Community
31 July, 2025
Resident satisfaction falls across Moyne
SATISFACTION with Moyne Shire Council performance has fallen across the board, with a new report showing Mortlake residents are some of the most dissatisfied in the shire.
Moyne Shire councillors received the Community Satisfaction Survey 2025 research report at last week’s ordinary meeting of council.
All councils are required to produce a satisfaction survey each year, with more than 400 participants this year making their voices heard.
The report showed a bittersweet result.
While the shire continues to score higher than similar councils across all 20 core measures, Moyne Shire’s performance also fell in every category from the previous year.
Among the worst performing areas were unsealed and sealed local roads, town planning policy, consultation and engagement, community decisions, lobbying and population growth.
Council also saw sharp declines in satisfaction in waste management, recreational facilities, business and community development, enforcement of local laws and streets and footpaths.
The motion to accept and note the satisfaction survey was moved by councillor Lisa Ryan, who said the result showed work needed to be done.
“This feedback gives us a strong foundation to act on,” she said.
“Overall our satisfaction scores are higher than other small rural councils, however they are lower than last year’s results.
“It’s important to recognise that and that we do have room for improvement.”
Councillor Myra Murrihy, as seconder, said it was important for council to acknowledge improvement was needed.
“In every aspect our results have declined,” she said.
“Only slightly, but I think it’s important that we acknowledge this and that we work to improve on these numbers for our community so our community knows we’re aware we have room for improvement.
“That’s what we’ll be focusing on doing.”
Moyne Shire Council performed particularly poorly with Mortlake residents.
Residents of the 3272 post code gave Moyne its lowest scores in the five areas of appearance of public areas, business/community development/tourism, community and cultural, business and community development and community decisions.
A further five areas saw the shire score lowest with men while it also scored highest with women in six areas, and with Port Fairy residents in 10.
The disparity was one councillor Jordan Lockett noted.
“The Mortlake men are unhappy and the Port Fairy women are happy,” he said.
“That’s a really brief summary.”
The shire did score highest with Mortlake residents in town planning policy, emergency and disaster management and recreational facilities
The motion to receive and note the report was carried unanimously.
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