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The Community Views team surveyed 144 residents from Dover and surrounds in May 2025.

Dover and surrounds in Huon Valley

Dover and surrounds is made up of Dover, Brooks Bay, Raminea, Police Point, Waterloo, Strathblane, Surges Bay, Hastings, Cairns Bay, Recherche, Southport, Surveyors Bay, and Glendevie.

Living in Dover and surrounds in May 2025

Dover and surrounds Overall Liveability Index
Huon Valley
55.5
Cygnet and surrounds
57.8
Franklin and surrounds
56.3
Geeveston and surrounds
53.5
Huonville/Ranelagh and surrounds
54.8
Collected May 2025

Use the values and experiences matrix to understand the relationship between what your residents believe makes somewhere a good place to live and how they experience their local area in that regard. The matrix highlights the attributes that your community believe needs to maintained and improved to advance overall liveability.

Greater Importance & Worse Experiences    Greater Importance & Better Experiences    Less important attributes

Dover and surrounds Overall Liveability Index

Dover and surrounds Overall Liveability Index 53.3

Huon Valley Overall Liveability Index

Huon Valley Overall Liveability Index 55.5

Dover and surrounds
Huon Valley
Importance
Experience
Health services
Importance
Experience
67%
4.6
58%
4.4
Feeling safe
Importance
Experience
56%
7.2
61%
6.6
Sense of community
Importance
Experience
50%
6.6
48%
6.6
Affordable decent housing
Importance
Experience
45%
4.4
41%
4.6
Natural environment
Importance
Experience
40%
8.1
58%
7.7
Good job prospects
Importance
Experience
34%
3.5
23%
4.0
Education
Importance
Experience
28%
3.8
23%
4.1
Public transport
Importance
Experience
28%
3.7
30%
4.1
Making your way
Importance
Experience
25%
5.1
21%
5.8
Opportunity for all
Importance
Experience
22%
5.3
20%
5.4
Social cohesion
Importance
Experience
21%
6.0
27%
6.0
A lack of road congestion
Importance
Experience
21%
7.5
20%
6.3
Shopping, leisure & dining
Importance
Experience
20%
2.9
24%
4.2
A prosperous economy
Importance
Experience
18%
4.7
17%
5.1
Sports and recreation
Importance
Experience
14%
4.7
11%
6.0
Cultural facilities
Importance
Experience
13%
4.2
16%
4.9
The arrows indicate whether a difference is statistically significant. Significance testing helps determine if a difference between two groups is likely real (shown by an arrow) or due to random chance (no arrow).
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Health and Wellbeing in Dover and surrounds in May 2025

Physical Health
How would you rate your physical health?
Do you think your physical health will get better, worse or stay the same over the next year?
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 144)
6.8
Very poor
Excellent
Huon Valley (n = 1245)
7.0
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 144)
12%
62%
25%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Huon Valley (n = 1246)
13%
60%
27%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Mental Health
How would you rate your mental health?
Do you think your mental health will get better, worse or stay the same over the next year?
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 144)
7.2
Very poor
Excellent
Huon Valley (n = 1245)
7.2
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 144)
12%
72%
16%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Huon Valley (n = 1245)
8%
72%
20%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Social wellbeing
How would you rate your social wellbeing?
Do you think your social wellbeing will get better, worse or stay the same over the next year?
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 142)
6.8
Very poor
Excellent
Huon Valley (n = 1243)
7.0
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 141)
6%
80%
14%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Huon Valley (n = 1243)
8%
73%
19%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Financial circumstances in Dover and surrounds in May 2025

How would you rate your personal financial circumstances?
Do you think your personal financial circumstance will get worse, stay the same or get better over the next year?
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 144)
6.2
Very poor
Excellent
Huon Valley (n = 1244)
6.1
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 144)
16%
69%
16%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Huon Valley (n = 1246)
21%
55%
24%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
How often, if ever, are you late meeting your financial commitments?
Do you think the economic situation in your local area will get worse, stay the same or get better over the next year?
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 134)
Huon Valley (n = 1191)
Always late
0%
2%
Often late
3%
5%
Sometimes late
27%
29%
Never late
70%
64%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 144)
42%
53%
4%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Huon Valley (n = 1246)
41%
52%
7%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Impacts of climate change in Dover and surrounds in May 2025

Which of the following best describes your personal views on climate change?
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 144)
Huon Valley (n = 1246)
Climate change is happening and is caused entirely or mostly by human activities
45%
52%
Climate change is happening and is caused equally by human activities and natural causes
30%
29%
Climate change is happening and is caused entirely or mostly by natural causes
10%
7%
Climate change is happening, but I am not sure what is causing it
10%
5%
I do not believe climate change is happening
5%
8%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Among those that believe in climate change, 45% indicated that their local area is currently feeling the effects of climate change and a further 38% expected their local area to feel the effects within their lifetime. Of those, 9% were very confident that their local area would be able to adapt to the effects of climate change and a further 29% somewhat confident. 58% were not confident.

Please select the extent to which climate change is impacting or will impact your local area in your lifetime?
How confident are you that your local area will be able to adapt to the effects of climate change in your lifetime?
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 136)
Huon Valley (n = 1164)
My local area is feeling the effects of climate change
45%
60%
My local area is not feeling the effects of climate change, but expect it will in my lifetime
38%
30%
My local area is not feeling the effects of climate change, and do not expect it will in my lifetime
18%
10%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 118)
Huon Valley (n = 1057)
Very confident
9%
6%
Somewhat confident
29%
37%
Not very confident
49%
38%
Not at all confident
10%
16%
Don't know
4%
4%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Among the group of residents that felt their local area is currently feeling, or will feel, the effects of climate change in their lifetime, the top local area climate-related events were: Bushfires (78%), Severe wind (53%) and Droughts (45%). The top actions residents felt should be taken to address the effects of climate change in their local area were: Educate residents on how to live more sustainably (67%), Provide options for recycling waste (e.g. household waste, food waste, e-waste, etc.). (58%) and Encourage residents to buy locally (52%).

How is your local area currently, or how do you expect it will, feel the effects of climate change in your lifetime?
What do you feel are the best ways to address the effects of climate change in your local area?
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 118)
Huon Valley (n = 1055)
Bushfires
78%
82%
Severe wind
53%
54%
Droughts
45%
56%
Sea level rise
45%
31%
Storms
44%
44%
Extreme heat
33%
46%
Flooding
28%
46%
Extremely cold temperatures
19%
18%
Landslide
3%
9%
Earthquakes
0%
2%
Cyclones
0%
1%
Other
13%
10%
None of these
7%
3%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 118)
Huon Valley (n = 1057)
Educate residents on how to live more sustainably
67%
60%
Provide options for recycling waste (e.g. household waste, food waste, e-waste, etc.).
58%
58%
Encourage residents to buy locally
52%
48%
Protect and enhance local biodiversity (plants and animals)
51%
62%
Adopt renewable energy sources
51%
52%
Conserve natural resources (e.g. air, water, soil, etc.)
49%
56%
Reduce pollution of the environment
48%
57%
Host renewable energy projects in the local area (e.g. solar, wind, hydro, etc.)
44%
46%
Through more sustainable building and development practices
42%
49%
Create renewable energy sources
39%
42%
The use of more sustainable transport options
37%
41%
Reduce carbon emissions in the local area
31%
38%
Other
5%
8%
None of these
2%
2%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Impacts of climate change on residents

Among those that believe in climate change, 38% indicated that they themselves are currently feeling the effects of climate change and a further 37% expected to within their lifetime. Of those, 17% were very confident that they would be able to adapt to the effects of climate change and a further 55% somewhat confident. 26% were not confident.

Please select the extent to which climate change is impacting or will impact you personally in your lifetime?
How confident are you that you personally will be able to adapt to the effects of climate change in your lifetime?
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 136)
Huon Valley (n = 1164)
I am feeling the effects of climate change
38%
47%
I am not feeling the effects of climate change, but expect to in my lifetime
37%
40%
I am not feeling the effects of climate change, and do not expect to in my lifetime
25%
13%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 111)
Huon Valley (n = 1023)
Very confident
17%
13%
Somewhat confident
55%
56%
Not very confident
24%
24%
Not at all confident
2%
5%
Don't know
3%
3%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Among the group of residents that felt they are currently feeling, or will feel, the effects of climate change in their lifetime, the top personal impacts were: Increased household running costs (e.g. energy, water, insurance, etc) (75%), Food production, making it harder and more expensive to get food items (59%) and Essential infrastructure vulnerability (e.g. water, electricity, gas, sanitation) (42%). 52% feel climate change will reduce their quality of life somewhat, and a further 12% feel it will reduce their quality of life a lot.

How are you currently, or how do you expect to, personally feel the effects of climate change in your lifetime?
Which of the following best represents how you believe the effects of climate change will affect your quality of life?
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 111)
Huon Valley (n = 1023)
Increased household running costs (e.g. energy, water, insurance, etc)
75%
78%
Food production, making it harder and more expensive to get food items
59%
65%
Essential infrastructure vulnerability (e.g. water, electricity, gas, sanitation)
42%
43%
Loss or damage to your home/property
41%
38%
My ability to leave my home due to weather (e.g. extreme heat, cold, rain, storms, wind, etc.)
36%
32%
Challenges accessing essential services (e.g. emergency and health services)
33%
34%
Challenges getting around (e.g. damage to roads, public transport)
32%
31%
Reduced personal safety or health to myself and/or those around me
27%
23%
Transport infrastructure vulnerability (e.g. roads, rail, public transport services)
24%
22%
My ability to access nature due to weather (e.g. erosion of parks, coastal areas, etc.)
23%
27%
Reduction in air quality
17%
28%
Reduced value to your home/property
15%
16%
Other
7%
6%
None of these
3%
2%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 111)
Huon Valley (n = 1023)
It will improve a lot
0%
2%
It will improve somewhat
9%
5%
It will not change
17%
14%
It will reduce somewhat
52%
48%
It will reduce a lot
12%
22%
Don't know
10%
8%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Concerns in Dover and surrounds in May 2025

What are the top three issues facing your local area?
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 144)
Huon Valley (n = 1246)
Inflation/Cost of Living
53%
47%
Healthcare/Hospitals
39%
42%
Housing/Price of Housing
31%
35%
Unemployment
27%
15%
Environmental Concerns
27%
27%
Transport
18%
20%
The Economy
17%
13%
Education
17%
14%
Law & order
16%
26%
Petrol Prices/Fuel
15%
11%
Drug/Alcohol Abuse
11%
13%
Poverty/Inequality
10%
12%
Household Debt/Personal Debt
9%
10%
Taxation
3%
4%
Immigration
2%
2%
Population/Overpopulation
2%
5%
Race Relations/Racism
1%
1%
Defence
1%
1%
Issues Facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
0%
1%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Local Area and Council in Dover and surrounds in May 2025

Where do you connect and interact with others in your community?
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 144)
Huon Valley (n = 1246)
The local shops
60%
55%
Local events
53%
50%
Cafes and restaurants
38%
52%
On my street
30%
36%
Community groups
24%
30%
Sporting clubs
19%
23%
Your local park
19%
29%
Community/town halls
14%
24%
Schools
12%
16%
Libraries
12%
16%
Recreation centres
9%
12%
Cultural and Religious institutions
8%
8%
Youth centres
0%
3%
Seniors centres
0%
1%
Somewhere else
19%
15%
I don’t connect / interact with others in my community
12%
9%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Which of the following do you find yourself needing to leave the Huon Valley to access?
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 142)
Huon Valley (n = 1218)
Shops (department stores, specialty retailers, shopping centres)
76%
78%
Healthcare (general practitioner, specialist doctors, allied health services, hospitals)
72%
72%
Events (concerts, festivals, markets, exhibitions)
54%
53%
Leisure (cinemas, restaurants, cafes, bars)
49%
59%
School (college, university, TAFE, specialised training courses)
25%
26%
Work
23%
39%
Recreation (swimming pools, fitness centres, youth centres)
19%
21%
Community groups (arts groups, hobby groups, special interest clubs)
14%
13%
Sporting clubs (cricket, football, netball, gymnastics)
10%
10%
Childcare (daycare centres, after-school programs, specialised care services)
1%
4%
Other
8%
5%
None of the above
2%
1%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

What "other" services do you find yourself needing to leave the Huon Valley to access?
Thinking about parks, public facilities and open/green spaces in the Huon Valley, which of the following elements are most important when making a decision to visit them?
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 144)
Huon Valley (n = 1246)
Amenity (cleanliness, graffiti cleaning, public seating and benches, public toilets, garbage bins)
69%
69%
Ease of access features (close to home, easy to find, availability of carparking and bicycle facilities)
31%
41%
Safety and lighting
30%
28%
Pathways and walkways
29%
32%
Mixed use (good mix of retail, hospitality, professional services, community services, residential and open spaces on offer)
25%
26%
Public furniture (e.g. tables, barbecue facilities)
22%
20%
Access to wildlife habitats, environmental/bush land settings
22%
30%
Dog friendly areas
21%
28%
Accessibility features (ramps, smooth pathways, accessible restrooms for people experiencing disability)
18%
18%
Events and activations (e.g. concerts, shows and exhibitions)
17%
15%
Trees and shrubs
15%
21%
Welcoming and inclusive design
13%
18%
Play equipment
12%
14%
Signage for wayfinding
11%
8%
Nighttime activity (entertainment, restaurants and pubs)
11%
14%
Aesthetics and public art (shopfront upgrades, creative lighting, murals, sculptures)
10%
11%
Shades
10%
11%
Community notice boards
9%
6%
None of the above
8%
3%
Flower beds and gardens
8%
8%
Drinking fountains
8%
5%
Open lawns (e.g. for picnics, lounging)
6%
9%
Pavilions and gazebos
4%
3%
Understanding and connecting to Indigenous heritage
4%
6%
Other
4%
1%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

What "other" elements are important when making a decision to visit parks, public facilities and open/green spaces in the Huon Valley?
How could we make it easier for you to participate in Council's consultation and engagement activities?
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 144)
Huon Valley (n = 1246)
Enhance transparency in the decision-making process
51%
46%
Demonstrate how feedback influences decisions
50%
47%
Improve communication about upcoming opportunities
48%
47%
Provide more convenient locations or online options
36%
35%
Offer more flexible timing options
31%
25%
Connect consultation topics more clearly to community impacts
27%
25%
Create more welcoming and supportive participation environments
18%
19%
Provide support for those less confident in sharing opinions
18%
21%
Diversify engagement formats to suit different preferences
12%
15%
Streamline the number of consultations
11%
11%
Offer multilingual support and culturally inclusive approaches
4%
5%
Other suggestions
3%
4%
No changes needed - I'm satisfied with current options
9%
9%
Not interested in participating
7%
9%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

What "other" suggestions do you have to make it easier for you to participate in Council's consultation and engagement activities?

Sustainable Behaviours and Natural Hazards in Dover and surrounds in May 2025

Minimising waste through intentional purchasing decisions
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 144)
Huon Valley (n = 1242)
Currently doing
75%
72%
Not doing, but would like to do
17%
16%
None of these
8%
12%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Minimising waste through repurposing or reusing
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 144)
Huon Valley (n = 1243)
Currently doing
80%
80%
Not doing, but would like to do
11%
11%
None of these
9%
8%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Recycling wherever possible
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 144)
Huon Valley (n = 1244)
Currently doing
89%
90%
Not doing, but would like to do
8%
6%
None of these
3%
3%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Composting my food waste
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 144)
Huon Valley (n = 1245)
Currently doing
75%
70%
Not doing, but would like to do
17%
20%
None of these
8%
10%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Growing some of my own food
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 144)
Huon Valley (n = 1242)
Currently doing
69%
68%
Not doing, but would like to do
18%
24%
None of these
13%
8%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Choosing to buy local goods and services as much as I can
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 144)
Huon Valley (n = 1245)
Currently doing
79%
78%
Not doing, but would like to do
15%
17%
None of these
6%
5%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Having rooftop solar and/or home battery storage
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 144)
Huon Valley (n = 1240)
Currently doing
45%
41%
Not doing, but would like to do
38%
41%
None of these
18%
19%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Buying green power
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 144)
Huon Valley (n = 1238)
Currently doing
13%
19%
Not doing, but would like to do
37%
39%
None of these
50%
42%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Taking steps to reduce energy use in my home or business
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 144)
Huon Valley (n = 1242)
Currently doing
70%
71%
Not doing, but would like to do
10%
14%
None of these
20%
14%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Taking steps to reduce water use in my home or business
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 144)
Huon Valley (n = 1243)
Currently doing
80%
72%
Not doing, but would like to do
6%
14%
None of these
15%
15%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Gardening for biodiversity and taking actions to enhance habitat for wildlife
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 144)
Huon Valley (n = 1240)
Currently doing
58%
55%
Not doing, but would like to do
20%
26%
None of these
22%
19%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Being involved in environmental programs or groups (e.g. Bushcare, land for wildlife)
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 144)
Huon Valley (n = 1237)
Currently doing
18%
16%
Not doing, but would like to do
25%
35%
None of these
57%
50%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Responding to road signage related to animal crossings
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 144)
Huon Valley (n = 1242)
Currently doing
80%
77%
Not doing, but would like to do
2%
7%
None of these
18%
16%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Using green transport regularly (e.g. electric vehicle, bike, public transport)
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 144)
Huon Valley (n = 1239)
Currently doing
15%
17%
Not doing, but would like to do
26%
30%
None of these
59%
54%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Which of the following natural disaster preparation tasks have you undertaken within the last year?
Dover and surrounds 2025 (n = 144)
Huon Valley (n = 1246)
I know what type of emergencies could affect me or my property
65%
69%
I have completed maintenance activities around my house to reduce my risk
57%
53%
I am using the TasALERT App
48%
63%
I have created an emergency evacuation plan with my household
36%
39%
My emergency evacuation plan considers any special needs that my household may have
35%
35%
I know what the Australian Warning System means
32%
36%
I have an emergency kit ready in case I need to evacuate
27%
20%
I have an emergency kit ready in case I need to shelter at home (for up to 3 days)
26%
19%
I have talked with neighbours about how we can help each other during an emergency
17%
19%
The people who support me can assist me during an emergency
16%
16%
I have practised my emergency evacuation plan
7%
7%
Other
4%
3%
None of the above
8%
8%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
What "other" natural disaster preparation tasks have you undertaken in the last year?