Roads are the big issue for residents in both Waikato and Waipa.
Issues with roading infrastructure remains the top concern for people who live in the Waipā and Waikato districts, finalised annual residents’ surveys have confirmed.
Jacqui Church – Waikato mayor
The areas Waipa residents wanted to see priority improvement in were the financial aspects of value for money and financial management.
Waikato was similar but residents were also concerned about quality of services.
A draft copy of the Waipā survey was presented at a council workshop last month and showed the council had received higher satisfaction scores across most measures compared to last year, which had showed a significant decrease.
Key Research which undertook the survey for the council said the gradual improvement showed residents were increasingly trusting the council and appreciating its efforts.
Satisfaction with overall performance increased by three percentage points to 22 per cent.
The company also completed the survey for neighbouring Waikato District Council where satisfaction with overall performance was 40 per cent, down nine percentage points in two years.
Roading, lack of transparency and action on long-term issues and not receiving value for the rates that residents pay, annoyed residents in Waikato district.
The Tamahere-Woodlands ward was more dissatisfied than any of the other nine wards with residents having issues with the central water supply and wastewater management not being available when they pay rates for the service.
And across the Waikato district residents were positive about new mayor Jacqui Church but wanted councillors to “step up more” and act in the interest of their local communities rather than big agendas that do not make life in certain wards better.
See: Waikato District Council dashboard
