Community Perception Survey 2024 - Outcomes & Observations

To capture feedback in 2024, the Shire of Capel conducted a range of community engagement activities, including workshops, events and a community survey. Engaging with the community is an essential part of identifying their long-term goals and priorities, and tracking strengths, weaknesses, and progress against the plan. The Shire engaged Culture Counts to undertake Community Perception Surveys in 2020, 2022 and 2024.

The results of this survey will contribute to the review of the Shire’s 10-year Strategic Community Plan. As a local government authority, the Shire uses its Strategic Planning Framework to achieve the community’s regional vision to be a “community of diverse lifestyle experiences accommodating progressive growth, sharing in prosperity, and valuing the unique environment.”

In coordination with Culture Counts, a Community Perception Survey was developed, asking residents about their perspectives and opinions on the future of the Shire. The survey statements asked respondents to rate the Shire's performance, indicate areas of satisfaction and dissatisfaction, and provide additional open-text feedback and suggestions. The survey structure was modified in 2024 to group questions according to the Shire's current Strategic Community Plan directions, covering the following six key action areas.

 

  • People: Strengthen and enhance the wellbeing of our community (e.g. community events, support services, health, wellbeing and lifestyle)
  • Planet: Manage and protect our environment (e.g. flora and fauna, sustainability, climate change, waste management)
  • Prosperity: Foster a dynamic, diverse and strong local economy (e.g. local business and commerce, economic diversification, industry)
  • Places: Provide and maintain suitable infrastructure and facilities (e.g. transport infrastructure, community facilities, utilities)
  • Performance: Deliver good leadership, governance and decision making (e.g. future vision, transparency)
  • Relationships: Effective communication, engagement and relationship development (eg. advocacy, community engagement to inform decisions)

From November 2024, 823 survey responses were collected in total, with 398 via the online link and 425 via the paper survey. This was an increase of 66 survey responses from 2022.

Infographic of community perception survey results

High level reporting on the survey included:

 

  • Town Centre development and reducing disparity were the most commonly cited areas offered back from respondents, particularly from those based in Boyanup, Capel and other more rural localities. Dalyellup residents were most likely to reference community safety and the environment, while Peppermint Grove Beach residents were most likely to request beach access improvements.

 

  • The diversity of the Shire's townships is illustrated in its residents' perceptions of the local qualities of the area. Boyanup and Capel value the 'small town feel', while Dalyellup and Peppermint Grove Beach are more likely to value the local beaches. As in 2022, 'Lifestyle' and 'close access to larger centres' are the most unifying qualities of the Shire valued by residents.

 

  • 35 of the 51 criteria assessed in 2024 recorded positive levels of net satisfaction, indicating that the community is satisfied with more aspects of Shire activity than dissatisfied. 22 of the criteria assessed in 2024 increased when compared to 2022 results.

 

  • All action areas saw criteria increases from 2022, including 'support for home-based business' (+3), 'playgrounds, parks and reserves' (+11), 'festivals, events and cultural activities' (+3), 'access to health and community services' (+7), the Shire's website and social media (+4 and +2) and 'conservation of the natural environment' (+5).

Areas of Strength 

Key Strategic Direction Areas of Strength Report Comments
People Library Services Rated highly, with consistent satisfaction across survey years
Festivals, events, arts, and cultural activities Increased satisfaction since 2022, highlighting strong community engagement with events
Planet Conservation of the natural environment Increased satisfaction with environmental conservation efforts and community gardens.
Beach and natural space access Many residents value the beaches and natural spaces, particularly in Peppermint Grove Beach.
Prosperity Contribution to local town centre development Improved score from 2022, indicating positive sentiment towards ongoing development.
Support for home-based businesses Increasing satisfaction over survey years, showing growing support for home based small business owners.
Places Playgrounds, parks, and reserves Strong community satisfaction, with improvements noted over time.
Community buildings, halls, and toilets Well-maintained public spaces are receiving positive feedback.
Performance Customer Service Scores have improved over the years, with strong performance in service delivery.
Website and social media communication Increased engagement and accessibility through digital platforms.
Relationships Lifestyle and sense of community Many residents appreciate the small-town feel and strong local connections.
Proactive community engagement The Shire’s outreach and engagement efforts were positively acknowledged.

Areas for Improvement

Key Strategic Direction Areas for Improvement What are we doing about it?
People Lack of youth facilities and spaces The Shire currently runs after-school youth programs in Dalyellup and Capel, one day a week during school terms and run an InZone School Holiday program every school holidays. We have recently taken on a Youth Trainee, who has come through the Capel Collective Youth Program. The Shire is reviewing our Youth Strategy and has seen a positive uptake and engagement rate with 182 people participating in workshops and 69 young people completing the survey. We've commenced building a new youth Centre in Dalyellup.
Better engagement with rural communities As part of the Community Engagement Framework review, we will look to increase outreach efforts through mailouts, pop-up conversations, and improved event presence to provide Shire updates. The Festival of Small Halls is run in rural communities every year, and we also provide event sponsorship to assist communities with running events.
Planet Concerns about waste collection frequency and green waste disposal Some waste initiatives that have been implemented within the last year includes, Waste Strategy has been adopted by Council, with the implementation plan to focus on future education and waste data management, public waste bins have increased in collection frequency (Monday and Friday), and verge side collection (Hard Waste) has moved to Summer to negate Winter storms. The FOGO processing is currenlty being reviewed with entire South West LG's for a more sustainable approach
Access to natural assets, including beach accessibility and forest Review of the Disability Access Plan and feasibility study for accessible beaches in Peppy Beach and Dalyellup. Trails Master Planning and uploading all trails information onto Trails WA website and Shire website, including improvements to trails. We've completed and established trails audit and service plan for 11 trails in the Shire, including hazard assessments, site assessment (including grading of trail difficulty) and available facilities on the trail.
Prosperity Limited support and infrastructure for local businesses Development approval issued for the Coles & ALDI development in the Dalyellup District Centre, and the request for the landowner to update the Local Development Plan within the main street to further enhance and stimulate the interest in local business opportunities at the Shire.
Lack of tourism attraction and investment Development and launch of new 'Discover Capel' tourism website. Continued partnership with BunGeo Tourism and other local governments. Targeted marketing of businesses through our Economic Development Marketing campaign in 2025/2026.
Lack of diversity in business offerings and economic opportunities Undertaking of a Shire Place Plan and Integrated Growth Framework to rework the way in which townsites look and interact, as well as articulating growth nodes that are sympathetic to local character.
Places Need for better roads, footpaths, and cycleways Key programs include the development of Bunbury - Busselton Cycle Link, the upgrade of key access roads with 1m sealed shoulders, the upgrade of key roads & paths to the Wadandi Wilman Hwy. Consultation and Review of path & crossing infrastructure for access from Dalyellup to Gelorup. There has also been a significant upgrade of key Gravel roads and reseals within the Shire in 2024/2025. Footpath construction to Jules Rd, Sth Western Hwy, Bridge St, Payne Rd
Insufficient public amenities, such as lighting and recreational spaces The Shire of Capel has, over the last 3 years undertaken a sports lighting campaign including the
Dalyellup Sporting Precinct, Boyanup AFL oval and soon to be constructed East Dalyellup (Ferndale Park)
Sports Lighting upgrades on new facilities. Upgrades, various park refurbishments.

In response to an identified need for the development of a contemporary Community Safety and Crime Prevention Plan (CSCPP) informing strategy, staff commenced a procurement process to engage a suitably qualified organisation (respondent) to undertake the development of a CSCPP. After a considered selection process, a suitably qualified organisation was awarded the contract and commenced the project in April 2025.
Demand for more sustainable and well-managed urban growth Delivery of the Dalyellup Multipurpose Community & Youth Centre, Capel Regional Equestrian Park,
continuation of collecting contributions for the development of community infrastructure, expenditure of
funds under the Town Planning Scheme No. 3 for Gelorup infrastructure
Performance Poor communication about council decisions and community projects Investigating and implementing a new community engagement platform, to be used in conjunction the updated Community Engagement Framework. Better communication practices around services and project completion will be implemented, including improved outcome reporting. Council will also be introducing 'Cuppa with a Councillor', encouraging community access to your Elected Members. 
Perceived lack of leadership and advocacy for community issues Implement initiatives detailed in the Advocacy Prospectus to attract funding, investment and alternative revenue sources from government (State & Federal election cycles), industry and commercial organisations.

 

You can read the full report here:

Community Perception Survey 2024