Inverell Shire Council has received the results of its Community Satisfaction Survey, conducted in December 2024, with overwhelmingly positive feedback from residents regarding quality of life and Council performance.
The independent survey, conducted by Micromex Research, aimed to assess community sentiment and provide valuable insights to inform Council’s Integrated Planning and Reporting (IP & R) documents. A total of 402 randomly selected residents participated in the telephone survey, exceeding the state benchmark for statistical significance.
The key findings highlight that 91 per cent of residents rated their quality of life as ‘good’ to ‘excellent’, with strong appreciation for the Shire’s sense of community, country lifestyle, cleanliness, family connections, and peaceful atmosphere.
The survey also identified health and medical services as the most significant issue facing the region in the next decade, with 34 per cent of respondents highlighting it as a priority. Other key areas of concern included community safety, crime rates, road infrastructure, and economic growth.
In terms of Council’s performance, the survey results were significantly above regional benchmarks. 88 per cent of residents expressed at least some level of satisfaction with Council’s overall performance in the past 12 months, compared to the Micromex Regional LGA Benchmark of 81 per cent.
Additionally, 79 per cent of respondents were satisfied with Council’s communication efforts.
Support for the Shire’s community vision ‘A progressive and cohesive community’ was also notably strong, with 94 per cent of residents backing this aspiration.
Of the 37 Council services and facilities surveyed, 30 achieved satisfaction scores of 80 per cent or more. The only area with a rating below 60 per cent was the condition of unsealed roads, which
Council acknowledges as a continuing challenge requiring further attention.
Mayor Cr Kate Dight welcomed the survey results.
“The feedback from our community reinforces that Inverell Shire remains a highly desirable place to live. Our Council is proud of these results, and we remain committed to improving the services that matter most to our residents.”
The survey’s findings will play a key role in shaping Council’s strategic planning, including the review of the Community Strategic Plan and the development of the Delivery Program.
Micromex Research delivered a detailed briefing to Councillors on 28th January 2025. The full report, Micromex – Inverell Shire – Community Satisfaction Survey Report 2025, is available for public access on Council’s website.
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