COVID survey to check ‘pulse’ of Mackay community 12 months on

The survey, to begin today, is a year on from one commissioned by Mackay Regional Council in May last year to gauge the impact of COVID-19.

Results from this new survey will be benchmarked against the original survey to provide a clear picture of how residents are faring.

Mayor Greg Williamson said the first survey had highlighted that one-third of Mackay region residents reported their employment had been negatively impacted.

He said this included reduced hours, being stood down or difficulty finding work.

“At that time most residents were hopeful for the future. However, one in three felt at risk of their situation worsening in the next six months.”

Mayor Williamson said certain sectors were still doing it tough due to COVID, but Mackay had largely been shielded from major impacts.

“Our big employers, such as the mining and mining support industries and sugar, have kept rolling on,’’ he said.

“Hopefully, this new survey will show improvement in negative COVID impacts and residents’ thoughts on the future.

“COVID is still impacting our daily lives, including travel, and Mackay residents were mandated to wear masks during a recent Brisbane lockdown.

“It isn’t going away anytime soon, and this new survey will provide a good snapshot of any immediate and future concerns, compared to a year ago.”

The survey will include a random phone poll of residents, as well as the option for people to respond online.

It will be undertaken by IRIS Research on behalf of council. IRIS Research has conducted Community Attitude Surveys for council dating back to 2009, as well as the first COVID-19 Community Pulse Survey 12 months ago.

IRIS Research will be calling Mackay mobile phones and landlines to conduct the phone survey. The callers will clearly identify that they are calling from IRIS Research on behalf of Mackay Regional Council.

Anyone wanting to complete the survey online will be able to do on council’s website.