The impact
of the global economic downturn is reflected in the Dunedin
City Council's latest residents' opinion survey.
The survey's findings, released yesterday, showed the number
of people who thought Dunedin was a thriving city was down
11% from last year's Dunedin City Council satisfaction survey
results.
Council chief executive Jim Harland, speaking at a media
briefing yesterday, singled out the "noticeable drop" as the
most startling result to come out of this year's survey.
However, the figure had to be seen in the context of the most
difficult financial crisis the world had faced since 1929, Mr
Harland said, and what he believed was New Zealand's first
annual decline in economic activity since 1992.
A similar result would be obtained if the same question was
asked in any city in the country and, Mr Harland said, the
council, through its Economic Development Unit, was working
to support local businesses.
"We are doing what we can to address that," he said.
This year's survey, conducted by Christchurch-based company
Research First, was mailed to 4500 randomly-selected Dunedin
residents in early May, with 1359 responses (30.2%) received
by the closing date.
The survey asked respondents to judge the council's
performance in relation to services, facilities and other
measures, using a five-point scale ranging from "very
satisfied" to "very dissatisfied" and also including a "don't
know" option.
In other areas, the survey results painted a largely positive
picture for the council.
The city's Botanic Garden (91% satisfied or very satisfied),
city architecture (90%) and Otago Museum (89%) all scored
highly, as did rubbish collection (88%), public libraries
(85%) and parks and reserves (85%).
The worst results were for the overall look and feel of South
Dunedin's retail area (17% satisfied or very satisfied) and
contact with the city's elected councillors and Mayor (18%)
and community board members (14%), the survey showed.
The survey contained no specific question about the
controversial Forsyth Barr Stadium, but the performance of
the council was at 41% satisfied or very satisfied, with 29%
of people dissatisfied or very dissatisfied.
That compared to 40% of respondents who were either satisfied
or very satisfied, and 25% dissatisfied or very dissatisfied,
last year.
"What that says to me is there are two quite strongly
polarised views, almost equal," Mr Harland said.
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