Council working to improve priority areas identified in community survey

25 July 2023

A report ratified at the 25 July Council meeting showed Council was on target in two key performance areas, but below the industry average compared to other northern councils in two other areas.

“This is very much a baseline,” Cook Shire CEO Brian Joiner said. “We haven’t done a community survey on this scale for more than a decade, and these results will give us something to measure from going forward.”

Results showed residents and ratepayers thought Council was providing great recognition for First Nations peoples and top notch airport and library services. Council also ranked better than comparative councils for seniors services, community facilities and tourism and destination marketing.

Priority areas for improvement were identified as housing, health, roads and bridges, community safety and crime, youth services and animal management. Mr Joiner said Council was on the front foot in some areas, with funding allocated in the 2023-24 budget for crime prevention initiatives and animal de-sexing.

Mr Joiner said Council would be providing regular updates on action taken to improve the identified priorities. “We also intend to do community surveys on a regular basis so we can measure our progress and stay engaged with our residents and ratepayers,” he said. “We want to make sure we’re engaging with the community and have residents involved in community-led solutions to some of the problems identified.”

Cook Shire Mayor Peter Scott said the community survey was an important tool for Council to better understand the community’s needs. “It’s always Council’s intent to do the best for our residents and ratepayers and make decisions in their best interests,” Cr Scott said. “The results from this survey can help us identify where we need to improve and provides a gauge for the current feelings and ideas of the community.

Cr Scott said Council would release a Community Action Plan for the top six priority areas of improvement. “This plan will be a guide for Council and the community which outlines key steps to improving those areas of access to housing, health and community services, our local roads and bridges, community safety and crime prevention, youth services and facilities and animal management,” he said.

For more information contact Cook Shire Council via email to mail@cook.qld.gov.au or by phoning 4082 0500.