Most of us have a thing or two that really grinds our gears. A small issue that makes us see red and swear to make a complaint to our local council. The issue that makes me disproportionately angry is cars – especially big ones – not parking within designated lines. For others it might be the dumping of rubbish, trees overhanging footpaths, or cars parked across driveways or footpaths.
Thanks to an increasingly popular app that’s been adopted by many councils across Australia, we now know which of these issues annoys us most. The app, called Snap Send Solve, is now used by a number of councils in all states. This has allowed the collation of nationwide data that tells the story of which community issues set Aussies off the most.
What is Snap Send Solve?
Snap Send Solve is an app designed to make reporting issues to councils a simple and quick process. It eliminates the need to make phone calls or fill out forms. As the name suggests, Snap Send Solve involves a straightforward three-step process. The company’s website outlines it as follows:
- Snap: Spotted an issue? Snap [as in, take a photo] to help get it fixed!
- Send: Send a report on the spot. No clunky forms, emails or hold times.
- Solve: We’ll get it to the right place so it can get Solved – making you a Local Legend!
Whether you’re recognised as a ‘local legend’ might be a matter of conjecture – I sometimes wonder if my complaints earn me the title of ‘local nuisance’ – but the Snap Send Solve app has proved a successful method of getting things done.
My sister has taken the opportunity to use it a number of times through her suburban Melbourne council. In all cases, she reports, appropriate and timely action has been taken.
What is it that we love to complain about?
Data released by Snap Send Solve shows I’m not alone in my anger at those doing wrong when parking. But, although that’s the biggest issue for Queenslanders, it ranks a distant second in my home state of Victoria.
It seems my fellow Vics are more triggered by issues surrounding rubbish and rubbish bins. They made 111,414 complaints about rubbish and bins last year. That’s well ahead of second-placed parking (61,102), trees (56,867) and abandoned trolleys (51,947).
As it turns out, Victorians ranked first across the nation in making complaints using Snap Send Solve. More than half a million reports were filed by the Vics via the app. In New South Wales, the total came in at just over 239,000 reports.
It seems Queenslanders are more like me, with parking and cars the leading reported issues in the Sunshine State. A total of 17,283 such complaints were made, ahead of trees (12,024), rubbish and bins (11,765) and roads and signage (10,738).
The story in NSW was similar. Car parking (49,629) came in ahead of abandoned trolleys (37,764), rubbish and bins (36,999) and trees (16,039).
Rubbish and bins topped the table in Western Australia, but shopping trolleys were the leading causes of angst in South Australia and the ACT.
So, if there’s a local issue that really gets your goat, it might be easier than ever to vent your fury about it. Check with your local council to see if you can do so through the Snap Send Solve app.
What local issues make you see red? Does your council use the Snap Send Solve app? Let us know via the comments section below.
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