Waste management and customer service are among Northern Grampians Shire Council's standout service areas according to the 2026 Victorian Community Satisfaction Survey.
Survey results show significant improvement across the board this year, with a rise in satisfaction ratings in all eight core measure categories.
The council also recorded a five-point increase in satisfaction in overall performance, earning a performance index score of 58 out of 100. The result exceeds the 'small shire' benchmark (53) and is equal to the state benchmark.
Local Government Victoria's annual community satisfaction survey compiles community feedback on councils in key performance areas.
The survey aims to measure councils' performance against indicators within the Local Government Performance Reporting Framework (LGPRF) and to create benchmarks for councils across the state.
The survey was managed by independent market research agency Klein Research, in conjunction with fieldwork partner TKW Research. Representatives of TKW Research contacted Northern Grampians Shire residents between February 2 and April 3 to collect feedback for this year's survey.
Cr Hyslop said the survey was voluntary and councillors and council staff appreciated residents taking the time to participate.
"The survey results help us to understand what matters most to our community and how we can continue to improve local services," she said.
"The results show our residents' perception of our organisation along with strengths, weaknesses and areas requiring improvement."
Cr Hyslop said the survey showed strong improvement in the area of waste management (68, +6), with customer service (67, +1) also a standout category.
"Waste management is the only headline service in which we sit below the state and small shire benchmarks, although council staff have been working hard to improve this area and it's nice to see people taking notice," she said.
Other core measures to record increases include making decisions (+7, 56 overall), sealed local streets (+5, 53 overall), and general direction of council (+3, 53 overall).
"All of these areas exceed the small shire benchmarks and the majority exceed the state benchmarks," Cr Hyslop said.
"The results show us that overall, our performance has improved across all headline measures. As a new council group, now in the second year of our four-year term, we are excited to see the progress we have helped to make and are motivated to keep that momentum going."
Cr Hyslop said the organisation also ranked highly in the area of providing opportunities to give feedback.
"Our score of 58 sits three points above the state benchmark and four above the small shire group, with a seven-point lift year-on-year," she said.
"Engagement and consultation also emerged as the most frequently raised positive theme in open-ended feedback, confirming residents notice and value how council is involving them."
Cr Hyslop said the 'spending public funds' category showed the largest year-on-year improvement of the core measures tracked, climbing eight points to 53.
Northern Grampians Shire Council now sits two points above the state benchmark and six above the small shire group.
"Moving forward, we will use this year's survey report to continue to strive for improvement, the way we have used the results from previous years," Cr Hyslop said.
"We are pleased to see increases in satisfaction across the board and will continue to strive to ensure our decisions reflect changing community needs and priorities."
People can download a copy of the 2026 Victorian Community Satisfaction Survey via council's website, here.
