Great outdoors a hit in Karratha survey

The natural environment, leisure and recreation activities and a strong sense of community are the best things about life in the City of Karratha, according to the results of the local government’s 2017 Annual Community Survey.

The city achieved its equal best performance score in this year’s survey of the six years it has been running, receiving a 70 per cent satisfaction rating from respondents — up 2 per cent on last year.

The Pilbara outdoors was far and away people’s favourite part of local life, gaining 74.6 per cent of respondent votes, while leisure, recreation and entertainment, and a sense of community ranked second and third, and housing came in fourth.

Cost of living remained the main concern with only 43.9 per cent of votes.

Less than half of respondents were satisfied with safety and security, making it the second-ranked community concern in the City area up from third last year, and lack of retail offerings also ranked lowly.

The city was voted an average or better place to live by 85.4 per cent of people, though there was also a jump in those who rated it as poor.

More than a third said they had no plans to leave. Some 1572 residents took part in this year’s survey.

Participation in some towns including Wickham jumped significantly but numbers remained low in Roebourne and Point Samson.

Jemma Parkin, a City of Karratha resident of almost 20 years who was among the survey’s respondents, said her family loved exploring the Pilbara outdoors and using recreational facilities, such as the Karratha Leisureplex.

“There’s no hustle and bustle, it’s super friendly and the neighbours are great,” she said.

“It’s got a nice laidback lifestyle.”