Council's future planning scores high community satisfaction

Published on 31 July 2025

Frankston City residents have expressed confidence in Council’s vision and planning for the future, according to the 2025 Annual Community Satisfaction Survey.

The independent survey of more than 800 residents measured satisfaction with Council’s performance across a range of services. Frankston City received an overall satisfaction score of 7.0 out of 10, in line with other metropolitan councils and well above Frankston’s long-term average of 6.4 since 2012.

Satisfaction with housing affordability and availability saw a significant increase. Council also outperformed the metropolitan average in several key areas, including services for children, community centres, arts and cultural events, and aquatic and leisure centres.

However, it was Council’s performance in planning for Frankston’s future that stood out most, with high scores in several areas:

Efforts to improve the image and reputation of Frankston – 7.3 (“very good”)
Planning for population growth – 7.0 (“good”)
Appearance and quality of new developments – 7.6 (“very good”)

Frankston City Mayor Kris Bolam said the results reflected the community’s recognition of Council’s forward-thinking leadership and the city’s ongoing transformation into a vibrant destination to live, work and invest.

“Residents acknowledge the work Council has been doing to thoughtfully and responsibly guide Frankston City’s momentum of change and growth,” Mayor Bolam said.

“Our city is experiencing its most significant transformation in decades, attracting unprecedented interest from investors, developers, visitors and new residents.”

Key planning and future-focused initiatives at Council include:

The recently approved Frankston Metropolitan Activity Centre Structure Plan, providing clear development guidance aligned with the community’s vision
A $50 million Federal Government commitment for the Nepean Boulevard Revitalisation Project
A $1.7 million Local Support Package to assist residents and ratepayers in what is a challenging cost-of-living environment
Expansion of Council’s Business Grants Program to support local enterprise
Introduction of differentiated rates for vacant CBD land to incentivise redevelopment
Strengthened enforcement action targeting neglected or derelict commercial properties in the city centre

“Our community has played a key role in this transformation—sharing a collective vision, driving change, and cheering Frankston on. We are stronger together.”

Core Council services recording high satisfaction include:

Community Centres / Neighbourhood Houses – 8.4 (“excellent”)
Youth Services – 8.3 (“excellent”)
Customer Service – 7.5 (“very good”)
Meeting environmental responsibilities – 7.4 (“very good”)
Drains maintenance and repairs – 7.4 (“very good”)
Infrastructure and services meeting community needs – 7.3 (“very good”)
Lobbying and advocacy – 7.1 (“good”)
Leadership and Governance – 7.0 (“good”)
Community consultation and engagement – 7.0 (“good”)

Mayor Bolam acknowledged the importance of maintaining community trust during challenging times.

“In an era of low public confidence in all levels of government, and continued cost-of-living pressures, we are proud of our community’s ongoing satisfaction with Council’s leadership.”

The survey also reaffirmed that safety, policing and crime prevention remain top community concerns. Specific issues raised included homelessness, alcohol and drug use, and city centre safety.

“We hear loud and clear how important safety is to our residents,” Mayor Bolam said.

Council continues to invest in this area—extending its Community Connectors program beyond Young Street, expanding the Rapid Response team, conducting a feasibility study for an additional $1.5 million in CCTV infrastructure, and supporting programs like Neighbourhood Watch, graffiti prevention and bike-equipped police patrols.

Frankston City Council Interim CEO Cam Arullanantham thanked council officers for their role achieving another strong year for community satisfaction, citing the results of this year’s internal staff engagement survey as another important indicator of Councils success.

The independent survey saw employee engagement increase for the second year running, with 80 per cent of staff agreeing that Frankston City is a truly great place to work. More than 600 employees completed the survey, which placed Frankston in line with other local government organisations.

“The survey shows we have an increasingly engaged workforce that is optimistic about the future and proud of its achievements, so it’s no surprise to see high community satisfaction. Our people our passionate about their work, committed to our customers and want the very best outcomes for our community,” he said.

For more information on the 2025 Annual Community Satisfaction Survey visit Community Satisfaction Survey - Frankston City Council.