Special Rate Variation Community Engagement Report - Shoalhaven City Council

Background
The State Government’s ‘Fit for the Future’ program requires ongoing action to ensure
Councils in NSW continue to deliver financial savings and more efficient and targeted
services. Shoalhaven City Council aims to maintain living standards of residents by providing
a wide range of service and facilities at high quality levels. Shoalhaven City Council has
released a rates increase proposal and is currently building strategies to improve
communication with the Shoalhaven community.
Shoalhaven City Council and IRIS Research have collaborated to conduct a Community
Survey to investigate community reaction towards the rates increase proposal. Respondents
of the survey were Shoalhaven residents, mainly well-educated individuals with moderate
incomes and living with their families. The majority pay rates for their own property. Almost
half of the respondents are aware that the council has a Community Strategic Plan. The
awareness level depends on the respondents’ education and income levels. As the education
and income levels increase the awareness of the Community Strategic Plan improves.
The Survey
In the survey, particular attention was given to the perceptions towards the Council’s
financial situation at the time the survey was conducted (December 2016). Respondents did
not think that Council’s financial situation was particularly negative. The reactions were
mainly neutral indicating that respondents do not have a strong opinion on Council’s
finances. Perceptions towards the negativity of Council’s financial situation increase as the
community’s understandings of the current condition of Council’s assets increase. However,
the most significant factor that affects negative perceptions about Council’s financial position
are perceptions about Council’s backlog of required maintenance work. Moreover, opinions
about Council is not spending enough money on maintenance, reinforce negative perceptions
of its financial situation. When possible ways to raise revenue are discussed, respondents
make references to having more productive and efficient management methods.
These results show that the current interest in Council’s financial situation and management
methods among the community are relatively low and that higher levels of understanding
generate negative perceptions. The strategies for the delivery of financial savings and more
vi