Council rated in Community Scorecard
The scorecard was completed by ratepayers, residents and businesses with community members sharing their thoughts on the district, community services in Mount Barker, and what projects or initiatives should be a priority in the future.
As a place to live, ninety-three per cent of respondent rated the district and performance of the council positively, with seven out of ten respondents noticing positive change or improvements such as upgrades to parks and playgrounds, better footpaths and cycleways, and a greater variety of shops in the district over recent years.
Library services were one of the highest-performing areas for the council, with sport and recreation facilities, playgrounds, parks and reserves, and wastewater treatment also receiving positive ratings.
The condition of local roads, traffic management and responsible growth and development continue to be areas of particular concern for the community.
Mount Barker Mayor, David Leach said that the council received strong messages on areas to improve, and this is essential information that we’re very grateful for.
“We’ve also heard about areas our residents have a high regard for, and we can all celebrate these,” Mayor Leach said.
To gather insights from the community, the council commissioned Catalyse, an independent research company, to conduct the study, open to all residents aged 14 years and older, in late 2024. Catalyse sent email invitations to selected residents, while the council used multiple communication channels, such as social media posts and rates notice announcement, to encourage participation.
The information gathered in the scorecards will be used to inform priorities for future Annual Business Plans and budgets.
“We understand there are also areas that require improvement such as health and community services – areas the council does not have complete control over and as such our continued advocacy for State and Federal Government support must be ramped up,” Mayor Leach said.
“I can assure our community that Council will continue to improve its performance, as well as continuing to advocate and lobby on their behalf.
“I would like to thank the community members who participated in the scorecard. It has been great to see the community so interested in the district and active in providing input that will shape the future of Mount Barker.”
Results from the community scorecard are now available on the council's website, allowing the community to stay informed about the findings.
