Survey shows residents back Council’s long-term vision but safety remains a sticking point
Frankston City Council has received a strong endorsement from its residents, with new survey results suggesting growing public confidence in the city’s leadership, planning, and service delivery — even as safety concerns linger.
The 2025 Annual Community Satisfaction Survey, conducted independently, captured responses from more than 800 Frankston locals. While the city’s overall satisfaction rating of 7.0 out of 10 brings it in line with other metropolitan councils, it also marks a notable jump from Frankston’s long-term average of 6.4, last seen more than a decade ago.
Residents were particularly positive about Council’s urban planning efforts, including its handling of population growth and the quality of new developments, alongside its broader ambition to shift Frankston’s image from “forgotten suburb” to major regional hub.
Planning and Reputation Drive Satisfaction
One of the clearest takeaways from the data is that residents are noticing — and supporting — Council’s planning direction. Key developments such as the Frankston Metropolitan Activity Centre Structure Plan and new measures to encourage inner-city redevelopment appear to be resonating with the community.
Ratings for the appearance of new developments (7.6/10) and efforts to improve Frankston’s image (7.3/10) were among the highest in the survey, suggesting locals see visible signs of progress.
Mayor Kris Bolam said Frankston is undergoing a generational shift.
“We’re seeing the most significant momentum for change in decades,” he said.
“These results show that residents understand and support the direction we’re heading in.”
The Council’s push to attract investment, revitalise key precincts, and expand business support programs has formed a major part of its post-COVID recovery strategy.
Strong Marks for Core Services
Residents also gave high marks to a range of everyday services. Community centres, youth programs, and customer service all received “excellent” or “very good” ratings, while environmental responsibility, infrastructure, and local advocacy also scored above average.
Such results suggest a steady level of community trust in the basics of council operations — a crucial foundation, particularly in the context of economic pressure and rising costs.
But Safety Remains Front of Mind
Not everything is rosy. While satisfaction is trending upward, survey responses reinforced that public safety, homelessness, and crime prevention remain ongoing concerns — particularly in the city centre.
Council said it would continue expanding its Community Connectors program, explore further CCTV investment, and back initiatives like Neighbourhood Watch and bike patrols to respond to these issues.
Despite these efforts, the survey indicates that visible safety concerns are still weighing on residents’ sense of confidence and wellbeing in public spaces.
Staff Satisfaction Reflects Internal Momentum
In a parallel internal staff engagement survey, Council reported that 80 per cent of its workforce believe Frankston City is a great place to work — a statistic cited by Interim CEO Cam Arullanantham as evidence of a healthy, high-performing organisation.
“A motivated and engaged workforce is critical to delivering better outcomes for the community,” Mr Arullanantham said.
A City in Transition
Taken as a whole, the results suggest that while residents are aware of the challenges — particularly around safety — they’re increasingly optimistic about the city’s direction and its leadership.
As Frankston continues to position itself as a destination to live, work and invest, community sentiment appears to be shifting in parallel — not through slogans, but through slow, visible change.
The full results are available via the Frankston City Council website.
