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The Community Views team surveyed 163 residents from Franklin and surrounds in May 2025.

Franklin and surrounds in Huon Valley

Franklin and surrounds is made up of Franklin, Glen Huon, and Castle Forbes Bay.

Living in Franklin and surrounds in May 2025

Franklin and surrounds Overall Liveability Index
Huon Valley
55.5
Cygnet and surrounds
57.8
Dover and surrounds
53.3
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

Franklin and surrounds Overall Liveability Index

Franklin and surrounds Overall Liveability Index 56.3

Huon Valley Overall Liveability Index

Huon Valley Overall Liveability Index 55.5

Franklin and surrounds
Huon Valley
Importance
Experience
Feeling safe
Importance
Experience
65%
7.0
61%
6.6
Natural environment
Importance
Experience
64%
7.9
58%
7.7
Health services
Importance
Experience
53%
4.1
58%
4.4
Sense of community
Importance
Experience
45%
6.4
48%
6.6
Affordable decent housing
Importance
Experience
38%
4.5
41%
4.6
Social cohesion
Importance
Experience
36%
6.2
27%
6.0
Public transport
Importance
Experience
31%
4.5
30%
4.1
Good job prospects
Importance
Experience
28%
3.9
23%
4.0
Shopping, leisure & dining
Importance
Experience
21%
3.9
24%
4.2
Making your way
Importance
Experience
21%
5.8
21%
5.8
Education
Importance
Experience
19%
4.1
23%
4.1
A prosperous economy
Importance
Experience
19%
5.0
17%
5.1
Opportunity for all
Importance
Experience
17%
5.2
20%
5.4
A lack of road congestion
Importance
Experience
17%
6.2
20%
6.3
Cultural facilities
Importance
Experience
15%
4.7
16%
4.9
Sports and recreation
Importance
Experience
11%
6.0
11%
6.0
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 Franklin 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?
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 163)
7.0
Very poor
Excellent
Huon Valley (n = 1245)
7.0
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 163)
12%
64%
24%
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?
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 163)
7.4
Very poor
Excellent
Huon Valley (n = 1245)
7.2
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 163)
7%
71%
23%
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?
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 163)
7.0
Very poor
Excellent
Huon Valley (n = 1243)
7.0
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 163)
7%
69%
23%
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 Franklin 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?
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 163)
6.0
Very poor
Excellent
Huon Valley (n = 1244)
6.1
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 163)
22%
50%
28%
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?
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 156)
Huon Valley (n = 1191)
Always late
3%
2%
Often late
4%
5%
Sometimes late
25%
29%
Never late
68%
64%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 163)
35%
59%
5%
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 Franklin and surrounds in May 2025

Which of the following best describes your personal views on climate change?
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 163)
Huon Valley (n = 1246)
Climate change is happening and is caused entirely or mostly by human activities
64%
52%
Climate change is happening and is caused equally by human activities and natural causes
20%
29%
Climate change is happening and is caused entirely or mostly by natural causes
7%
7%
Climate change is happening, but I am not sure what is causing it
6%
5%
I do not believe climate change is happening
3%
8%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Among those that believe in climate change, 63% indicated that their local area is currently feeling the effects of climate change and a further 27% expected their local area to feel the effects within their lifetime. Of those, 7% were very confident that their local area would be able to adapt to the effects of climate change and a further 33% somewhat confident. 59% 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?
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 158)
Huon Valley (n = 1164)
My local area is feeling the effects of climate change
63%
60%
My local area is not feeling the effects of climate change, but expect it will in my lifetime
27%
30%
My local area is not feeling the effects of climate change, and do not expect it will in my lifetime
10%
10%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 144)
Huon Valley (n = 1057)
Very confident
7%
6%
Somewhat confident
33%
37%
Not very confident
43%
38%
Not at all confident
16%
16%
Don't know
1%
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 (81%), Droughts (58%) and Severe wind (52%). The top actions residents felt should be taken to address the effects of climate change in their local area were: Protect and enhance local biodiversity (plants and animals) (65%), Conserve natural resources (e.g. air, water, soil, etc.) (63%) and Reduce pollution of the environment (62%).

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?
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 144)
Huon Valley (n = 1055)
Bushfires
81%
82%
Droughts
58%
56%
Severe wind
52%
54%
Flooding
46%
46%
Extreme heat
46%
46%
Storms
45%
44%
Sea level rise
28%
31%
Extremely cold temperatures
12%
18%
Landslide
11%
9%
Cyclones
3%
1%
Earthquakes
2%
2%
Other
11%
10%
None of these
2%
3%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 144)
Huon Valley (n = 1057)
Protect and enhance local biodiversity (plants and animals)
65%
62%
Conserve natural resources (e.g. air, water, soil, etc.)
63%
56%
Reduce pollution of the environment
62%
57%
Provide options for recycling waste (e.g. household waste, food waste, e-waste, etc.).
62%
58%
Educate residents on how to live more sustainably
59%
60%
Adopt renewable energy sources
57%
52%
Host renewable energy projects in the local area (e.g. solar, wind, hydro, etc.)
56%
46%
Create renewable energy sources
53%
42%
Through more sustainable building and development practices
48%
49%
Reduce carbon emissions in the local area
46%
38%
Encourage residents to buy locally
45%
48%
The use of more sustainable transport options
42%
41%
Other
7%
8%
None of these
5%
2%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Impacts of climate change on residents

Among those that believe in climate change, 47% indicated that they themselves are currently feeling the effects of climate change and a further 40% expected to within their lifetime. Of those, 15% were very confident that they would be able to adapt to the effects of climate change and a further 53% somewhat confident. 29% 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?
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 158)
Huon Valley (n = 1164)
I am feeling the effects of climate change
47%
47%
I am not feeling the effects of climate change, but expect to in my lifetime
40%
40%
I am not feeling the effects of climate change, and do not expect to in my lifetime
13%
13%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 139)
Huon Valley (n = 1023)
Very confident
15%
13%
Somewhat confident
53%
56%
Not very confident
27%
24%
Not at all confident
3%
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) (81%), Food production, making it harder and more expensive to get food items (71%) and Essential infrastructure vulnerability (e.g. water, electricity, gas, sanitation) (50%). 52% feel climate change will reduce their quality of life somewhat, and a further 22% 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?
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 139)
Huon Valley (n = 1023)
Increased household running costs (e.g. energy, water, insurance, etc)
81%
78%
Food production, making it harder and more expensive to get food items
71%
65%
Essential infrastructure vulnerability (e.g. water, electricity, gas, sanitation)
50%
43%
Loss or damage to your home/property
32%
38%
My ability to leave my home due to weather (e.g. extreme heat, cold, rain, storms, wind, etc.)
29%
32%
Challenges accessing essential services (e.g. emergency and health services)
29%
34%
Reduction in air quality
27%
28%
Challenges getting around (e.g. damage to roads, public transport)
26%
31%
Transport infrastructure vulnerability (e.g. roads, rail, public transport services)
24%
22%
Reduced personal safety or health to myself and/or those around me
23%
23%
My ability to access nature due to weather (e.g. erosion of parks, coastal areas, etc.)
21%
27%
Reduced value to your home/property
13%
16%
None of these
3%
2%
Other
3%
6%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 139)
Huon Valley (n = 1023)
It will improve a lot
1%
2%
It will improve somewhat
4%
5%
It will not change
14%
14%
It will reduce somewhat
52%
48%
It will reduce a lot
22%
22%
Don't know
7%
8%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Concerns in Franklin and surrounds in May 2025

What are the top three issues facing your local area?
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 163)
Huon Valley (n = 1246)
Inflation/Cost of Living
49%
47%
Healthcare/Hospitals
45%
42%
Housing/Price of Housing
40%
35%
Environmental Concerns
27%
27%
Unemployment
19%
15%
Law & order
18%
26%
Transport
17%
20%
Petrol Prices/Fuel
14%
11%
Education
13%
14%
Drug/Alcohol Abuse
13%
13%
Household Debt/Personal Debt
11%
10%
The Economy
10%
13%
Poverty/Inequality
10%
12%
Taxation
5%
4%
Population/Overpopulation
3%
5%
Issues Facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
2%
1%
Race Relations/Racism
2%
1%
Immigration
1%
2%
Defence
1%
1%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Local Area and Council in Franklin and surrounds in May 2025

Where do you connect and interact with others in your community?
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 163)
Huon Valley (n = 1246)
Cafes and restaurants
56%
52%
The local shops
52%
55%
Local events
52%
50%
On my street
34%
36%
Community groups
33%
30%
Your local park
33%
29%
Community/town halls
27%
24%
Sporting clubs
24%
23%
Libraries
12%
16%
Cultural and Religious institutions
12%
8%
Schools
12%
16%
Recreation centres
10%
12%
Youth centres
3%
3%
Seniors centres
3%
1%
Somewhere else
11%
15%
I don’t connect / interact with others in my community
9%
9%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Which of the following do you find yourself needing to leave the Huon Valley to access?
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 159)
Huon Valley (n = 1218)
Shops (department stores, specialty retailers, shopping centres)
84%
78%
Healthcare (general practitioner, specialist doctors, allied health services, hospitals)
78%
72%
Events (concerts, festivals, markets, exhibitions)
56%
53%
Leisure (cinemas, restaurants, cafes, bars)
56%
59%
Work
45%
39%
School (college, university, TAFE, specialised training courses)
23%
26%
Recreation (swimming pools, fitness centres, youth centres)
20%
21%
Sporting clubs (cricket, football, netball, gymnastics)
12%
10%
Community groups (arts groups, hobby groups, special interest clubs)
9%
13%
Childcare (daycare centres, after-school programs, specialised care services)
4%
4%
Other
4%
5%
None of the above
0%
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?
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 163)
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)
47%
41%
Pathways and walkways
33%
32%
Dog friendly areas
30%
28%
Access to wildlife habitats, environmental/bush land settings
30%
30%
Public furniture (e.g. tables, barbecue facilities)
25%
20%
Safety and lighting
25%
28%
Mixed use (good mix of retail, hospitality, professional services, community services, residential and open spaces on offer)
24%
26%
Trees and shrubs
23%
21%
Accessibility features (ramps, smooth pathways, accessible restrooms for people experiencing disability)
20%
18%
Events and activations (e.g. concerts, shows and exhibitions)
16%
15%
Shades
14%
11%
Play equipment
14%
14%
Welcoming and inclusive design
14%
18%
Aesthetics and public art (shopfront upgrades, creative lighting, murals, sculptures)
11%
11%
Signage for wayfinding
10%
8%
Understanding and connecting to Indigenous heritage
9%
6%
Nighttime activity (entertainment, restaurants and pubs)
8%
14%
Open lawns (e.g. for picnics, lounging)
7%
9%
Flower beds and gardens
6%
8%
Drinking fountains
4%
5%
Community notice boards
4%
6%
Pavilions and gazebos
3%
3%
None of the above
2%
3%
Other
1%
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?
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 163)
Huon Valley (n = 1246)
Demonstrate how feedback influences decisions
53%
47%
Enhance transparency in the decision-making process
48%
46%
Improve communication about upcoming opportunities
47%
47%
Provide more convenient locations or online options
37%
35%
Connect consultation topics more clearly to community impacts
22%
25%
Offer more flexible timing options
21%
25%
Provide support for those less confident in sharing opinions
21%
21%
Create more welcoming and supportive participation environments
21%
19%
Streamline the number of consultations
15%
11%
Diversify engagement formats to suit different preferences
12%
15%
Offer multilingual support and culturally inclusive approaches
7%
5%
Other suggestions
5%
4%
No changes needed - I'm satisfied with current options
9%
9%
Not interested in participating
9%
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 Franklin and surrounds in May 2025

Minimising waste through intentional purchasing decisions
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 161)
Huon Valley (n = 1242)
Currently doing
74%
72%
Not doing, but would like to do
14%
16%
None of these
11%
12%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Minimising waste through repurposing or reusing
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 162)
Huon Valley (n = 1243)
Currently doing
79%
80%
Not doing, but would like to do
11%
11%
None of these
10%
8%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Recycling wherever possible
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 163)
Huon Valley (n = 1244)
Currently doing
91%
90%
Not doing, but would like to do
4%
6%
None of these
5%
3%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Composting my food waste
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 163)
Huon Valley (n = 1245)
Currently doing
79%
70%
Not doing, but would like to do
15%
20%
None of these
7%
10%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Growing some of my own food
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 163)
Huon Valley (n = 1242)
Currently doing
75%
68%
Not doing, but would like to do
21%
24%
None of these
3%
8%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Choosing to buy local goods and services as much as I can
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 163)
Huon Valley (n = 1245)
Currently doing
77%
78%
Not doing, but would like to do
19%
17%
None of these
4%
5%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Having rooftop solar and/or home battery storage
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 163)
Huon Valley (n = 1240)
Currently doing
42%
41%
Not doing, but would like to do
43%
41%
None of these
15%
19%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Buying green power
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 163)
Huon Valley (n = 1238)
Currently doing
24%
19%
Not doing, but would like to do
40%
39%
None of these
35%
42%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Taking steps to reduce energy use in my home or business
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 161)
Huon Valley (n = 1242)
Currently doing
73%
71%
Not doing, but would like to do
16%
14%
None of these
11%
14%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Taking steps to reduce water use in my home or business
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 162)
Huon Valley (n = 1243)
Currently doing
73%
72%
Not doing, but would like to do
13%
14%
None of these
14%
15%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Gardening for biodiversity and taking actions to enhance habitat for wildlife
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 162)
Huon Valley (n = 1240)
Currently doing
55%
55%
Not doing, but would like to do
28%
26%
None of these
17%
19%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Being involved in environmental programs or groups (e.g. Bushcare, land for wildlife)
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 161)
Huon Valley (n = 1237)
Currently doing
14%
16%
Not doing, but would like to do
34%
35%
None of these
52%
50%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Responding to road signage related to animal crossings
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 161)
Huon Valley (n = 1242)
Currently doing
77%
77%
Not doing, but would like to do
8%
7%
None of these
15%
16%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Using green transport regularly (e.g. electric vehicle, bike, public transport)
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 162)
Huon Valley (n = 1239)
Currently doing
13%
17%
Not doing, but would like to do
31%
30%
None of these
56%
54%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Which of the following natural disaster preparation tasks have you undertaken within the last year?
Franklin and surrounds 2025 (n = 163)
Huon Valley (n = 1246)
I know what type of emergencies could affect me or my property
74%
69%
I am using the TasALERT App
64%
63%
I have completed maintenance activities around my house to reduce my risk
56%
53%
I have created an emergency evacuation plan with my household
39%
39%
My emergency evacuation plan considers any special needs that my household may have
38%
35%
I know what the Australian Warning System means
35%
36%
I have an emergency kit ready in case I need to shelter at home (for up to 3 days)
22%
19%
I have talked with neighbours about how we can help each other during an emergency
19%
19%
The people who support me can assist me during an emergency
17%
16%
I have an emergency kit ready in case I need to evacuate
15%
20%
I have practised my emergency evacuation plan
7%
7%
Other
4%
3%
None of the above
3%
8%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
What "other" natural disaster preparation tasks have you undertaken in the last year?