Composting, the cost of living and social housing were all issues raised when Council asked the community to Take 10 for our Future in a public survey earlier this year.

The survey resulted in feedback from close to 1000 people, and was added to information gathered from groups invited to four workshops that will help Council prepare a draft Long Term Plan for 2024-34.

Group Manager of Democracy and Engagement Toni Durham was pleased with the level of engagement in the surveys and workshops.

"We received a total of 983 survey responses and heard from 29 groups and organisations in the workshops,” she said.

"The feedback from the surveys and workshops will help guide Council when they make key decisions on the 2024-34 Long-Term Plan later this year. Council will consider the role they could play in improving issues highlighted by the community, whether it's to advocate, influence, support or resource.”

The areas of social wellbeing that people said they wanted to see improved were access to healthcare and affordable housing.

On the topic of environmental wellbeing, water quality in rivers and lakes, composting services, and climate change are three areas where the most people wanted to see improvement.

Cost of living and community infrastructure were highlighted in the survey as issues relating to economic wellbeing. Workshop goers also said equal job opportunities and environmentally sustainable economic growth needed attention.

Most survey respondents indicated the district was doing well or okay for all aspects of cultural wellbeing. But those in the workshops wanted to see an improvement, particularly in work around diversity and inclusion as well as protection of sites, artefacts, and traditions.

Mrs Durham said while the Council directly provided some of the services highlighted by the community, other areas such as healthcare were provided by other agencies.

The public will get a chance to review the draft Long Term Plan via the formal consultation phase in March 2024.