2012 community perceptions survey released
The City of Fremantle has released its biennial community perception survey results which have shown that two thirds of Fremantle residents are satisfied with the City as a governing organisation and an overwhelming 88% are satisfied with living in Fremantle.
The results also showed that over the last two years there was an increase in the number of residents who believe the City’s elected members understood their needs (up 6% since 2010) and a similar improvement in the City’s efforts in communicating a vision for Fremantle (up 8% from 2010).
The Fremantle Arts Centre and library again showed up as strengths, as did the City’s festivals and events programme, while parking, safety and security; and economic development and job creation came up as the areas the community felt should be priorities moving forward.
Fremantle Mayor, Dr Brad Pettitt, said that he was pleased that the City’s revitalisation efforts were resonating with the community: “Since 2010 we have seen a raft of new initiatives introduced to revitalise the Fremantle CBD, including Planning Scheme Amendment 49, the Kings Square Project and the establishment of a Fremantle business improvement district,” Dr Pettitt said.
“These survey results are an indication that the community is getting behind the City in these initiatives and the overall vision for Fremantle, however, the results did also show that there was plenty of room for improvement in other areas and these areas will now be addressed.”
Dr Pettitt said that it came as no surprise that the Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle Library and City-run festivals and events continued to be the City’s strengths and that parking and safety continued as areas in need of improvement.
“Parking and safety are currently a focus of the City, with a range of new initiatives including the introduction of real-time car bay availability and directional signage leading into the CBD being implemented during the next 12 months. The City is also looking at making some parking areas ‘first hour free’ as part of encouraging people back into Fremantle.”
“Increased levels of CCTV coverage, the introduction of a CBD safety patrol, the execution of the Kings Square activation plan and enhanced CBD lighting are already having a positive effect on safety,” he said.
Click here to view the full survey results.