Community & Business
20 February, 2024
what you said in our Express Yourself Community Survey
MORE than 1000 people from across the Tablelands took the time out to complete the first ever Express Yourself Community Survey and the results show clearly what we value about living in our region and what we want.
The Express thanks all those who responded, allowing us to be a voice for the community.
Not surprisingly, most of the responses (64%) came from the region’s two biggest urban centres, with Mareeba locals submitting 41% of the total responses while 22% came from Atherton.
Older people make up the majority of respondents, with 83% over 46 years of age, and 60% of all those who did the survey have lived in the region for more than two decades.
Retirees made up 40% of respondents, while 56% said they worked in the Mareeba Shire or in the Tablelands Regional Council area.
Only 14% of respondents rented their home, and 41% of those said they had found it more difficult to get a rental in the past 12 months.
🌆 What town do you live in, or near?
41% - Mareeba
22% - Atherton
6.1% - Malanda
4.5% - Tolga
4.3% - Yungaburra
3.8% - Ravenshoe
2.2% - Millaa Millaa
1.9% - Dimbulah
1.7% - Herberton
1.7% - Kuranda
1.4% - Walkamin
Other towns rated below 1%.
🏠 How long have you lived in the Tablelands Regional Council area or in Mareeba Shire?
38% - 20+ years
22% - All my life
19% - 10-20 years
11% - 5-10 years
9.7% - 0-5 years
👨💼 Tell us your age group:
56% - 61-85 years
27% - 46-60 years
9% - 36-45 years
5.5% - 21-35 years
2.1% - 85+ years
1.3% - 16-20 years
💼 Where do you work?
56% - In our region (TRC and Mareeba Shire)
40% - Don't work (retired)
2.9% - In Cairns
🏘️ Do you own your home or rent?
86% - Own
14% - Rent
🏘️ Did you find it difficult to find a rental in the past 12 months?
47% - No
41% - Yes
7.3% - No, but it cost me more
4.5% - No, but it took longer
🌄 What do you value most about living in our region:
66% - Wonderful weather (cooler than coast)
60% - Living in the country, but access to a city
58% - Peace and quiet
38% - Not so many people
37% - The wonderful environment
31% - Close to family and friends
28% - Easy access to fresh produce and other foods
26% - No traffic congestion
26% - Smaller communities where everyone knows each other
22% - Very few traffic lights
21% - More community spirit
9.1% - Affordable housing/property
👎 What do you dislike about living in our region:
61% - Poor condition of roads
59% - Lack of specialist medical services
56% - Have to go to Cairns for medical issues
25% - Lack of department and specialty stores
20% - Lack of restaurant choices
11% - Not enough things to do
5.7% - Nothing
5.4% - Not enough night life
🛣️ Are you in favour of an alternative road route from the Northern Tablelands to Cairns?
92% - Yes
8% - No
🛣️ How urgent do you think this road is needed?
75.1% - Urgently needed
15.7% - In next 5 years
5.2% - In next 10 years
3.9% - No rush
🛣️ Do you feel safe driving the Kuranda Range Road?
42.5% - Never, I'm always wary
42.2% - Not when it rains
28.7% - Not in heavy rain
22.1% - Not at night
9.4% - Yes, all the time
