Community Satisfaction Survey

Key findings

• Sense of community

  A community that values where it lives 

  Residents continue to report a strong sense of connection to Port Phillip and value the municipality's vibrant neighbourhoods, diverse communities and local character. 

  Many residents indicated they feel proud of where they live and appreciate the range of services, facilities and public spaces available across the municipality. 

• What’s working well

  Residents continue to report high levels of satisfaction with a range of services and facilities that are important to everyday quality of life. 

  Top performing areas include: 

  • Local library services 
  • Waste and recycling services 
  • Parks and gardens 
  • Children's services 
  • Playgrounds 
  • Youth services 
  • Sports and recreation facilities 
  • Arts and cultural services  

• Issues and concerns

  While the results are encouraging, community expectations remain high, and several issues continue to require attention. 

  The most identified community concerns were: 

  • Safety, policing and crime 
  • Car parking 
  • Traffic management 
  • Road maintenance and repairs 
  • Cleanliness and local amenity 
  • Homelessness and housing affordability 

  Encouragingly, concerns relating to safety declined compared with 2025 and perceptions of safety improved across all measured locations. 

• What we’re doing on key issues

  The survey helps us prioritise the issues that matter most to our community. We use the results to inform our services, strategies, planning and investment priorities. Some of the key areas of focus include: 

  • Delivering the Feel Safe. Be Safe. Community Safety Plan 2025-2029 to improve safety, amenity and perceptions of safety across the municipality. 
  • Progressing the Homelessness and Affordable Housing Strategy through advocacy, partnerships and coordinated responses to housing affordability and homelessness. 
  • Continuing improvements to parking management, enforcement and transport planning to support changing community needs. 
  • Investing in customer service, communication and community engagement to make it easier to interact with Council and understand how feedback informs decisions. 
  • Continuing investment in parks, playgrounds, public spaces, libraries, sporting facilities and community infrastructure. 
  • Delivering environmental sustainability initiatives focused on climate resilience, electric vehicle infrastructure and protecting the local environment. 

• How we use your feedback

  Results from the survey are used across the organisation to improve planning, budgeting and service delivery. 

  The 2026 Action Plan is being finalised and will be available by the end of August.  

  Examples of actions underway include: 

  • Expansion of the Public Place CCTV network across Balaclava, Port Melbourne and South Melbourne, alongside renewal of the existing St Kilda CCTV network. 
  • Upgrades to playgrounds at St Kilda Botanical Gardens, St Kilda Adventure Playground, Clarke Reserve and Burnett Gray Gardens. 
  • Completion of refurbishments at St Kilda Library and Middle Park Library and development of the next Library Action Plan. 
  • Delivery of major recreation and sporting facility projects, including upgrades to sports grounds, playgrounds and community facilities. 
  • Improvements to Council's website, digital services and customer communications, including enhanced service request tracking and easier access to information. 
  • A refreshed Parking Management Policy, review of parking areas and ongoing improvements to digital parking permits. 
  • Continued delivery of the Community Safety Plan, including Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design projects and community safety initiatives. 
  • Further investment in road, footpath and active transport improvements across the municipality. 
  • Expanded community engagement practices, including improved reporting back to residents on how feedback has influenced decisions. 
  • Additional public electric vehicle charging infrastructure and implementation of the Water Sensitive City Plan. 
  • Continued support for local business precincts through trader-led activation, destination marketing and implementation of the Creative Port Phillip Strategy.