Waipa even better, says residents
20 August 2015
Nearly half of Waipa residents say the district is a better place to live now than it was three years ago, according to a recent survey.
Independent research company, the National Research Bureau, has reported the results of a May survey involving telephone calls to 401 residents aged 18 and over. The survey has a margin of error of around four per cent.
The survey helps identify what issues are concerning Waipa residents and where Waipa District Council should focus its efforts. It has been undertaken every year since 1992.
Of those surveyed, 93 per cent said they were likely or very likely to promote Waipa as a good place to live with 45 per cent saying Waipa district is a better place to live now than three years ago. Around 74 per cent were also likely or very likely to talk positively about Waipa District Council.
Overall respondents said they were very satisfied with district libraries (64%), parks, reserves and sportsgrounds (58%) and recycling services (52%). Some people said they did not know enough to answer the question.
Respondents were not very satisfied with swimming pools (30%), parking in Cambridge and Te Awamutu (25%) and water treatment and supply (18%).
Of those surveyed, 48 per cent had personally contacted council in the previous 12 months, with 92 cent saying it was easy or very easy to make contact. Of those, 87 per cent said their query was attended to fast enough.
Visits to council's website were up from 18 per cent in 2014 to 41 per cent in the last 12 months with 92 per cent of website visitors satisfied with the site. Just over 50 per cent of residents preferred to get information about council facilities and services via local newspapers.
In all, 69 per cent of residents said council services offered value for money. Nineteen per cent disagreed and 12 per cent chose not to comment.
For a full copy of the survey results, go to the Annual Residents Survey page.
All media enquiries, contact Jeanette Tyrrell (on behalf of council) 027 507 7599