Transcript Survey results (March 2013)

Local Government
Reform Survey
March 2013
CATALYSE® empowering decision makers © 2013
Table of Contents
.....................................
Executive Summary
3
The study
5
Reform options
9
Change process
17
2
Executive Summary
3
Executive Summary
.....................................
People in the City of Fremantle are open to change….just 1 in 5 support keeping the status quo with
council boundaries.
There is most potential for a merger between the City of Fremantle and the Town of East Fremantle
with 3 in 5 residents supporting this amalgamation option.
City of Fremantle residents are fairly divided over the option to merge with the Town of East Fremantle
and incorporate Rottnest Island, small parts of the City of Melville and the City of Cockburn with about
half of residents opposing this amalgamation option.
Other amalgamation options which would incorporate larger areas (merging the City of Fremantle,
Town of East Fremantle, Rottnest Island, a major part of the City of Melville, and part of the City of
Cockburn, while losing the majority of North Fremantle OR merging the City of Fremantle with the Town
of East Fremantle, City of Melville and Rottnest Island) are met with the strongest opposition. Only
about 1 in 4 support these options.
Residents would like to be involved in the decision making process. The majority of residents would
like to have the final say, along with other ratepayers, on any possible merger by way of a vote.
4
The Study
5
The Study
.....................................
During Feb-March 2013, CATALYSE® conducted
a community survey with residents, ratepayers
and businesses within the City of Fremantle.
The overall purpose of this study was to
evaluate community opinion on the issue of
local government reform.
1227 valid responses were received.
•
•
•
•
•
•
Surveys were mailed to all households within the
City of Fremantle including a foreword providing
respondents with information about possible
reform options, processes and implications.
Adult residents were invited to complete and
return a survey using a reply paid envelope, or to
submit their responses online.
As older respondents were over represented in
the final sample, responses were weighted
accordingly
Sampling precision is +/- 3% at the 95%
confidence interval.
An online survey was also promoted and made
available to all City of Fremantle ratepayers and
business owners and managers.
Respondents’ name and contact details were
collected and duplicate responses were removed.
% of all respondents (unweighted)
Live in City of Fremantle
98
Ratepayer in City of Fremantle
88
Own or manage a business in City of Fremantle
16
% of respondents living in City of Fremantle (weighted)
(unweighted)
Male
50
Female
48
Both responded
2
18-34 years
28
7
35-54 years
35
31
55+ years
37
62
Beaconsfield
14
Fremantle
26
Hilton
13
North Fremantle
13
O'Connor
Samson
South Fremantle
White Gum Valley
3
8
10
13
6
Options being considered for the City of Fremantle
.....................................
Five options are being considered for the City of Fremantle:
Option A – the City of Fremantle to merge with the Town of East Fremantle, incorporate Rottnest Island, a
major part of the City of Melville, and part of the City of Cockburn, while losing the majority of North
Fremantle. This is the MLGRP’s preferred option.
Option B – the City of Fremantle to merge with the Town of East Fremantle and City of Melville, and
incorporate Rottnest Island.
Option C - the City of Fremantle to merge with the Town of East Fremantle and incorporate Rottnest
Island, small parts of the City of Melville and the City of Cockburn.
Option D – the City of Fremantle to merge with the Town of East Fremantle only.
Option E - no change to the City of Fremantle’s existing boundaries.
These options are mapped on the next page.
7
Options being considered for the City of Fremantle cont.
.....................................
8
Reform options
9
Preferences are mixed, but stronger for a merger with East Fremantle
.....................................
Which option do you MOSTLY prefer for the City of Fremantle?
% respondents
18
E
A
Option B - City of Fremantle to merge with the Town of
East Fremantle and City of Melville, and incorporate
Rottnest Island
B
D
28
Option A - City of Fremantle to merge with the Town of
East Fremantle, incorporate Rottnest Island, a major
part of the City of Melville, and part of the City of
Cockburn, while losing the majority of North Fremantle
21
10
Option C - City of Fremantle to merge with the Town of
East Fremantle and incorporate Rottnest Island, small
parts of the City of Melville and the City of Cockburn
Option D - City of Fremantle to merge with the Town of
East Fremantle only
C
23
Option E - No change to the City of Fremantle’s existing
boundaries
Q. Which option do you MOSTLY prefer for the City of Fremantle? Please select one response only from the options provided.
Base: Residents who provided a valid response (n = 1186)
10
Preferred merger option
Across
. . . . .the. .community
.......
.......................
% of respondents
Merge with...
Option A
Town of East
Fremantle,
incorporate
Rottnest Island, a
major part of the
City of Melville,
and part of the City
of Cockburn, while
losing the majority
of
North Fremantle
Residents in City of Fremantle
Male
Female
18-34 years
35-54 years
55+ years
Beaconsfield
Fremantle
Hilton
North Fremantle
O’Connor^
Samson
South Fremantle
White Gum Valley
Option B
Option C
Option D
Option E
Town of East
Fremantle and City
of Melville, and
incorporate
Rottnest Island
Town of East
Fremantle and
incorporate
Rottnest Island,
small parts of the
City of Melville and
the City of
Cockburn
Town of East
Fremantle only
No change to the
City of Fremantle’s
existing
boundaries
28%
15%
20%
20%
23%
20%
17%
20%
42%
15%
26%
20%
12%
▲
▼
10%
9%
3%
11%
14%
10%
11%
7%
9%
15%
16%
4%
11%
34%
▲
11%
▲
▼
▼
23%
22%
31%
18%
20%
25%
24%
18%
19%
17%
17%
29%
25%
▲
▲
23%
33%
30%
32%
24%
28%
30%
32%
17%
22%
28%
38%
28%
15%
21%
15%
19%
19%
17%
19%
23%
13%
31%
14%
8%
24%
▲
▲
▲
▲
▲
▲
▲
▲
Businesses in City of Fremantle
Own or manage a business
16%
▼
23%
▲▼ = notable variance
▲▼ = significant variance
Q. Which option do you MOSTLY prefer for the City of Fremantle? Please select one response only from the options provided.
Base: Those who provided a valid response – Residents (n = 1186); Own or manage a business (n = 190)
16%
11
▲
▲
▼
There is most support for a merger with East Fremantle
.....................................
% of respondents (City of Fremantle residents)
Support
Option A - Merge the City of Fremantle, Town
of East Fremantle, parts of the City of Melville
and City of Cockburn, with less of North
Fremantle
28
Option B - Merge the City of Fremantle, Town
of East Fremantle and City of Melville
27
Option C - Merge the City of Fremantle, Town
of East Fremantle, parts of the City of Melville
and City of Cockburn
Option D - Merge the City of Fremantle and
Town of East Fremantle
Oppose
Unsure
65
7
59
39
14
47
59
Q. The State Government review has called for the City of Fremantle to be merged with other councils. A number of options are being
considered. Do you support or oppose the following options?
Base: Residents who provided a valid response (n = varies from 1093 to 1121)
14
28
14
12
1 in 4 support Option A:
City
. . .of. .Fremantle,
. . . . . .Town
. . . of
. .East
. . .Fremantle,
. . . . . . parts
. . . .of.City
. . .of.Melville
. . . and City of Cockburn, less of North Fremantle
Only 1 in 4 support this amalgamation option,
and the majority oppose it.
There is stronger support among residents in
North Fremantle and Samson, followed by 55+
year olds, males and businesses. Opposition is
stronger among females, residents in Fremantle,
O’Connor and White Gum Valley.
% of respondents
City of Fremantle residents
Support
Male
Female
18-34 years
35-54 years
55+ years
Beaconsfield
Fremantle
Hilton
North Fremantle
O’Connor^
Samson
South Fremantle
White Gum Valley
34%
22%
25%
26%
33%
31%
24%
24%
45%
22%
41%
27%
14%
▲
39%
▲
▲
▲
▲
▲▼ = significant variance
% of respondents
(city of Fremantle residents)
7
Oppose
59%
71%
67%
67%
61%
60%
71%
67%
50%
78%
47%
66%
78%
City of Fremantle businesses
Own or manage a business
Merge the City of Fremantle, Town
of East Fremantle, parts of the City
of Melville and City of Cockburn,
with less of North Fremantle
57%
28
Unsure
▲
Support
▲
▲
Oppose
▲
65
▲▼ = notable variance
Q. The State Government review has called for the City of Fremantle to be merged with other councils. A number of options are being
considered. Do you support or oppose the following options?
Base: Those who provided a valid response – Residents (n = 1121); Own or manage a business (n = 180)
13
1 in 4 support Option B:
City
. . .of. .Fremantle,
. . . . . .Town
. . . of
. .East
. . .Fremantle
. . . . . .and
. . City
. . .of. Melville
.....
Only 1 in 4 support this amalgamation option, and
the majority oppose it.
There is stronger support among residents in
Samson, followed by males. Opposition is stronger
among residents in South Fremantle, Hilton and
55+ year olds.
.
Merge the City of Fremantle, Town of East
Fremantle and City of Melville
% of respondents
(city of Fremantle residents)
14
% of respondents
City of Fremantle residents
Support
Male
Female
18-34 years
35-54 years
55+ years
Beaconsfield
Fremantle
Hilton
North Fremantle
O’Connor
Samson
South Fremantle
White Gum Valley
30%
24%
27%
27%
28%
27%
30%
22%
22%
27%
53%
20%
21%
▲
▲
Oppose
58%
59%
54%
60%
62%
58%
57%
67%
54%
60%
39%
72%
63%
27
Unsure
Support
▲
▲
Oppose
▲
City of Fremantle businesses
Own or manage a business
▲▼ = significant variance
33%
56%
59
▲▼ = notable variance
Q. The State Government review has called for the City of Fremantle to be merged with other councils. A number of options are being
considered. Do you support or oppose the following options?
Base: Those who provided a valid response – Residents (n = 1098); Own or manage a business (n = 171)
14
2 in 5 support Option C:
City
. . .of. .Fremantle,
. . . . . .Town
. . . of
. .East
. . .Fremantle,
. . . . . . parts
. . . .of.City
. . .of.Melville
. . . and City of Cockburn
2 in 5 support this amalgamation option, however
about half oppose it.
There is stronger support among 18-34 year olds.
Opposition is stronger among older residents and
residents in Samson.
Support
Oppose
Male
Female
18-34 years
35-54 years
55+ years
Beaconsfield
Fremantle
Hilton
North Fremantle
O’Connor^
Samson
South Fremantle
White Gum Valley
41%
37%
47% ▲
37%
34%
42%
43%
34%
36%
32%
26%
42%
42%
47%
48%
39%
48%
55%
47%
45%
45%
52%
42%
62%
45%
44%
38%
50%
City of Fremantle businesses
▲▼ = significant variance
% of respondents
(city of Fremantle residents)
14
% of respondents
City of Fremantle residents
Own or manage a business
Merge the City of Fremantle, Town of
East Fremantle, parts of the City of
Melville and City of Cockburn
Unsure
39
Support
Oppose
▲
47
▲▼ = notable variance
Q. The State Government review has called for the City of Fremantle to be merged with other councils. A number of options are being
considered. Do you support or oppose the following options?
Base: Those who provided a valid response – Residents (n = 1093); Own or manage a business (n = 171)
15
3 in 5 support Option D:
City
. . .of. .Fremantle
. . . . . .and
. . Town
. . . .of. East
. . .Fremantle
......
..........
This is the most supported amalgamation option.
There is strongest support among younger adults,
followed by females, residents in Fremantle,
Samson, South Fremantle and White Gum Valley.
Opposition is stronger among males, seniors,
residents in Hilton and businesses.
Merge the City of Fremantle and
Town of East Fremantle
% of respondents
(city of Fremantle residents)
14
% of respondents
City of Fremantle residents
Support
Oppose
Male
Female
18-34 years
35-54 years
55+ years
Beaconsfield
Fremantle
Hilton
North Fremantle
O’Connor^
Samson
South Fremantle
White Gum Valley
52%
65%
70%
61%
47%
56%
64%
50%
51%
45%
63%
63%
64%
33%
22%
16%
25%
40%
30%
24%
36%
31%
21%
30%
23%
22%
▲
39%
▲
▲
▲
▲
▲
▲
Unsure
▲
28
Oppose
Support
City of Fremantle businesses
Own or manage a business
▲▼ = significant variance
51%
▲▼ = notable variance
Q. The State Government review has called for the City of Fremantle to be merged with other councils. A number of options are being
considered. Do you support or oppose the following options?
Base: Those who provided a valid response – Residents (n = 1103); Own or manage a business (n = 171)
16
59
Change process
17
More than half of residents want to vote on possible reform
.....................................
If the City of Fremantle is to have its boundaries changed or to be merged with other local
governments, which of the following best describes how you believe the process should occur?
% respondents
4
28
D
A
C
55
Option A - State government should proceed to
implement local government reform and mergers in its
best judgement according to the advice of the
government's MLGRP
Option B - Local government reform and mergers
should only occur if it is with the agreement by
resolution of the council of the City of Fremantle
Option C - Local government reform and mergers
should only occur if it is with the formal consent by vote
of a majority of residents and ratepayers of Fremantle
B
13
Option D - By another process
Q. If the City of Fremantle is to have its boundaries changed or to be merged with other local governments, which of the following best
describes how you believe the process should occur? Please select one response only from the options provided.
Base: Residents who provided a valid response (n = 1190)
18
Preferred change process
Across
. . . . .the. .community
.......
.......................
% of respondents
Option A
Option B
State government
should proceed to
implement reform
Reform should only
occur with the
agreement of the City
of Fremantle
City of Fremantle residents
Male
35%
Female
Option C
Reform should only
occur with the
agreement of
residents and
ratepayers of
Fremantle
Option D
Reform should occur
by another process
12%
49%
22%
14%
61%
18-34 years
24%
17%
55%
3%
35-54 years
28%
12%
56%
4%
55+ years
31%
11%
54%
3%
Beaconsfield
25%
11%
62%
Fremantle
29%
14%
53%
4%
Hilton
25%
11%
56%
8%
North Fremantle
44%
47%
2%
O’Connor
21%
Samson
37%
South Fremantle
25%
White Gum Valley
17%
▼
21%
44%
▲
11%
▲
▲
▲
▲
7%
▼
4%
▲
▲
3%
2%
13%
62%
12%
51%
1%
16%
56%
3%
▲
▲
4%
60%
▲
2%
40%
▼
5%
City of Fremantle businesses
Own or manage a business
▲▼ = notable variance
▲▼ = significant variance
Q. If the City of Fremantle is to have its boundaries changed or to be merged with other local governments, which of the following best
describes how you believe the process should occur? Please select one response only from the options provided.
Base: Those who provided a valid response – Residents (n = 1190); Own or manage a business (n = 189)
19
Possible merger and boundary change processes
Suggestions
. . . . . . . .among
. . . .residents
. . . . . .who
. . feel
. . .another
. . . . .process
. . . . is. .required
...
Most residents who would prefer another change process suggest a combined approach, for example:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
“A combination of all of the above. It would be unwise to ignore the advice of 1 (State Government); 2 (City of
Fremantle) and 3 (residents and ratepayers) should be involved in the decision making process plus that of potentially
affected councils & communities.”
“Combination of ALL three with ratepayers having greatest voting power.”
“Combined approach which doesn't involve vested interests, e.g. Real estate values, but addressing proper functioning
of region.”
“Government should implement in its judgement after considering the MLGRP advice and a survey of residents and
ratepayers (or public consultation process).”
“Local government reform and mergers should only occur with the formal consent by vote of a majority of residents
and ratepayers of Fremantle and any other local authority affected. The results should be given equal weight for each
locality so that bigger Councils don't outweigh smaller ones by population size.”
“State Government decide - but after further and more realistic discussion with Local Government.”
“Public meetings and ALL of the above decision pathways, please. Please do not proceed with a massive scaled
amalgamation - it would render 'Local Government' more of a farce than it already is. Don't exacerbate citizens'
poverty of power.”
“Responses 2 (City of Fremantle) and 3 (residents and ratepayers) should not be separated. I suggest 'by another
process' to read Local Government reform and mergers should only occur after the formal consent of residents and
ratepayers has been determined by vote, which would then better inform the Council of the City of Fremantle in their
resolution discussions.”
Q. If the City of Fremantle is to have its boundaries changed or to be merged with other local governments, which of the following best
describes how you believe the process should occur? Please select one response only from the options provided.
Base: Residents who feel ‘another process’ is required to implement a merger and change boundaries
20
CATALYSE® Pty Ltd
ABN 20 108 620 855
a: Office 3, 996 Hay Street,
Perth WA 6000
p: PO Box 8007,
Cloisters Square WA 6850
t: +618 9226 5674
f: +618 9226 5676
e: [email protected]
w: catalyse.com.au
CATALYSE® empowering decision makers © 2013
CATALYSE is proud to support Indigenous artists.
“Fireworks” is the exciting work of Yinjaa-Barni Artist, Maudie Jerrold.
Yinjaa-Barni Artists are traditional owners from the Fortescue River region. Their paintings
depict the remarkable country of the Pilbara in Western Australia's north-west. The contrasts
of the harsh environment with the hidden gorges of cool water, the seeds and flowers
bursting out after rain, are moments that belong to the great Creation stories of the Marrga.
Other works may be viewed at the Japingka Gallery in Fremantle [www.japingka.com.au].