Full documents:
ResidentsOpinionSurvey2013Summary.pdf
ResidentsOpinionSurvey2013Report.pdf

Key results – 2013 Residents' Opinion Survey

Overall Satisfaction with Dunedin City Council

•Satisfaction with the overall performance of the Dunedin City Council increased by 15 percentage points to 54% in 2013 from 39% in 2012. Levels of dissatisfaction also decreased from 26% in 2012 to 15% in 2013.

Within this general pattern:

o While there is no significant differences in the percentage of respondents who were satisfied with the overall performance of the Dunedin City Council within location or age group, respondents from Northern Suburbs where most satisfied (58%) as were respondents aged 35 - 44 year or 65 years and older (55%).

Planning and Urban Design

•Satisfaction was highest with the overall look and feel of the city (72%) and the overall look and feel of your most convenient retail centre (70%).

•Satisfaction with the overall look and feel of the South Dunedin retail area has increased by 15 percentage points in 2013 (31%) compared to 2012 (16%).

•Over one quarter (27%) of residents considered the Central City to be their most convenient retail centre followed by South Dunedin (17%) and Mosgiel (14%).

•When residents considered their most convenient retail centre1, satisfaction with the look and feel of Central City (81%) and Mosgiel (76%) rated highest while satisfaction with South Dunedin (56%) and Green Island (62%) rated lowest.

Overall Perceptions of Dunedin

•Residents considered that it was most important that Dunedin was a safe city (94%), a sustainable city (88%) and a thriving city (88%).

•60% of residents actually considered Dunedin to be a safe city (up 11 percentage points from 2012), 36% that it is a sustainable city (up 3 percentage points) and 25% that it is a thriving city (up 1 percentage point).

•Residents were most likely to perceive that Dunedin maintains and preserves its architectural heritage (76% in 2013 compared to 65% in 2012) and recognises and supports cultural diversity (64% in 2013 compared to 59% in 2012).

Satisfaction with Council Services

Rubbish Collection

•Satisfaction with all activities has increased since 2012.

•Satisfaction was highest for the reliability of rubbish collection (92%), kerbside recycling (90%) and household rubbish collection (87%).

•Satisfaction with cleanliness of the streets in general has increased by 9 percentage points since 2013.

•Unsolicited issue of importance – Rubbish / glass / dog faeces on streets - need to be swept more / gutters and verges need to be cleaned out more (63 responses).

Water, Drainage, and Sewerage:

•Satisfaction levels were relatively similar to 2012.

•Residents are most satisfied with water pressure (84%) and least satisfied with the storm water collection service (66%).

Roads, Footpaths, Lighting, and Parking:

•Satisfaction levels were highest for the flow of traffic around and through the city at off-peak times of the day (83%), that there are footpaths where you need them throughout the city (78%) and street lighting throughout the city (78%).

•Satisfaction has increased significantly with the ease of pedestrian access throughout the transport network which has risen to 72% satisfied compared to 61% in 2012.

•Residents were least satisfied with the suitability of the road network for cyclists (22%) and the availability of on-street parking in the central city (38%).

•Unsolicited issue of importance – cycle lanes are dangerous / need improving / need more driver awareness (143 responses), roads neglected / poor quality / lack of maintenance / repairs not up to standard (79), and footpaths neglected / inadequate repairs / better access to footpaths for wheelchairs and mobility scooters (78).

Regulatory, Monitoring, and Environmental Services:

•Satisfaction was highest for the enforcement of hygiene standards in city food establishments (76%) and lowest for the processing of applications for building consents (27%).

•The highest increase in satisfaction was for enforcing liquor licensing standards in the city’s licensed premises (65%) which had risen by 13 percentage points since 2012 (52%).

•Unsolicited issue of importance – Dog faeces on streets / need more dog bag collection points / more bins (48 responses) and dog control is poor (48).

Customer Service:

•Customer service scores have increased since 2012. The survey found that 60% of residents were satisfied that the Council was constantly striving to improve and only 10% are dissatisfied. This compared to 53% and 13% respectively last year.

•Also, 37% of residents were satisfied that the Council delivers good value for ratepayer money compared to 34% in 2012.

Satisfaction with Council Facilities

•Satisfaction amongst users with most Council facilities is very high.

•Residents were most satisfied with the Botanic Garden (98%) and the Otago Museum (97%).

•Lowest levels of satisfaction were recorded for public toilets (62%) and the Dunedin Chinese Garden (69%).

•The highest increase in levels of satisfaction where the Toitū Otago Settlers Museum (93%) which has increased by 21 percentage points since 2012 (72%) and the Dunedin Stadium (Ice Stadium) (81%) which has increase by 17 percentage points since 2012 (64%).

•The most widely used facilities were the Botanic Garden (65% or respondents stated that they had visited one or more times in the past 12 months), the Forsyth Barr Stadium (60%) and the Otago Museum (58%).

Satisfaction with Council Activities

Consultation and Communication:

•Satisfaction was highest for the availability of information held by the Council (61% compared to 53% in 2012) and the quality of information held by the DCC (58% compared to 50% in 2012).

•The lowest level of satisfaction was for the amount of public consultation undertaken (40% compared to 37% in 2012).

Economic Development and Promotion:

•Satisfaction was down on most measures compared to 2012.

•Satisfaction with city festivals and events (67%) and media coverage of events run in Dunedin (50%) was moderate but levels of dissatisfaction are low (7% and 18% respectively).

•Satisfaction remained fairly low in other areas. Satisfaction with retaining existing businesses and jobs in Dunedin (16%) and attracting new businesses and jobs to Dunedin (19%) where the lowest.

Elected Representatives and Council Staff

•Residents were most satisfied with their contact and dealings with DCC staff (67% compared to 60% in 2012).

•Satisfaction with contact with Community Board members (32%) decreased by 14 percentage points compared to 2012 (46%) while satisfaction with the Mayor and Councillors (33%) decreased by 12 percentage points since 2012 (45%).

Communications through Media:

•Satisfaction levels were relatively similar to 2012.

•Satisfaction levels were highest with the Customer Service Agency in the Civic Centre (79%) and lowest with the FYI Magazine (70%).

What would you like to change about Dunedin (unsolicited responses)

•Important to prioritise sustainability (164 responses)

•City / suburbs untidy or tired looking (149)

•Need to attract / help more businesses come to Dunedin (138)

•Need lower bus fares / more ticket options (136)

What are you positive about (unsolicited responses)

•Dunedin’s environment is good / beautiful (190)

•Satisfied with the arts and cultural environment of Dunedin (187)

•Satisfied with council staff (142)

•Satisfied with the appearance of your suburb or township (124)

Priorities for the Council for the coming year

•Encourage businesses / economic development (312)

•Reduce Council spending / control debt (195)

•Control rates (141)

•Improve roads (89)

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