FRANKSTON residents feel less safe than people living in other Victorian municipalities, a new survey has revealed.
The results of Frankston Council’s yearly community satisfaction survey have been released. The survey, conducted by research company Metropolis, was conducted face-to-face with 801 residents in May.
The survey found that 19 per cent of respondents felt unsafe in Frankston at night, which is around eight percent higher than the metropolitan average. The report read that “respondents in Frankston City, on average, felt eight per cent less safe at night, six percent less safe during the day, and five percent less safe in and around the local shopping area, and travelling on or waiting for public transport than the metropolitan Melbourne average perception of safety. This is consistent with the fact that 11 percent of respondents in Frankston City nominated safety, policing and crime issues, more than double the metropolitan Melbourne average of five percent.”
“Concerns about ‘various types of people’ (27 percent), and drugs and alcohol (22 percent) were the most common reasons why respondents felt unsafe in the public areas of Frankston City, followed by concerns about crime and perceived lack of adequate policing (13 percent) and concerns around the perception of safety at night and lighting issues (13 percent).”
Opinions of Frankston Council haven’t changed much this year, according the community survey. Frankston Council was awarded an overall score of 7.0, equal to the metro Melbourne average. The result is one per cent lower than last year’s overall score.
The largest improvements in this year’s council satisfaction survey were in the areas of public toilets and libraries. Frankston Council also improved on last year’s results in the areas of customer service, community decisions, consultation and engagement, planning applications, and lobbying and advocacy.
The Metropolis report read that “the services of most concern” included planning applications, sealed local roads, council’s newsletter Frankston City News, and parking enforcement.
The least satisfied Frankston municipality residents were from Frankston South and Frankston North. Middle-aged adults aged 45 to 59 years, long-term residents of 10 years and more, and group households also provided less positive responses. Carrum Downs and Seaford residents provided the most positive responses.
First published in the Frankston Times – 18th July 2023