Community Satisfaction Survey Results 2026
Published on 29 May 2026
MEDIA RELEASE
Community Feedback Shows Positive Direction for Yarriambiack Shire
Mayor Andrew McLean has welcomed the latest results from the Local Government Community Satisfaction Survey, highlighting strong performance across many key areas and valuable insights to guide future improvements.
Yarriambiack Shire Council participates annually in the survey, which is independently conducted on behalf of participating councils. Each year, a minimum of 400 residents and ratepayers aged over 18 are randomly selected to provide feedback on Council’s performance.
Since 2023, Council has adopted a quarterly survey approach, enabling more frequent and timely insights into community views. Interviews are conducted via telephone across the municipality, collecting feedback on overall performance, community consultation and engagement, customer service, and Council’s strategic direction.
Strong Results Across the Sector
Yarriambiack Shire recorded an overall performance score of 61, above both the small rural shire average of 60 and the statewide average of 57.
Council demonstrated improvement in 11 of 12 performance areas, with customer service remaining stable.
Mayor McLean said the results reflect Council’s ongoing commitment to delivering value for the community.
“These results are encouraging and demonstrate the progress we are making across a broad range of services. It’s particularly pleasing to see improvements in key areas such as community engagement, consultation and overall Council direction.”
Performance Highlights
Council matched or exceeded the small rural average in several key areas, including:
- Overall performance
- Value for money
- Council direction
- Recreational facilities
- Business, community development and tourism
- Community decisions
- Consultation and engagement
- Lobbying
When compared to the statewide average, Council also performed strongly across most of these areas, including:
- Overall performance
- Value for money
- Council direction
- Community engagement and consultation
- Economic and community development
Areas for Improvement
The survey also highlighted areas where further improvement is required, particularly:
- Customer service
- Waste management
- Elderly support services
- Sealed local roads
Sealed local roads remain the lowest scoring area, with a rating of 42. While this represents an improvement of seven points on the previous year, it remains below both the small rural average (48) and statewide average (46).
To better understand community concerns, Council introduced an additional survey question in 2024 asking residents to identify specific roads of concern. This question has been retained to support more targeted planning.
Advocacy for Road Investment
Analysis of detailed community feedback shows that many concerns relate to roads managed by the Victorian Government.
Mayor McLean emphasised the importance of continued advocacy.
“We acknowledge that road conditions are a key concern for our community. While Council continues to prioritise investment in our local road network, many of the issues raised relate to state-managed roads.
We will continue to advocate strongly to both State and Federal Governments for increased funding to address our road renewal gap and improve outcomes for our region.”
Looking Ahead
Mayor McLean said the survey results provide important guidance for Council’s future focus.
“Community feedback is central to our decision-making. These results will help shape our priorities, ensuring we continue to deliver services that meet the needs and expectations of our community.”
Mayor Andrew McLean
Yarriambiack Shire Council
Media Contact:
Yarriambiack Shire Council
Tammy Smith, Chief Executive Officer
2026 Yarriambiack Shire Council Report(PDF, 2MB)
2026 Yarriambiack Shire Council Tailored Report(PDF, 266KB)