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Improved communication between Council and the community has been, and remains, a priority of the Swan Hill Rural City Council. The Council delivers a wide range of services to the community that affect the daily life of every member of the community.
As the most accessible level of government, there is a need, not only to ensure that the community is aware of the Council and it's services, but also to ensure that the community is able to engage in the decisions that affect them. In addition, as with all large organisations, ensuring that all Council staff are informed of issues that affect the services they deliver to the community remains a challenge.Council's Communication Strategy has been developed to identify the communication priority areas for the next three years. It includes initiatives trialled and confirmed in recent times, as well as the logical ‘next steps’ in improving the communication between Council, the community, and Council staff.
Consultation With Community Groups
Council is committed to ensuring that all Community Action and Advisory Groups are attended by senior officers/Councillors. Funding, or in-kind support, is also provided to these groups.
Community Action and Advisory Groups
Council consults with the following groups and committees in respect of its functions and operations:
- Swan Hill Aerodrome Advisory Committee
- Lake Boga Community Development Advisory Committee
- Swan Hill Motor Sports Committee
- Swan Hill and District Committee for the Ageing
- Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery Advisory Committee
- Swan Hill Pre-School Association Committee
- Eight Maternal and Child Health Centre Committees
- Robinvale Community Arts Centre Committee of Management (disbanded during the year)
- Robinvale/Euston Action Community Team (REACT)
- Nyah District Action Group
- Manangatang Improvement Group
- Piangil Community Committee
- Woorinen and Beverford District Action Group
- Ultima Progress Association
- Swan Hill Leisure Centre Committee of Management
- Boundary Bend Progress Association.
Council Representatives on Committees and Associations
- Robinvale “So Great”
- Municipal Association of Victoria
- Murray Darling Association
- Municipal Saleyards Association
- Victorian Association of Performing Arts Council
- Central Murray Regional Waste Management Group
- Western Murray Development
- Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery Advisory Committee
- Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee
- Robinvale/Euston Bridge Community Consultative Committee
- Swan Hill Aged Care Co-Location Project
- Murray Mallee Local Learning Education Network
- Swan Hill Inc.
- Mallee Rural Counselling Service
- Swan Hill Leisure Centre Committee of Management
- Swan Hill Racecourse Reserve Task Force
- Swan Hill Rural City Council Audit Committee
- Central Murray Area Consultative Committee
- Loddon Mallee Community Alliance
Community Surveys
Council’s Community Satisfaction Survey
Council has undertaken regular telephone surveys of the community since April 2000, usually in May and November each year, seeking to identify community views on services that Council provides. The community is asked to both rate the importance of these services, and Council's performance in delivering these services.
The most recent survey was conducted in December 2005. Survey participants are randomly selected from a database of telephone numbers within the municipality, with 100 surveys completed.
State Government Annual Community Satisfaction Survey 2004.
Commenced in 1998, the statewide survey enables the State government to gain a broad understanding of the performance of each municipality. The results are collated, not only for each municipality, the state as a whole, but also in ‘like’ municipal groups.
The 2004 survey was conducted during February and March 2004, involving a minimum of 350 phone interviews with residents in our municipality. Outcomes of the surveys are presented to the Minister for Local Government, and then released on a confidential basis to each municipality. The results of the survey were mailed to the Swan Hill Rural City Council in the last week of May 2004.
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