Parkes Shire residents have given Council valuable feedback on the services that matter most to them, with the results of the 2026 Service Satisfaction Survey showing strong overall satisfaction across many areas.
A total of 303 residents and ratepayers participated in the survey, conducted by independent social research company Place Score between 25 March and 3 May 2026.
Overall, 81% of respondents rated their satisfaction with Council's overall performance as Very Good, Good or Average.
More than half of the 50 Council service areas assessed received a satisfaction rating of 80% or higher, while overall satisfaction in the Parkes Shire was 7% higher than the NSW benchmark.
Mayor Neil Westcott said the results provided Council with a valuable snapshot of what residents think is working well and where they would like to see continued focus.
"It's encouraging to see the strong levels of satisfaction across so many of Council's services, particularly our libraries, airport, swimming pools, sport and recreation facilities and community events," Mayor Westcott said.
"At the same time, the survey gives us a clear understanding of the areas our community would like Council to focus on, including the condition of our roads, value for money from rates and water supply and quality.
"Community feedback is an important part of how Council plans. These results give us another piece of evidence to help us understand what matters to our community and where we need to keep working to improve services.
"I thank everyone who took the time to participate and share their views. Listening to our community helps Council make better-informed decisions about the future of the Parkes Shire."
What residents said
The survey found particularly high levels of satisfaction with the top three spots going to Library facilities, services and programs – 99%, Airport – 96%, and Swimming pools – 95%.
Other areas to score over 90% include Sport and recreation facilities and programs – 95%, Tourism and visitor information services – 93%, Cemeteries – 92%; Festivals and community events – 92%, Caravan parks – 91%, Parks and public spaces – 91%, and Playgrounds – 91%.
There were significant increases in satisfaction across 18 service areas compared with 2024, including the airport (+24%), swimming pools (+16%), footpaths (+9%), roads (+7%) and Council communication and information sharing (+5%).
The survey also identified areas where residents would like to see greater focus. The three areas identified as priorities for investment and improvement were:
Providing value for money from rates; Road maintenance and condition – sealed roads; and Water supply and quality.
The three lowest-rated service areas were youth services and/or programs (56%), road maintenance and condition – unsealed roads (60%) and Council making decisions in the best interests of the community (60%).
Looking ahead
Residents were also asked what they would like Council to focus on over the next two years, contributing 215 ideas.
Around 30% of these ideas related to management and safety, followed by environmental sustainability at 22%.
The survey forms part of Council's ongoing community engagement and strategic planning. Council has been measuring community satisfaction for more than a decade and transitioned to Place Score's Service Monitor in 2026.
Place Score's Service Monitor helps councils understand both how satisfied communities are with services and which services are most important to them, providing data that can be used to inform planning and investment.
The 2026 survey achieved a 95% confidence level with a margin of error of approximately ±5.6%, based on the 303 responses received. The survey sought participation from a cross-section of the Parkes Shire community, including residents and ratepayers, people who had and had not contacted Council in the previous two years, and people from different age groups and areas of the Shire.
Council received and noted the results at its September Ordinary Council Meeting.
The full survey results will help Council continue to monitor community satisfaction, identify opportunities for improvement and ensure community feedback is considered alongside other information when planning future services and priorities.
