Biannual MARKYT community scorecard reveals City of Albany as sixth-best performing regional LGA

A scorecard filled out by City of Albany residents has revealed that despite a dire housing situation, the city is the sixth-best-performing regional local government.

Conducted every two years, the MARKYT community scorecard report benchmarks the city’s performance against other WA local governments and informs the review of the city’s strategic community plan.

The report released last Wednesday revealed a score of 68/100 in overall performance and 81/100 as a place to live.

Both scores are above the industry averages of 63 and 74 respectively, and an increase from the 2023 survey results.

Albany placed sixth in overall performance out of 32 regional LGAs, and 15th overall.

Particularly high-scoring amenities included library and sporting/recreation facilities and services, as well as community engagement, tourism offerings, community buildings and marine facilities.

City of Albany mayor Greg Stocks said he was pleased to see the city staff’s hard work reflected in the results.

“Albany continues to shine as a place to live, work and visit,” he said.

“Not only did we see solid performance across most services, but nearly all of them rated at or above the industry average when benchmarked against councils across the State.

“Our library services, sport and recreation facilities, and destination marketing were all stand-out performers, and we saw positive gains in areas like community engagement, communication and local roads.

“We’re incredibly grateful to the more than 2500 people who took the time to share their thoughts, as this feedback helps build the foundation of our strategic plans and ensures we stay focused on what matters most to our community.”

The scorecard was open from March 10-28, 2025 and was the best answered in terms of numbers, with a record 2524 people filling out the form.

Housing stood out as a clear area for improvement, rating “weak and declining”.

Actions recommended by the community to solve the crisis included lobbying the State and Federal governments to increase supply, repurposing existing buildings, simplifying planning approvals and increasing social and crisis accommodation.

Health services also performed low, with residents asking for increased hospital capacity, mental health and rehabilitation support, more aged care facilities and the installation of a hydrotherapy pool.

Other priority areas outlined included building more footpaths, trails and cycleways, improving local roads and bridges, and boosting economic development and job creation.

“Community expectations are clear — housing, healthcare access, economic development, local roads and footpaths are key priorities,” Mr Stocks said.

“These are issues affecting regional communities across Australia, and we’ll continue to advocate strongly alongside our partners in government.”

Results from the 2021 scorecard revealed Albany to be the best-performing regional local government in the State with a score of 75/100, before the 2023 survey saw a drop to 66/100, still two points above the average of 64.

The results will feed directly into the city’s review of its strategic community plan and help shape future budget decisions and advocacy efforts.