To assist the Council in making a decision on this issue, a survey was posted in October 2009, to all ratepayers explaining the proposal.

A total of 4,600 survey forms were distributed on the basis of one form per rating assessment and posted to the ratepayers nominated mailing address. Organisations such as the Department of Housing, Upper Lachlan Shire Council, Telstra, Country Energy and the like were not sent survey forms.

To help protect the integrity of the survey results each form was individually numbered and no additional survey forms were issued. Photocopies or forms with the identification number removed were not considered valid and were disregarded. Forms that failed to adequately identify who was responding were also not considered valid.

Of the 4,600 forms mailed, Council received 912 valid responses. This indicates that 20 per cent of the ratepayers returned their forms.

To the question: Do you want an increase level of service on the local road network, 63pc said yes and 37 pc said no.

To the question: Do you want to maintain the existing level of service on the local road network, 63pc said yes while 37pc said no.

To the last question 3: Do you support a special rates variation application, 31pc said yes while 69pc said no.

During the meeting a variety of points of views were expressed by the councillors. Those voting against the proposal stated the overwhelming negative response by the Shire's ratepayers as the reason for their vote.

Councillors stated that while they were aware that ratepayers wanted the Shire's road network improved, they recognised that these improvements needed to be accomplished through other means then increasing the rates.

Council recognised that they will need to look closely at next year's Management Plan to identify other options to fund road improvements.