Hello? Byron council’s on the blower

Byron Shire Council wants you! And they might just call you about it.

Council is commencing its 2018 Community Survey and is keen for your feedback on roads, rates, rubbish and other local stuff, so if you get a call over the next few weeks asking about your experiences with council, they would really love it if you didn’t say; ‘thank-you, but not today’.

Byron Shire Council’s General Manager Mark Arnold says that four hundred residents will be phoned over the coming weeks and asked about community needs and customer satisfaction on a broad range of services, issues and current experiences.

‘It’s a great opportunity for residents to let us know where we are doing well and where we need to improve,’ says Mr Arnold. ‘Residents will be phoned randomly and we are aiming to get a good representation from throughout the Shire and across all age groups.’

Mark says that if you get a call from the appointed research company Micromex, council would appreciate it if you could take 10 minutes and answer their questions.

Results from the survey will be compared to a similar survey that was done in 2016 to help determine changing needs and views. When finalised, and results are analysed, the findings will be made available to the community.

Mr Arnold said that the 2016 survey had supported the need for Council to invest in upgraded community infrastructure. ‘So we developed a strong focus and commitment to continually looking at ways to improve our financial position and channel additional funding back into fixing our roads’.

The recently adopted 2018/2019 budget includes more than $62 million for capital works projects for roads, bridges, drainage, open space and recreation, community facilities, water and sewage.

‘Identified community needs and satisfaction levels flowing from the new community survey will help Council to further prioritise budgets and services, said Mr Arnold.

For more information contact Shannon McKelvey, Executive Officer, on 6626 7020.