The survey asked the following questions:

• What to you like most about Newport?
• What do you like least about Newport?
• What does Newport need and where should such needs be located?
•  What are the challenges facing Newport now and in the future?
• Do you have any other comments regarding Newport and/or the Newport Village masterplan survey?

RECORDING OF RESPONSES
41 people responded to the survey. Below is a summary of the survey responses.  In general where a number of people made the same point, that point is only noted once but with an indication of how many people felt similarly about the particular issue.    A full list of the issues raised is available.

What do you like most about Newport?

• By far the most popular ‘like’ is the village atmosphere, mentioned by 30 people.  17 people identified the beachside location and lifestyle.  The comparative lack of development (compared to Dee Why and Mona Vale), lack of overcrowding, convenient location, and boutique retail as well as cafes and restaurants, were also favourably mentioned.

What do you like least about Newport?

• Traffic-related problems lead the ‘dislikes’ (21 people) closely followed by the lack of a supermarket (14 people).  There was a perception from 6 people that the shopping centre is dying, supported by 9 comments bemoaning the recent closure of shops.  There was some concern about the appearance of the village and the maintenance of its facilities; this was liked to concerns about graffiti and vandalism (6 people).  6 people also felt that there is a lack of ‘ambience’ resulting from uninspiring architecture and shopfront appearance.

What does Newport need and where should such needs be located?

• 22 people want a supermarket.  The next most popular ‘need’ (12 people) is for new developments to be “appealing to the eye”.  Other identified needs were spread relatively evenly across the respondents and tended to have between 2 and 5 people noting them.  They include facilities for young people, a mix of stores, improved streetscape and public spaces, better visual quality (including landscaping, mitigation of visual impact of infrastructure and more landscaping.  The need for better pedestrian connections was identified in comments about crossing roads as well as accessing shops from car parking and surrounding areas.  Traffic calming / management was mentioned by 11 people.

What are the challenges facing Newport now and in the future?

• Fairly equally divided (8,9,10 comments respectively) were the challenges of stopping overdevelopment, dealing with traffic congestion and parking needs, and providing opportunities and “the right environment” for businesses to return.  The centre’s relevance, level of patronage, retail mix and variety of products and services were touched on by 13 people; this is strongly linked to the desire already noted to encourage and support businesses in Newport.  In total therefore, 23 people see the sustainability of the commercial area as a key challenge.