General News
21 June, 2026
Gen Z drags satisfaction
GEN Z and Millennials have given Loddon Shire the harshest ratings in the latest community satisfaction survey.
GEN Z and Millennials have given Loddon Shire the harshest ratings in the latest community satisfaction survey.
The survey, tabled at Tuesday’ council meeting, have the shire’s youngest voting and ratepaying cohort giving the shire a bare pass of 51.
The lower rating compares with a shire’s average of 63 in key service, advocacy, consultation and communications areas and a state small council average of 60.
The survey found that perceptions of council’s overall perfdormance had improved for a second year “marking a recovery from a 10-year low in 2024”.
“Council’s rating is in line with peak levels last seen in 2021,” said the report by JWS research.
“Overall performance is rated
significantly higher than the small rural group and the average across participating councils state-wide.
“Perceptions of performance across all evaluated service areas have improved, with most of these gains statistically significant.”
JWS said ratings had significantly improved among men (index score of 63, up eight points), Inglewood residents (59, up seven points) and Tarnagulla residents (69, up 17 points) although the Tarnagulla sample cohort was smaller than in other wards.
JWS said said Loddon Shire decisions made in the interest of the community should remain a key focus over the next 12 months.
“While perceptions have improved significantly for a second consecutive year, this area continues to have the strongest influence on overall performance.
“With residents in Terrick providing significantly higher than average ratings, efforts should first focus on other localities.
“Continued investment in unsealed roads may also strengthen overall perceptions, as this is a moderately influential service and remains Council’s lowest-rated area.
“On all individual service areas evaluated, council performs in line with, or significantly higher than, the small rural group and overall averages.
“This is a positive result for council. Council should look to maintain and build upon its continued improvement in performance over the next 12 months.
“In particular, greater focus should be placed on residents aged 18 to 34 years.
“This cohort rates overall Council performance and customer service significantly lower than the average and provides Council’s lowest rating in most evaluated service areas evaluated. Paying closer attention to interactions with this group should help to further strengthen council performance.”
Shire director Michelle Stedman told councillors the survey demonstrated improvement in community perceptions of council performance, including across a number of key service areas and measures of council direction, customer service and value for money.
“The results are some of the most positive results that Council has seen over 10 years of data.
The results also identify several service areas that remain of high importance to the community and where residents would like to see continued improvement, particularly in relation to road maintenance.
“These findings provide valuable insight into community priorities and will assist Council in informing future advocacy, service planning, communication and resource allocation discussions,” she said.
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