GAWLER residents want better investment in parks, gardens, roads, footpaths and waste management, according to a council survey.
Results from Gawler Council’s 2020/21 budget engagement survey were tabled to elected members at council's January ordinary meeting.
The data revealed of the 181 responses to an online survey asking a range of questions, 76 people – 42.5 per cent – wanted more investment in Gawler’s parks, gardens and reserves in the council’s coming budget.
Also high on residents’ priority list were roads and footpaths (39.1 per cent) and waste management (33 per cent).
A further 564 people participated in a separate activity at council buildings across the region where responders were asked to place dots next to what they thought should be council’s highest priorities.
Carparks and traffic management were the highest priorities from the physical survey responses, with 13 per cent of responders supporting increased spending in that area.
Roads, footpaths and stormwater were also seen as important to 12 per cent of responders, while sport and recreation services also scored highly (12 per cent).
Gawler Mayor Karen Redman said the council welcomed the results “good, bad or otherwise” and expected for a similar survey to take place next year.
“Council believes the early budget engagement strategy implemented late last year has been a success, with positive feedback received from participants relative to its introduction,” she said.
“The online survey and the interactive posters have now provided the council with important insights from the community, in advance of the annual budget preparation.
“Given the success of the budget engagement strategy implemented, as noted by positive feedback received regarding its implementation, it is currently envisaged that a similar process will be undertaken next financial year.”
In the online survey, responders were also asked for their thoughts on how council delivered certain services, with 48 per cent believing council’s roads, footpaths and stormwater management either “poor” or “below average”.
Other services rated poorly were carpark and traffic management initiatives, with 44 per cent rating it “poor” or below average, and public facilities (35 per cent).
On a positive note for council, just under 46 per cent of responders considered the area’s libraries, arts and culture services “above average” or “excellent”, with heritage promotion also rating highly with residents (39 per cent).
According to a report presented at last Tuesday’s meeting, supplementary comments left by residents after the survey largely concerned parking issues.
“Whilst there was a wide variety of comments made, a number of comments in this regard related to the need for council to address traffic/car parking concerns and also for council to more effectively listen and communicate with the community,” the report read.
“Comments relative to traffic management/car parking may have potentially been influenced by the time of year that the survey was undertaken and recent media attention leading up to Christmas regarding the car parking arrangements adjacent Big W and Woolworths.”
