The 2025 results are now available and reveal an improvement in overall satisfaction and strong community endorsement for key services. The results also provide insights into where we need to improve.
This year, for the first time, the survey was conducted face-to-face in partnership with independent research company Metropolis Research. This approach provided deeper insights, and more meaningful feedback. Over 900 randomly selected residents were interviewed across all neighbourhoods.
Residents gave Council an overall satisfaction of 6.9 out of 10, up 14% from last year. This places us just below the metropolitan Melbourne average and reflects growing community confidence in our service delivery.
Residents also told us they feel welcome, included, and respected when accessing our services and facilities. Satisfaction with Council services overall was rated as "very good".
Our most valued services
Satisfaction remains high for services that the community values most. Top performing services include:
- Local libraries
- Kerbside waste collection
- Parks and gardens
- Sporting ovals and facilities
- Children's services
- The Waste Recovery Centre
Issues and concerns
The survey also provides insight into the issues that matter most to our community. In early 2025, the top concerns raised by residents were:
- Safety and crime
- Car parking availability and enforcement
- Homelessness and social issues.
We also saw satisfaction levels varied by neighbourhood, with higher satisfaction in St Kilda Road and St Kilda East/Balaclava, and lower satisfaction in Port Melbourne and St Kilda/St Kilda West.
What we're doing on key issues
We use the annual survey results to prioritise improvements in the areas that matter most to you, including guiding service improvements and informing planning and advocacy. Some current initiatives responding to key concerns include:
- Community Safety Plan to be renewed in 2025/26 Feel Safe. Be Safe. Community Safety in Port Phillip | Have Your Say Port Phillip.
- Continued improvements to parking services, including an update to Local Law restrictions relating to caravans, boats and trailers, and ensuring sufficient resourcing for major events such as the Grand Prix.
- Affordable Housing and Homelessness strategy to be renewed in 2025/26 Engaging on the new Homelessness and Affordable Housing Strategy | Have Your Say Port Phillip.
- A new contract is being procured for open space and tree maintenance, including increased services such as mulching garden beds, weed spraying, tree pruning and rain garden maintenance.
- An additional $9m of planned investment to replace degraded road pavement and wearing coarse, which will result in thousands of square meters of additional road pavement replaced each year.
About the survey
The Community Satisfaction Survey is conducted annually by Metropolis Research to help us measure performance and track community sentiment on our services, facilities, and leadership. It is one of several tools Council uses to stay informed and responsive.
