Recently we asked our community to tell us how they use and value Council services and facilities, and to share their concerns, priorities and ideas for the future of PAE. The purpose was to help us review our 10-year City Plan and provide input into a variety of other plans and programs. Findings from the research will help guide way we deliver services and make vital decisions for the next decade.

The following provides a summary of what we heard from the 652 residents who recently participated in Market Research, conducted by McGregor Tan Research on behalf of Council.

Thank you to all respondents for your valuable contribution.

Satisfaction with Council Services

• Most respondents are satisfied with Council's initiatives and service delivery, with 65% satisfied or very satisfied
• Council was seen as being responsive and meeting community needs

Liked most about living in City of PAE

• Most enjoy living in the City of PAE and value its
  • location near the beach, the port and the rivers, as well as its convenience and accessibility
  • diverse and friendly community
  • relaxed atmosphere
  • good amenity and facilities – Libraries, schools, parks and green spaces
• 8 out of 10 agree that community facilities are widely available and accessible
• Parks, playgrounds, and green spaces are the most utilised Council sites, followed closely by beaches, walking paths and bike trails

Areas to improve and benefit the community

The top 5 areas respondents said we could improve and benefit the community were:

• More community engagement in events, programs and activities (15%)
• Improved/maintained streetscapes (13%)
• Encouraging economic development, particularly in hospitality and retail (8%)
• Greater community focus and listening to the community (7%)
• More green spaces, trees and parks (7%)

Respondents said Council should:

• Focus on infrastructure, verge maintenance and city greening
• Maintain well-kept beaches and coastlines, stormwater management and streetlighting
• Promote recreational facilities, bike and pedestrian paths, playgrounds, and community spaces such as libraries and community centres

Environmental Sustainability

Over three-quarters (77%) of respondents agreed that the City of PAE should promote and lead environmentally sustainable initiatives, particularly waste minimisation and City greening programs.

Perceived future challenges

Respondents were asked about perceived future challenges for the City of PAE.The most prominent concerns included areas of quality of life, such as population growth and overpopulation, climate change, the increasing cost of living, and environmental issues.

Respondents also expressed concerns about transportation, parking availability, road maintenance, as well as housing (developments, subdivision, and availability). Balancing the maintenance of existing infrastructure while planning for new developments was seen as a key challenge.

Council-specific challenges included securing funding for essential services and infrastructure updates, keeping rates affordable for residents, listening to the community's needs, effectively managing waste and general upkeep, as well as general Council operations and strategic forward planning.

Council will continue to work with the community to address these challenges.

• Growing Population / Overpopulation (11%)
• Climate Change (11%)
• Cost of Living / rising costs (11%)
• Environmental Issues (10%)
• Roads / parking / traffic management / public transport (10%)
• Funding / Lack of funding (10%)
• Infrastructure and development (9%)

The next five years

Respondents said that over the next five years they hoped the City of PAE will be clean, green, and environmentally sustainable, as well as vibrant and inclusive.

• Clean and Green (25%)
• Environmentally sustainable/Leading the way in green initiatives (24%)
• A vibrant, bustling and inclusive community (15%)
• Growing and developing infrastructure eg shops, hospitality, public transport, etc (13%)
• Community focussed and reliable (11%)
• Better maintained eg roads, verges, footpaths, etc (10%)

Future priorities

Respondents named several desired future priorities for Council. These included improving roads, maintaining and developing infrastructure, and ensuring overall safety within the community.

Respondents emphasised the importance of promoting environmental sustainability, including initiatives to combat climate change, enhance green spaces, and manage waste effectively.

Respondents also emphasised the need to address transportation challenges, particularly in traffic management, parking and public transport improvements. There was also a strong call for community centred management and transparency within the Council, fiscal responsibility, and the effective delivery of essential services to residents.

Respondents further emphasised the need for greening initiatives to enhance the area's natural environment and create a more pleasant living space.

• Climate change initiatives/environmental sustainability (22%)
• Maintain core services (verges, footpaths, waste, cleanliness, etc) (16%)
• Greening the area / beautifying (13%)
• Safety / crime reduction / lighting in public spaces (11%)
• Road and traffic improvements / parking (10%)