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Blue Mountains City Council
Community Satisfaction Research
Prepared by: Micromex Research
Date: April 2020
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 2
Table of Contents Executive Summary ...............................................................................................................................3
Background and Methodology ................................................................................................ 4
Sample Profile ............................................................................................................................ 8
Summary of Results .................................................................................................................. 10
Key Findings ............................................................................................................................. 14
Overview (Overall Satisfaction) ...................................................................................................... 15
Overview (Value for Money) .......................................................................................................... 16
Overview (Council’s Leadership and Response) .......................................................................... 17
Overview (Issues of greatest concern) .......................................................................................... 18
Comparison to the Micromex LGA Benchmark ........................................................................... 22
Identifying Priorities via Specialised Analysis .................................................................................. 26
Overall Satisfaction .................................................................................................................. 34
Overall Satisfaction with Council’s Performance .............................................................................. 35
Reasons for Level of Overall Satisfaction ........................................................................................... 36
Value for Money ................................................................................................................................... 38
Staff & Councillor Performance .............................................................................................. 41
Community Perceptions.......................................................................................................... 46
Making the Blue Mountains a Better Place ........................................................................... 50
Issues of Greatest Concern – Local Neighbourhood ........................................................................ 51
Issues of Greatest Concern – Blue Mountains .................................................................................... 52
Looking After the Environment ............................................................................................................ 53
Looking After People ........................................................................................................................... 54
Making the Towns and Villages Great Places to Live ....................................................................... 55
Moving Around the Blue Mountains ................................................................................................... 56
Economic Development ..................................................................................................................... 57
Importance of, and Satisfaction with, Council Services & Facilities ................................... 58
Appendix A: Additional Analyses .......................................................................................... 58
Appendix B: Demographics ................................................................................................... 58
Appendix C: Questionnaire .................................................................................................... 58
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 3
Executive Summary
91%
Key Drivers of Overall Satisfaction with Council
of residents are at least somewhat satisfied with the
Council’s leadership and response when natural
disasters impact the Blue Mountains
93%
of residents think the services
provided by Council
represent either ‘good’ or
‘very good’ value for money
49%
Issues of Greatest Concern Across the Blue Mountains
of residents are at least
somewhat satisfied with the
performance of Council in
providing services to the
community
Results have significantly
increased since 2018 and
are above the overall LGA
Benchmark
Consultation
with the
community
Council
Provision of
information
Opportunity to
participate in
Council decision
making
Bushfire/natural disaster
protection and prevention
Maintaining the natural
environment
Overdevelopment/appropriately
managing development
64%
of residents strongly
agree/agree with the
statement ‘I feel that the
quality of life and
wellbeing in the Blue
Mountains is improving
Background and
Methodology
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 5
Background and Methodology Blue Mountains City Council sought to examine community attitudes and perceptions towards current and
future services and facilities provided by Council. Key objectives of the research included:
Assessing and establishing the community’s priorities and satisfaction in relation to Council activities,
services, and facilities
Identifying the community’s overall level of satisfaction with Council’s performance
Identifying the community’s level of agreement with prompted statements
Understanding community satisfaction with service delivery and staff/Councillor performance
Identifying top priority areas for Council to focus on
To facilitate this, Micromex Research was contracted to develop a survey template that enabled Council
to effectively analyse attitudes and trends within the community.
Questionnaire
Micromex Research, together with Blue Mountains City Council, updated the 2018 questionnaire.
A copy of the questionnaire is provided in Appendix C.
Data collection
The survey was conducted during the period 11th – 25th March 2020 from 4:30pm to 8:30pm Monday to
Friday, and from 10am to 4pm Saturday.
Please note: Interviews were conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a lot of the surveys were
completed after social distancing and other related restrictions were in place, therefore this was top of
mind for a lot of residents, however, the report highlights increases in many importance scores across
services/facilities suggesting that residents are even more reliant on their local Council at the moment
Survey area
Blue Mountains City Council Local Government Area.
Sample selection and error
A total of 1,006 resident interviews were completed.
737 of the 1,006 respondents were chosen by means of a computer based random selection process using
the electronic White Pages and SamplePages. The remaining 269 respondents were ‘number harvested’
via face-to-face intercept at several locations around the Blue Mountains LGA, including the Katoomba
Marketplace Shopping Centre, Lawson Town Centre, Springwood Train Station/Town Centre, Blaxland Train
Station, Leura Shopping Centre, Glenbrook Rotary Markets and Blackheath Growers’ Markets.
A sample size of 1,006 residents provides a maximum sampling error of plus or minus 3.1% at 95%
confidence. This means that if the survey was replicated with a new universe of N=1,006 residents, 19 times
out of 20 we would expect to see the same results, i.e. +/- 3.1%.
For the survey under discussion the greatest margin of error is 3.1%. This means, for example, that an answer
such as ‘yes’ (50%) to a question could vary from 47% to 53%.
The sample was weighted by age and gender to reflect the 2016 ABS Census data for the Blue Mountains
City Council Area.
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 6
Background and Methodology
Sample Error – Planning Areas
Prequalification
Participants in this survey were pre-qualified as being over the age of 18, not working for, nor being an
elected representative of Blue Mountains City Council and have lived in the Blue Mountains Local
Government Area for more than 6 months.
Data analysis
The data within this report was analysed using Q Professional.
Within the report, ▲▼ and blue and red font colours are used to identify statistically significant differences
between groups, i.e., gender, age, ratepayer status, and residential location.
Significance difference testing is a statistical test performed to evaluate the difference between two
measurements. To identify the statistically significant differences between the groups of means, ‘One-Way
Anova tests’ and ‘Independent Samples T-tests’ were used. ‘Z Tests’ were also used to determine
statistically significant differences between column percentages.
Ratings questions
The Unipolar Scale of 1 to 5 was used in all rating questions, where 1 was the lowest importance or
satisfaction and 5 the highest importance or satisfaction.
This scale allowed us to identify different levels of importance and satisfaction across respondents.
Top 2 (T2) Box: refers to the aggregate percentage (%) score of the top two scores for importance. (i.e.
Important and Very Important). We only report T2 Box Importance in order to provide differentiation and
allow us to demonstrate the hierarchy of community priorities.
Top 3 (T3) Box: refers to the aggregate percentage (%) score of the top three scores for satisfaction (i.e.
Somewhat Satisfied, Satisfied, and Very Satisfied). We refer to T3 Box Satisfaction in order to express
moderate to high levels of satisfaction in a non-discretionary category.
Percentages
All percentages are calculated to the nearest whole number and therefore the total may not exactly
equal 100%.
Planning Area Population Survey respondents
(unweighted) Sample error
Area 1 6,035 N=102 +/- 9.6%
Area 2 20,159 N=257 +/- 6.1%
Area 3 11,536 N=151 +/- 7.9%
Area 4 21,949 N=265 +/- 6.0%
Area 5 19,521 N=231 +/- 6.4%
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 7
Background and Methodology
Interviewing
Interviewing was conducted in accordance with the AMSRS (Australian Market and Social Research
Society) Code of Professional Behaviour.
Word Frequency Tagging
Verbatim responses for open ended questions were collated and entered into analytical software. This
analysis ‘counts’ the number of times a particular word or phrase appears and, based on the frequency
of that word or phrase, a font size is generated. The larger the font, the more frequently the word or
sentiment is mentioned.
Response
Micromex LGA Benchmark
Micromex has developed Community Satisfaction Benchmarks using normative data from over 60 unique
councils, more than 120 surveys and over 68,000 interviews since 2012. Please note: The Micromex
Benchmark satisfaction norms are based on surveys where only those who rated a service/facility as
important- very important are asked to rate their satisfaction. Blue Mountains residents were all asked to
rate satisfaction and therefore the applicable tables in this report should be considered as a point of
interest only.
Planning Areas
The 27 suburbs were broken down into 5 ‘Planning Areas’ as shown below.
Response sequence Electronic
White Pages
Number
Harvesting Sample Pages Effective total
Completed interviews 711 269 26 1,006
Refusals 1,265 20 34 1,319
Valid contacts 1,976 289 60 2,325
Completion rate 36% 93% 43% 43%
Planning Area 1
Blackheath
Mount Victoria
Bell
Megalong Valley
Mount Irvine
Mount Tomah
Mount Wilson
Planning Area 2
Wentworth Falls
Leura
Katoomba
Medlow Bath
Planning Area 3
Hazelbrook
Lawson
Woodford
Bullaburra
Linden
Planning Area 4
Springwood
Winmalee
Faulconbridge
Valley Heights
Yellow Rock
Sun Valley
Planning Area 5
Blaxland
Glenbrook
Warrimoo
Mount Riverview
Lapstone
Sample Profile
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 9
Sample Profile
A sample size of 1,006 residents provides a maximum sampling error of plus or minus 3.1% at 95%
confidence. The sample has been weighted by age and gender to reflect the 2016 ABS community
profile of Blue Mountains City Council. The above sample profile shows both the data weighted to the
2016 ABS demographics and the actual number of survey respondents.
*Note: 2 respondents refused to answer ‘ratepayer status’.
Gender
Male 47% Female 53%
9%5%
12%8%
25%19%
29%24%25%
44%
18-24 25-34 35-49 50-64 65+
Age
Ratepayer
85%
Ratepayer status
Non-ratepayer
15%
Lease
N=1,006
Telephone
Interviews with
Blue Mountains
City Council
Residents
23%
26%
15%
26%
10%
23%
25%
16%
26%
9%
Area 5
Area 4
Area 3
Area 2
Area 1
Weighted data Survey respondents
Planning Area
*Prefer not to say = <1%
Male 43% Female 57%
Weighted data
Survey respondents
Weighted data
Non- ratepayer
11%
Ratepayer
89%
Survey respondents
Weighted data Survey respondents
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 10
Summary of Results
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 11
Summary of Results
Top Issues and Priorities for Making the Blue Mountains a Better Place
Issues of Greatest Concern (Immediate
Local Neighbourhood)
Bushfire/natural disaster
protection and prevention
Maintaining the natural
environment
Overdevelopment/appropriately
managing development
Road maintenance & upgrades
Provision & maintenance of
footpaths, cycleways and
walking tracks
Maintenance of weeds, trees and
Bushcare
Issues of Greatest Concern (Blue
Mountains Overall)
Looking After the Environment
Bush regeneration and
conservation
Fire risk – allowing
backburning/hazard reduction
Rubbish – better collection
services/more recycling
Overdevelopment impacting the
environment
Looking After People
More affordable & improved
aged care/disability services and
facilities
Improving/upgrading the
hospital/health care services and
facilities
Employment/business
support/tourism
Making the Towns & Villages Great
Places to Live
Appearance/maintenance/
upgrades of LGA
Roads/traffic
management/parking
A connected and inclusive
community/range of events and
activities
Moving Around the Blue Mountains
More frequent/improved public
transport services
Improve the local road network
Better
footpaths/walkways/cycleways
Economic Development
Support for local businesses
Encouraging tourism/promoting the area
More employment opportunities
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 12
Summary
A leading Council
Satisfaction has increased in many areas in 2020, including overall satisfaction, satisfaction with the
performance of staff and Councillors, and across a number of services/facilities. Council’s leadership is
further mentioned across many areas of the report including:
93% of residents were at least somewhat satisfied with the Council’s leadership and response
when natural disasters such as bushfires impact the Blue Mountains, and 78% of respondents were
either satisfied or very satisfied.
The Key Direction ‘Lead’ was the biggest contributor of overall satisfaction, with the three
services/facilities contributing 29% towards overall satisfaction alone. The three ‘Lead’ measures
were the top 3 strongest drivers out of all 40 services/facilities.
Two of the top ten measures with the largest performance gaps (the gap between importance
and satisfaction, calculated by subtracting the top 3 satisfaction score from the top 2 importance
score) were also a part of the ‘Lead’ Key Direction including ‘consultation with the community’
and ‘opportunities to participate in Council decision making’.
When asked about reasons for being satisfied/not satisfied with Council’s performance, a
frequent mention of communication impacting the level of satisfaction was observed, and 8% of
residents stated they were either satisfied or very satisfied because of ‘good communication and
response to requests/they listen and look after the community’.
The increased importance scores also demonstrate that the community seeks leadership and engagement
from Council and it is imperative, especially in times of uncertainty such as the recent bushfires and the
current COVID-19 pandemic, that Council continues to actively consult their community about planning
for the future of their local area.
A caring community
To improve satisfaction and liveability in the area, Council could increase their focus on ‘Care’ aspects
when dealing with their community.
Four of the top ten most important measures are a part of the Key Direction ‘Care’, and four of the
top ten services with the largest performance gaps were also a part of this theme.
Two of the top eleven drivers of overall satisfaction relate to caring for the community (parks and
playgrounds; wheelie bin garbage and recycling collection).
References to improved services and facilities were frequently mentioned throughout the open
ended questions, and when asked about the top priorities for action in terms of looking after
people, ‘more affordable and improved aged care/disability services and facilities’, and
‘improving/upgrading the hospital/health care services and facilities’ were top of mind for
residents.
Key areas for engagement
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 13
Summary
Connectivity
Connectivity and movement appear to be an area of concern for Blue Mountains residents.
Road maintenance, as well as ‘provision and maintenance of footpaths, cycleways and walking
tracks’ were top of mind for residents when asked about their current issues of greatest concern in
their local areas.
Two of the top ten measures with the largest performance gaps relate to moving around the
area, with ‘cycleways’ and ‘footpaths’ appearing in the bottom 5 rated services/facilities in terms
of satisfaction.
‘Sealed roads’ appeared in the top four drivers towards overall satisfaction and the Key Direction
‘Move’ contributed to almost 20% of overall satisfaction alone.
When asked about the top priorities in relation to moving around the Blue Mountains, public
transport including train and bus services were the most common responses. Better footpaths,
walkways and cycleways was also considered a top priority for 14% of residents, and 15%
suggested improvements to the local road network.
An Environmentally Friendly LGA
It is apparent that residents in the Blue Mountains are proud of their natural environment, with mentions of
this frequently occurring throughout the report.
Issues of greatest concern across the Blue Mountains included maintaining the natural
environment (13%), and environmental concerns for immediate local neighbourhoods were also
apparent, with environmental preservation mentioned as a top priority.
‘Clean, safe and healthy living environments’ was the highest ranked service/facility in terms of
importance overall. Other measures relating to cleanliness such as ‘wheelie bin garbage and
recycling collection’, ‘clean creeks and waterways’, and ‘litter control’ were also ranked in the
top ten in terms of importance.
‘Wheelie bin garbage and recycling collection’, ‘protection of natural bushland’, and ‘clean,
safe and healthy living environments’ were three of the top eleven strongest drivers of overall
satisfaction.
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 14
Key Findings
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 15
4%
10%
33%
44%
9%
2%
7%
31%
48%
12%
0% 20% 40% 60%
Not at all satisfied
Not very satisfied
Somewhat
satisfied
Satisfied
Very satisfied
Blue Mountatins City Council (N=1,002) Micromex LGA Benchmark - Overall (N=68,046)
Key Findings
Overview (Overall Satisfaction)
Summary
91% of residents were at least somewhat satisfied with the performance of Council in providing services to
the community, and 60% were either satisfied or very satisfied. The mean rating of 3.61 has significantly
increased since 2018, and results are significantly higher than the Micromex LGA Benchmark (overall), a
very positive result for Council.
Q3a. How would you rate your satisfaction with the overall performance of your Council in providing services to the
community?
Time Series Data
↑↓ = A significantly higher/lower level of satisfaction (compared to the Benchmark)
Scale: 1 = not at all satisfied, 5 = very satisfied
▲▼ = A significantly higher/lower level of satisfaction (by group)
3.103.24
3.183.10
3.233.16
3.363.23 3.21
3.43 3.42
3.603.52
3.44
3.61
2.90
3.10
3.30
3.50
3.70
2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2016 2018 2020
Overall
2020
Micromex
LGA
Benchmark
Planning Area
Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5
Mean ratings 3.61↑ 3.45 3.51 3.50▼ 3.69 3.58 3.75▲
Base 1,002 68,046 92 266 163 255 226
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 16
Key Findings
Overview (Value for Money)
Summary
Results have remained consistent with 2018, with 49% of residents suggesting the services provided by
Council represent either good or very good value for money.
Q3c. Do you think the services provided by Council generally represent good value for money?
Scale: 1 = very poor value, 5 = very good value
▲▼ = A significantly higher/lower rating (by group)
3.113.00
3.22
3.34
3.03
3.26 3.27
3.47
3.34 3.37 3.39
2.90
3.10
3.30
3.50
3.70
2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2016 2018 2020
Overall
2020 Male Female 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Ratepayer
Non-
ratepayer
Mean ratings 3.39 3.34 3.43 3.57▲ 3.21▼ 3.33 3.49▲ 3.33 3.73▲
Base 982 473 509 199 252 284 246 841 139
Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5
Mean ratings 3.47 3.33 3.49 3.28 3.47
Base 89 257 160 253 222
7%
11%
33%
36%
13%
7%
10%
34%
35%
14%
0% 25% 50%
Very poor value
Poor value
Neither good nor
poor value
Good value
Very good value
2020 (N=982) 2018 (N=503)
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 17
Key Findings
Overview (Council’s Leadership and Response)
Summary
Satisfaction with Council’s leadership and response is high, with 93% of residents being at least somewhat
satisfied, and 78% being either satisfied or very satisfied, highlighting that Council’s leadership is especially
important to the community in times of uncertainty.
Q3e. How satisfied are you with the Council’s leadership and response when natural disasters such as bushfires
impact the Blue Mountains?
Scale: 1 = not at all satisfied, 5 = very satisfied
▲▼ = A significantly higher/lower level of satisfaction (by group)
Overall
2020 Male Female 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Ratepayer
Non-
ratepayer
Mean ratings 4.14 4.03 4.25▲ 4.14 4.17 4.09 4.19 4.14 4.19
Base 991 469 522 207 253 284 247 845 144
Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5
Mean ratings 3.94 4.06 4.21 4.12 4.32▲
Base 89 262 163 256 221
Base: N=991
2%
5%
15%
34%
44%
0% 25% 50%
Not at all satisfied
Not very satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Satisfied
Very satisfied
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 18
Key Findings
Overview (Issues of greatest concern)
Summary
As expected after the 2019 bushfires, 18% of residents stated ‘bushfire/natural disaster protection and
prevention’ as the current issue of greatest concern across the Blue Mountains area. ‘Maintaining the
natural environment/preservation/weed and tree control’, as well as ‘overdevelopment/appropriately
managing development’ were also issues of concern.
Q6b. Now thinking about the Blue Mountains overall, what is the issue currently of greatest concern to you?
7%
6%
7%
8%
10%
13%
18%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20%
Don't know/nothing
Effect of the airport - flight paths/noise
pollution
Lack of employment opportunities/supporting
local businesses/economic growth in the area
Traffic congestion/road maintenance/safety
on roads
Overdevelopment/appropriately managing
development
Maintaining the natural
environment/preservation/weed and tree
control
Bushfire/natural disaster protection and
prevention
Please see Appendix A for list of responses Base: N=1,006
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 19
Key Findings
A core element of this community survey was the rating of 40 facilities/services in terms of Importance and
Satisfaction. The following analysis identifies the key importance and satisfaction trends when compared
to the 2018 research.
Key Importance Trends
Compared to the previous research conducted in 2018, there was a statistically significant increase in
residents’ level of importance for 1 service/facility provided by Council, being:
2020 2018
Clean, safe and healthy living environments 4.87 4.77
There was also a statistically significant decline in residents’ level of importance placed on the following:
2020 2018
Weed control 4.24 4.46
Carparks 4.23 4.40
Scale: 1 = not at all important, 5 = very important
Key Satisfaction Trends
Over the same period there was a statistically significant increase in residents’ levels of satisfaction across
20 of the comparable 37 services and facilities provided by Council, these were:
Scale: 1 = not at all satisfied, 5 = very satisfied
There were no statistically significant declines in residents’ levels of satisfaction with the comparable
services and facilities.
2020 2018
Library services 4.09 3.95
Visitor Information Centres at Glenbrook and Echo Point 4.06 3.71
Community centres and halls 3.86 3.64
Swimming pools and leisure centres 3.80 3.49
Protection of natural bushland 3.71 3.54
Litter control 3.70 3.47
The atmosphere, look and feel of our towns and villages 3.69 3.44
Ovals and sporting grounds 3.69 3.57
Street cleaning 3.64 3.46
Clean creeks and waterways 3.62 3.47
Protection of heritage values in towns and villages 3.57 3.41
Services and facilities for older people 3.43 3.31
Carparks 3.35 3.17
Parking for shoppers 3.30 3.09
Managing residential development 3.27 3.12
Weed control 3.19 2.91
Public toilets in town centres 3.17 2.85
Services and facilities for people with a disability 3.14 2.94
Footpaths 3.12 2.98
Cycleways 2.78 2.59
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 20
Key Findings Importance
All services/facilities received importance ratings of 58% or above, meaning that the community deems all
services/facilities delivered by Council as important. However, the following services/facilities received the
highest importance ratings:
Top 5 for Importance Mean
ratings T2 Box
Clean, safe and healthy living environments 4.87 98%
Wheelie bin garbage & recycling collection 4.79 97%
Clean creeks and waterways 4.75 96%
Consultation with the community 4.70 95%
Traffic safety for pedestrians and vehicles 4.69 95%
The following services/facilities received the lowest importance ratings:
Bottom 5 for Importance Mean
ratings T2 Box
Caravan parks at Katoomba and Blackheath 3.61 58%
Cycleways 3.72 61%
Cemeteries and ashes placement sites 3.73 61%
Bus shelters 3.90 67%
Cultural & arts facilities 4.11 77%
Scale: 1 = not at all important, 5 = very important
Satisfaction
The following services/facilities received the highest satisfaction ratings:
Top 5 for Satisfaction Mean
ratings T3 Box
Wheelie bin garbage & recycling collection 4.17 92%
Library services 4.09 93%
Visitor Information Centres at Glenbrook and Echo Point 4.06 95%
Clean, safe and healthy living environments 3.91 95%
Community centres and halls 3.86 94%
The following services/facilities received the lowest satisfaction ratings:
Bottom 5 for Satisfaction Mean
ratings T3 Box
Cycleways 2.78 61%
Access to local employment opportunities 2.93 70%
Services and facilities for young people 3.00 72%
Services that support the local Aboriginal community 3.11 76%
Footpaths 3.12 72%
Scale: 1 = not at all satisfied, 5 = very satisfied
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 21
Key Findings The following table shows the hierarchy of the 40 services/facilities ranked by the top 2 box importance
ratings, as well as residents’ corresponding top 3 box satisfaction ratings. The service/facility ranked most
important by residents is ‘clean, safe and healthy living environments’, with a top 2 box importance score
of 98%. For the most part, the majority of services/facilities provided by Council are considered highly
important, with only 4 measures falling below a 70% T2B rating. This is why further analysis is needed to
determine the services/facilities that actually drive overall satisfaction with Council.
Clean, safe and healthy living environments 98% 95%
Wheelie bin garbage & recycling collection 97% 92%
Clean creeks and waterways 96% 90%
Traffic safety for pedestrians and vehicles 95% 86%
Consultation with the community 95% 82%
Litter control 94% 89% The atmosphere, look and feel of our towns
and villages 93% 90%
Council provision of information 93% 87%
Parks and playgrounds 93% 82%
Services and facilities for people with a
disability 92% 75%
Pedestrian access around shopping centres
and community facilities 91% 92%
Council lookouts and walking trails 91% 91%
Protection of natural bushland 90% 92%
Services and facilities for older people 90% 88%
Public toilets in town centres 90% 74%
Footpaths 90% 72%
Management of stormwater and drainage 89% 76%
Sealed roads 88% 80%
Services and facilities for young people 88% 72%
Access to local employment opportunities 88% 70%
Protection of heritage values in towns and
villages 87% 86%
Services and facilities for children and families 87% 86%
Managing residential development 86% 81%
Parking for shoppers 86% 78%
Opportunity to participate in Council decision-
making 86% 75%
Swimming pools and leisure centres 85% 94%
Ovals and sporting grounds 82% 90%
Services that support the local Aboriginal
community 82% 76%
Carparks 81% 82%
Commuter parking 81% 76%
Weed control 80% 77%
Library services 79% 93%
Visitor Information Centres at Glenbrook and
Echo Point 78% 95%
Street cleaning 78% 87%
Community centres and halls 77% 94%
Cultural & arts facilities 77% 93%
Bus shelters 67% 83%
Cemeteries and ashes placement sites 61% 93%
Cycleways 61% 61%
Caravan parks at Katoomba and Blackheath 58% 88%
Importance T2B Service/Facility (Ranked by importance)
Satisfaction T3B
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 22
Comparison to the Micromex LGA Benchmark –
Largest Importance Gaps
The below chart displays the largest variances between Blue Mountains top 2 box importance scores and
the Micromex LGA Benchmark (overall). 4 services/facilities demonstrated a variance of ≥ 16% above the
benchmark.
As a point of interest, compared to our benchmarks we have identified unique aspects of the Blue
Mountains compared to other Councils, these include:
Blue Mountains residents demonstrated higher levels of importance for ‘an active and involved
community’ related elements, for example ‘cultural and arts facilities’, ‘Council
lookouts/walking trails’, ‘swimming pools and leisure centres’, ‘community centres and halls’,
‘ovals and sportsgrounds’, and ‘parks and playgrounds’ were all rated higher in terms of
importance than our benchmark norms. Level of importance for social services such as those
for young people, the Aboriginal community, older people, people with a disability and services for
children and families were also higher than our norms.
Higher Community Priorities
(compared to Benchmark norms)
77%
88%91%
85%
55%
70%74%
69%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Cultural & arts facilities Services and facilities
for young people
Council lookouts and
walking trails
Swimming pools and
leisure centres
Blue Mountains City Council Overall Benchmark
Unique Differences
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 23
Importance Compared to the Micromex Benchmark
The table below shows the variance between Blue Mountains City Council’s top 2 box importance scores
and the Micromex LGA overall Benchmark. For 33 of the comparable services/facilities, residents’ top 2
box scores are higher than, or equal to the Benchmark score, and 14 services/facilities experienced a
positive variance of equal to or more than 10%. For those that are lower than Benchmark norms, 1 service,
‘cemeteries and ashes placement sites’, experienced a variance of ≥10%.
▲/▼ = positive/negative difference equal to/greater than 10% from LGA Benchmark
Note: Benchmark differences are based on assumed variants of +/- 10%, with variants beyond +/- 10% more likely
to be significant
*Please note: The above measures have been compared to an overall benchmark score. See Appendix A for full list
and comparisons to both metro and regional benchmarks.
Service/Facility
Blue Mountains
City Council
T2B
Importance
Scores
Micromex LGA
Benchmark –
Overall*
T2B Importance
Scores
Variance
Cultural & arts facilities 77% 55% 22%▲
Services and facilities for young people 88% 70% 18%▲
Council lookouts and walking trails 91% 74% 17%▲
Swimming pools and leisure centres 85% 69% 16%▲
Consultation with the community 95% 81% 14%▲
Protection of heritage values in towns and villages 87% 73% 14%▲
Services that support the local Aboriginal community 82% 68% 14%▲
Community centres and halls 77% 63% 14%▲
The atmosphere, look and feel of our towns and villages 93% 80% 13%▲
Services and facilities for older people 90% 77% 13%▲
Opportunity to participate in Council decision-making 86% 73% 13%▲
Services and facilities for people with a disability 92% 80% 12%▲
Council provision of information 93% 82% 11%▲
Public toilets in town centres 90% 80% 10%▲
Access to local employment opportunities 88% 85% 3%
Bus shelters 67% 64% 3%
Cycleways 61% 58% 3%
Weed control 80% 78% 2%
Caravan parks at Katoomba and Blackheath 58% 57% 1%
Carparks 81% 82% -1%
Commuter parking 81% 82% -1%
Sealed roads 88% 91% -3%
Street cleaning 78% 82% -4%
Cemeteries and ashes placement sites 61% 74% -13%▼
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 24
Comparison to the Micromex LGA Benchmark – Largest
Satisfaction Gaps
The below chart displays the largest gaps in terms of satisfaction when comparing the results of Blue
Mountains residents to the Micromex (overall) Benchmark. 4 measures displayed a variance of more than
10% above the benchmark.
Higher Levels of Satisfaction
(compared to Benchmark norms)
82%80%
78%
95%
66% 67% 66%
84%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Carparks Sealed roads Parking for shoppers Visitor Information
Centres at Glenbrook
and Echo PointBlue Mountains City Council Overall Benchmark
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 25
Satisfaction Compared to Micromex Benchmark
The table below shows the variance between Blue Mountains City Council’s top 3 box satisfaction scores
and the Micromex LGA Benchmark. For 27 of the comparable services/facilities, residents’ top 3 box scores
are higher than, or equal to the Benchmark score, and 6 services/facilities demonstrated a variance of
equal to or greater than 10% above the benchmark. For those that are lower than Benchmark norms, 2
services, ‘access to local employment opportunities’ and ‘cycleways’, experienced a variance of ≥10%.
Please note: The Micromex benchmark satisfaction norms are based on surveys where only who indicated
a service/facility was important or very important importance are asked to rate their satisfaction. Blue
Mountains residents were all asked to rate satisfaction and therefore the following table should be as a
point of interest only.
▲/▼ = positive/negative difference equal to/greater than 10% from LGA Benchmark
Note: Benchmark differences are based on assumed variants of +/- 10%, with variants beyond +/- 10% more likely
to be significant
*Please note: The above measures have been compared to an Overall Benchmark score. See Appendix A for
comparisons to both Metro and Regional Benchmarks, and a full list of comparisons to the Overall
Benchmark.
Service/Facility
Blue Mountains
City Council
T3B
Satisfaction
Scores
Micromex LGA
Benchmark –
Overall*
T3B Satisfaction
Scores
Variance
Carparks 82% 66% 16%▲
Sealed roads 80% 67% 13%▲
Parking for shoppers 78% 66% 12%▲
Visitor Information Centres at Glenbrook and Echo Point 95% 84% 11%▲
Commuter parking 76% 66% 10%▲
Consultation with the community 82% 72% 10%▲
Services that support the local Aboriginal community 76% 81% -5%
Management of stormwater and drainage 76% 81% -5%
Parks and playgrounds 82% 88% -6%
Services and facilities for young people 72% 79% -7%
Services and facilities for people with a disability 75% 83% -8%
Access to local employment opportunities 70% 80% -10%▼
Cycleways 61% 72% -11%▼
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 26
Key Findings
Identifying Priorities via Specialised Analysis
The specified research outcomes required us to measure both community importance and community
satisfaction with a range of specific service delivery areas. In order to identify core priorities, we undertook
a 2-step analysis process on the stated importance and rated satisfaction data, after which we conducted
a third level of analysis. This level of analysis was a Shapley Regression on the data in order to identify which
facilities and services are the actual drivers of overall satisfaction with Council.
By examining these approaches to analysis, we have been able to:
Identify and understand the hierarchy of community priorities
Inform the deployment of Council resources in line with community aspirations
Step 1. Performance Gap Analysis (PGA)
PGA establishes the gap between importance and satisfaction. This is calculated by subtracting the top 3
satisfaction score from the top 2 importance score. In order to measure performance gaps, respondents
are asked to rate the importance of, and their satisfaction with, each of a range of different services or
facilities on a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 = low importance or satisfaction and 5 = high importance or
satisfaction. These scores are aggregated at a total community level.
The higher the differential between importance and satisfaction, the greater the difference is between the
provision of that service by Blue Mountains City Council and the expectation of the community for that
service/facility.
When analysing the performance gaps, it is expected that there will be some gaps in terms of resident
satisfaction. Those services/facilities that have achieved a performance gap of greater than 20% may be
indicative of areas requiring future optimisation.
Performance Gap Analysis
Quadrant Analysis
Shapley Regression Analysis
Determine the services/facilities that drive
overall satisfaction with Council
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 27
Key Findings
When we examine the largest performance gaps, we can identify that all of the services or facilities have
been rated as high in importance. Resident satisfaction for all of these areas is between 70% and 86%.
Service/Facility Importance
T2 Box
Satisfaction
T3 Box
Performance
Gap
(Importance-
Satisfaction)
Footpaths 90% 72% 18%
Access to local employment opportunities 88% 70% 18%
Services and facilities for people with a disability 92% 75% 17%
Public toilets in town centres 90% 74% 16%
Services and facilities for young people 88% 72% 16%
Consultation with the community 95% 82% 13%
Management of stormwater and drainage 89% 76% 13%
Parks and playgrounds 93% 82% 11%
Opportunity to participate in Council decision-making 86% 75% 11%
Traffic safety for pedestrians and vehicles 95% 86% 9%
The key outcomes of this analysis would suggest that, while there are opportunities to improve satisfaction
across a range of services/facilities, ‘footpaths’ and ‘access to local employment opportunities’ are the
areas of least relative satisfaction.
4 of the top 10 measures with the largest performance gaps are a part of the Key Direction ‘Care’.
Note: Performance gap is the first step in the process, we now need to identify comparative ratings across
all services and facilities to get an understanding of relative importance and satisfaction at an LGA level.
This is when we undertake step 2 of the analysis.
Please see Appendix A for full performance gap list
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 28
Key Findings Quadrant Analysis
Step 2. Quadrant Analysis
Quadrant analysis is often helpful in planning future directions based on stated outcomes. It combines the
stated importance of the community and assesses satisfaction with delivery in relation to these needs.
This analysis is completed by plotting the variables on x and y axes, defined by stated importance and
rated satisfaction. We aggregate the top 2 box importance scores and top 3 satisfaction scores for
stated importance and rated satisfaction to identify where the facility or service should be plotted. On
average, Blue Mountains City Council residents rated services/facilities more important compared to our
Benchmarks, and their satisfaction was slightly higher.
Blue Mountains City Council Micromex Overall Benchmark
Average Importance 85% 77%
Average Satisfaction 84% 81%
The quadrant analysis of the 40 services/facilities is provided on the following page, along with an
explanation of the 4 quadrants: Maintain, Improve, Niche and Community.
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 29
Quadrant Analysis – Importance T2B Vs Satisfaction T3B
Explaining the 4 quadrants
Attributes in the top right quadrant, MAINTAIN, such as ‘clean, safe and healthy living environments’, are
Council’s core strengths, and should be treated as such. Maintain, or even attempt to improve your
position in these areas, as they are influential and address clear community needs.
Attributes in the top left quadrant, IMPROVE, such as ‘consultation with the community’ are key concerns
in the eyes of your residents. In the vast majority of cases you should aim to improve your performance in
these areas to better meet the community’s expectations.
Attributes in the bottom left quadrant, NICHE, such as ‘cycleways’, are of a relatively lower priority (and
the word ‘relatively’ should be stressed – they are still important). These areas tend to be important to a
particular segment of the community.
Finally, attributes in the bottom right quadrant, COMMUNITY, such as ‘caravan parks’, are core strengths,
but in relative terms they are deemed less overtly important than other directly obvious areas. However,
the occupants of this quadrant tend to be the sort of services and facilities that deliver to community
liveability, i.e. make it a good place to live.
Recommendations based only on stated importance and satisfaction have major limitations, as the actual
questionnaire process essentially ‘silos’ facilities and services as if they are independent variables, when
they are in fact all part of the broader community perception of council performance.
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 30
Step 3. The Shapley Value Regression
Residents’ priorities identified in stated importance/satisfaction analysis often tend to be in areas that are
problematic. No matter how much focus a council dedicates to ‘sealed roads’, it will often be found in the
IMPROVE quadrant. This is because, perceptually, the condition of local roads can always be better.
Furthermore, the outputs of stated importance and satisfaction analysis address the current dynamics of
the community, they do not predict which focus areas are the most likely agents to change the
community’s perception of Council’s overall performance.
Therefore, in order to identify how Blue Mountains City Council can actively drive overall community
satisfaction, we conducted further analysis
Explanation
Regression analysis is a statistical tool for investigating relationships between dependent variables and
explanatory variables. Using a Shapley regression, a category model was developed. The outcomes
demonstrated that increasing resident satisfaction by actioning the priorities they stated as being important
would not necessarily positively impact on overall satisfaction.
What Does This Mean?
The learning is that if we only rely on the stated community priorities, we will not be allocating the
appropriate resources to the actual service attributes that will improve overall community satisfaction.
Using regression analysis, we can identify the attributes that essentially build overall satisfaction. We call the
outcomes ‘derived importance’.
Identify top services/facilities that will drive overall satisfaction with Council
Map stated satisfaction and derived importance to identify community priority areas
Determine 'optimisers' that will lift overall satisfaction with Council
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 31
Key Findings Key Drivers of Satisfaction with Blue Mountains City Council
The results in the chart below provide Blue Mountains City Council with a complete picture of the intrinsic
community priorities and motivations, and identify what attributes are the key drivers of community
satisfaction.
These top 11 services/facilities (so 28% of the 40 services/facilities) account for over 55% of the variation in
overall satisfaction. Therefore, whilst all 40 services/facilities are important, only a number of them are
potentially significant drivers of satisfaction (at this stage, the other 29 services/facilities have less impact
on satisfaction – although if resident satisfaction with them was to suddenly change they may have more
immediate impact on satisfaction).
These Top 11 Indicators Contribute to over 55% of Overall Satisfaction with Council
The contributors to satisfaction are not to be misinterpreted as an indication of
current dissatisfaction
2.6%
2.6%
2.8%
3.1%
3.1%
4.4%
4.6%
5.4%
7.2%
10.8%
11.0%
0.0% 5.0% 10.0% 15.0%
Clean, safe and healthy living environments
Managing residential development
Access to local employment opportunities
Parks and playgrounds
Protection of natural bushland
Wheelie bin garbage & recycling collection
The atmosphere, look and feel of our towns and
villages
Sealed roads
Opportunity to participate in Council decision-
making
Council provision of information
Consultation with the community
Please see Appendix A for full list of drivers
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 32
Key Findings Clarifying Priorities
The chart below looks at the relationship between stated satisfaction (top 3 box) and derived importance
(Shapley result) to identify the level of contribution of each measure. Any services/facilities below the blue
line (shown below) could potentially be benchmarked to target in future research to elevate satisfaction
levels in these areas. The services/facilities furthest to the right, have the greatest contribution to overall
satisfaction. If satisfaction in these areas is lifted, overall satisfaction with Council’s performance will
increase.
Mapping Stated Satisfaction and Derived Importance Identifies the Community Priority
Areas
Consultation with the
community
Council provision of
information
Opportunity to
participate in Council
decision-making
Sealed roads
The atmosphere,
look and feel of our
towns and villages
Wheelie bin
garbage &
recycling
collection
Protection of
natural bushland
Parks and playgrounds
Access to local
employment
opportunities
Managing residential
development
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
0.0% 2.0% 4.0% 6.0% 8.0% 10.0% 12.0% 14.0% 16.0%
Maintain
Optimise
Sta
ted
sa
tisf
ac
tio
n
Derived importance
Clean, safe
and healthy
living
environments
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 33
Key Findings Advanced Shapley Outcomes
The chart below illustrates the positive/negative contribution the key drivers provide towards overall
satisfaction. Some drivers can contribute both negatively and positively depending on the overall opinion
of the residents.
The scores on the negative indicate the contribution the driver makes to impeding transition towards
satisfaction. If Council can address these areas, a lift in future overall satisfaction results will be seen, as
Council will positively transition residents who are currently ‘not at all satisfied’ towards being ‘satisfied’ with
Council’s overall performance.
The scores on the positive indicate the contribution the driver makes towards optimising satisfaction. By
addressing these areas, future overall satisfaction results will be lifted, by transitioning residents who are
currently already ‘somewhat satisfied’, towards being more satisfied with Council’s overall performance.
Key Contributors to Barriers/Optimisers
Different levers address the different levels of satisfaction across the community
-4.9%
-4.6%
-4.1%
-2.7%
-2.9%
-1.5%
-1.2%
-1.5%
-2.4%
-1.7%
-0.2%
6.1%
6.3%
3.1%
2.7%
1.7%
2.9%
1.9%
1.5%
0.4%
0.9%
2.4%
-8.0% -6.0% -4.0% -2.0% 0.0% 2.0% 4.0% 6.0% 8.0%
Consultation with the community
Council provision of information
Opportunity to participate in Council decision-
making
Sealed roads
The atmosphere, look and feel of our towns and
villages
Wheelie bin garbage & recycling collection
Protection of natural bushland
Parks and playgrounds
Access to local employment opportunities
Managing residential development
Clean, safe and healthy living environments
Optimisers
(50%)
Barriers
(50%)
Overall Satisfaction
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 35
Overall Satisfaction with Council’s Performance
Summary
91% of Blue Mountains residents are at least somewhat satisfied with the performance of Council in
providing services to the community, a significant increase from 2018 results. Females, the 65+ age group
and those living in Planning Area 5 (Lapstone to Warrimoo) were significantly more satisfied with Council’s
performance. Those in Planning Area 2 (Wentworth Falls to Medlow Bath) demonstrated significantly lower
levels of overall satisfaction.
Q3a. Given the answers you have just provided, how would you rate your satisfaction with the overall performance
of your Council in providing services to the community?
▲▼ = A significantly higher/lower level of satisfaction (by group/year)
Overall
2020
Overall
2018 Male Female 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+
Mean ratings 3.61 3.44▼ 3.54 3.67▲ 3.55 3.59 3.55 3.73▲
Base 1,002 505 477 525 207 255 289 251
Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5 Ratepayer Non-
ratepayer
Mean ratings 3.51 3.50▼ 3.69 3.58 3.75▲ 3.60 3.66
Base 92 266 163 255 226 853 147
4%
9%
36%
40%
11%
2%▼
7%
31%
48%▲
12%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Not at all satisfied
Not very satisfied
Somewhat satisified
Satisified
Very satisified
2020 (N=1,002) 2018 (N=505)
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 36
Reasons for Level of Overall Satisfaction
Summary
The main reason for residents being either satisfied or very satisfied with Council’s performance in providing
services to the community was that they are ‘happy/Council is doing a good job/they do their best’.
Of those that were not at all/not very satisfied with Council, ‘poor quality and maintenance of local
infrastructure/services and facilities’, ‘poor/lack of communication and community consultation’ as well
as ‘poor decision making and planning/financial management’ were the main reasons preventing
residents from being satisfied with the performance of Council.
Q3a. How would you rate your satisfaction with the overall performance of your Council in providing services to the
community?
Q3b. What is your main reason for feeling that way?
Very satisfied/Satisfied (60%) N=1,002
Happy/Council is doing a good job/they do their best 20%
Always room for improvement/could do better in some areas e.g. better communication,
stopping overdevelopment 18%
Good communication and response to requests/they listen and look after the community 8%
Good provision and maintenance of services/facilities in the area 6%
Council demonstrates great leadership during events such as the bushfires and COVID-19 2%
Very happy with the Mayor 2%
Council rates are too high 1%
Happy with Council's service/always friendly and helpful 1%
Positive changes and improvements are being made in the area 1%
Some areas in the Blue Mountains are better looked after than others <1%
Don't know/nothing 1%
*Continues over page
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 37
Reasons for Level of Overall Satisfaction - Continued Q3a. How would you rate your satisfaction with the overall performance of your Council in providing services to the
community?
Q3b. What is your main reason for feeling that way?
Somewhat satisfied (31%) N=1,002
There's room for improvement in many areas 8%
Need more and improved services and facilities 7%
Need more communication/transparency/consultation with the community/better response
to requests 5%
Better maintenance of roads and footpaths is required 3%
Poor decision making and planning/financial management 2%
Better environmental management/heritage preservation is required 1%
Certain population groups are left out of Council's services e.g. young people 1%
Don't believe we get value for our rates 1%
Poor performance of Council staff/internal politics 1%
Adequate services provided/doing a good job <1%
Certain parts of the Blue Mountains are better looked after than others <1%
I don't know what they provide/not heavily involved with Council <1%
Lack of disability access and indigenous services <1%
Lack of support for local employment/economic growth <1%
Not enough available parking and public transport <1%
The management of asbestos removal is poorly managed by Council <1%
Don't know/nothing <1%
Not very satisfied/Not at all satisfied (9%)
Poor quality and maintenance of local infrastructure/services/facilities 2%
Poor/lack of communication and community consultation 2%
Poor decision making and planning/financial management 2%
Certain parts of the Blue Mountains are neglected 1%
Cost of rates is too high 1%
Negative experience with Council/they do a poor job 1%
Division of staff/political agendas <1%
Lack of backburning in the area <1%
Lack of support for youth in the area <1%
Need more public spaces in the area <1%
The area is not safe <1%
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 38
Value for Money
Summary
Results have remained consistent with 2018, with 49% of residents suggesting the services provided by
Council represent either good or very good value for money. Residents aged 18-34, and 65+, as well as
non-ratepayers were significantly more likely to suggest the services represent good value for money.
Q3c. Do you think the services provided by Council generally represent good value for money?
Scale: 1 = very poor value, 5 = very good value ▲▼ = A significantly higher/lower rating (by group)
Overall
2020 Male Female 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Ratepayer
Non-
ratepayer
Mean ratings 3.39 3.34 3.43 3.57▲ 3.21▼ 3.33 3.49▲ 3.33 3.73▲
Base 982 473 509 199 252 284 246 841 139
Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5
Mean ratings 3.47 3.33 3.49 3.28 3.47
Base 89 257 160 253 222
7%
11%
33%
36%
13%
7%
10%
34%
35%
14%
0% 25% 50%
Very poor value
Poor value
Neither good nor
poor value
Good value
Very good value
2020 (N=982) 2018 (N=503)
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 39
Value for Money
Summary
17% of residents suggested that the services provided by Council represent ‘very poor’ or ‘poor’ value for
money. As per 2018 results, the main reason for this was that ‘rates are expensive/no return on rates paid’.
17% of those who suggested the services were poor value/very poor value, also mentioned the need for
higher quality services, facilities and infrastructure as a reason for not giving a higher response.
Q3c. Do you think the services provided by Council generally represent good value for money?
Q3d. (If ‘very poor value’ or ‘poor value’ in Q3c) What is your main reason for feeling that way?
Very poor value/poor value (17%) N=167
Rates are expensive/no return on rates paid 55%
Need more/better quality services, facilities and infrastructure 17%
Council is wasting too much money/money does not go in to the community 10%
Poor management from Council/prioritising the wrong things 8%
Facilities and services are expensive 4%
Poor maintenance of roads and footpaths 3%
Councils communication around where money is being spent is unclear 2%
Heritage buildings are not looked after <1%
No support for pensioners <1%
Don't know/nothing 1%
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 40
Council’s Leadership and Response to Natural
Disasters
Summary
Satisfaction with Council’s leadership and response is high, with 93% of residents being at least somewhat
satisfied. Females and those living in Planning Area 5 (Lapstone to Warrimoo) were significantly more
satisfied with Council’s performance in this area.
Q3e. How satisfied are you with the Council’s leadership and response when natural disasters such as bushfires
impact the Blue Mountains?
Scale: 1 = not at all satisfied, 5 = very satisfied
▲▼ = A significantly higher/lower level of satisfaction (by group)
Overall
2020 Male Female 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Ratepayer
Non-
ratepayer
Mean ratings 4.14 4.03 4.25▲ 4.14 4.17 4.09 4.19 4.14 4.19
Base 991 469 522 207 253 284 247 845 144
Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5
Mean ratings 3.94 4.06 4.21 4.12 4.32▲
Base 89 262 163 256 221
Base: N=991
2%
5%
15%
34%
44%
0% 25% 50%
Not at all satisfied
Not very satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Satisfied
Very satisfied
Staff & Councillor
Performance
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 42
Staff Performance
Summary
53% of respondents had made contact with Council staff in the past 12 months. Of those that had
contacted Council, 88% were at least somewhat satisfied with the performance of Council staff. The
average level of satisfaction has followed an upward trend since 2016.
Q4a. In the past 12 months, have you had any contact with Council staff?
Q4b. How satisfied are you with the overall performance of Council staff?
Those who have had contact with Council staff in the last 12 months
2020
N=1,006
2018
N=505
2016
N=1,001
2014
N=505
Yes 53%▼ 59% 61% 58%
No 46% 40% 38% 42%
Can’t
recall 1% 1% 1% 0%
5%
6%
18%
34%
37%
5%
7%
17%
32%
39%
0% 25% 50%
Not at all satisfied
Not very satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Satisfied
Very satisfied
2020 (N=531) 2018 (N=298)
Yes 53%No 46%
Can't recall 1%
3.53 3.61 3.67 3.64 3.70 3.74 3.70 3.81 3.93 3.87 3.894.03
3.773.91 3.93
3.00
3.50
4.00
4.50
2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2016 2018 2020
Please see Appendix A for results by demographics Scale: 1 = not at all satisfied, 5 = very satisfied
▲▼ = A significantly higher/lower percentage (compared to 2018)
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 43
Staff Performance
Summary
Of all respondents, 90% were at least somewhat satisfied with the performance of Council Staff. Females,
and those in the 65+ age category demonstrated significantly higher levels of satisfaction with staff.
Q4b. How satisfied are you with the overall performance of Council staff?
All respondents
Scale: 1 = not at all satisfied, 5 = very satisfied
▲▼ = A significantly higher/lower level of satisfaction (by group/year)
Overall
2020
Overall
2018 Male Female 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Ratepayer
Non-
ratepayer
Mean ratings 3.88▲ 3.75 3.80 3.95▲ 3.87 3.86 3.75▼ 4.05▲ 3.88 3.87
Base 934 489 446 488 193 231 272 238 806 126
Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5
Mean ratings 3.90 3.89 3.79 3.89 3.91
Base 87 250 153 237 207
5%
7%
25%
35%
28%
4%
6%
21%
38%
31%
0% 25% 50%
Not at all satisfied
Not very satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Satisfied
Very satisfied
2020 (N=899) 2018 (N=489)
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 44
Councillor Performance
Summary
20% of respondents stated they had dealings with their elected Councillors in the last 12 months. Of those
that had dealings with councillors, 86% were at least somewhat satisfied with their overall performance.
Males, ratepayers and those living in Planning Area 5 (Lapstone to Warrimoo) were significantly more likely
to have had dealings with elected Councillors in the last 12 months.
Q5a. Have you had any dealings with your elected Councillors over the last year?
Q5b. How satisfied are you with the overall performance of Councillors?
Those who have had dealings with Councillors in the last 12 months
2020
N=1,006
2018
N=505
2016
N=1,001
2014
N=505
Yes 20% 17% 16% 14%
No 80% 83% 83% 86%
Can’t
recall <1% <1% 1% 0%
2020
N=199
2018
N=87
2016
N=151
Mean ratings 3.81 3.51 3.69
13%
10%
14%
40%
23%
5%▼
9%
16%
40%
30%
0% 25% 50%
Not at all satisfied
Not very satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Satisfied
Very satisfied
2020 (N=199) 2018 (N=87)
Yes 20%
No 80%
Can't recall <1%
Please see Appendix A for results by demographics
Scale: 1 = not at all satisfied, 5 = very satisfied
▲▼ = A significantly higher/lower percentage (compared to 2018)
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 45
10%
14%
36%
29%
11%
3%▼
9%▼
30%▼
41%▲
17%▲
0% 25% 50%
Not at all satisfied
Not very satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Satisfied
Very satisfied
2020 (N=899) 2018 (N=486)
Councillor Performance Summary
88% of all respondents were at least somewhat satisfied with the overall performance of Councillors. Overall
satisfaction has increased since 2018. Females, the 18-34 age group, non-ratepayers and those in Planning
Area 3 (Linden to Bullaburra) demonstrated significantly higher levels of satisfaction with the performance
of Councillors.
Q5b. How satisfied are you with the overall performance of Councillors?
All respondents
Overall
2020
Overall
2018 Male Female 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Ratepayer
Non-
ratepayer
Mean ratings 3.59 3.16▼ 3.49 3.69▲ 3.74▲ 3.64 3.46▼ 3.58 3.55 3.83▲
Base 899 486 431 468 187 224 256 232 774 123
Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5
Mean ratings 3.59 3.56 3.75▲ 3.46▼ 3.66
Base 84 239 148 228 201
Scale: 1= not at all satisfied, 5= Very satisfied
▲▼ = A significantly higher/lower level of satisfaction (by group/year)
2.94 3.01 3.08 3.212.88
3.34 3.09 3.23 3.45 3.41 3.163.59
0.00
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
2004 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2016 2018 2020
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 46
Community
Perceptions
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 47
6%
5%
3%
2%
7%
28%
12%
14%
3%
34%
14%
33%
21%
30%
63%
50%
75%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Disagree Strongly disagree Neither Agree Strongly agree
Community Perceptions
Summary
Similar to previous research, the statement with the highest level of agreement was ‘I feel that I am
generally safe in my neighbourhood, with 96% of residents in agreement. Commitment to the top 2 box for
the statement ‘I have someone in my area outside my immediate family to turn to in a time of crisis’ has
declined since 2018.
Q1. I am going to read out some statements and I want you to rate your level of agreement with each of the
following:
▲▼ = A significantly higher/lower level of agreement (compared to 2018)
Note: Labels <2% are not shown above.
T2B%
2020
(N=1,006)
T2B%
2018
((N=505)
96% 95%
83% 84%
77%▼ 86%
64% 63%
I feel that I am generally
safe in my neighbourhood
I feel that I belong to the
community I live in
I have someone in my area
outside my immediate family
to turn to in a time of crisis
I feel that the quality of life
and wellbeing in the Blue
Mountains is improving
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 48
Community Perceptions
Results by Key Demographics
Summary
Those in Planning Area 1(Megalong Valley to Mount Irvine) were significantly more likely to agree with the
statements ‘I feel that I am generally safe in my neighbourhood’ and ‘I feel that I belong to the
community I live in’. Females demonstrated significantly higher levels of agreement for the statement ‘I
have someone in my area outside my immediate family to turn to in a time of crisis’.
Q1. I am going to read out some statements and I want you to rate your level of agreement with each of the
following:
Scale: 1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree
▲▼ = A significantly higher/lower level of agreement (by group)
Please see Appendix A for results by all demographics and trend analysis
Gender Planning Area
Male Female Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5
I feel that I am generally safe in my
neighbourhood 4.71 4.67 4.81▲ 4.66 4.67 4.66 4.73
I feel that I belong to the community I
live in 4.29 4.28 4.55▲ 4.27 4.23 4.28 4.24
I have someone in my area outside
my immediate family to turn to in a
time of crisis
4.12 4.31▲ 4.40 4.25 4.12 4.21 4.18
I feel that the quality of life and
wellbeing in the Blue Mountains is
improving
3.76 3.87 3.95 3.79 3.79 3.89 3.75
Base 477 529 92 266 165 256 228
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 49
Agreement Statements – Comparison to the
Micromex LGA Benchmark Summary
3 of the 4 statements were comparable to the Micromex LGA Benchmark. 2 statements ‘I feel that I am
generally safe in my neighbourhood’ and ‘I feel that I belong to the community I live in’ experienced a
positive variance of more than 10% above the benchmark norms.
Q1. I am going to read out some statements and I want you to rate your level of agreement with each of the
following:
Measure Blue
Mountains
Council T2B %
LGA
Benchmark –
Overall* T2B%
Variance
I feel that I am generally safe in my neighbourhood 96%▲ 74% 22%
I feel that I belong to the community I live in 83%▲ 69% 14%
I have someone in my area outside my immediate family
to turn to in a time of crisis 77% 82% -5%
I feel that the quality of life and wellbeing in the Blue
Mountains is improving 64% NA NA
▲▼ = positive/negative difference greater than 10% from LGA Benchmark
Note: Benchmark differences are based on assumed variants of +/- 10%, with variants beyond +/- 10% more likely to be
significant
*Please note: The above measures have been compared to an overall benchmark score. See Appendix A for comparisons to
both metro and regional benchmarks.
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 50
Making the Blue
Mountains a Better
Place
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 51
Issues of Greatest Concern – Local Neighbourhood
Summary
When asked about current issues of greatest concern for their local neighbourhood, ‘road maintenance
and upgrades/safety concerns’ as well as ‘provision and maintenance of footpaths’ were top of mind for
residents. Managing the natural environment, being prepared for bushfires and natural disasters and the
availability of parks and green spaces were also frequently mentioned.
Q6a. I now want to ask your views on making the Blue Mountains a better place into the future. Thinking about your
immediate local neighbourhood, what is the issue of greatest concern to you at the moment?
Please see Appendix A for list of responses and results by Planning Area
6%
7%
8%
8%
10%
14%
15%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20%
Managing development/overdevelopment
Parking availability and enforcement
More/better maintained parks, playgrounds,
green spaces and sportsgrounds
Bushfire/natural disaster
management/prevention and recovery
Maintenance of weeds, trees and
bushcare/environmental preservation and
protecting national parks
Provision and maintenance of footpaths,
cycleways and walking tracks
Road maintenance and upgrades/safety
concerns e.g. pedestrian and driving safety
Base: N=1,006
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 52
Issues of Greatest Concern – Blue Mountains
Summary
As expected after the 2019 bushfires, 18% of residents stated ‘bushfire/natural disaster protection and
prevention’ as the current issue of greatest concern across the Blue Mountains area. ‘Maintaining the
natural environment/preservation/weed and tree control’, as well as ‘overdevelopment/appropriately
managing development’ were also issues of concern.
Q6b. Now thinking about the Blue Mountains overall, what is the issue currently of greatest concern to you?
7%
6%
7%
8%
10%
13%
18%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20%
Don't know/nothing
Effect of the airport - flight paths/noise
pollution
Lack of employment opportunities/supporting
local businesses/economic growth in the area
Traffic congestion/road maintenance/safety
on roads
Overdevelopment/appropriately managing
development
Maintaining the natural
environment/preservation/weed and tree
control
Bushfire/natural disaster protection and
prevention
Base: N=1,006
Please see Appendix A for list of responses and results by Planning Area
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 53
Looking After the Environment
Summary
In relation to looking after the environment, Blue Mountains residents identified bush regeneration and
conservation as the top priority. Hazard reduction and backburning were also top of mind, which is to be
expected after the recent bushfires in the area.
Q6c. Now thinking about making the Blue Mountains a better place, what do you see as the top priority for action
related to looking after the environment over the next 5-10 years?
9%
4%
4%
6%
7%
11%
11%
22%
23%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%
Don't know/nothing
No airport - adverse environmental
impact/limit planes
Climate change/global warming/carbon
footprint/sustainable living
Sustainable tourism - walking tracks, maintain
parks, playgrounds and cycleways
Stormwater/clean waterways/drainage
Overdevelopment impacting the environment
Rubbish - better collection/services, more
recycling, illegal dumping, pollution
Fire risk - allow back burning, hazard reduction,
emergency access
Bush regeneration, conservation and
tree/weed management
Base: N=1,001 Please see Appendix A for list of responses and results by Planning Area
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 54
Looking After People
Summary
Blue Mountains Residents’ considered the top priority in terms of looking after people to be ‘more
affordable and improved aged care/disability services and facilities’ (22%). Health care services were also
frequently mentioned as were employment and business opportunities.
Q6d. When thinking about making the Blue Mountains a better place, what do you see as the top priority for action
for looking after people over the next 5-10 years?
10%
7%
7%
7%
8%
10%
11%
22%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%
Don't know/nothing
More/improved public transport
More/improved community and social
services
More/upgraded community facilities
e.g. buildings, sportsgrounds, shops
Increasing the sense of community in
the area/more recreation and leisure
opportunities
Employment/business support/tourism
Improving/upgrading the
hospital/health care services and
facilities
More affordable and improved aged
care/disability services and facilities
Base: N=997
Please see Appendix A for list of responses and results by Planning Area
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 55
Making the Towns and Villages Great Places to
Live
Summary
13% of residents believe that the appearance and maintenance of the LGA is the top priority for making
their towns and villages great places to live. Issues relating to roads and traffic management were also top
of mind for residents.
Q6e. When thinking about making the Blue Mountains a better place, what do you see as the top priority for action
for making our towns and villages great places to live over the next 5-10 years?
Base: N=1,005 Please see Appendix A for list of responses and results by Planning Area
9%
7%
7%
7%
8%
10%
10%
13%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%
Don't know/nothing
Additional/maintained
parks/playgrounds/greenspaces
No high rise/over development/over
population
Planning for future development to
reflect community needs
Employment/business opportunities
A connected and inclusive
community/range of events and
activities
Roads/traffic management/parking
Appearance/maintenance/upgrades
of LGA
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 56
Moving Around the Blue Mountains
Summary
When asked about the top priority for action in relation to moving around the Blue Mountains, 53% of
residents suggested public transport (either general public transport or specifically bus/train services) as
the top priority for the area. Improving the local road network was also frequently mentioned, with 15%
suggesting this as a top priority.
Q6f. When thinking about making the Blue Mountains a better place, what do you see as the top priority for action
related to how we move around within the Blue Mountains over the next 5-10 years?
7%
3%
5%
5%
14%
15%
53%
0% 20% 40% 60%
Don't know/nothing
Accessibility in the area e.g. disabled
access/access for the elderly
Availability of carparks and commuter parking
Traffic management
Better footpaths/walkways/cycleways/pedestrian
areas
Improve the local road network e.g. upgrades
and maintenance
More frequent/improved public transport services
e.g. trains and buses
Base: N=1,006
Please see Appendix A for list of responses and results by Planning Area
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 57
Economic Development
Summary
In terms of economic development, the top suggestion for priorities in over the next 5-10 years was ‘support
for local business’, with 23% of residents suggesting this. Encouraging tourism and promoting the area was
also a common response (14%).
Q6g. When thinking about making the Blue Mountains a better place, what do you see as the top priority for action
related to economic development over the next 5-10 years?
21%
4%
5%
10%
14%
14%
23%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%
Don't know/nothing
Better planning for housing
development/maintaining a variety of housing
sizes/affordable housing and rates
More/improved shopping precincts and food
options
Economic growth in the area/variety of
industries/encouraging businesses to the area
More employment opportunities
Encouraging tourism/promotion of the area
Support for local business
Base: N=1,006
Please see Appendix A for list of responses and results by Planning Area
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 58
Importance of, and
Satisfaction with, Council
Services & Facilities
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 59
Key Directions
A core element of this community survey was the rating of 40 facilities/services in terms of Importance and
Satisfaction. Each of the 40 facilities/services are located within Key Directions as detailed below:
Protect
Protection of natural bushland
Council lookouts and walking trails
Weed control
Clean creeks and waterways
Clean, safe and healthy living environments
Move
Sealed roads
Carparks
Commuter parking
Bus shelters
Pedestrian access around shopping centres and
community facilities
Footpaths
Cycleways
Traffic safety for pedestrians and vehicles
Parking for shoppers
Management of stormwater and drainage
Thrive
Access to local employment opportunities
Visitor Information Centres at Glenbrook and Echo
Point
Caravan parks at Katoomba and Blackheath
The atmosphere, look and feel of our towns and
villages
Live
Managing residential development
Protection of heritage values in towns and villages
Care
Library services
Community centres and halls
Services and facilities for children and families
Services and facilities for young people
Services and facilities for older people
Services that support the local Aboriginal community
Services and facilities for people with a disability
Ovals and sporting grounds
Parks and playgrounds
Swimming pools and leisure centres
Cultural and arts facilities
Wheelie bin garbage & recycling collection
Public toilets in town centres
Litter control
Street cleaning
Cemeteries and ashes placement sites
Lead
Consultation with the community
Council provision of information
Opportunity to participate in Council decision-
making
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 60
Key Directions
An Explanation
The following pages detail the Shapley findings for each Key Direction, make comparisons to the
Micromex LGA Benchmark and identify the stated importance and satisfaction ratings by key
demographics.
Importance
For the stated importance ratings, residents were asked to rate how important each of the criteria was to
them, on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being ‘not at all important’ and 5 being ‘very important’.
Satisfaction
For the satisfaction ratings, all residents were asked to rate their level of satisfaction with each of the
criteria on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being ‘not at all satisfied’ and 5 being ‘very satisfied’. There was an
option for residents to answer ‘don’t know’ to satisfaction, as they may not have personally used a
particular service or facility.
Mean rating explanation
1.99 or less ‘Very low’ level of importance/satisfaction
2.0 – 2.49 ‘Low’ level of importance/satisfaction
2.5 – 2.99 ‘Moderately low’ level of importance/satisfaction
3.0 – 3.59 ‘Moderate’ level of importance/satisfaction
3.6 – 3.89 ‘Moderately high’ level of importance/satisfaction
3.9 – 4.19 ‘High’ level of importance/satisfaction
4.2 – 4.49 ‘Very high’ level of importance/satisfaction
4.5+ ‘Extremely high’ level of importance/satisfaction
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 61
Key Directions’ Contribution to Overall Satisfaction
By combining the outcomes of the regression data, we can identify the derived importance of the
different Nett Key Directions.
Key Direction 1: ‘Lead’ (29%) is the key contributor toward overall satisfaction with Council’s
performance, and, each of the services/facilities grouped under this area averages 9.7%.
2.2%
2.6%
2.2%
1.9%
1.6%
9.7%
4.4%
10.2%
10.9%
19.3%
26.1%
29.0%
0% 10% 20% 30%
Nett: Key Direction 4:
Live (2)
Nett: Key Direction 6:
Thrive (4)
Nett: Key Direction 2:
Protect (5)
Nett: Key Direction 5:
Move (10)
Nett: Key Direction 3:
Care (16)
Nett: Key direction 1:
Lead (3)
Nett contribution Average service/facility
Note: Numbers in brackets represent the number of services/facilities in each Key Direction
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 62
Key Direction 1: Lead
Shapley Regression
Contributes to Almost 30% of Overall Satisfaction with Council
29%
11.0%
10.8%
7.2%
0% 10% 20% 30%
Nett: Lead
Consultation with the community
Council provision of information
Opportunity to participate in Council decision-
making
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 63
Key Direction 1: Lead
Hierarchy of Services/Facilities – Importance
Within the ‘Lead’ Key Direction, in terms of importance, ‘consultation with the community’ is rated the most
important, whilst the ‘Opportunity to participate in Council decision making’ is the service of least relative
importance.
Consultation with the community 95% 81%
Council provision of information 93% 82%
Opportunity to participate in Council
decision-making 86% 73%
Importance T2B Service/Facility (Ranked high – low)
LGA Benchmark T2B
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 64
Key Direction 1: Lead
Importance Mean Scores by Key Demographics
Overall Male Female 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+
Consultation with the
community 4.70 4.65 4.75 4.61 4.71 4.71 4.76
Council provision of information 4.65 4.61 4.69 4.55 4.69 4.63 4.73
Opportunity to participate in
Council decision-making 4.42 4.35 4.49 4.49 4.40 4.35 4.47
Ratepayer Non-
ratepayer Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5
Consultation with the community
4.72 4.62 4.71 4.73 4.75 4.70 4.65
Council provision of
information 4.67 4.57 4.76 4.69 4.69 4.63 4.56
Opportunity to
participate in Council
decision-making
4.44 4.35 4.69 4.41 4.39 4.41 4.37
Scale: 1 = not at all important, 5 = very important
Significantly higher/lower level of importance (by group)
Detailed Overall Response for Importance
Not at all
important
Not very
important
Somewhat
important Important
Very
important Base
Consultation with the
community <1% 1% 4% 18% 77% 1,006
Council provision of information <1% 1% 6% 20% 73% 1,006
Opportunity to participate in
Council decision-making 1% 2% 11% 27% 59% 1,006
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 65
Key Direction 1: Lead
Hierarchy of Services/Facilities – Satisfaction
In terms of satisfaction, residents are most satisfied with ‘Council provision of information’ and least satisfied
with ‘opportunity to participate in Council decision making’ within the ‘Lead’ Key Direction.
Council provision of information 87% 78%
Consultation with the community 82% 72%
Opportunity to participate in Council
decision-making 75% 68%
Satisfaction T3B Service/Facility (Ranked high – low)
LGA Benchmark T3B
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 66
Key Direction 1: Lead
Satisfaction Mean Scores by Key Demographics
Overall Male Female 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+
Consultation with the
community 3.36 3.24 3.47 3.43 3.34 3.29 3.41
Council provision of
information 3.51 3.39 3.61 3.51 3.59 3.42 3.52
Opportunity to participate in
Council decision-making 3.17 3.04 3.28 3.20 3.13 3.12 3.23
Ratepayer Non-
ratepayer Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5
Consultation with the
community 3.33 3.55 3.25 3.31 3.37 3.36 3.46
Council provision of
information 3.47 3.74 3.38 3.42 3.56 3.53 3.60
Opportunity to
participate in Council
decision-making
3.13 3.34 3.12 3.04 3.32 3.17 3.21
Scale: 1 = not at all satisfied, 5 = very satisfied
Significantly higher/lower level of satisfaction (by group)
Detailed Overall Response for Satisfaction
Not at all
satisfied
Not very
satisfied
Somewhat
satisfied Satisfied
Very
satisfied Base
Consultation with the
community 7% 11% 36% 31% 15% 995
Council provision of information 5% 9% 37% 30% 20% 995
Opportunity to participate in
Council decision-making 8% 16% 38% 26% 11% 961
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 67
Key Direction 2: Protect
Shapley Regression
Contributes to Over 10% of Overall Satisfaction with Council
10.9%
3.1%
2.6%
2.3%
1.5%
1.3%
0% 5% 10% 15%
Nett: Protect
Protection of natural bushland
Clean, safe and healthy living
environments
Weed control
Council lookouts and walking trails
Clean creeks and waterways
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 68
Key Direction 2: Protect
Hierarchy of Services/Facilities – Importance
Within the ‘Protect’ Key Direction, in terms of importance, ‘clean, safe and healthy living environments’ is
rated the most important, whilst ‘weed control’ is the service of least relative importance.
Clean, safe and healthy living
environments 98% NA
Clean creeks and waterways 96% 87%
Council lookouts and walking trails 91% 74%
Protection of natural bushland 90% 83%
Weed control 80% 78%
Importance T2B Service/Facility (Ranked high – low)
LGA Benchmark T2B
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 69
Key Direction 2: Protect
Trend Analysis of Importance Mean Scores
2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2016 2018 2020
Protection of
natural
bushland
4.73 4.53 4.66 4.62 4.64 4.67 4.60 4.29 4.29 4.26 4.35 4.39 4.42 4.53 4.58
Weed control 4.42 4.17 4.42 4.36 4.26 4.36 4.30 4.27 4.28 4.03 4.20 4.08 4.32 4.46 4.24
Clean creeks
and
waterways
4.85 4.74 4.81 4.73 4.72 4.77 4.80 4.58 4.56 4.59 4.70 4.65 4.67 4.75 4.75
Council
lookouts and
walking trails
4.09 4.15 4.07 4.15 4.20 4.02 4.00 4.29 4.25 4.34 4.32 4.34 4.37 4.55 4.60
Clean, safe
and healthy
living
environments
4.83 4.78 4.80 4.70 4.77 4.71 4.77 4.87
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 70
Key Direction 2: Protect
Importance Mean Scores by Key Demographics
Overall Male Female 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+
Protection of natural bushland 4.58 4.44 4.71 4.56 4.68 4.56 4.52
Weed control 4.24 4.13 4.33 3.92 4.25 4.35 4.35
Clean creeks and waterways 4.75 4.70 4.80 4.70 4.79 4.78 4.73
Council lookouts and walking
trails 4.60 4.51 4.69 4.54 4.68 4.58 4.60
Clean, safe and healthy living
environments 4.87 4.83 4.90 4.93 4.84 4.81 4.90
Scale: 1 = not at all important, 5 = very important
Significantly higher/lower level of importance (by group)
Detailed Overall Response for Importance
Ratepayer Non-
ratepayer Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5
Protection of natural bushland 4.57 4.63 4.77 4.65 4.61 4.47 4.53
Weed control 4.29 3.91 4.46 4.29 4.24 4.16 4.18
Clean creeks and waterways 4.76 4.72 4.86 4.80 4.74 4.71 4.72
Council lookouts and walking
trails 4.60 4.60 4.70 4.68 4.62 4.57 4.49
Clean, safe and healthy living
environments 4.85 4.95 4.96 4.89 4.88 4.82 4.85
Not at all
important
Not very
important
Somewhat
important Important
Very
important Base
Protection of natural bushland 1% 2% 7% 18% 72% 1,006
Weed control 2% 4% 14% 28% 52% 1,006
Clean creeks and waterways <1% 1% 3% 15% 81% 1,005
Council lookouts and walking
trails 1% 1% 7% 21% 70% 1,006
Clean, safe and healthy living
environments <1% <1% 2% 10% 88% 1,006
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 71
Key Direction 2: Protect
Hierarchy of Services/Facilities – Satisfaction
In terms of satisfaction, residents are most satisfied with ‘clean, safe and healthy living environments’ and
least satisfied with ‘weed control’ within the ‘Protect’ Key Direction.
Clean, safe and healthy living
environments 95% NA
Protection of natural bushland 92% 87%
Council lookouts and walking trails 91% 86%
Clean creeks and waterways 90% 83%
Weed control 77% 76%
Satisfaction T3B Service/Facility (Ranked high – low)
LGA Benchmark T3B
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 72
Key Direction 2: Protect
Trend Analysis of Satisfaction Mean Scores
2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2016 2018 2020
Protection of
natural
bushland
3.47 3.37 3.50 3.17 3.32 3.42 3.60 3.49 3.37 3.50 3.57 3.51 3.53 3.54 3.71
Weed control 2.63 2.80 2.78 2.69 2.83 2.89 2.90 2.93 2.89 2.95 3.06 2.97 2.99 2.91 3.19
Clean creeks
and
waterways
2.81 3.06 3.09 2.89 2.99 3.10 3.20 3.40 3.38 3.39 3.34 3.48 3.44 3.47 3.62
Council
lookouts and
walking trails
3.75 3.74 3.64 3.67 3.57 3.54 3.60 3.69 3.76 3.85 3.66 3.70 3.83 3.73 3.81
Clean, safe
and healthy
living
environments
3.82 3.83 3.79 3.71 3.78 3.86 3.83 3.91
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 73
Key Direction 2: Protect
Satisfaction Mean Scores by Key Demographics
Overall Male Female 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+
Protection of natural bushland 3.71 3.65 3.76 3.80 3.81 3.60 3.65
Weed control 3.19 3.13 3.25 3.36 3.23 2.98 3.26
Clean creeks and waterways 3.62 3.59 3.64 3.72 3.61 3.54 3.62
Council lookouts and walking
trails 3.81 3.74 3.87 3.95 3.84 3.75 3.71
Clean, safe and healthy living
environments 3.91 3.88 3.93 3.99 3.93 3.86 3.87
Ratepayer Non-
ratepayer Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5
Protection of natural
bushland 3.64 4.06 3.63 3.77 3.72 3.63 3.75
Weed control 3.15 3.46 3.25 3.21 3.13 3.08 3.34
Clean creeks and
waterways 3.61 3.64 3.73 3.58 3.57 3.67 3.59
Council lookouts and
walking trails 3.78 3.96 3.85 3.81 3.87 3.80 3.75
Clean, safe and healthy
living environments 3.89 3.99 3.89 3.88 3.95 3.94 3.87
Scale: 1 = not at all satisfied, 5 = very satisfied
Significantly higher/lower level of satisfaction (by group)
Detailed Overall Response for Satisfaction
Not at all
satisfied
Not very
satisfied
Somewhat
satisfied Satisfied
Very
satisfied Base
Protection of natural bushland 3% 5% 33% 36% 23% 997
Weed control 7% 15% 39% 27% 11% 991
Clean creeks and waterways 4% 7% 34% 36% 20% 981
Council lookouts and walking
trails 2% 7% 24% 41% 26% 992
Clean, safe and healthy living
environments 1% 4% 23% 48% 24% 992
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 74
Key Direction 3: Care
Shapley Regression
Contributes to Over 25% of Overall Satisfaction with Council
26.1%
4.4%
3.1%
2.3%
2.1%
2.0%
1.8%
1.6%
1.4%
1.4%
1.4%
1.3%
1.1%
0.8%
0.6%
0.5%
0.4%
0% 10% 20% 30%
Nett: Care
Wheelie bin garbage & recycling
collection
Parks and playgrounds
Cultural & arts facilities
Ovals and sporting grounds
Public toilets in town centres
Services and facilities for older people
Street cleaning
Library services
Swimming pools and leisure centres
Services and facilities for children and
families
Litter control
Services and facilities for people with a
disability
Services and facilities for young people
Community centres and halls
Cemeteries and ashes placement sites
Services that support the local Aboriginal
community
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 75
Key Direction 3: Care
Hierarchy of Services/Facilities – Importance
Within the ‘Care’ Key Direction, in terms of importance, ‘wheelie bin garbage & recycling collection’ is
rated the most important, whilst ‘cemeteries and ashes placement sites’ is the facility of least relative
importance.
Wheelie bin garbage & recycling
collection 97% 93%
Litter control 94% 90%
Parks and playgrounds 93% 84%
Services and facilities for people with a
disability 92% 80%
Services and facilities for older people 90% 77%
Public toilets in town centres 90% 80%
Services and facilities for young people 88% 70%
Services and facilities for children and
families 87% 78%
Swimming pools and leisure centres 85% 69%
Ovals and sporting grounds 82% 76%
Services that support the local Aboriginal
community 82% 68%
Library services 79% 72%
Street cleaning 78% 82%
Community centres and halls 77% 63%
Cultural & arts facilities 77% 55%
Cemeteries and ashes placement sites 61% 74%
Importance T2B Service/Facility (Ranked high – low)
LGA Benchmark T2B
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 76
Key Direction 3: Care
Trend Analysis of Importance Mean Scores
* Note: ‘Wheelie bin garbage & recycling collection’ was previously split into ‘wheelie bin garbage collection’
and ‘wheelie bin recycling service’ and therefore the above trend analysis should be viewed as an interest point
only.
2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2016 2018 2020
Library
services 4.13 4.15 4.17 4.23 4.17 4.09 4.20 4.21 4.10 4.11 4.14 4.04 3.98 4.24 4.24
Community
centres and
community
halls
3.64 3.91 3.59 3.92 3.96 3.82 3.90 4.10 4.08 4.12 4.11 4.04 3.98 4.12 4.16
Services and
facilities for
children
and families
4.22 4.06 4.35 4.11 4.07 4.30 4.30 4.29 4.32 4.29 4.36 4.11 4.04 4.45 4.43
Services and
facilities for
young
people
4.38 4.10 4.37 4.22 4.06 4.27 4.30 4.38 4.34 4.37 4.39 4.17 4.10 4.50 4.44
Services and
facilities for older
people
4.42 4.19 4.41 4.31 4.23 4.36 4.40 4.39 4.52 4.49 4.52 4.33 4.33 4.61 4.52
Services and
facilities for
people with
a disability
4.46 4.24 4.43 4.26 4.17 4.38 4.40 4.48 4.50 4.59 4.58 4.38 4.40 4.68 4.65
Services that
support the
local
Aboriginal
community
4.04 3.93 4.09 4.27 4.33
Ovals and
sporting
grounds
3.22 3.89 3.30 4.06 4.12 3.53 3.70 4.27 4.28 4.34 4.21 4.11 4.08 4.27 4.25
Parks and
playgrounds 4.13 4.31 4.12 4.26 4.31 4.02 4.10 4.48 4.37 4.48 4.44 4.38* 4.35 4.54 4.56
Swimming
pools and
leisure
centres
3.79 3.90 3.93 4.05 3.92 3.68 3.70 4.23 4.07 4.14 4.04 3.97 4.12 4.43 4.37
Cultural & arts
facilities 3.51 3.60 3.98 3.88 3.99 3.93 3.91 3.98 4.22 4.11
Wheelie bin
garbage &
recycling
collection
4.69 4.71 4.77 4.82 4.75 4.80 4.80 4.78 4.80 4.62 4.75 4.78 4.72 4.73 4.79
Public toilets
in town
centres
4.43 4.32 4.33 4.40 4.37 4.49 4.40 4.36 4.32 4.35 4.47 4.41 4.43 4.46 4.53
Litter control 4.80 4.55 4.69 4.59 4.52 4.58 4.60 4.52 4.43 4.54 4.51 4.54 4.54 4.62 4.62
Street
cleaning 4.64 4.08 4.26 4.13 4.01 4.14 4.20 4.10 3.98 4.11 4.23 4.01 4.04 4.13 4.20
Cemeteries
and ashes
placement
sites
3.70 3.68 3.85 3.87 3.66 3.77 3.65 3.73
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 77
Key Direction 3: Care
Importance Mean Scores by Key Demographics
Overall Male Female 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+
Wheelie bin garbage &
recycling collection 4.79 4.76 4.81 4.77 4.72 4.79 4.88
Public toilets in town centres 4.53 4.40 4.65 4.53 4.46 4.49 4.66
Litter control 4.62 4.54 4.69 4.66 4.58 4.58 4.67
Street cleaning 4.20 4.14 4.26 4.24 4.04 4.12 4.43
Cemeteries and ashes
placement sites 3.73 3.61 3.84 3.74 3.39 3.68 4.12
Library services 4.24 4.01 4.45 4.13 4.14 4.19 4.50
Community centres and halls 4.16 3.97 4.34 4.04 4.04 4.14 4.42
Cultural and arts facilities 4.11 3.87 4.33 3.96 4.13 4.04 4.29
Services and facilities for
children and families 4.43 4.37 4.48 4.50 4.52 4.28 4.45
Services and facilities for young
people 4.44 4.37 4.51 4.45 4.47 4.37 4.49
Services and facilities for older
people 4.52 4.42 4.62 4.50 4.37 4.50 4.73
Services and facilities for people
with a disability 4.65 4.56 4.73 4.70 4.56 4.60 4.76
Services that support the Local
Aboriginal community 4.33 4.10 4.54 4.44 4.40 4.16 4.38
Ovals and sporting grounds 4.25 4.22 4.28 4.09 4.38 4.19 4.33
Parks and playgrounds 4.56 4.48 4.63 4.43 4.73 4.46 4.62
Swimming pools and leisure
centres 4.37 4.22 4.51 4.16 4.42 4.42 4.44
Ratepayer Non-
ratepayer Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5
Wheelie bin garbage &
recycling collection 4.78 4.81 4.82 4.76 4.80 4.80 4.79
Public toilets in town centres 4.52 4.58 4.60 4.51 4.61 4.53 4.48
Litter control 4.60 4.70 4.73 4.63 4.62 4.59 4.59
Street cleaning 4.18 4.34 4.43 4.22 4.24 4.19 4.07
Cemeteries and ashes
placement sites 3.71 3.84 3.78 3.71 3.86 3.78 3.57
Library services 4.25 4.18 4.41 4.32 4.38 4.20 4.02
Community centres and halls 4.18 4.08 4.51 4.19 4.16 4.15 4.01
Cultural and arts facilities 4.10 4.18 4.31 4.26 4.16 3.94 3.99
Services and facilities for
children and families 4.43 4.43 4.49 4.39 4.51 4.44 4.39
Services and facilities for
young people 4.45 4.38 4.38 4.54 4.48 4.41 4.37
Services and facilities for older
people 4.54 4.43 4.68 4.57 4.65 4.51 4.33
Services and facilities for
people with a disability 4.64 4.70 4.60 4.67 4.74 4.66 4.56
Services that support the
Local Aboriginal community 4.29 4.57 4.53 4.39 4.40 4.23 4.25
Ovals and sporting grounds 4.27 4.10 4.27 4.21 4.24 4.35 4.19
Parks and playgrounds 4.55 4.59 4.64 4.53 4.58 4.51 4.60
Swimming pools and leisure
centres 4.41 4.15 4.42 4.41 4.36 4.38 4.32
Scale: 1 = not at all important, 5 = very important
Significantly higher/lower level of importance (by group)
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 78
Key Direction 3: Care
Detailed Overall Response for Importance
Not at all
important
Not very
important
Somewhat
important Important
Very
important Base
Wheelie bin garbage &
recycling collection <1% 1% 2% 15% 82% 1,006
Public toilets in town centres 1% 1% 8% 23% 67% 1,005
Litter control <1% 1% 6% 25% 69% 1,006
Street cleaning 1% 3% 19% 31% 47% 1,005
Cemeteries and ashes
placement sites 6% 9% 24% 27% 34% 1,005
Library services 3% 5% 13% 24% 55% 1,006
Community centres and halls 3% 3% 17% 30% 47% 1,005
Cultural and arts facilities 4% 5% 15% 31% 46% 1,006
Services and facilities for
children and families 3% 2% 8% 21% 66% 1,006
Services and facilities for young
people 2% 2% 8% 26% 62% 1,006
Services and facilities for older
people 2% 2% 6% 23% 67% 1,006
Services and facilities for
people with a disability 1% 1% 6% 18% 74% 1,005
Services that support the Local
Aboriginal community 3% 4% 10% 22% 60% 1,005
Ovals and sporting grounds 2% 4% 12% 31% 51% 1,006
Parks and playgrounds <1% 1% 6% 28% 65% 1,006
Swimming pools and leisure
centres 1% 3% 10% 28% 57% 1,006
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 79
Key Direction 3: Care
Hierarchy of Services/Facilities – Satisfaction
In terms of satisfaction, residents are most satisfied with ‘community centres and halls’ and least satisfied
with ‘services and facilities for young people’ within the ‘Care’ Key Direction.
Community centres and halls 94% 89%
Swimming pools and leisure centres 94% 85%
Cultural & arts facilities 93% 89%
Library services 93% 94%
Cemeteries and ashes placement sites 93% 90%
Wheelie bin garbage & recycling
collection 92% 91%
Ovals and sporting grounds 90% 90%
Litter control 89% 80%
Services and facilities for older people 88% 87%
Street cleaning 87% 82%
Services and facilities for children and
families 86% 87%
Parks and playgrounds 82% 88%
Services that support the local
Aboriginal community 76% 81%
Services and facilities for people with
a disability 75% 83%
Public toilets in town centres 74% 69%
Services and facilities for young people 72% 79%
Satisfaction T3B Service/Facility (Ranked high – low)
LGA Benchmark T3B
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 80
Key Direction 3: Care
Trend Analysis of Satisfaction Mean Scores
2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2016 2018 2020
Library services 3.59 3.76 3.77 3.74 3.69 3.66 3.70 3.85 3.83 3.76 3.85 4.08 3.96 3.95 4.09
Community
centres and
community halls
3.37 3.41 3.39 3.40 3.40 3.25 3.40 3.38 3.37 3.47 3.35 3.47 3.70 3.64 3.86
Services and
facilities for
children and
families
3.10 3.20 3.20 3.10 3.10 3.10 3.30 3.29 3.30 3.40 3.28 3.49 3.44 3.40 3.82
Services and
facilities for
young people
2.40 2.80 2.70 2.80 2.70 2.70 2.90 2.78 2.69 2.82 2.77 2.80 2.94 2.96 3.50
Services and
facilities for older people
3.20 3.30 3.20 3.20 3.20 3.10 3.30 3.26 3.22 3.31 3.20 3.33* 3.36 3.31 3.00
Services and
facilities for
people with a
disability
2.90 3.20 3.10 3.10 3.00 3.00 3.00 2.99 3.07 3.03 3.00 3.06 3.17 2.94 3.43
Services that
support the
local Aboriginal
community
3.06 3.19 3.28 3.07 3.14
Ovals and
sporting
grounds
3.24 3.49 3.23 3.36 3.33 3.25 3.50 3.63 3.62 3.65 3.49 3.60 3.67 3.57 3.11
Parks and
playgrounds 3.38 3.53 3.34 3.45 3.32 3.28 3.50 3.51 3.46 3.60 3.43 3.47 3.57 3.39 3.69
Swimming pools
and leisure
centres
3.37 3.27 2.89 3.44 3.66 3.64 3.70 3.82 3.71 3.76 3.70 3.77 3.78 3.49 3.44
Cultural & Arts
facilities 3.08 3.10 3.25 3.31 3.39 3.56 3.63 3.80 3.87 3.80
Wheelie bin
garbage &
recycling
collection
3.03 4.37 4.27 4.37 4.34 4.32 4.50 4.43 4.40 4.26 4.27 4.48 4.17 4.08 4.17
Public toilets in
town centres 2.62 2.79 2.83 2.69 2.76 2.80 2.90 2.76 2.83 2.85 2.80 2.94 3.03 2.85 3.17
Litter control 4.19 3.24 3.39 3.32 3.38 3.26 3.40 3.41 3.39 3.55 3.32 3.37 3.45 3.47 3.70
Street cleaning 3.51 3.26 3.36 3.33 3.38 3.23 3.30 3.38 3.39 3.50 3.44 3.37 3.43 3.46 3.64
Cemeteries and
ashes
placement sites
3.60 3.60 3.62 3.62 3.66 3.71 3.61 3.70
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 81
Key Direction 3: Care
Satisfaction Mean Scores by Key Demographics
Overall Male Female 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+
Wheelie bin garbage &
recycling collection 4.17 4.17 4.17 4.10 4.06 4.10 4.41
Public toilets in town centres 3.17 3.14 3.19 3.11 3.07 3.20 3.27
Litter control 3.70 3.67 3.73 3.70 3.71 3.67 3.71
Street cleaning 3.64 3.63 3.65 3.73 3.73 3.59 3.53
Cemeteries and ashes
placement sites 3.70 3.68 3.73 3.89 3.74 3.58 3.64
Library services 4.09 3.91 4.25 4.02 4.09 4.00 4.25
Community centres and halls 3.86 3.81 3.91 3.77 3.81 3.86 3.99
Cultural and arts facilities 3.82 3.65 3.97 3.66 3.98 3.74 3.87
Services and facilities for
children and families 3.50 3.53 3.47 3.62 3.35 3.45 3.60
Services and facilities for young
people 3.00 3.08 2.93 3.15 2.86 3.01 3.00
Services and facilities for older
people 3.43 3.45 3.41 3.51 3.39 3.30 3.55
Services and facilities for
people with a disability 3.14 3.24 3.05 3.21 3.15 3.12 3.10
Services that support the Local
Aboriginal community 3.11 3.14 3.09 3.08 3.15 3.08 3.14
Ovals and sporting grounds 3.69 3.64 3.74 3.68 3.78 3.63 3.68
Parks and playgrounds 3.44 3.50 3.39 3.31 3.21 3.58 3.64
Swimming pools and leisure
centres 3.80 3.76 3.84 3.92 3.77 3.77 3.77
Ratepayer Non-
ratepayer Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5
Wheelie bin garbage &
recycling collection 4.17 4.15 4.21 4.03 4.23 4.24 4.19
Public toilets in town centres 3.18 3.10 3.47 3.03 3.38 2.98 3.25 Litter control 3.70 3.72 3.66 3.62 3.63 3.74 3.82
Street cleaning 3.62 3.79 3.58 3.73 3.58 3.67 3.58
Cemeteries and ashes
placement sites 3.66 3.92 3.57 3.83 3.70 3.68 3.64
Library services 4.07 4.21 4.04 4.15 4.21 4.12 3.90
Community centres and
halls 3.86 3.85 3.93 3.81 3.95 3.94 3.74
Cultural and arts facilities 3.82 3.79 3.93 3.75 3.91 3.83 3.76
Services and facilities for
children and families 3.49 3.53 3.60 3.38 3.75 3.45 3.46
Services and facilities for
young people 2.97 3.16 2.83 2.88 3.18 2.98 3.11
Services and facilities for
older people 3.40 3.61 3.34 3.34 3.51 3.44 3.50
Services and facilities for
people with a disability 3.12 3.22 3.17 3.08 3.16 3.17 3.16
Services that support the
Local Aboriginal
community
3.12 3.09 2.87 3.05 3.30 3.19 3.05
Ovals and sporting grounds 3.69 3.71 3.70 3.58 3.68 3.69 3.83
Parks and playgrounds 3.44 3.46 3.73 3.47 3.49 3.25 3.48
Swimming pools and leisure
centres 3.77 3.97 3.67 3.70 3.94 3.82 3.86
Scale: 1 = not at all satisfied, 5 = very satisfied
Significantly higher/lower level of satisfaction (by group)
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 82
Key Direction 3: Care
Detailed Overall Response for Satisfaction
Not at all
satisfied
Not very
satisfied
Somewhat
satisfied Satisfied
Very
satisfied Base
Wheelie bin garbage &
recycling collection 2% 7% 13% 29% 50% 1,005
Public toilets in town centres 10% 15% 35% 26% 13% 993
Litter control 3% 7% 29% 37% 23% 1,002
Street cleaning 5% 8% 28% 36% 23% 994
Cemeteries and ashes
placement sites 3% 5% 35% 35% 23% 903
Library services 2% 5% 17% 34% 42% 979
Community centres and halls 2% 4% 28% 40% 26% 979
Cultural and arts facilities 3% 4% 27% 40% 26% 982
Services and facilities for
children and families 4% 10% 33% 39% 14% 941
Services and facilities for young
people 8% 21% 43% 20% 9% 907
Services and facilities for older
people 4% 8% 43% 32% 13% 932
Services and facilities for
people with a disability 6% 18% 40% 27% 8% 882
Services that support the Local
Aboriginal community 7% 16% 44% 24% 8% 830
Ovals and sporting grounds 3% 6% 30% 40% 20% 968
Parks and playgrounds 7% 12% 28% 37% 17% 990
Swimming pools and leisure
centres 2% 5% 29% 40% 25% 985
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 83
Key Direction 4: Live
Shapley Regression
Contributes to Almost 5% of Overall Satisfaction with Council
4.4%
2.6%
1.8%
0% 5% 10%
Nett: Live
Managing residential development
Protection of heritage values in towns
and villages
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 84
Key Direction 4: Live
Hierarchy of Services/Facilities – Importance
Within the ‘Live’ Key Direction, in terms of importance, ‘protection of heritage values in towns and villages’
is rated slightly higher in importance.
Protection of heritage values in towns and
villages 87% 73%
Managing residential development 86% 82%
Importance T2B Service/Facility (Ranked high – low)
LGA Benchmark T2B
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 85
Key Direction 4: Live
Trend Analysis of Importance Mean Scores
Importance Mean Scores by Key Demographics
Overall Male Female 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+
Managing residential
development 4.42 4.38 4.46 4.06 4.42 4.51 4.62
Protection of heritage values in
towns and villages 4.43 4.34 4.51 4.38 4.38 4.37 4.61
Ratepayer Non-
ratepayer Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5
Managing residential
development 4.47 4.18 4.52 4.34 4.47 4.45 4.41
Protection of heritage
values in towns and
villages
4.44 4.41 4.63 4.52 4.46 4.35 4.31
Scale: 1 = not at all important, 5 = very important
Significantly higher/lower level of importance (by group)
Detailed Overall Response for Importance
2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2016 2018 2020
Managing
residential
development
4.45 4.40 4.49 4.44 4.33 4.32 4.30 4.41 4.31 4.32 3.93 4.01 4.32 4.47 4.42
Protection of
heritage
values in our
towns and
villages
4.33 4.11 4.33 4.32 4.24 4.26 4.20 4.22 4.27 4.35 4.24 4.38* 4.41 4.49 4.43
Not at all
important
Not very
important
Somewhat
important Important
Very
important Base
Managing residential
development 1% 2% 11% 26% 60% 1,006
Protection of heritage values in
towns and villages 1% 2% 10% 25% 62% 1,006
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 86
Key Direction 4: Live
Hierarchy of Services/Facilities – Satisfaction
Within the ‘Live’ Key Direction, residents expressed slightly lower levels of satisfaction with ‘managing
residential development’.
Protection of heritage values in towns
and villages 86% 84%
Managing residential development 81% 74%
Satisfaction T3B Service/Facility (Ranked high – low)
LGA Benchmark T3B
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 87
Key Direction 4: Live
Trend Analysis of Satisfaction Mean Scores
2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2016 2018 2020
Managing
residential
development
2.74 2.72 2.70 2.59 2.70 2.81 3.00 3.11 3.05 3.18 2.96 3.09 3.08 3.12 3.27
Protection of
heritage
values in our
towns and
villages
3.36 3.32 3.25 3.22 3.20 3.27 3.40 3.43 3.47 3.53 3.33 3.54 3.45 3.41 3.57
Satisfaction Mean Scores by Key Demographics
Overall Male Female 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+
Managing residential
development 3.27 3.25 3.29 3.39 3.29 3.14 3.31
Protection of heritage values
and buildings 3.57 3.49 3.63 3.89 3.58 3.40 3.47
Ratepayer Non-
ratepayer Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5
Managing residential
development 3.23 3.50 3.26 3.12 3.32 3.34 3.35
Protection of heritage
values and buildings 3.54 3.73 3.32 3.53 3.62 3.59 3.66
Scale: 1 = not at all satisfied, 5 = very satisfied
Significantly higher/lower level of satisfaction (by group)
Detailed Overall Response for Satisfaction
Not at all
satisfied
Not very
satisfied
Somewhat
satisfied Satisfied
Very
satisfied Base
Managing residential
development 6% 13% 38% 32% 11% 994
Protection of heritage values
and buildings 5% 9% 30% 38% 18% 998
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 88
Key Direction 5: Move
Shapley Regression
Contributes to Almost 20% of Overall Satisfaction with Council
19.3%
5.4%
2.5%
2.4%
2.3%
2.1%
1.8%
1.1%
0.7%
0.5%
0.5%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20%
Nett: Move
Sealed roads
Management of stormwater and
drainage
Parking for shoppers
Footpaths
Traffic safety for pedestrians and
vehicles
Carparks
Commuter parking
Pedestrian access around shopping
centres and community facilities
Cycleways
Bus shelters
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 89
Key Direction 5: Move
Hierarchy of Services/Facilities – Importance
Within the ‘Move’ Key Direction, in terms of importance, ‘traffic safety for pedestrians and vehicles’ is rated
the most important, whilst ‘cycleways’ is the facility of least relative importance.
Traffic safety for pedestrians and vehicles 95% 92%
Pedestrian access around shopping
centres and community facilities 91% NA
Footpaths 90% 84%
Management of stormwater and
drainage 89% 80%
Sealed roads 88% 91%
Parking for shoppers 86% 82%
Carparks 81% 82%
Commuter parking 81% 82%
Bus shelters 67% 64%
Cycleways 61% 58%
Importance T2B Service/Facility (Ranked high – low)
LGA Benchmark T2B
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 90
Key Direction 5: Move
Trend Analysis of Importance Mean Scores
2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2016 2018 2020
Sealed roads 4.53 4.47 4.53 4.52 4.44 4.55 4.60 4.47 4.46 4.55 4.44 4.40 4.31 4.48 4.45
Carparks 4.28 4.28 4.23 4.18 4.19 4.12 4.40 4.23
Commuter
parking 4.03 3.87 4.08 4.01 3.83 4.06 4.10 4.17 4.16 4.16 4.21 4.15 4.08 4.29 4.29
Bus shelters 3.68 3.45 3.63 3.63 3.61 3.78 3.70 3.86 3.71 3.85 3.90 3.61 3.62 3.78 3.90
Pedestrian
access
around
shopping
centres and
community
facilities
4.50 4.41 4.47 4.48 4.44 4.49 4.50 4.47 4.41 4.51 4.45 4.38 4.43 4.46 4.55
Footpaths 4.44 4.35 4.53 4.47 4.43 4.49 4.50 4.42 4.42 4.43 4.41 4.43 4.38 4.43 4.49
Cycleways 3.74 3.57 3.63 3.44 3.43 3.48 3.61 3.72
Traffic safety for
pedestrians
and vehicles
4.77 4.68 4.71 4.67 4.70 4.65 4.74 4.69
Management of
stormwater
and drainage
4.46 4.33 4.32 4.45 4.31 4.40 4.49 4.53
Parking for
shoppers 4.50 4.41 4.55 4.44 4.34 4.49 4.60 4.43 4.42 4.37 4.36 4.45 4.34 4.47 4.40
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 91
Key Direction 5: Move
Importance Mean Scores by Key Demographics
Overall Male Female 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+
Management of stormwater
and drainage 4.53 4.46 4.59 4.39 4.47 4.61 4.61
Parking for shoppers 4.40 4.33 4.46 4.36 4.21 4.39 4.64
Sealed roads 4.45 4.40 4.50 4.45 4.34 4.41 4.62
Carparks 4.23 4.16 4.30 4.21 3.98 4.19 4.55
Commuter parking 4.29 4.21 4.36 4.18 4.11 4.36 4.48
Bus shelters 3.90 3.74 4.04 3.95 3.75 3.77 4.15
Pedestrian access around
shopping centres and
community facilities
4.55 4.45 4.64 4.46 4.53 4.53 4.66
Footpaths 4.49 4.37 4.60 4.49 4.46 4.43 4.58
Cycleways 3.72 3.63 3.81 3.52 3.80 3.70 3.84
Traffic safety for pedestrians
and vehicles 4.69 4.62 4.75 4.62 4.72 4.62 4.79
Ratepayer Non-
ratepayer Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5
Management of
stormwater and
drainage
4.53 4.50 4.49 4.64 4.60 4.44 4.46
Parking for shoppers 4.42 4.28 4.50 4.34 4.44 4.40 4.40
Sealed roads 4.47 4.35 4.30 4.44 4.54 4.44 4.47
Carparks 4.24 4.17 4.35 4.14 4.25 4.27 4.23
Commuter parking 4.30 4.21 4.17 4.21 4.29 4.29 4.42
Bus shelters 3.90 3.86 3.92 3.95 3.91 3.86 3.85
Pedestrian access around
shopping centres and
community facilities
4.54 4.59 4.57 4.49 4.58 4.59 4.53
Footpaths 4.48 4.51 4.51 4.57 4.42 4.49 4.43
Cycleways 3.73 3.65 3.80 3.67 3.70 3.84 3.62
Traffic safety for
pedestrians and
vehicles
4.69 4.68 4.75 4.68 4.73 4.70 4.63
Scale: 1 = not at all important, 5 = very important
Significantly higher/lower level of importance (by group)
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 92
Key Direction 5: Move
Detailed Overall Response for Importance
Not at all
important
Not very
important
Somewhat
important Important
Very
important Base
Management of stormwater
and drainage 1% 1% 9% 23% 66% 1,006
Parking for shoppers 1% 2% 11% 27% 59% 1,006
Sealed roads 1% 2% 9% 28% 60% 1,006
Carparks 1% 3% 15% 33% 48% 1,006
Commuter parking 5% 3% 11% 21% 60% 1,005
Bus shelters 5% 6% 21% 27% 40% 1,005
Pedestrian access around
shopping centres and
community facilities
<1% 1% 7% 27% 64% 1,006
Footpaths 1% 2% 8% 27% 63% 1,006
Cycleways 7% 9% 22% 27% 34% 1,005
Traffic safety for pedestrians
and vehicles <1% <1% 5% 19% 76% 1,006
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 93
Key Direction 5: Move
Hierarchy of Services/Facilities – Satisfaction
In terms of satisfaction, residents are most satisfied with ‘pedestrian access around shopping centres and
community facilities and least satisfied with ‘cycleways’ within the ‘Move’ Key Direction.
Pedestrian access around shopping
centres and community facilities 92% NA
Traffic safety for pedestrians and
vehicles 86% 84%
Bus shelters 83% 84%
Carparks 82% 66%
Sealed roads 80% 67%
Parking for shoppers 78% 66%
Management of stormwater and
drainage 76% 81%
Commuter parking 76% 66%
Footpaths 72% 71%
Cycleways 61% 72%
Satisfaction T3B Service/Facility (Ranked high – low)
LGA Benchmark T3B
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 94
Key Direction 5: Move
Trend Analysis of Satisfaction Mean Scores
2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2016 2018 2020
Sealed roads 2.79 2.83 2.90 2.80 2.88 2.87 2.90 3.18 3.14 3.12 3.16 3.21 3.27 3.46 3.36
Carparks 3.26 3.25 3.23 3.25 3.43 3.24 3.17 3.35
Commuter
parking 3.43 3.35 3.47 3.22 3.26 3.23 3.20 3.21 3.30 3.34 3.23 3.37 3.24 3.14 3.23
Bus shelters 3.11 3.07 3.15 3.16 3.16 3.02 3.20 3.26 3.27 3.31 3.19 3.30 3.31 3.32 3.33
Pedestrian
access
around
shopping
centres and
community
facilities
3.62 3.53 3.59 3.52 3.47 3.49 3.60 3.68 3.59 3.63 3.52 3.67 3.60 3.65 3.70
Footpaths 3.60 3.43 3.54 3.42 3.35 3.45 3.50 3.05 3.07 3.06 3.04 3.04 3.04 2.98 3.12
Cycleways 2.74 2.77 2.65 2.61 2.70 2.85 2.59 2.78
Traffic safety for
pedestrians
and vehicles
3.36 3.51 3.22 3.34 3.29 3.44 3.39 3.47
Parking for
shoppers 3.08 3.02 3.23 3.04 3.20 3.10 3.10 3.22 3.09 3.18 3.15 3.33 3.24 3.09 3.30
Management of
stormwater
and drainage
3.04 3.22 3.17 3.31 3.28 3.23 3.28 3.19
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 95
Key Direction 5: Move
Satisfaction Mean Scores by Key Demographics
Overall Male Female 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+
Management of stormwater and drainage
3.19 3.17 3.22 3.39 3.17 3.00 3.27
Parking for shoppers 3.30 3.31 3.29 3.45 3.43 3.24 3.12
Sealed roads 3.36 3.34 3.38 3.29 3.40 3.27 3.48
Carparks 3.35 3.36 3.34 3.37 3.45 3.36 3.22
Commuter parking 3.23 3.22 3.24 3.22 3.27 3.28 3.15
Bus shelters 3.33 3.27 3.37 3.38 3.22 3.31 3.40
Pedestrian access around
shopping centres and
community facilities
3.70 3.70 3.71 3.78 3.65 3.69 3.72
Footpaths 3.12 3.19 3.07 3.29 3.06 3.12 3.07
Cycleways 2.78 2.74 2.81 3.02 2.58 2.75 2.80
Traffic safety for pedestrians
and vehicles 3.47 3.48 3.46 3.58 3.39 3.46 3.45
Ratepayer Non-
ratepayer Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5
Management of stormwater
and drainage 3.13 3.55 3.31 3.17 3.14 3.11 3.31
Parking for shoppers 3.26 3.54 2.93 3.35 3.34 3.31 3.34
Sealed roads 3.35 3.37 3.28 3.34 3.37 3.28 3.49
Carparks 3.32 3.52 3.05 3.43 3.44 3.28 3.39
Commuter parking 3.20 3.37 3.14 3.25 3.34 3.25 3.14
Bus shelters 3.32 3.37 3.40 3.28 3.35 3.31 3.35
Pedestrian access around
shopping centres and
community facilities
3.69 3.78 3.54 3.66 3.69 3.81 3.72
Footpaths 3.07 3.47 3.17 3.14 3.02 3.07 3.23
Cycleways 2.72 3.07 2.75 2.85 2.84 2.67 2.78
Traffic safety for pedestrians and vehicles
3.44 3.59 3.39 3.43 3.59 3.39 3.53
Scale: 1 = not at all satisfied, 5 = very satisfied
Significantly higher/lower level of satisfaction (by group)
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 96
Key Direction 5: Move
Detailed Overall Response for Satisfaction
Not at all
satisfied
Not very
satisfied
Somewhat
satisfied Satisfied
Very
satisfied Base
Management of stormwater
and drainage 9% 15% 35% 29% 12% 987
Parking for shoppers 6% 15% 33% 32% 13% 999
Sealed roads 4% 16% 34% 32% 14% 1,001
Carparks 4% 15% 37% 33% 12% 1,000
Commuter parking 6% 17% 36% 29% 11% 986
Bus shelters 5% 12% 41% 29% 13% 955
Pedestrian access around
shopping centres and
community facilities
2% 6% 32% 39% 21% 1,000
Footpaths 11% 17% 32% 28% 12% 1,005
Cycleways 15% 24% 38% 16% 7% 968
Traffic safety for pedestrians
and vehicles 4% 10% 35% 37% 14% 998
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 97
Key Direction 6: Thrive
Shapley Regression
Contributes to Over 10% of Overall Satisfaction with Council
10.2%
4.6%
2.8%
2.5%
0.3%
0% 5% 10% 15%
Nett: Thrive
The atmosphere, look and feel of our
towns and villages
Access to local employment opportunities
Visitor Information Centres at Glenbrook
and Echo Point
Caravan parks at Katoomba and
Blackheath
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 98
Key Direction 6: Thrive
Hierarchy of Services/Facilities – Importance
Within the ‘Thrive’ Key Direction, in terms of importance, ‘the atmosphere, look and feel of our towns and
villages’ is rated the most important, whilst ‘caravan parks at Katoomba and Blackheath’ is the facility of
least relative importance.
The atmosphere, look and feel of our
towns and villages 93% 80%
Access to local employment
opportunities 88% 85%
Visitor Information Centres at Glenbrook
and Echo Point 78% 74%
Caravan parks at Katoomba and
Blackheath 58% 57%
Importance T2B Service/Facility (Ranked high – low)
LGA Benchmark T2B
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 99
Key Direction 6: Thrive
Trend Analysis of Importance Mean Scores
2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2016 2018 2020
Access to
local
employment
opportunities
4.57 4.32 4.52 4.36 4.28 4.51 4.60 4.59 4.56 4.62 4.38 4.42 4.15 4.52 4.50
Visitor
Information
Centres at
Glenbrook
and Echo
Point
4.19 4.07 4.19 4.00 4.06 4.06 4.12 4.19
Caravan parks
at
Katoomba
and
Blackheath
3.24 3.45 3.61
The
atmosphere,
look and
feel of our
towns and
villages
4.40 4.19 4.38 4.33 4.39 4.52 4.40 4.44 4.33 4.48 4.32 4.51 4.57 4.62 4.56
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 100
Key Direction 6: Thrive
Importance Mean Scores by Key Demographics
Overall Male Female 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+
The atmosphere, look and feel
of our towns and villages 4.56 4.50 4.62 4.46 4.54 4.54 4.70
Access to local employment
opportunities 4.50 4.46 4.54 4.65 4.56 4.46 4.37
Visitor Information Centres at
Glenbrook and Echo Point 4.19 4.09 4.27 4.04 3.96 4.22 4.51
Caravan parks at Katoomba
and Blackheath 3.61 3.44 3.75 3.58 3.36 3.57 3.91
Ratepayer Non-
ratepayer Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5
The atmosphere, look
and feel of our towns
and villages
4.57 4.49 4.68 4.59 4.63 4.54 4.46
Access to local
employment
opportunities
4.48 4.64 4.53 4.57 4.54 4.53 4.36
Visitor Information
Centres at Glenbrook
and Echo Point
4.21 4.08 4.16 4.18 4.23 4.28 4.09
Caravan parks at
Katoomba and
Blackheath
3.61 3.55 4.10 3.52 3.68 3.63 3.43
Scale: 1 = not at all important, 5 = very important
Significantly higher/lower level of importance (by group)
Detailed Overall Response for Importance
Not at all
important
Not very
important
Somewhat
important Important
Very
important Base
The atmosphere, look and feel
of our towns and villages <1% 1% 6% 29% 64% 1,005
Access to local employment
opportunities 3% 2% 7% 18% 70% 1,005
Visitor Information Centres at
Glenbrook and Echo Point 3% 5% 14% 26% 52% 1,005
Caravan parks at Katoomba
and Blackheath 9% 11% 22% 26% 32% 1,006
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 101
Key Direction 6: Thrive
Hierarchy of Services/Facilities – Satisfaction
In terms of satisfaction, residents are most satisfied with ‘Visitor Information Centres at Glenbrook and Echo
Point’ and least satisfied with ‘Access to local employment opportunities’ within the ‘Thrive’ Key Direction.
Visitor Information Centres at
Glenbrook and Echo Point 95% 84%
The atmosphere, look and feel of our
towns and villages 90% 82%
Caravan parks at Katoomba and
Blackheath 88% 90%
Access to local employment
opportunities 70% 80%
Satisfaction T3B Service/Facility (Ranked high – low)
LGA Benchmark T3B
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 102
Key Direction 6: Thrive
Trend Analysis of Satisfaction Mean Scores
2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2016 2018 2020
Access to
local
employment
opportunities
2.54 2.66 2.69 2.74 2.75 2.81 2.90 2.85 2.83 2.91 2.72 3.01 2.90 2.97 2.93
Visitor
Information
Centres at
Glenbrook
and Echo
Point
3.66 3.62 3.83 3.75 3.82 4.00 3.71 4.06
Caravan parks
at
Katoomba
and
Blackheath
3.53 3.35 3.45
The
atmosphere,
look and
feel of our
towns and
villages
3.28 3.21 3.25 3.23 3.21 3.26 3.50 3.41 3.41 3.43 3.42 3.35* 3.53 3.44 3.69
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 103
Key Direction 6: Thrive
Satisfaction Mean Scores by Key Demographics
Overall Male Female 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+
The atmosphere, look and feel
of our towns and villages 3.69 3.67 3.72 3.82 3.63 3.60 3.76
Access to local employment
opportunities 2.93 2.91 2.95 2.91 2.87 2.93 3.03
Visitor Information Centres at
Glenbrook and Echo Point 4.06 4.00 4.11 4.03 4.09 4.04 4.06
Caravan parks at Katoomba
and Blackheath 3.45 3.34 3.56 3.48 3.56 3.33 3.45
Ratepayer Non-
ratepayer Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5
The atmosphere, look
and feel of our towns
and villages
3.67 3.86 3.47 3.63 3.64 3.78 3.80
Access to local
employment
opportunities
2.93 2.91 2.99 2.86 2.99 3.01 2.86
Visitor Information
Centres at Glenbrook
and Echo Point
4.05 4.05 4.00 3.92 4.00 4.14 4.18
Caravan parks at
Katoomba and
Blackheath
3.43 3.54 3.71 3.38 3.50 3.44 3.38
Scale: 1 = not at all satisfied, 5 = very satisfied
Significantly higher/lower level of satisfaction (by group)
Detailed Overall Response for Satisfaction
Not at all
satisfied
Not very
satisfied
Somewhat
satisfied Satisfied
Very
satisfied Base
The atmosphere, look and feel
of our towns and villages 2% 7% 29% 40% 21% 1,004
Access to local employment
opportunities 9% 22% 43% 21% 6% 906
Visitor Information Centres at
Glenbrook and Echo Point 2% 3% 20% 37% 38% 955
Caravan parks at Katoomba
and Blackheath 5% 7% 40% 34% 14% 797
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 104
Comparison to Previous Research
Service/Facility Importance Satisfaction
2020 2018 2020 2018
Protection of natural bushland 4.58 4.53 3.71▲ 3.54
Weed control 4.24▼ 4.46 3.19▲ 2.91
Clean creeks and waterways 4.75 4.75 3.62▲ 3.47
Management of stormwater and drainage 4.53 4.49 3.19 3.28
Wheelie bin garbage & recycling collection 4.79 4.73 4.17 4.08
The atmosphere, look and feel of our towns and villages 4.56 4.62 3.69▲ 3.44
Managing residential development 4.42 4.47 3.27▲ 3.12
Protection of heritage values in towns and villages 4.43 4.49 3.57▲ 3.41
Public toilets in town centres 4.53 4.46 3.17▲ 2.85
Litter control 4.62 4.62 3.70▲ 3.47
Street cleaning 4.20 4.13 3.64▲ 3.46
Parking for shoppers 4.40 4.47 3.30▲ 3.09
Cemeteries and ashes placement sites 3.73 3.65 3.70 3.61
Sealed roads 4.45 4.48 3.36 3.46
Carparks 4.23▼ 4.40 3.35▲ 3.17
Commuter parking 4.29 4.29 3.23 3.14
Bus shelters 3.90 3.78 3.33 3.32
Pedestrian access around shopping centres and community
facilities 4.55 4.46 3.70 3.65
Footpaths 4.49 4.43 3.12▲ 2.98
Cycleways 3.72 3.61 2.78▲ 2.59
Traffic safety for pedestrians and vehicles 4.69 4.74 3.47 3.39
Library services 4.24 4.24 4.09▲ 3.95
Community centres and halls 4.16 4.12 3.86▲ 3.64
Cultural & arts facilities 4.11 4.22 3.82 3.87
Services and facilities for children and families 4.43 4.45 3.50 3.40
Services and facilities for young people 4.44 4.50 3.00 2.96
Services and facilities for older people 4.52 4.61 3.43▲ 3.31
Services and facilities for people with a disability 4.65 4.68 3.14▲ 2.94
Services that support the local Aboriginal community 4.33 4.27 3.11 3.07
Ovals and sporting grounds 4.25 4.27 3.69▲ 3.57
Parks and playgrounds 4.56 4.54 3.44 3.39
Council lookouts and walking trails 4.60 4.55 3.81 3.73
Swimming pools and leisure centres 4.37 4.43 3.80▲ 3.49
Clean, safe and healthy living environments 4.87▲ 4.77 3.91 3.83
Access to local employment opportunities 4.50 4.52 2.93 2.97
Visitor Information Centres at Glenbrook and Echo Point 4.19 4.12 4.06▲ 3.71
Caravan parks at Katoomba and Blackheath 3.61 3.45 3.45 3.35
Consultation with the community 4.70 NA 3.36 NA
Council provision of information 4.65 NA 3.51 NA
Opportunity to participate in Council decision-making 4.42 NA 3.17 NA
Scale: 1 = not at all important/not at all satisfied, 5 = very important/very satisfied
▲▼= A significantly higher level of importance/satisfaction (by year)
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 105
Appendix A:
Additional Analyses
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 106
Importance compared to the Micromex Benchmark
▲▼ = positive/negative difference equal to/greater than 10% from LGA Benchmark Note: Benchmark differences are based on assumed variants of +/- 10%, with variants beyond +/- 10% more likely
to be significant
Service/Facility
Blue Mountains
City Council
T2B
Importance
Scores
Micromex LGA
Benchmark –
Overall
T2B Importance
Scores
Variance
Cultural & arts facilities 77% 55% 22%▲
Services and facilities for young people 88% 70% 18%▲
Council lookouts and walking trails 91% 74% 17%▲
Swimming pools and leisure centres 85% 69% 16%▲
Consultation with the community 95% 81% 14%▲
Protection of heritage values in towns and villages 87% 73% 14%▲
Services that support the local Aboriginal community 82% 68% 14%▲
Community centres and halls 77% 63% 14%▲
The atmosphere, look and feel of our towns and villages 93% 80% 13%▲
Services and facilities for older people 90% 77% 13%▲
Opportunity to participate in Council decision-making 86% 73% 13%▲
Services and facilities for people with a disability 92% 80% 12%▲
Council provision of information 93% 82% 11%▲
Public toilets in town centres 90% 80% 10%▲
Clean creeks and waterways 96% 87% 9%
Parks and playgrounds 93% 84% 9%
Management of stormwater and drainage 89% 80% 9%
Services and facilities for children and families 87% 78% 9%
Protection of natural bushland 90% 83% 7%
Library services 79% 72% 7%
Footpaths 90% 84% 6%
Ovals and sporting grounds 82% 76% 6%
Wheelie bin garbage & recycling collection 97% 93% 4%
Litter control 94% 90% 4%
Managing residential development 86% 82% 4%
Parking for shoppers 86% 82% 4%
Visitor Information Centres at Glenbrook and Echo Point 78% 74% 4%
Traffic safety for pedestrians and vehicles 95% 92% 3%
Access to local employment opportunities 88% 85% 3%
Bus shelters 67% 64% 3%
Cycleways 61% 58% 3%
Weed control 80% 78% 2%
Caravan parks at Katoomba and Blackheath 58% 57% 1%
Carparks 81% 82% -1%
Commuter parking 81% 82% -1%
Sealed roads 88% 91% -3%
Street cleaning 78% 82% -4%
Cemeteries and ashes placement sites 61% 74% -13%▼
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 107
Satisfaction Compared to the Micromex Benchmark
▲▼ = positive/negative difference equal to/greater than 10% from LGA Benchmark Note: Benchmark differences are based on assumed variants of +/- 10%, with variants beyond +/- 10% more likely
to be significant
Service/Facility
Blue Mountains
City Council
T3B
Satisfaction Scores
Micromex LGA
Benchmark –
Overall
T3B Satisfaction Scores
Variance
Carparks 82% 66% 16%▲
Sealed roads 80% 67% 13%▲
Parking for shoppers 78% 66% 12%▲
Visitor Information Centres at Glenbrook and Echo Point 95% 84% 11%▲
Consultation with the community 82% 72% 10%▲
Commuter parking 76% 66% 10%▲
Swimming pools and leisure centres 94% 85% 9%
Litter control 89% 80% 9%
Council provision of information 87% 78% 9%
The atmosphere, look and feel of our towns and villages 90% 82% 8%
Clean creeks and waterways 90% 83% 7%
Managing residential development 81% 74% 7%
Opportunity to participate in Council decision-making 75% 68% 7%
Community centres and halls 94% 89% 5%
Protection of natural bushland 92% 87% 5%
Council lookouts and walking trails 91% 86% 5%
Street cleaning 87% 82% 5%
Public toilets in town centres 74% 69% 5%
Cultural & arts facilities 93% 89% 4%
Cemeteries and ashes placement sites 93% 90% 3%
Protection of heritage values in towns and villages 86% 84% 2%
Traffic safety for pedestrians and vehicles 86% 84% 2%
Wheelie bin garbage & recycling collection 92% 91% 1%
Services and facilities for older people 88% 87% 1%
Weed control 77% 76% 1%
Footpaths 72% 71% 1%
Ovals and sporting grounds 90% 90% 0%
Library services 93% 94% -1%
Services and facilities for children and families 86% 87% -1%
Bus shelters 83% 84% -1%
Caravan parks at Katoomba and Blackheath 88% 90% -2%
Services that support the local Aboriginal community 76% 81% -5%
Management of stormwater and drainage 76% 81% -5%
Parks and playgrounds 82% 88% -6%
Services and facilities for young people 72% 79% -7%
Services and facilities for people with a disability 75% 83% -8%
Access to local employment opportunities 70% 80% -10%▼
Cycleways 61% 72% -11%▼
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 108
Importance Compared to Micromex Benchmark -
Metro
Service/Facility
Blue Mountains
City Council
T2B
Importance
Scores
Micromex LGA
Benchmark –
Metro
T2B Importance
Scores
Variance
Cultural & arts facilities 77% 52% 25%▲
Visitor Information Centres at Glenbrook and Echo Point 78% 56% 22%▲
Services that support the local Aboriginal community 82% 61% 21%▲
Services and facilities for young people 88% 68% 20%▲
Council lookouts and walking trails 91% 72% 19%▲
Swimming pools and leisure centres 85% 67% 18%▲
Community centres and halls 77% 59% 18%▲
Consultation with the community 95% 79% 16%▲
Services and facilities for children and families 87% 72% 15%▲
Services and facilities for older people 90% 76% 14%▲
Protection of heritage values in towns and villages 87% 73% 14%▲
The atmosphere, look and feel of our towns and villages 93% 80% 13%▲
Public toilets in town centres 90% 77% 13%▲
Opportunity to participate in Council decision-making 86% 73% 13%▲
Council provision of information 93% 82% 11%▲
Services and facilities for people with a disability 92% 81% 11%▲
Management of stormwater and drainage 89% 80% 9%
Clean creeks and waterways 96% 88% 8%
Parks and playgrounds 93% 85% 8%
Cycleways 61% 54% 7%
Library services 79% 73% 6%
Protection of natural bushland 90% 85% 5%
Access to local employment opportunities 88% 83% 5%
Ovals and sporting grounds 82% 77% 5%
Litter control 94% 90% 4%
Footpaths 90% 86% 4%
Traffic safety for pedestrians and vehicles 95% 92% 3%
Parking for shoppers 86% 83% 3%
Wheelie bin garbage & recycling collection 97% 95% 2%
Managing residential development 86% 84% 2%
Bus shelters 67% 67% 0%
Sealed roads 88% 90% -2%
Carparks 81% 83% -2%
Commuter parking 81% 83% -2%
Street cleaning 78% 84% -6%
Cemeteries and ashes placement sites 61% 70% -9%
▲▼ = positive/negative difference greater than 10% from LGA Benchmark Note: Benchmark differences are based on assumed variants of +/- 10%, with variants beyond +/- 10% more likely to be
significant
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 109
Satisfaction Compared to the Micromex Benchmark
- Metro
Service/Facility
Blue Mountains
City Council
T3B
Satisfaction
Scores
Micromex LGA
Benchmark –
Metro
T3B Satisfaction
Scores
Variance
Carparks 82% 63% 19%▲
Parking for shoppers 78% 63% 15%▲
Commuter parking 76% 63% 13%▲
Visitor Information Centres at Glenbrook and Echo Point 95% 83% 12%▲
Managing residential development 81% 69% 12%▲
Litter control 89% 80% 9%
Swimming pools and leisure centres 94% 86% 8%
The atmosphere, look and feel of our towns and villages 90% 82% 8%
Cultural & arts facilities 93% 86% 7%
Council provision of information 87% 80% 7%
Clean creeks and waterways 90% 84% 6%
Consultation with the community 82% 76% 6%
Sealed roads 80% 74% 6%
Public toilets in town centres 74% 68% 6%
Protection of natural bushland 92% 87% 5%
Street cleaning 87% 82% 5%
Opportunity to participate in Council decision-making 75% 70% 5%
Community centres and halls 94% 90% 4%
Protection of heritage values in towns and villages 86% 82% 4%
Council lookouts and walking trails 91% 88% 3%
Cemeteries and ashes placement sites 93% 92% 1%
Services and facilities for older people 88% 87% 1%
Traffic safety for pedestrians and vehicles 86% 86% 0%
Library services 93% 94% -1%
Ovals and sporting grounds 90% 91% -1%
Bus shelters 83% 84% -1%
Footpaths 72% 73% -1%
Wheelie bin garbage & recycling collection 92% 94% -2%
Services and facilities for children and families 86% 90% -4%
Services that support the local Aboriginal community 76% 81% -5%
Management of stormwater and drainage 76% 84% -8%
Parks and playgrounds 82% 91% -9%
Services and facilities for people with a disability 75% 85% -10%▼
Services and facilities for young people 72% 83% -11%▼
Cycleways 61% 72% -11%▼
Access to local employment opportunities 70% 84% -14%▼
▲▼ = positive/negative difference greater than 10% from LGA Benchmark Note: Benchmark differences are based on assumed variants of +/- 10%, with variants beyond +/- 10% more likely to be
significant
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 110
Importance Compared to the Micromex LGA
Benchmark - Regional
Service/Facility
Blue Mountains
City Council
T3B
Importance
Scores
Micromex LGA
Benchmark –
Regional
T3B Importance
Scores
Variance
Cultural & arts facilities 77% 58% 19%▲
Services and facilities for young people 88% 73% 15%▲
Protection of heritage values in towns and villages 87% 72% 15%▲
Swimming pools and leisure centres 85% 70% 15%▲
Opportunity to participate in Council decision-making 86% 72% 14%▲
The atmosphere, look and feel of our towns and villages 93% 80% 13%▲
Services that support the local Aboriginal community 82% 69% 13%▲
Consultation with the community 95% 83% 12%▲
Services and facilities for people with a disability 92% 80% 12%▲
Council provision of information 93% 82% 11%▲
Parks and playgrounds 93% 83% 10%▲
Protection of natural bushland 90% 80% 10%▲
Community centres and halls 77% 67% 10%▲
Clean creeks and waterways 96% 87% 9%
Footpaths 90% 81% 9%
Services and facilities for older people 90% 81% 9%
Library services 79% 70% 9%
Public toilets in town centres 90% 82% 8%
Management of stormwater and drainage 89% 81% 8%
Bus shelters 67% 59% 8%
Services and facilities for children and families 87% 80% 7%
Ovals and sporting grounds 82% 76% 6%
Wheelie bin garbage & recycling collection 97% 92% 5%
Litter control 94% 89% 5%
Managing residential development 86% 81% 5%
Parking for shoppers 86% 82% 4%
Street cleaning 78% 74% 4%
Traffic safety for pedestrians and vehicles 95% 92% 3%
Weed control 80% 78% 2%
Visitor Information Centres at Glenbrook and Echo Point 78% 76% 2%
Council lookouts and walking trails 91% 90% 1%
Caravan parks at Katoomba and Blackheath 58% 57% 1%
Access to local employment opportunities 88% 88% 0%
Carparks 81% 82% -1%
Commuter parking 81% 82% -1%
Cycleways 61% 64% -3%
Sealed roads 88% 93% -5%
Cemeteries and ashes placement sites 61% 74% -13%▼
▲▼ = positive/negative difference greater than 10% from LGA Benchmark Note: Benchmark differences are based on assumed variants of +/- 10%, with variants beyond +/- 10% more likely to be
significant
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 111
Satisfaction Compared to the Micromex LGA
Benchmark - Regional
Service/Facility
Blue Mountains
City Council
T3B
Satisfaction
Scores
Micromex LGA
Benchmark –
Regional
T3B Satisfaction
Scores
Variance
Sealed roads 80% 58% 22%▲
Consultation with the community 82% 69% 13%▲
Carparks 82% 69% 13%▲
Council provision of information 87% 75% 12%▲
Visitor Information Centres at Glenbrook and Echo Point 95% 84% 11%▲
Council lookouts and walking trails 91% 81% 10%▲
Opportunity to participate in Council decision-making 75% 65% 10%▲
Swimming pools and leisure centres 94% 85% 9%
Clean creeks and waterways 90% 81% 9%
Parking for shoppers 78% 69% 9%
The atmosphere, look and feel of our towns and villages 90% 82% 8%
Litter control 89% 81% 8%
Commuter parking 76% 69% 7%
Community centres and halls 94% 88% 6%
Protection of natural bushland 92% 86% 6%
Managing residential development 81% 76% 5%
Footpaths 72% 67% 5%
Wheelie bin garbage & recycling collection 92% 88% 4%
Public toilets in town centres 74% 70% 4%
Cemeteries and ashes placement sites 93% 90% 3%
Services and facilities for older people 88% 85% 3%
Cultural & arts facilities 93% 91% 2%
Street cleaning 87% 85% 2%
Traffic safety for pedestrians and vehicles 86% 84% 2%
Protection of heritage values in towns and villages 86% 85% 1%
Services and facilities for children and families 86% 85% 1%
Weed control 77% 76% 1%
Ovals and sporting grounds 90% 90% 0%
Bus shelters 83% 84% -1%
Library services 93% 95% -2%
Caravan parks at Katoomba and Blackheath 88% 90% -2%
Management of stormwater and drainage 76% 78% -2%
Services and facilities for young people 72% 74% -2%
Parks and playgrounds 82% 86% -4%
Services that support the local Aboriginal community 76% 81% -5%
Services and facilities for people with a disability 75% 80% -5%
Access to local employment opportunities 70% 75% -5%
Cycleways 61% 71% -10%▼
▲▼ = positive/negative difference greater than 10% from LGA Benchmark Note: Benchmark differences are based on assumed variants of +/- 10%, with variants beyond +/- 10% more likely to be
significant
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 112
Performance Gap Analysis
Service/Facility Importance
T2 Box
Satisfaction T3
Box
Performance
gap
(Importance –
Satisfaction)
Footpaths 90% 72% 18%
Access to local employment opportunities 88% 70% 18%
Services and facilities for people with a disability 92% 75% 17%
Public toilets in town centres 90% 74% 16%
Services and facilities for young people 88% 72% 16%
Consultation with the community 95% 82% 13%
Management of stormwater and drainage 89% 76% 13%
Parks and playgrounds 93% 82% 11%
Opportunity to participate in Council decision-making 86% 75% 11%
Traffic safety for pedestrians and vehicles 95% 86% 9%
Sealed roads 88% 80% 8%
Parking for shoppers 86% 78% 8%
Clean creeks and waterways 96% 90% 6%
Council provision of information 93% 87% 6%
Services that support the local Aboriginal community 82% 76% 6%
Wheelie bin garbage & recycling collection 97% 92% 5%
Litter control 94% 89% 5%
Managing residential development 86% 81% 5%
Commuter parking 81% 76% 5%
Clean, safe and healthy living environments 98% 95% 3%
The atmosphere, look and feel of our towns and villages 93% 90% 3%
Weed control 80% 77% 3%
Services and facilities for older people 90% 88% 2%
Protection of heritage values in towns and villages 87% 86% 1%
Services and facilities for children and families 87% 86% 1%
Council lookouts and walking trails 91% 91% 0%
Cycleways 61% 61% 0%
Pedestrian access around shopping centres and community
facilities 91% 92% -1%
Carparks 81% 82% -1%
Protection of natural bushland 90% 92% -2%
Ovals and sporting grounds 82% 90% -8%
Swimming pools and leisure centres 85% 94% -9%
Street cleaning 78% 87% -9%
Library services 79% 93% -14%
Cultural & arts facilities 77% 93% -16%
Bus shelters 67% 83% -16%
Visitor Information Centres at Glenbrook and Echo Point 78% 95% -17%
Community centres and halls 77% 94% -17%
Caravan parks at Katoomba and Blackheath 58% 88% -30%
Cemeteries and ashes placement sites 61% 93% -32%
When analysing performance gap data, it is important to consider both stated satisfaction and the absolute size of the
performance gap.
Performance Gap Ranking
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 113
Influence on Overall Satisfaction The chart below summarises the influence of the 40 facilities/services on overall satisfaction with Council’s
performance, based on the Shapley Regression:
11.0%
10.8%
7.2%
5.4%
4.6%
4.4%
3.1%
3.1%
2.8%
2.6%
2.6%
2.5%
2.5%
2.4%
2.3%
2.3%
2.3%
2.1%
2.1%
2.0%
1.8%
1.8%
1.8%
1.6%
1.5%
1.4%
1.4%
1.4%
1.3%
1.3%
1.1%
1.1%
0.8%
0.7%
0.6%
0.5%
0.5%
0.5%
0.4%
0.3%
0% 5% 10% 15%
Consultation with the community
Council provision of information
Opportunity to participate in Council decision-making
Sealed roads
The atmosphere, look and feel of our towns and villages
Wheelie bin garbage & recycling collection
Protection of natural bushland
Parks and playgrounds
Access to local employment opportunities
Managing residential development
Clean, safe and healthy living environments
Visitor Information Centres at Glenbrook and Echo Point
Management of stormwater and drainage
Parking for shoppers
Cultural & arts facilities
Weed control
Footpaths
Traffic safety for pedestrians and vehicles
Ovals and sporting grounds
Public toilets in town centres
Services and facilities for older people
Protection of heritage values in towns and villages
Carparks
Street cleaning
Council lookouts and walking trails
Library services
Swimming pools and leisure centres
Services and facilities for children and families
Clean creeks and waterways
Litter control
Commuter parking
Services and facilities for people with a disability
Services and facilities for young people
Pedestrian access
Community centres and halls
Cemeteries and ashes placement sites
Cycleways
Bus shelters
Services that support the local Aboriginal community
Caravan parks at Katoomba and Blackheath
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 114
Agreement Statements – Comparison to the
Micromex LGA Metro and Regional Benchmarks
Micromex LGA Metro Benchmark
Micromex LGA Regional Benchmark
Measure Blue
Mountains
Council T2B %
LGA
Benchmark –
Metro T2B%
Variance
I feel that I am generally safe in my neighbourhood 96%▲ 78% 18%
I feel that I belong to the community I live in 83%▲ 68% 15%
I have someone in my area outside my immediate family to
turn to in a time of crisis 77% 82% -5%
I feel that the quality of life and wellbeing in the Blue
Mountains is improving 64% NA NA
Measure Blue
Mountains
Council T2B %
LGA
Benchmark –
Regional T2B%
Variance
I feel that I am generally safe in my neighbourhood 96%▲ 72% 24%
I feel that I belong to the community I live in 83%▲ 74% 9%
I have someone in my area outside my immediate family to
turn to in a time of crisis 77% NA NA
I feel that the quality of life and wellbeing in the Blue
Mountains is improving 64% NA NA
▲▼ = positive/negative difference greater than 10% from LGA Benchmark Note: Benchmark differences are based on assumed variants of +/- 10%, with variants beyond +/- 10% more likely to be
significant
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 115
Community Perceptions
Results by Demographics
Q1. I am going to read out some statements and I want you to rate your level of agreement with each of the
following:
Trend Analysis
Scale: 1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree ▲▼ = A significantly higher/lower level of agreement (by group)
Overall
2020 Male Female 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+
I feel that I am generally safe in my neighbourhood 4.69 4.71 4.67 4.67 4.64 4.72 4.73
I feel that I belong to the community I live in 4.28 4.29 4.28 4.07▼ 4.28 4.37▲ 4.36
I have someone in my area outside my immediate
family to turn to in a time of crisis 4.22 4.12▼ 4.31 4.23 4.27 4.12 4.26
I feel that the quality of life and wellbeing in the Blue
Mountains is improving 3.82 3.76 3.87 4.04▲ 3.81 3.64▼ 3.86
Base 1,006 477 529 208 256 289 253
Ratepayer Non-
ratepayer Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5
I feel that I am generally safe in my
neighbourhood 4.72▲ 4.49 4.81▲ 4.66 4.67 4.66 4.73
I feel that I belong to the community I live in 4.30 4.18 4.55▲ 4.27 4.23 4.28 4.24
I have someone in my area outside my
immediate family to turn to in a time of crisis 4.25 4.01 4.40 4.25 4.12 4.21 4.18
I feel that the quality of life and wellbeing in
the Blue Mountains is improving 3.82 3.82 3.95 3.79 3.79 3.89 3.75
Base 857 147 92 266 165 256 228
2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2016 2018 2020
I feel that I am generally safe in
my neighbourhood 4.30 4.40 4.47 4.61 4.63 4.69
I have someone in my area
outside my immediate family
to turn to in a time of crisis
4.20 4.30 4.35 4.39 4.43 4.25
I feel that I belong to the
community I live in 4.20 4.20 4.18 4.37 4.31 4.28
I feel that the quality of life and
wellbeing in the Blue
Mountains is improving
3.88 3.78 3.82
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 116
Staff and Councillor Performance
Results by Demographics
Q4a. In the past 12 months, have you had any contact with Council staff?
Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5
Yes 62% 62%▲ 45% 49% 49%
No 38% 36%▼ 55%▲ 50% 51%
Can't recall 0% 1% 0% 1% 1%
Base 92 266 165 256 228
Overall Male Female 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Ratepayer
Non-
ratepayer
Yes 53% 51% 55% 36%▼ 58% 57% 56% 55%▲ 40%
No 46% 49% 44% 63%▲ 40%▼ 42% 44% 44% 59%▲
Can't recall 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 0% 1% 1%
Base 1,006 477 529 208 256 289 253 857 147
Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5
Yes 24% 20% 16% 16% 26%▲
No 76% 80% 83% 84% 74%
Can't recall 0% 0% 1% 1% 0%
Base 92 266 165 256 228
Overall Male Female 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Ratepayer
Non-
ratepayer
Yes 20% 23%▲ 17% 11%▼ 22% 22% 24% 21%▲ 12%
No 80% 77% 82%▲ 88%▲ 78% 78% 76% 78%▼ 88%
Can't recall 0% 0% 0% 1% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Base 1,006 477 529 208 256 289 253 857 147
Q5a. Have you had any dealings with your elected Councillors over the last year?
▲▼ = A significantly higher/lower level of percentage (by group)
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 117
Issues of Greatest Concern – Local Neighbourhood
Q6a. I now want to ask your views on making the Blue Mountains a better place into the future. Thinking about
your immediate local neighbourhood, what is the issue of greatest concern to you at the moment?
Priority Issue N=1,006 Priority Issue N=1,006
Road maintenance and upgrades/safety concerns
e.g. pedestrian and driving safety 15%
Completing proposed projects/better
planning in the area 1%
Provision and maintenance of footpaths, cycleways
and walking tracks 14%
Council's level of
communication/consultation/provision of
information to the community
1%
Maintenance of weeds, trees and
Bushcare/environmental preservation and
protecting national parks
10% Increasing cost of rates 1%
Bushfire/natural disaster management/prevention
and recovery 8% Management of tourism 1%
More/better maintained parks, playgrounds, green
spaces and sportsgrounds 8%
Need for more community
events/spaces/greater sense of community 1%
Parking availability and enforcement 7% No issues/happy with the area/keep it as is 1%
Managing development/overdevelopment 6% Noise violations 1%
Cleanliness/beautification/general maintenance of
the area 4% People taking more care/pride in the area 1%
More and improved public transport options 4% Population growth 1%
Facilities/services for youth and children including
after school care 4%
Quality of NBN and phone
reception/telecommunication services 1%
Supporting local businesses/employment
opportunities/economic growth in the area 4%
Services, facilities and support for vulnerable
groups such as the elderly and disabled 1%
Kerbing and guttering 4% Spread of COVID-19 and other viruses 1%
Traffic/congestion 4% Street lighting 1%
Stormwater management/drainage 3% Abandoned cars and buildings/maintenance
of Council properties/assets <1%
Availability/affordability of housing/zoning/size of
houses and land 3%
Availability of resources in schools and
libraries <1%
Lack of infrastructure, shops, services and facilities in
the area 3% Building costs/permissions <1%
Improve waste management/recycling/litter
control/pollution 2% Council's financial management <1%
Community safety/crime prevention 2% Homelessness in the area <1%
Concerns around the airport e.g. noise
violations/environmental impacts 2% Keeping our great Mayor <1%
Maintaining the heritage and character of the area 2% Less focus on maintaining heritage buildings <1%
Water management/protection of waterways 2% Maintaining local swimming pools <1%
Concerns around the new highway and trucks 2% Need more exercise areas for dogs <1%
Access to adequate health care/upgrading
hospitals 1% Not happy with Council <1%
Accessibility around the area e.g. disability
access/access for the elderly 1% Too many leisure centres <1%
Animal control 1% Don't know/nothing 4%
Cleanliness and availability of public toilets 1%
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 118
Issues of Greatest Concern – Local Neighbourhood
Q6a. I now want to ask your views on making the Blue Mountains a better place into the future. Thinking about
your immediate local neighbourhood, what is the issue of greatest concern to you at the moment?
Results by Planning Area
Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5
Road maintenance and upgrades/safety concerns e.g.
pedestrian and driving safety 16% 10% 19% 18% 13%
Provision and maintenance of footpaths, cycleways and walking
tracks 5% 16% 15% 18% 11%
Maintenance of weeds, trees and bush care/environmental
preservation and protecting national parks 13% 10% 11% 9% 8%
Bushfire/natural disaster management/prevention and recovery 10% 7% 6% 10% 7%
More/better maintained parks, playgrounds, green spaces and
sportsgrounds 5% 6% 4% 8% 13%
Parking availability and enforcement 13% 5% 9% 4% 7%
Managing development/overdevelopment 5% 7% 6% 4% 6%
Cleanliness/beautification/general maintenance of the area 4% 5% 5% 2% 5%
More and improved public transport options 4% 3% 5% 4% 4%
Facilities/services for youth and children including after school
care 4% 3% 2% 6% 3%
Supporting local businesses/employment opportunities/economic
growth in the area 3% 7% 3% 2% 3%
Kerbing and guttering 1% 3% 5% 5% 4%
Traffic/congestion 3% 3% 2% 8% 1%
Stormwater management/drainage 2% 2% 7% 3% 3%
Availability/affordability of housing/zoning/size of houses and land 5% 3% 3% 3% 4%
Lack of infrastructure, shops, services and facilities in the area 1% 4% 1% 2% 3%
Improve waste management/recycling/litter control/pollution 3% 2% 2% 2% 3%
Community safety/crime prevention 1% 3% 3% 1% 3%
Concerns around the airport e.g. noise violations/environmental
impacts 1% 0% 1% 2% 5%
Maintaining the heritage and character of the area 4% 2% 1% 1% 2%
Water management/protection of waterways 0% 2% 1% 1% 3%
Concerns around the new highway and trucks 10% 1% 1% 1% 0%
Quality of NBN and phone reception/telecommunication services 1% 0% 0% 4% 1%
Spread of COVID-19 and other viruses 2% 2% 0% 1% 1%
No issues/happy with the area/keep it as is 0% 2% 0% 0% 3%
Need for more community events/spaces/greater sense of
community 0% 1% 0% 1% 3%
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 119
Issues of Greatest Concern – Local Neighbourhood
Q6a. I now want to ask your views on making the Blue Mountains a better place into the future. Thinking about
your immediate local neighbourhood, what is the issue of greatest concern to you at the moment?
Results by Planning Area - Continued
Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5
Cleanliness and availability of public toilets 1% 2% 1% 0% 0%
Accessibility around the area e.g. disability access/access for the
elderly 1% 1% 2% 2% 1%
Services, facilities and support for vulnerable groups such as the
elderly and disabled 3% 2% 0% 1% 1%
Completing proposed projects/better planning in the area 7% 0% 1% 0% 1%
Population growth 1% 1% 0% 3% 0%
Management of tourism 1% 2% 0% 0% 1%
Council's level of communication/consultation/provision of
information to the community 0% 1% 2% 0% 1%
Noise violations 0% 0% 0% 1% 2%
Increasing cost of rates 0% 1% 0% 0% 2%
Animal control 0% 1% 1% 0% 0%
Street lighting 0% 1% 1% 0% 0%
Access to adequate health care/upgrading hospitals 0% 1% 0% 1% 1%
People taking more care/pride in the area 0% 1% 1% 0% 1%
Need more exercise areas for dogs 0% 0% 1% 0% 1%
Maintaining local swimming pools 2% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Building costs/permissions 0% 0% 0% 0% 1%
Abandoned cars and buildings/maintenance of Council
properties/assets 0% 0% 0% 0% 1%
Availability of resources in schools and libraries 0% 0% 0% 1% 0%
Less focus on maintaining heritage buildings 0% 0% 1% 0% 0%
Homelessness in the area 0% 1% 0% 0% 0%
Too many leisure centres 0% 0% 0% 0% 1%
Council's financial management 0% 0% 1% 0% 0%
Not happy with Council 1% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Keeping our great Mayor 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Don't know/nothing 3% 5% 6% 4% 4%
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 120
Issues of Greatest Concern – Blue Mountains
Q6b. Now thinking about the Blue Mountains overall, what is the issue currently of greatest concern to you?
Issue of Concern N=1,006 Issue of Concern N=1,006
Bushfire/natural disaster protection and prevention 18% Kerbing and guttering 1%
Maintaining the natural
environment/preservation/weed and tree control
13% Need for more community
events/spaces/greater sense of community
1%
Overdevelopment/appropriately managing
development
10% Need more exercise areas for dogs 1%
Traffic congestion/road maintenance/safety on
roads
8% No concerns/happy with things as they
are/great place to live
1%
Lack of employment opportunities/supporting local
businesses/economic growth in the area
7% Zoning/land use 1%
Effect of the airport - flight paths/noise pollution 6% Abandoned cars and buildings/maintenance
of Council properties/assets
<1%
Concerns around the new highway and trucks e.g.
not fitting with the atmosphere of the area
4% Accessibility around the area <1%
Lack of public transport 4% Availability of camping sites <1%
Protecting the character and heritage of the area 4% Availability of resources in schools and
libraries/more inclusion
<1%
Spread of COVID-19/economic impacts 4% Building costs/permissions <1%
Improved waste management/recycling/litter
control/pollution/condition of local tips
3% Cleanliness and availability of public toilets <1%
Management of tourism 3% Homelessness in the area <1%
Parking availability and enforcement 3% Improving telecommunications <1%
Access to adequate health care/upgrading
hospitals/mental health facilities
2% Increasing tourism <1%
Community safety/crime prevention/addressing
domestic violence
2% Indigenous recognition <1%
Facilities/services for youth and children including
after school care
2% Keeping our great Mayor <1%
General maintenance/improving the appearance of
local areas
2% Lack of cultural/entertainment facilities <1%
Lack of infrastructure, shops, services and facilities in
the area
2% Lack of signage/promotion in the area <1%
More/better maintained parks, playgrounds,
sportsgrounds and leisure centres
2% Less focus on maintaining heritage buildings <1%
Population growth 2% Maintaining a good reputation for the area <1%
Provision and maintenance of footpaths, cycleways
and walking tracks
2% Maintaining current living standards <1%
Services, facilities and support for vulnerable groups
such as the elderly and disabled
2% Maintaining local swimming pools <1%
Water management/protection of waterways
including dams e.g. concerns around raising the
dam wall
2% Need more growers’ markets <1%
Animal control 1% No issues/happy with the area/keep it as is <1%
Availability/affordability of housing 1% Noise violations <1%
Completing proposed projects/better planning in the
area
1% Stormwater management/drainage <1%
Concerns with Council - poor performance, lack of
support, decision making etc
1% Street lighting/powerlines <1%
Council's financial management/funding 1% Too many leisure centres <1%
Council's level of
communication/consultation/provision of
information to the community
1% Urbanisation of the area <1%
Increasing cost of rates 1% Don't know/nothing 7%
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 121
Issues of Greatest Concern – Blue Mountains
Q6b. Now thinking about the Blue Mountains overall, what is the issue currently of greatest concern to you?
Results by Planning Area
Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5
Bushfire/natural disaster protection and
prevention 19% 17% 18% 20% 17%
Maintaining the natural
environment/preservation/weed and tree
control
14% 14% 10% 12% 16%
Overdevelopment/appropriately managing
development 5% 9% 9% 10% 12%
Traffic congestion/road maintenance/safety on
roads 15% 8% 8% 9% 6%
Lack of employment opportunities/supporting
local businesses/economic growth in the area 5% 10% 8% 4% 5%
Effect of the airport - flight paths/noise pollution 1% 2% 1% 7% 13%
Lack of public transport 6% 5% 5% 5% 2%
Protecting the character and heritage of the
area 6% 5% 3% 3% 4%
Spread of COVID-19/economic impacts 4% 3% 5% 4% 3%
Concerns around the new highway and trucks
e.g. not fitting with the atmosphere of the area 15% 3% 4% 2% 2%
Management of tourism 1% 4% 2% 3% 2%
Improved waste management/recycling/litter
control/pollution/condition of local tips 1% 1% 4% 4% 3%
Parking availability and enforcement 3% 3% 3% 1% 3%
Provision and maintenance of footpaths,
cycleways and walking tracks 2% 3% 2% 3% 2%
Lack of infrastructure, shops, services and facilities
in the area 0% 5% 0% 2% 2%
More/better maintained parks, playgrounds,
sportsgrounds and leisure centres 0% 2% 2% 3% 1%
Facilities/services for youth and children including
after school care 1% 2% 3% 3% 1%
Population growth 2% 2% 2% 2% 2%
Services, facilities and support for vulnerable
groups such as the elderly and disabled 0% 2% 2% 2% 2%
Water management/protection of waterways
including dams e.g. concerns around raising the
dam wall
1% 2% 1% 1% 2%
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 122
Issues of Greatest Concern – Blue Mountains
Q6b. Now thinking about the Blue Mountains overall, what is the issue currently of greatest concern to you?
Results by Planning Area - Continued
Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5
General maintenance/improving the
appearance of local areas 0% 3% 2% 1% 1%
Community safety/crime prevention/addressing
domestic violence 3% 1% 2% 0% 2%
Access to adequate health care/upgrading
hospitals/mental health facilities 2% 2% 2% 1% 2%
Council's level of
communication/consultation/provision of
information to the community
2% 2% 0% 2% 0%
Need for more community
events/spaces/greater sense of community 3% 1% 0% 1% 2%
Availability/affordability of housing 3% 0% 2% 2% 0%
Increasing cost of rates 0% 0% 2% 1% 2%
No concerns/happy with things as they are/great
place to live 0% 1% 1% 1% 1%
Council's financial management/funding 3% 0% 1% 0% 1%
Concerns with Council - poor performance, lack
of support, decision making etc 1% 0% 0% 2% 0%
Kerbing and guttering 1% 0% 0% 1% 2%
Completing proposed projects/better planning in
the area 1% 1% 0% 0% 1%
Zoning/land use 0% 0% 1% 1% 1%
Animal control 0% 1% 1% 0% 1%
Need more exercise areas for dogs 0% 1% 1% 1% 0%
Indigenous recognition 0% 1% 0% 0% 1%
Building costs/permissions 0% 0% 1% 0% 1%
Availability of resources in schools and
libraries/more inclusion 0% 0% 1% 0% 1%
Homelessness in the area 0% 1% 0% 0% 0%
Cleanliness and availability of public toilets 0% 0% 1% 0% 0%
Maintaining local swimming pools 1% 0% 1% 0% 0%
Street lighting/powerlines 0% 0% 0% 1% 0%
Lack of signage/promotion in the area 2% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Improving telecommunications 0% 0% 0% 1% 0%
Lack of cultural/entertainment facilities 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Availability of camping sites 0% 0% 0% 0% 1%
Stormwater management/drainage 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Maintaining current living standards 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Need more growers’ markets 1% 0% 0% 0% 0%
No issues/happy with the area/keep it as is 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Noise violations 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Keeping our great Mayor 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Urbanisation of the area 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Abandoned cars and buildings/maintenance of
Council properties/assets
0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Too many leisure centres 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Accessibility around the area 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Less focus on maintaining heritage buildings 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Maintaining a good reputation for the area 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Increasing tourism 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Don't know/nothing 4% 6% 8% 6% 8%
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 123
Looking After the Environment
Q6c. Now thinking about making the Blue Mountains a better place, what do you see as the top priority for action
related to looking after the environment over the next 5-10 years?
Top priority N=1,006 Top priority N=1,006
Bush regeneration, conservation and tree/weed
management 23%
Pest control/feral animals/tighter restrictions
for domestic animals 1%
Fire risk - allow back burning, hazard reduction,
emergency access 22% Air pollution/quality <1%
Rubbish - better collection/services, more recycling,
illegal dumping, pollution 11%
Amalgamation of the Blue Mountains and
Penrith <1%
Overdevelopment impacting the environment 11% Assuring that RFS/SES are equipped <1%
Stormwater/clean waterways/drainage 7% Businesses shouldn't have highest
priority/keep big businesses out <1%
Sustainable tourism - walking tracks, maintain parks,
playgrounds and cycleways 6% Community gardens <1%
Climate change/global warming/carbon
footprint/sustainable living 4% Control use of round-up/fertiliser <1%
No airport - adverse environmental impact/limit
planes 4% Improved accessibility in the area <1%
Environmental education/sustainability practices 3% Improved control of COVID 19 <1%
General cleanliness/appearance of the area 3% Increase the size of the highway <1%
Improved management of National Parks 3% Increased community mobilisation <1%
Over population/loss of village feel/maintaining the
heritage of the area 3% Increasing cost of rates <1%
Roads - congestion, limit heavy vehicles,
placement of new roads 3% Increased funding/resources <1%
Solar energy/limit plastic usage/renewable energy 3% More local business opportunities <1%
Council is doing a good job/happy with the way
things are/leave the environment as it is 2% Planning for the future <1%
Improved Council management, consultation,
engagement 2% Stop the raising of the dam wall <1%
Consult the Indigenous community 1% Reduce coal mining in the area <1%
Encouraging the use of public transport 1% Supporting local business <1%
General maintenance on infrastructure/public
facilities 1% Volunteers for bush care <1%
Housing availability/affordability 1% Don't know/nothing 9%
Maintain water quality/supply 1%
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 124
Looking After the Environment
Q6c. Now thinking about making the Blue Mountains a better place, what do you see as the top priority for action
related to looking after the environment over the next 5-10 years?
Results by Planning Area
Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5
Bush regeneration, conservation and tree/weed management 27% 23% 21% 25% 20%
Fire risk - allow back burning, hazard reduction, emergency access 24% 20% 21% 23% 21%
Rubbish - better collection/services, more recycling, illegal
dumping, pollution 9% 12% 15% 9% 11%
Overdevelopment impacting the environment 14% 9% 7% 12% 13%
Stormwater/clean waterways/drainage 6% 8% 5% 7% 6%
Sustainable tourism - walking tracks, maintain parks, playgrounds
and cycleways 6% 9% 5% 4% 4%
Climate change/global warming/carbon footprint/sustainable
living 4% 4% 6% 2% 6%
No airport - adverse environmental impact/limit planes 1% 2% 4% 4% 7%
General cleanliness/appearance of the area 2% 3% 6% 3% 2%
Over population/loss of village feel/maintaining the heritage of the
area 6% 2% 4% 2% 4%
Solar energy/limit plastic usage/renewable energy 1% 4% 3% 3% 3%
Roads - congestion, limit heavy vehicles, placement of new roads 8% 3% 1% 3% 2%
Environmental education/sustainability practices 4% 3% 1% 3% 2%
Improved management of National Parks 5% 4% 3% 1% 2%
Improved Council management, consultation, engagement 1% 4% 1% 2% 1%
Council is doing a good job/happy with the way things are/leave
the environment as it is 2% 1% 0% 2% 2%
Consult the Indigenous community/environmental conservation
specialists 1% 2% 2% 0% 2%
Encouraging the use of public transport 1% 2% 0% 2% 1%
Maintain water quality/supply 1% 2% 1% 0% 0%
Pest control/feral animals/tighter restrictions for domestic animals 0% 1% 0% 2% 1%
General maintenance on infrastructure/public facilities 1% 1% 0% 1% 1%
Housing availability/affordability 1% 1% 1% 1% 0%
Stop the raising of the damn wall 0% 1% 0% 0% 1%
Air pollution/quality 0% 0% 1% 0% 1%
Increased funding/resources 0% 0% 1% 0% 0%
Planning for the future 1% 1% 1% 0% 0%
Reduce coal mining in the area 1% 0% 0% 1% 0%
Improved accessibility in the area 0% 0% 1% 0% 0%
More local business opportunities 0% 0% 0% 1% 0%
Community gardens 0% 0% 1% 0% 1%
Control use of round-up/fertiliser 0% 0% 0% 0% 1%
Businesses shouldn't have highest priority/keep big businesses out 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Volunteers for Bushcare 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Assuring that RFS/SES are equipped 1% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Supporting local business 0% 1% 0% 0% 0%
Increased community mobilisation 0% 0% 0% 1% 0%
Amalgamation of the Blue Mountains and Penrith 0% 0% 0% 1% 0%
Increase the size of the highway 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Improved control of COVID 19 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Increasing cost of rates 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Don't know/nothing 7% 7% 12% 9% 9%
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 125
Looking After People Q6d. When thinking about making the Blue Mountains a better place, what do you see as the top priority for
action for looking after people over the next 5-10 years
Top priority N=1,006 Top priority N=1,006
More affordable and improved aged
care/disability services and facilities 22% Cleaner surrounds/limit pollution 1%
Improving/upgrading the hospital/health care
services and facilities 10% Financial support 1%
Employment/business support/tourism 10% Happy with current approach/Council are
doing a good job 1%
Increasing the sense of community in the
area/more recreation and leisure opportunities 8% Improved accessibility throughout the area 1%
More/improved community and social services 7% Increase safety/police presence 1%
More/upgraded community facilities e.g. buildings,
sportsgrounds, shops 7% Internet/mobile services 1%
More/improved public transport 7% Limit population growth/preserve village
character 1%
Services/facilities for youth and children 5% Road safety/traffic management 1%
Improve communication/consultation with
community/provision of information 4% Schools/education/childcare 1%
Housing availability and affordability 4% Control on bulk buying at supermarkets <1%
Planning for natural disasters/bushfire prevention 4% Cultural awareness <1%
More parks/playgrounds and family friendly areas 3% Ensuring a good quality of life for residents <1%
Maintaining roads/more parking 3% Extended trading hours for restaurants/cafes <1%
Environment/sustainability/addressing climate
change 2% Improved waterways/supply <1%
Better development/planning for development 2% No airport/flight paths away from houses <1%
Improved/additional footpaths/cycleways 2% Relax social distancing restrictions <1%
Appearance/maintenance of Town Centre 1% More recycling opportunities/control illegal
dumping <1%
Better town planning/staff/expenditure from
Council 1% Don't know/nothing 10%
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 126
Looking After People Q6d. When thinking about making the Blue Mountains a better place, what do you see as the top priority for
action for looking after people over the next 5-10 years
Results by Planning Area
Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5
Affordable and improved aged care/disability services and facilities 21% 18% 20% 26% 23%
Improving/upgrading the hospital/health care services and facilities 10% 18% 5% 11% 5%
Employment/business support/tourism 11% 17% 10% 5% 9%
Increasing the sense of community in the area/more recreation and
leisure opportunities 7% 7% 5% 9% 9%
More/upgraded community facilities e.g. buildings, sportsgrounds,
shops 9% 8% 9% 7% 5%
More/improved community and social services 7% 5% 10% 7% 7%
More/improved public transport 8% 5% 9% 7% 7%
Services/facilities for youth and children 2% 7% 4% 5% 3%
Consultation with the community/provision of information 6% 4% 7% 3% 3%
Planning for natural disasters/bushfire prevention 5% 2% 3% 5% 4%
Roads/parking 2% 4% 2% 5% 3%
Housing availability and affordability/cost of rates 2% 4% 5% 2% 2%
More parks and family friendly areas 5% 2% 4% 2% 3%
Environment/sustainability/addressing climate change 5% 3% 2% 1% 3%
Better development/planning for development 0% 2% 1% 2% 3%
Improved/additional footpaths/cycleways 0% 2% 3% 2% 1%
Road safety/traffic management 3% 0% 1% 3% 1%
Improved accessibility throughout the area 1% 1% 1% 2% 1%
Happy with current approach/Council are doing a good job 0% 1% 1% 1% 2%
Schools/education/childcare 0% 1% 0% 2% 1%
Appearance/maintenance of Town Centre 1% 0% 2% 2% 1%
Keeping the rates affordable 0% 1% 0% 1% 2%
Limit population growth/preserve village character 2% 0% 0% 1% 1%
Increase safety/police presence 1% 0% 3% 1% 0%
Better town planning/staff/expenditure from Council 1% 2% 1% 0% 0%
Internet/mobile services 1% 0% 0% 2% 0%
Cleaner surrounds/limit pollution 0% 1% 0% 0% 1%
Financial support 0% 1% 1% 0% 0%
No airport/flight paths away from houses 0% 0% 0% 0% 2%
Waste facilities 1% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Cultural awareness 0% 0% 1% 0% 1%
Improved waterways/supply 0% 0% 0% 0% 1%
Relax social distancing restrictions 1% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Extended trading hours for restaurants/cafes 0% 0% 0% 1% 0%
Ensuring a good quality of life for residents 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Control on bulk buying at supermarkets 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Don't know/nothing 14% 7% 15% 6% 11%
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 127
Making the Towns and Villages Great Places to Live
Q6e. When thinking about making the Blue Mountains a better place, what do you see as the top priority for action
for making our towns and villages great places to live over the next 5-10 years?
Top priority N=1,006 Top priority N=1,006
Appearance/maintenance/upgrades of LGA 13% More restaurants/cafes/nightlife 1%
Roads/traffic management/parking 10% Stormwater/drainage/water supply 1%
A connected and inclusive community/range of
events and activities 10% Kerbing and guttering <1%
Employment/business opportunities 8% Better lighting <1%
Planning for future development to reflect
community needs 7% Concern for the economy <1%
No high rise/over development/over population 7% Control panic related to COVID 19 <1%
Additional/maintained
parks/playgrounds/greenspaces 7% Encourage new people to the area <1%
Maintaining the heritage/character of the area 6% Hospitals/healthcare facilities <1%
Accessibility in the area e.g. disability access,
access to services 5% Housing density/better range of housing <1%
Protecting the environment/climate
change/sustainability 5% Improve internet/phone service <1%
More/improved community and public facilities 4% Improved education facilities <1%
Community services e.g. youth, elderly, family 4% Less car dependence <1%
More/upgraded shopping centres 4% Limit chemical usage <1%
Footpaths/cycleways/pedestrian crossings 3% Make the Blue Mountains more independent <1%
Maintain area as it is 3% Managing tourism <1%
More/improved communication/community
engagement/provision of information 3% Move power cables underground <1%
Public transport 3% No airport/restrict flight paths <1%
Safety/increased police presence 3% No fast food <1%
Encouraging tourism/promotion of the area 2% One late night for sports centres <1%
Affordability of rates/cost of living 2% Recognise the uniqueness of each village <1%
Improved Council
budgeting/investment/management 2% Reduce homelessness <1%
Natural disaster planning/prevention 1% Don't know/nothing 9%
Improved waste collection/services 1%
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 128
Making the Towns and Villages Great Places to Live
Q6e. When thinking about making the Blue Mountains a better place, what do you see as the top priority for action
for making our towns and villages great places to live over the next 5-10 years?
Results by Planning Area
Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5
Appearance/maintenance/upgrades of LGA 9% 12% 19% 12% 14%
Roads/traffic management/parking 19% 9% 10% 12% 8%
A connected and inclusive community/range of events and activities 14% 11% 3% 9% 12%
Employment/business opportunities 4% 10% 6% 9% 8%
Planning for future development to reflect community needs 3% 8% 8% 6% 10%
No high rise/over development/over population 9% 7% 6% 7% 8%
Additional/maintained parks/playgrounds/greenspaces 6% 5% 7% 8% 9%
Maintaining the heritage/character of the area 6% 10% 4% 4% 4%
Accessibility in the area e.g. disability access, access to services 11% 2% 5% 6% 5%
Protecting the environment/climate change/sustainability 7% 4% 8% 4% 3%
More/improved community and public facilities 4% 4% 2% 6% 4%
Community services e.g. youth, elderly, family 0% 6% 6% 2% 4%
More/upgraded shopping centres 0% 2% 5% 5% 3%
Footpaths/cycleways/pedestrian crossings 2% 3% 5% 3% 4%
Maintain area as it is 6% 1% 3% 5% 2%
Public transport 4% 3% 2% 4% 2%
Safety/increased police presence 4% 3% 5% 3% 1%
More/improved communication/community engagement/provision
of information 4% 4% 1% 1% 4%
Encouraging tourism/promotion of the area 6% 2% 1% 2% 1%
Improved Council budgeting/investment/management 1% 4% 1% 1% 1%
Affordability of rates/cost of living 0% 3% 0% 2% 1%
Natural disaster planning/prevention 0% 1% 2% 1% 2%
More restaurants/cafes/nightlife 0% 0% 2% 0% 2%
Improved waste collection/services 0% 1% 2% 0% 1%
Stormwater/drainage/water supply 0% 1% 0% 1% 1%
Kerbing and guttering 0% 0% 0% 1% 0%
Less car dependence 1% 0% 1% 0% 0%
Housing density/better range of housing 0% 0% 1% 1% 0%
Managing tourism 0% 0% 1% 0% 0%
No airport/restrict flight paths 0% 0% 0% 0% 1%
Hospitals/healthcare facilities 1% 1% 0% 0% 0%
Improved education facilities 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Control panic related to COVID 19 0% 1% 0% 0% 0%
Concern for the economy 0% 1% 0% 0% 0%
Encourage new people to the area 0% 0% 0% 1% 0%
Improve internet/phone service 1% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Better lighting 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Reduce homelessness 0% 0% 1% 0% 0%
One late night for sports centres 1% 0% 0% 0% 0%
No fast food 0% 0% 1% 0% 0%
Move power cables underground 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Limit chemical usage 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Make the Blue Mountains more independent 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Recognise the uniqueness of each village 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Don't know/nothing 9% 8% 10% 8% 10%
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 129
Moving Around the Blue Mountains
Q6f. When thinking about making the Blue Mountains a better place, what do you see as the top priority for
action related to how we move around within the Blue Mountains over the next 5-10 years?
Top priority N=1,006 Top priority N=1,006
More frequent/improved public transport services
e.g. trains and buses 53%
Stopping overdevelopment/protecting the
heritage of the area 1%
Improve the local road network 15% Attracting more tourists to the area <1%
Better footpaths/walkways/cycleways/pedestrian
areas 14% Availability of ubers/taxis/ridesharing <1%
Availability of carparks and commuter parking 5% Better drainage/flood management <1%
Traffic management 5% Building a tramline/light rail service <1%
Accessibility in the area e.g. disabled
access/access for the elderly 3% Dam wall <1%
Alternate routes e.g. tunnels, bridges, bypasses,
emergency exits 2% Escalators in shopping centres <1%
Community transport e.g. courtesy buses 2% Fixing traffic lights <1%
Environment sustainability/encouraging public
transport/protecting the natural environment 2% Focusing on youth <1%
Fewer trucks on the roads 2% Improved health services <1%
Improved highway 2% Keeping up with technology <1%
Safety/speed limits 2% Managing population growth <1%
Encouraging the use of electrical vehicles 1% More kerbing and guttering <1%
Improved infrastructure and general appearance in
the area 1% Parking for and management of tourist buses <1%
Improved signage in the area e.g. pedestrian signs,
signs for tourists 1% Poor performance from Council <1%
No issues/happy with things as they are/leave as is 1% Don't know/nothing 7%
Not building highways 1%
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 130
Moving Around the Blue Mountains
Q6f. When thinking about making the Blue Mountains a better place, what do you see as the top priority for
action related to how we move around within the Blue Mountains over the next 5-10 years?
Results by Planning Area
Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5
More frequent/improved public transport services e.g. trains and
buses 56% 51% 64% 49% 51%
Improve the local road network e.g. upgrades and maintenance 13% 12% 13% 24% 9%
Better footpaths/walkways/cycleways/pedestrian areas 15% 19% 10% 12% 15%
Traffic management 3% 4% 3% 8% 6%
Carparks and commuter parking 1% 4% 5% 6% 6%
Accessibility in the area e.g. disabled access/access for the elderly 0% 4% 5% 4% 2%
Environment sustainability/encouraging public transport/protecting
the natural environment 4% 3% 1% 3% 2%
Safety/speed limits 3% 4% 2% 1% 2%
Fewer trucks on the roads 1% 3% 2% 2% 1%
Alternate routes e.g. tunnels, bridges, bypasses, emergency exits 3% 2% 1% 1% 4%
Improved highway 3% 2% 2% 1% 2%
Community transport e.g. courtesy buses 3% 2% 2% 1% 1%
No issues/happy with things as they are/leave as is 1% 1% 1% 1% 2%
Improved infrastructure and general appearance in the area 0% 2% 0% 0% 2%
Not building highways 3% 0% 1% 1% 1%
Stopping overdevelopment/protecting the heritage of the area 1% 0% 0% 1% 1%
Improved signage in the area e.g. pedestrian signs, signs for tourists 0% 1% 0% 0% 1%
Encouraging the use of electrical vehicles 0% 0% 0% 1% 1%
Parking for and management of tourist buses 0% 1% 1% 0% 0%
More kerbing and guttering 0% 1% 0% 0% 0%
Fixing traffic lights 0% 1% 0% 0% 1%
Availability of ubers/taxis/ridesharing 1% 0% 0% 0% 1%
Building a tramline/light rail service 0% 0% 0% 1% 0%
Keeping up with technology 0% 1% 0% 0% 0%
Managing population growth 0% 0% 1% 0% 0%
Focusing on youth 0% 0% 0% 0% 1%
Attracting more tourists to the area 1% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Better drainage/flood management 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Damn wall 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Escalators in shopping centres 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Poor performance from Council 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Improved health services 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Don't know/nothing 10% 8% 6% 4% 9%
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 131
Economic Development Q6g. When thinking about making the Blue Mountains a better place, what do you see as the top priority for
action related to economic development over the next 5-10 years?
Top priority N=1,006 Top priority N=1,006
Support for local business 23%
Better understand the socio economics in the
community/changing demographics of
the area
<1%
Encouraging tourism/promotion of the area 14% Capping commercialism <1%
More employment opportunities 14% Construction of the airport <1%
Economic growth in the area/variety of
industries/encouraging businesses to the area 10%
Council to work with the community
more/better communication <1%
More/improved shopping precincts and food
options 5%
Encourage state departments to
decentralise <1%
Better planning for housing
development/maintaining a variety of housing
sizes/affordable housing and rates
4% Improving the way Council is run/be more
proactive <1%
Avoiding overdevelopment 3% Keeping the area safe <1%
Better roads, parking and infrastructure 3% Maintaining a manageable population <1%
Environmental preservation/promoting
environmental sustainability 3% Maintaining water development and creeks <1%
Better financial management/allocation of
funding/better long-term planning 2% Minimise economic development <1%
Improving public transport options and traffic
management 2% More accessibility in the area <1%
More cultural activities/entertainment facilities/supporting the arts
2% NBN/mobile phone
service/telecommunications <1%
More development in the area/building approvals 2% Not putting businesses or industries in the Blue
Mountains <1%
Protecting the natural heritage of the area 2% Political bias in the area <1%
Protecting and recovering from the impacts of
COVID-19 and bushfires 1% Promoting eco-tourism <1%
Provision and maintenance of services, facilities
and buildings 1% Promoting the Indigenous <1%
Improved education and training 1% Reducing the cost of public markets <1%
Continue to develop the economy as it is/Council
keep doing what they are doing 1% Resilience in labour market <1%
Look after the community/encourage people to
stay in the area 1% Tax deduction assistance <1%
Keeping open spaces/outdoor recreation
areas/family friendly areas available 1% Don't know/nothing 21%
Improved health care/aged care services and
facilities 1%
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 132
Economic Development Q6g. When thinking about making the Blue Mountains a better place, what do you see as the top priority for
action related to economic development over the next 5-10 years?
Results by Planning Area
Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5
Support for local business 20% 28% 21% 23% 19%
Encouraging tourism/promotion of the area 18% 19% 15% 10% 11%
More employment opportunities 9% 14% 12% 13% 17%
Economic growth in the area/variety of industries/encouraging
businesses to the area 6% 11% 11% 12% 10%
More/improved shopping precincts and food options 1% 3% 5% 7% 6%
Better planning for housing development/maintaining a variety of
housing sizes/affordable housing and rates 4% 3% 3% 5% 4%
Avoiding overdevelopment 1% 3% 6% 3% 4%
Better roads, parking and infrastructure 4% 3% 1% 4% 2%
Environmental preservation/promoting environmental sustainability 5% 3% 3% 1% 3%
Improving public transport options and traffic management 3% 2% 2% 2% 2%
Better financial management/allocation of funding/better long-term
planning 6% 1% 2% 2% 1%
More cultural activities/entertainment facilities/supporting the arts 3% 4% 0% 0% 2%
More development in the area/building approvals 2% 3% 0% 2% 1%
Protecting the natural heritage of the area 2% 2% 3% 0% 2%
Protecting and recovering from the impacts of COVID-19 and
bushfires 0% 2% 1% 1% 1%
Provision and maintenance of services, facilities and buildings 2% 1% 2% 0% 1%
Improved education and training 3% 1% 1% 0% 1%
Continue to develop the economy as it is/Council keep doing what
they are doing 1% 0% 2% 0% 2%
Look after the community/encourage people to stay in the area 2% 0% 0% 1% 0%
Keeping open spaces/outdoor recreation areas/family friendly areas
available 0% 1% 1% 1% 1%
Improved health care/aged care services and facilities 2% 1% 0% 0% 1%
Improving the way Council is run/be more proactive 0% 0% 0% 1% 0%
Minimise economic development 0% 2% 0% 0% 0%
Council to work with the community more/better communication 0% 0% 0% 1% 0%
NBN/mobile phone service/telecommunications 0% 0% 1% 0% 0%
Maintaining a manageable population 1% 0% 0% 1% 0%
Promoting eco-tourism 1% 0% 1% 0% 0%
Better understand the socio economics in the community/changing
demographics of the area 0% 1% 0% 0% 0%
More accessibility in the area 0% 0% 1% 0% 0%
Construction of the airport 0% 0% 1% 0% 0%
Tax deduction assistance 0% 0% 0% 1% 0%
Reducing the cost of public markets 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Maintaining water development and creeks 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Encourage state departments to decentralise 1% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Political bias in the area 1% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Not putting businesses or industries in the Blue Mountains 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Promoting the Indigenous 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Capping commercialism 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Keeping the area safe 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Resilience in labour market 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Don't know/nothing 22% 15% 23% 23% 24%
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 133
Appendix B:
Demographics
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 134
Demographics QA1. Firstly, can you tell me what town or suburb you live in?
Area 1 N=1,006
Blackheath 8%
Mount Victoria 1%
Bell <1%
Megalong Valley <1%
Mount Irvine <1%
Mount Tomah <1%
Mount Wilson <1%
Area 2 %
Wentworth Falls 10%
Leura 8%
Katoomba 8%
Medlow Bath 1%
Area 3 %
Hazelbrook 6%
Lawson 5%
Woodford 3%
Bullaburra 2%
Linden 1%
Area 4 %
Springwood 9%
Winmalee 7%
Faulconbridge 6%
Valley Heights 2%
Yellow Rock 1%
Sun Valley <1%
Area 5 %
Blaxland 9%
Glenbrook 6%
Warrimoo 4%
Mount Riverview 2%
Lapstone 1%
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Research
April 2020 Page | 135
Appendix C:
Questionnaire
Blue Mountains City Council
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April 2020
Blue Mountains City Council
Community Survey
March 2020
Good morning/afternoon/evening, my name is ………………… and I'm calling on behalf of Blue Mountains
City Council from a company called Micromex. We are conducting a survey to get your views on services
provided by Council, and how we can make the Blue Mountains a better place.
For demographic purposes, we are firstly looking for those aged 18-34, as they are more difficult to get
hold of. Who would be the best person in your household to speak to?
If they say there are no 18-34:
We are also looking for any males over the age of 34
If they say there are no males:
Everyone in the community is encouraged to participate regardless of age or gender, would now be a
good time to share your opinions?
If no: Thank you for your time.
If yes: Before we start I would like to check, are you currently an employee or elected representative of
Blue Mountains City Council?
If yes: I'm sorry but you don't qualify for the interview. (Terminate)
If no: Can I confirm that you have lived in the Blue Mountains Local Government Area for more than 6
months, and that you are over the age of 18?
If no: I'm sorry but you don't qualify for the interview. (Terminate)
If yes: The survey will take about 20 minutes, is now a suitable time? (if not arrange a call back)
I need to advise you that my supervisor may monitor this call for quality control purposes and that
all of your details will be kept strictly confidential and will help the Council to better understand
and meet the needs of its residents.
Blue Mountains City Council
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April 2020
QA1. Firstly, can you tell me what town or suburb you live in?
Area 1 Area 4
O Bell O Faulconbridge
O Blackheath O Springwood
O Megalong Valley O Sun Valley
O Mount Irvine O Valley Heights
O Mount Tomah O Winmalee
O Mount Victoria O Yellow Rock
O Mount Wilson
Area 2 Area 5
O Katoomba O Blaxland
O Leura O Glenbrook
O Medlow Bath O Lapstone
O Wentworth Falls O Mount Riverview
O Warrimoo
Area 3
O Bullaburra
O Hazelbrook
O Lawson
O Linden
O Woodford
QA2. Please stop me when I read out the age group you are in. Prompt
O 18-24 years
O 25-34 years
O 35-49 years
O 50-64 years
O 65+ years
O Refused (Terminate)
Section 1 – Community perceptions
Q1. Firstly, I want to ask about your perceptions of your neighbourhood and the Blue Mountains as a
place to live. I am going to read out some statements and I want you to rate them on a scale of 1
to 5, where 1 means you strongly disagree with the statement and 5 means you strongly agree. Prompt
Strongly Strongly
disagree agree
1 2 3 4 5
I feel that I am generally safe in my neighbourhood O O O O O
I feel that I belong to the community I live in O O O O O
I have someone in my area outside my immediate family to turn to in a
time of crisis O O O O O
I feel that the quality of life and wellbeing in the Blue Mountains is
improving O O O O O
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April 2020
Section 2 – Council services & facilities
In this section of the survey I will read out a list of services and facilities your council provides. For
each service or facility, I will ask how important it is to you on a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 means it is
not at all important and 5 means it is very important. I will then ask how satisfied you are with the
service that is delivered. This will also involve a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 means you are not at all satisfied and 5 means you are very satisfied. Prompt
IMP/SAT ASKED FOR ALL
Q2a. The first few questions relate to services that look after the environment and manage waste and
water resources:
Not at all Very Not at all Very
important important satisfied satisfied
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 DK
Protection of natural bushland O O O O O O O O O O O
Weed control O O O O O O O O O O O
Clean creeks and waterways O O O O O O O O O O O
Management of stormwater and
drainage O O O O O O O O O O O
Wheelie bin garbage & recycling
collection O O O O O O O O O O O
Q2b. We will now focus on Council services that relate to our towns and villages:
Not at all Very Not at all Very
important important satisfied satisfied
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 DK
The atmosphere, look and feel of
our towns and villages O O O O O O O O O O O
Managing residential development O O O O O O O O O O O
Protection of heritage values in towns
and villages O O O O O O O O O O O
Public toilets in town centres O O O O O O O O O O O
Litter control O O O O O O O O O O O
Street cleaning O O O O O O O O O O O
Parking for shoppers O O O O O O O O O O O
Cemeteries and ashes placement
sites O O O O O O O O O O O
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Q2c. We will now focus on services related to moving around in the Blue Mountains:
Not at all Very Not at all Very
important important satisfied satisfied
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 DK
Sealed roads O O O O O O O O O O O
Carparks O O O O O O O O O O O
Commuter parking O O O O O O O O O O O
Bus shelters O O O O O O O O O O O
Pedestrian access around shopping
centres and community facilities O O O O O O O O O O O
Footpaths O O O O O O O O O O O
Cycleways O O O O O O O O O O O
Traffic safety for pedestrians and
vehicles O O O O O O O O O O O
Q2d. We will now focus on Council services that look after people:
Not at all Very Not at all Very
important important satisfied satisfied
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 DK
Library services O O O O O O O O O O O
Community centres and halls O O O O O O O O O O O
Cultural & arts facilities O O O O O O O O O O O
Services and facilities for children and
families O O O O O O O O O O O
Services and facilities for young
people O O O O O O O O O O O
Services and facilities for older people O O O O O O O O O O O
Services and facilities for people with
a disability O O O O O O O O O O O
Services that support the local
Aboriginal community O O O O O O O O O O O
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Q2e. We will now focus on sport and recreation services:
Not at all Very Not at all Very
important important satisfied satisfied
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 DK
Ovals and sporting grounds O O O O O O O O O O O
Parks and playgrounds O O O O O O O O O O O
Council lookouts and walking trails O O O O O O O O O O O
Swimming pools and leisure centres O O O O O O O O O O O
Q2f. The next question is about Environmental Health and Regulation service provision. Council staff
must ensure restaurants are clean and hygienic, pools have fences, animals are appropriately
managed, and buildings comply with fire safety, etc.
Not at all Very Not at all Very
important important satisfied satisfied
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 DK
Clean, safe and healthy living
environments O O O O O O O O O O O
Q2g. The next focus is on Council services that support the local economy:
Not at all Very Not at all Very
important important satisfied satisfied
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 DK
Access to local employment
opportunities O O O O O O O O O O O
Visitor Information Centres at
Glenbrook and Echo Point O O O O O O O O O O O
Caravan parks at Katoomba and
Blackheath O O O O O O O O O O O
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Q2h. We will now focus on Council Governance, Leadership & Communication:
Not at all Very Not at all Very
important important satisfied satisfied
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 DK
Consultation with the community O O O O O O O O O O O
Council provision of information O O O O O O O O O O O
Opportunity to participate in Council
decision-making O O O O O O O O O O O
Section 3 – Overall Satisfaction
Q3a. Given the answers you have just provided, how would you rate your satisfaction with the overall
performance of your Council in providing services to the community? Again, we will use a scale of
1 to 5 where 1 is not at all satisfied and 5 is very satisfied.
O 1 – Not at all satisfied
O 2
O 3
O 4
O 5 – Very satisfied
O 6 – Can’t say
Q3b. What is your main reason for feeling that way?
................................................................................................................................................................
Q3c. Do you think the services provided by Council generally represent good value for money, on a
scale of 1 to 5, where 1 means very poor value and 5 means very good value for money?
O 1 – Very poor value
O 2
O 3 (Go to Q3e)
O 4 (Go to Q3e)
O 5 – Very good value (Go to Q3e)
O 6 – Can’t say (Go to Q3e)
Q3d. What is your main reason for feeling that way?
................................................................................................................................................................
Q3e. How satisfied are you with the Council’s leadership and response when natural disasters such as
bushfires impact the Blue Mountains, on a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 means not at all satisfied and 5
means very satisfied?
O 1 – Not at all satisfied
O 2
O 3
O 4
O 5 – Very satisfied
O 6 – Can’t say
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Section 4 – Staff performance
Q4a. In the past 12 months, have you had any contact with Council staff?
O Yes
O No
O Can’t recall
Q4b. How satisfied are you with the overall performance of Council staff?
O 1 – Not at all satisfied
O 2
O 3
O 4
O 5 – Very satisfied
O 6 – Can’t say
Section 5 – Councillor performance
Q5a. Have you had any dealings with your elected Councillors over the last year?
O Yes
O No
O Can’t recall
Q5b. How satisfied are you with the overall performance of Councillors?
O 1 – Not at all satisfied
O 2
O 3
O 4
O 5 – Very satisfied
O 6 – Can’t say
Section 6 – Making the Blue Mountains a better place
Q6a. I now want to ask your views on making the Blue Mountains a better place into the future. Thinking
about your immediate local neighbourhood, what is the issue of greatest concern to you at the
moment?
................................................................................................................................................................
Q6b. Now thinking about the Blue Mountains overall, what is the issue currently of greatest concern to
you?
................................................................................................................................................................
Q6c. Now thinking about making the Blue Mountains a better place, what do you see as the top priority
for action related to looking after the environment over the next 5 to 10 years?
................................................................................................................................................................
Q6d. When thinking about making the Blue Mountains a better place, what do you see as the top
priority for action for looking after people over the next 5 to 10 years?
................................................................................................................................................................
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Q6e. When thinking about making the Blue Mountains a better place, what do you see as the top
priority for action for making our towns and villages great places to live over the next 5 to 10
years?
................................................................................................................................................................
Q6f. When thinking about making the Blue Mountains a better place, what do you see as the top
priority for action related to how we move around within the Blue Mountains over the next 5 to 10
years?
................................................................................................................................................................
Q6g. When thinking about making the Blue Mountains a better place, what do you see as the top priority
for action related to economic development over the next 5 to 10 years?
................................................................................................................................................................
Section 7 - Respondent characteristics
Finally, I just have a few brief questions relating to household data to help classify your answers.
Q7a. Can you please confirm your gender? Do not prompt
O Male
O Female
O Other
Q7b. Do you or your family pay Council rates or does your landlord if you rent?
O Pay Council rates ourselves
O Landlord pays Council rates
Section 8 – Invitation to attend future consultation
Council is conducting further consultation with interested residents to confirm priorities and aspirations for
the future of the Blue Mountains, including desired levels of services to be provided by the Council given
available funding.
Q8a. Would you like to register your interest?
O Yes
O No (Go to Conclusion)
Q8b. Great, I just need to get your details so that Council can contact you.
[IF NECESSARY] Please be assured that none of your personal information will be linked to your
answers in this interview, nor will they be used for any purpose other than to contact you about
further opportunities to have your say on the future of the Blue Mountains.
First name: …………………………………………..
Surname: …………………………………………..
Phone: …………………………………………..
Email address: …………………………………………..
Blue Mountains City Council
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April 2020
Conclusion
That completes our interview. As this is market research, you can be assured that it is carried out in full
compliance with the Privacy Act and the information you provided is used for research purposes only.
Again, my name is …. If you have any questions about this survey, or would like further information about
Blue Mountains City Council, you can call their office between 9am and 5pm weekdays on 4780 5000.
Thank you for your time.
The information contained herein is believed to be reliable and accurate. However,
no guarantee is given as to its accuracy and reliability, and no responsibility or
liability for any information, opinions or commentary contained herein, or for any
consequences of its use, will be accepted by Micromex Research, or by any person
involved in the preparation of this report.