2009 residents survey shows Council has made progress in key areas over the last 12 months
More Tasman residents are satisfied with the way their rates are being spent on services and facilities than this time last year a recent survey undertaken by an independent agency, the National Research Bureau (NRB), indicates. Residents also think that Tasman is a better place to live now than it was last year, that the natural environment is being better preserved for future generations and that their Council communicates with them more effectively.
About 400 Tasman District residents over 18 years of age, spread across the five wards, were surveyed by telephone in July and August 2009 by the NRB. The survey, which is undertaken annually, enables Council to build an accurate picture of residents’ opinions and attitudes towards its performance and monitor and address any underlying trends.
The survey showed that Tasman residents are most satisfied with the District’s recreational facilities, such as playing fields and neighbourhood reserves, recreational publications, car parking in urban areas, public libraries, footpaths, dog control, cemeteries and environmental education, information and monitoring.
The vast majority of those surveyed were also happy with rubbish collection and kerbside recycling, roads, water supply, stormwater systems, sewerage systems and swimming pools, where they used these services.
In every category covered the residents surveyed were equally, or more satisfied with Tasman District Councils performance than the national average.
Commenting on the survey results Council Chief Executive Paul Wylie said that he was ‘very pleased to see that, on the whole, residents are satisfied with Council services and facilities. Its also pleasing to see that residents feel that Council has made progress over the last 12 months, especially considering the tough economic conditions’.
Mayor Richard Kempthorne said that the survey was a valuable way of getting an unbiased picture of the entire District, ‘the survey lets us get a snapshot of how residents in each ward are thinking. To be able to view each ward individually, and then compare that to previous years results, is invaluable in ensuring that Council is working for all of our District’s residents, keeping focus on both local and District wide issues.’ ‘I’d like to thank everyone who gave up their time to take part in the survey’ he continued.
61% of residents surveyed had contacted the Council offices in the last 12 months, 6% fewer than in 2008, with 88% of those stating that they were very/fairly satisfied with the service they received.
When it comes to communicating with residents Council also scored well. 96% of residents said that they had seen, read or heard information from Council, specifically for the community, in the last 12 months. 94% of those had read Newsline (93% in 2008) and 81% had read Council advertisements in newspapers. Only 29% had received information through Council’s website.
When asked if they thought Tasman was a better place to live than it was three years ago 42% said ‘yes, definitely’ – this is a rise of 6% since last years survey. 4% of residents thought that it was worse. When asked if they felt ‘connection to the community’ 80% said that they felt very/well connected, 3% said that they felt poorly connected.
The survey has a margin of error of 4.9%
For further information please contact Tasman District Council Strategic Development Manager Susan Edwards. Ph. 03 543 8509
 Final report and results survey 2009.pdf (904 K)
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