Press Release – 7 April 2017
South Wairarapa District Council (SWDC) engaged a National Research Bureau to undertake a survey of residents in 2003, 2005, 2010, 2013 and 2016. SWDC engaged Communitrak as means of assessing Councils effectiveness in representing the wishes and viewpoints of residents. Understanding residents’ and ratepayers’ opinions will allow the SWDC to be more responsive.
The latest survey was conducted with 300 residents of the South Wairarapa district. 100 from Featherston, 99 from Greytown and 101 from Martinborough, the telephone interviews were carried out between 18 November and 27 November 2016.
SWDC CEO, Paul Crimp says the surveys are very useful in gauging progress and are also used while deliberating on the Annual Plan and Long Term Plans.
“One of the on-going issues are footpaths and crossings and Council is considering ways of improving our results in this area. Community Boards play a big role in setting priorities for the footpath programme, this encourages a ‘grass roots’ input.”
“One aspect of this years’ survey was the number of people who felt they were unable to comment. In some cases the increase in those not able to comment changed the satisfaction level by more than 10%. This means care needs to be taken when interpreting the results.”
“A snapshot of the survey was that 94% of residents are satisfied with parks and reserves – with 29% not very satisfied with footpaths. In 2016 70% of residents were satisfied with the SWDC’s decisions, actions and management. In 2016 81% of residents say they have a household emergency kit.”
“Those surveyed conveyed that the main things residents think the SWDC should do for the district over the next few years are improve roading/road safety/traffic issues, improve infrastructure/maintain existing services and facilities, improve water supply, address environmental concerns, promote tourism/the district and provide better amenities for visitors, improve the appearance/beautification/upkeep and image of the district.”
“An additional question not asked in previous years was the method of communication, the results of which were quite interesting. 41% would prefer via newspapers, 37% via Council newsletters, 31% via mail drops, 26% via social media, 17% via personal contact, 14% via email, 9% via radio, 8% via Council website, 4% via meetings, 2% said other.”
“Given the above results we will be tailoring our communications using this information.”
Additional survey results, 2016 with the 2013 results in brackets alongside.
- Satisfaction with how rates are allocated – 56% fairly satisfied, 9% very satisfied, 21% not very satisfied and 14% did not know or were unable to say.
- Satisfaction with SWDC services and facilities-94% of residents are satisfied with the SWDC parks and reserves (88%)
- Satisfaction with roads in the district excluding State Highways-73% of residents are satisfied with the roads, while 26% are not very satisfied (similar to 2013 results)
- Satisfaction with footpaths – 63% of residents are satisfied with the SWDC footpaths, while 29% are not very satisfied (66%)
- Satisfaction with the quality of the water supply – 50% of residents are satisfied with the quality of water supply, while 31% are unable to comment (60%)
- Provision of a water supply – 59% of residents are satisfied with the provision of a water supply (73%), while 8% are not very satisfied. A large percentage (33%) were unable to comment.
- Recycling Collection Service – 66% of residents are satisfied with the recycling and collection service (77%), including 46% who are very satisfied (53%), while 25% were unable to comment.
- Rubbish collection service – 67% of residents are satisfied with the rubbish collection service (73%), including 49% who are very satisfied (53%). 28% were unable to comment.
- Transfer and recycling station – 69% of residents are satisfied with the recycling and transfer stations (66%), including 33% who were very satisfied (37%), 13% were unable to comment.
- Sewage treatment and disposal – 49% of residents were satisfied with sewage treatment and disposal (60%), a large percentage of 45% were unable to comment.
- The provision of sewer services – 49% of residents were satisfied with the provision of sewer services (58%); with a large percentage 46% were unable to comment.
- How rates are allocated – Taking into account the services and facilities provided by SWDC 65% of residents were satisfied with how the way rates were allocated, while 21% were not very satisfied and 14% unable to comment (these results are similar to the 2013 results).
- Contacting the Mayor and Councillors – 79% of residents felt they could contact the Mayor and Councillors if they had an issue they wanted to raise, 8% felt that the Mayor and Councillors made it difficult for them to contact them and 13% did not know.
- South Wairarapa as a place to live – 45% of residents think the South Wairarapa is better than it was three years ago (35%), 47% felt it is the same and 1% said it was worse.
- Council consultation and community involvement – 47% of residents were satisfied with the way the SWDC involved the public in decisions it made, 17% were dissatisfied (20%), 31% were neither satisfied or dissatisfied (26%) and 5% were unable to comment.
View the full Communitrak Survey Report.