Residents help council respond to local works
Local residents are raising their voices on the issues that matter most, and Whyalla City Council is listening!
Between February and May this year, locals lodged 2,266 customer requests, representing a 10% increase compared to the same period last year.
More than 70% of those requests have already been resolved, with the rest currently underway or scheduled for action.
To keep the community informed, council has rolled out a new email-to-SMS notification system, providing real-time updates so residents know exactly where their request stands.
Mayor Phill Stone said Council is proud of its responsive customer service approach and grateful to residents who continue to report issues.
“We can’t be on every street or footpath at all times, so we genuinely rely on the community to be our eyes and ears,” Mayor Stone said.
“Whether it’s overgrown trees, dumped rubbish or damaged footpaths, we thank residents for taking the time to report it through the correct channels. It’s helping us keep Whyalla looking better and running well.”
Mayor Stone said the newly introduced SMS notifications help reassure residents that their reports are delivered,
“Let’s be honest, no one likes lodging a request and hearing crickets. People just want to know they’ve been heard and that something’s being done,” he said.
“Now, with a quick text message, we can give people peace of mind that their request is in the system and being sorted.”
Council is also encouraging more people to lodge requests via the My Local Services (MLS) App, which provides a fast, easy and trackable way to report issues.
“Using the My Local Services app is the quickest and most efficient way to lodge a request. It goes straight into our system and makes it easier for staff to assign and track,” Mayor Stone said.
“We’re asking residents to please use the proper channels and be patient – we can’t always get to everything immediately, but rest assured it’s on our radar and being scheduled.”
Key findings from the latest report include:
- Highest volume: February saw 642 customer requests.
- Tree-related enquiries: Rose to 292 for the quarter, up from 223 last period.
- Illegal dumping reports: Increased to 187.
- Beach requests: Spiked from just 3 in February to 19 in March.
- Customer contact methods: Phone remains the most popular contact method (45%), with email use also rising (25%).
For more information or to lodge a customer request, use the My Local Services App or contact council on 8640 3444 or council@whyalla.sa.gov.au