’s customer service also rated above the state-wide average (score of 70) and the average for small rural councils (score of 69).
Additionally, Council’s waste management (score of 73) performed higher than the state-wide average (69) and the small rural council average (68). This rating for waste management is also up for Council from a score of 69 in 2020.
Other top-performing areas according to residents are appearance of public areas (score of 75), recreational facilities (score of 71), emergency and disaster management (score of 70) and elderly support services (score of 70).
At 61, Council’s community decisions also rated higher than the state-wide average and the average for small rural councils, with both scoring 56.
While improving on last year’s ratings, the survey also revealed that residents perceive more work needs to be done to improve the condition of our roads.
This includes sealed roads (score of 50, up from 47 in 2020) and unsealed roads (score of 48, up from 44 in 2020). Satisfaction with Council’s unsealed roads rated higher than the state-wide average of 45 and small rural councils average with a score of 44.
Having mentioned satisfaction with the sealed roads network, it should be noted that the majority of traffic within the Shire travel on State roads (not Council roads), which can alter the overall perception of the condition of sealed roads within the Shire.
That said, Council is continually striving to ensure more work is done on our roads, and would like to hear from residents regarding road issues to help ensure problems are identified and rectified as soon as possible.
If you do identify an issue with a road, please contact Council’s customer service team on 5494 1200 so that the problem can be fixed.
You can view the 2021 Local Government Community Satisfaction Survey at Council's website.
Council infrastructure program adopted
At its meeting last week, Council adopted the Annual Infrastructure Program for 2021/22, which sets out priority projects over the coming financial year.
The $3.98 million program includes Council funding as well as Federal Government funding (Roads to Recovery and Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program).
The 2021/22 program includes $1,067,920 to reseal and final seal approximately 41 kilometres of the sealed road network; $318,788 for local road gravel resheets and $146,821 for local road shoulder resheets.
There is also funding of $699,829 for the renewal of sections of Tandarra-Serpentine Road, Wedderburn-Wedderburn Junction Road, and Prairie Road, and $100,336 to seal Potters Hill Lane, Market Street and Nixon Street in Inglewood.
Additionally, there is funding of $150,600 for three projects to improve road safety. These include removing hazardous trees adjacent to the road shoulder on Dunns Road at Kamarooka North and improving the safety of Lily Street in Bridgewater on the corner before the Laucke Flour Mill.
There is also $412,816 to replace 460 metres of footpath in Wedderburn and Tarnagulla, and replace a section of kerb and channel in Grant Street, Inglewood.
There is funding of $281,500 for urban and township drainage projects, including at Korong Vale and Inglewood, and an additional allocation to allow the completion of investigation and design of the Skinners Flat Reservoir dam and spillway restoration.
Funding of $210,000 has been allocated for box culvert replacement on Gladfield Road, Pyramid Hill and there is $105,000 for parks and gardens projects, including the replacement of the barbecue and shelter at the Pyramid Hill Lions East Park.
Additionally, there is funding of $492,376 for a number of building projects, such as renewing septic systems at Tarnagulla and Dingee.
Community grants funding allocated
At its meeting last week, Council also endorsed the allocation of $61,683 in grants to Group 1 applications under the 2021/22 Loddon Shire Community Grants Scheme.
Twelve applicants received funding, including Boort Angling Club, Boort Lakeside Croquet Club, Boort Memorial Hall Community Asset Committee, Inglewood Riding Club and Campbell’s Forest Hall Community Asset Committee.
Other successful funding applicants were the Arnold Cricket Club, Newbridge Recreation Reserve Committee of Management (two projects), Rheola Public Cemetery, Tarnagulla and District Golf Club, Wedderburn Historical Records Museum, and Wedderburn Mechanics and Literary Institute Community Asset Committee.
Group 2 applications are anticipated to be presented to Council for consideration at its August Meeting.
The Loddon Shire Community Grants Scheme started in the 2000/01 financial year to help recreation, sporting and service organisations deliver projects that improve the quality of life for residents. Since the scheme was initiated, Council has invested approximately $2.69 million, supporting over 700 community-based projects worth more than $5.49 million.
Projects update
Kerb and channel and footpath works along High Street in Wedderburn are now complete. The works, which took place from near the 24 Karat Café and Wedderburn Produce and Garden store to the police station corner, included new footpath, kerb and channel, underground drainage and landscaping.
Kerb and channelling and associated works will start this week on Lake View and Andrews Street in Boort. The works are anticipated to be completed by October, weather permitting.
Works to extend the wide seal of Laanecoorie Newbridge Road for approximately three kilometres are also expected to get underway this week. Please note, that the road will be closed, except to local traffic, while works are progressing.
Works to replace Baileys Road Bridge over Bullock Creek in Derby are continuing. The old bridge has been removed and works on the new bridge underway – including the installation of bridge piles. The new bridge is expected to be completed by the end of September.
Upgrade works at the Wedderburn Pioneer Caravan Park, Pyramid Hill Caravan Park and Boort Lakes Holiday Park are nearing completion. The works have included road and drainage works, powerhead upgrades, solar lighting and new amenities blocks.
The final part of the project will be upgrades to three cabins at the Wedderburn Pioneer Caravan Park.
Construction works on new female-friendly change rooms at the Bridgewater Recreation Reserve are progressing, and are anticipated to be completed in October.