The State Government’s 2008 Indicators of Community Strength at the Local Government Area Level results have been announced and it’s great news for the City of Maroondah.

The Survey is conducted by an independent research group for the Department of Health, as part of the inaugural Local Government Area level Victorian Population Health Survey with results to be used to assist with community planning.

“The results for the Maroondah area are very pleasing,” Mayor, Councillor Alex Makin said. “The survey is an important tool in gauging the community’s perceptions of local area amenity, ability to get help when needed, community participation, and community attitudes.”

“It is one of many processes by which Council and other community and service organisations elicit important community feedback to ensure activities are well targeted, performing efficiently and are relevant to the community,” said Cr Makin.

“The information is intended to help communities and all levels of government to better understand local areas and plan more effective initiatives in response to local needs,” said Cr Makin.

“It is important to remember that while Maroondah has received excellent scores the indicators are not a report card. What the indicators are reporting is a result of the combined action of business, government and the community itself. Responsibility for improvements in the indicators, into the future, does not lie with any one organisation alone,” said Cr Makin.

“The indicators will not only be used by Council for future planning, but will inform the work of the Department of Planning and Community Development, Victoria Police and other community and service organisations involved in community planning,” said Cr Makin.

The Indicators of Community Strength at the Local Government Area Level in Victoria 2008 provides the results of a survey of 450 residents in each of Victoria’s 79 Local Government Areas and was undertaken in late 2008. It examines four indicators:

• Amenity describes the “pleasantness” of an area. It encompasses physical aspects as well as psychological and social components. Amenity is important for strong communities as it underpins community wellbeing.
• Ability to get help when needed seeks to determine the level of social isolation and economic disadvantage.
• Community participation focuses on involvement in general community activities such a sport, volunteering, schools and local community events.
• Community attitudes look at safety, multiculturalism, opportunities to have a say and how respondents feel valued by society.

The 2008 indicators are not comparable to those previously released by the Department of Victorian Communities in 2004 and 2006 due to different survey methodology and calculation.

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