SCENIC ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020
Winton SHIRE COUNCIL LEGENDARY SAFE SCENIC
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Contents TO OUR STAKEHOLDERS ...... 3 Forward...... 3 Mission Statement ...... 3 Vision ...... 3 Values ...... 3 MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR ...... 4 WINTON SHIRE COUNCIL STAFF PROFILE AS AT 30TH JUNE 2020 ...... 14 COMMUNITY CONTACT AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS ...... 15 COMMUNITY FINANCIAL REPORT 2019/2020...... 16 RESOLUTIONS 2019/2020 ...... 18 CAPITALISATION THRESHOLDS ...... 19 COUNCILLORS FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES ...... 19 CONDUCT AND PERFORMANCE OF COUNCILLORS ...... 20 ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION COMPLAINTS ...... 21 OVERSEAS TRAVEL ...... 22 SENIOR MANAGEMENT REMUNERATION ...... 22 EXPENDITURE ON GRANTS TO COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS ...... 22 OTHER CONTENTS ...... 23 SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS ACTIVITIES ...... 25 GOVERNANCE AND FINANCE ...... 26 TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE ...... 31 COMMUNITY, CULTURE AND LIFESTYLE ...... 38 Achievements of the Aims of the Queensland Plan ...... 49 Appendix A – Financial Statements 2019-2020 ...... 51 Appendix B - Expenses Reimbursement and Provision of Facilities for Mayor and Councillors Policy ...... 92
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TO OUR STAKEHOLDERS
Forward This Annual Report provides a summary of activities undertaken by Winton Shire Council during the 2019/2020 financial year. Its purpose is to provide information of value to businesses, government departments and most importantly, the Winton Shire community, who can then assess the delivery and performance of their Council. Mission Statement “To lead and work in partnership with the Community, to improve our lifestyle whilst preserving our heritage for future generations” Vision Winton, Legendary, Safe, Scenic
Values
Accountability The ethical concept associated with responsibility, enforcement, blameworthiness, transparent process, liability and other terms associated with being answerable for the trust that is bestowed by those whom we serve.
Effectiveness The idea of carrying out a program or process that is entirely adequate to accomplish the purpose that has been identified as a goal or aspiration.
Efficiency The concept that in the process of pursuing or effecting any program, procedure or task where all wastage is minimised.
Sustainability Is the capacity to maintain a certain process or state indefinitely. When applied in an economic context, a business is sustainable if it has adapted its practices for the use of renewable resources and is accountable for the environmental impacts of its activities.
Meaningful Community Engagement Encompasses the principle of seeking the views and opinions of the Community. This is to be through an effective committee system and public consultation process as part of Council’s decision-making methodology.
Good Governance This describes the process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not implemented). Hereby, public institutions conduct public affairs, manage public resources and guarantee the realization of human rights. Good governance accomplishes this in a manner essentially free of abuse and corruption and with due regard for the rule of law.
Ethical & Legal Behavior Ethical behavior is characterized by honesty, fairness and equity in all interpersonal relationships. Ethical behavior respects the dignity, diversity and rights of individuals and groups of people. When coupled with legal behavior there is an expectation that there will be a penalty for conduct that breaches any law, statute or regulation.
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MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR
Once again, it’s been an eventful year in Winton. have engaged new event managers (Chandler & Everyone was wondering what the year would bring Shaw) to co-ordinate the 2021 event with a new after the Monsoon of early 2019, then back into drought direction and a revised budget. The WWOWF hopefully by the end of the year, but no one predicted the events will attract 1000’s of people into our region early in the of 2020 a worldwide pandemic. COVID-19, from early tourist season and give our economy a kickstart after 2020, crippled our economy. It closed businesses for the off season. many months and stopped travellers and tourists, who are essential to our economy, from visiting Winton. This The Geothermal continues to be a major issue for was a very difficult time for not only Winton but the council. The commissioning process looked promising world. These troubling times tested our shire, but it also in late 2019 but due to malfunctions the project has showed the grit and determination that makes Winton stalled. Be rest assured council is working hard with the such a special place. Locals rallied around and Project Manager & Contractor to rectify the dispute and supported businesses and helped friends and family for everyone to honour their side of the contract. This get through the lock down. During this time, the rural project has seen a significant input of funds by council industry continued as normal, being isolated out of and we need to get it operational, so we can start town, and played a big role in keeping the economy seeing some return on investment. ticking over, especially the rural supply businesses who commented that “they haven’t been this busy for a long Moving into the future council has initiated several time”. Thankfully restrictions started to ease in May projects this term to help guide infrastructure and through to June and life started to get back to normal funding opportunities, these include; with travellers and tourists flooding into town. • Showgrounds Masterplan; It’s been another busy year for our road crews with the • Saleyards Masterplan; continued rollout of the 2019 flood damage program. • Childcare Masterplan; Work has continued in the southern part of our shire • Airport Feasibility Study; before moving into the north. Winton Shire has over • Town Planning Scheme. 2000km of the rural road network that needed repairing after the monsoon and this program of works has kept Finally, I’d like to welcome our new council team which both our staff and contractors fully engaged for the last was elected in March 2020. We have 3 new councillors 12 months and will continue into the 20/21 financial Cr Sandy Gillies, Cr Anne Seymour and Cr Cathy White year. There have also been construction jobs occurring who, I’m sure, will be a great addition and work hard to with new sections on the Richmond and Hughenden make Winton a prosperous shire into the future. The Road. It’s important that we keep advocating to below portfolio’s have been assigned to councillors: complete the seal on the Richmond Road as it’s the Cr Sandy Gillies Governance and Finance missing link of the Australian Dinosaur Trail and a major transport corridor for properties in the gulf. Cr Anne Seymour Business & Economic Development Cr Tina Elliott Community, Culture & Lifestyle The completion of the redevelopment of Elderslie Cr Shane Mann Transport, Infrastructure & Utilities Street was a priority during this term of council and it’s Cr Cathy White Agriculture & Rural Development great to see both locals and travellers utilising the shaded areas. The amount of comments I’ve received I’d also like to thank Judy, Joel and Travis for their hard regarding the atmosphere and friendliness of our CBD work as a councillor and assistance to myself since is a credit to everyone. The new Water Park was also becoming mayor. opened in time for the Outback Festival which was welcomed by both kids and parents. This has been a great addition to the liveability of our community and attracts visitors from neighbouring shires During the last 12 months council has enacted several initiatives to help stimulate our economy such as:
• The Winton Card which put $300,000 into our local businesses; • $100,000 to local community groups; • Continued roll out of the Exclusion Fence Program which will see about 400km of fence added and; • The Community Micro Grants Program.
Council decided not to hold the WWOWF in 2020 after Cr Gavin Baskett the 2019 event was not as successful as we hoped. In hindsight, this was the right string to pull as COVID-19 restrictions would have meant we had to cancel. We Annual Report 4 | P a g e
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Cr T Elliott – Deputy
Mayor Community, Culture and Lifestyle celebration of our community and a fitting tribute to International Women’s Day. With the arrival of the COVID-19 virus, our Community The Community, Culture and Lifestyle Portfolio has Programs were either delayed or altered to manage managed to again be a busy area for the Winton Shire. the daily evolvement of the Pandemic.
Two Major Projects have been completed and new It was incredibly sad to see social outings having to be projects commenced. The Elderslie Street cancelled but Winton rallied together, and we got Rejuvenation Project was finally completed with a through the lock-down safely, which is the most smashing outcome. The results are aesthetically important factor. Visitors to our town became non- pleasing to the eye and very user friendly – the existent and the economic flow-on effect was felt by comments from locals and visitors alike are very much most businesses and tourist attractions in our Shire. positive and a credit to all involved. The Main Street alone is a new destination for visitors to our town. Winton Library is an instrumental hub for our community – a meeting place for many, adults and September has seen the completion of our new Water children alike. A big thankyou to the staff for their Park which is part of our swimming pool complex. This continuance of most services during the COVID-19 new major asset adds to the appeal and livability of our lock-down phase. They delivered as much as they town. Whilst we cannot change our weather, we could during this time to ensure our community certainly can change what we do during hot periods of members were not left feeling totally isolated. The 60’s weather! Many surrounding communities have chosen and Better Program continues to be an important to do day trips to Winton for the sole purpose of program for our Senior Residents. Weekly activities, experiencing our water facilities. That says it all. monthly meetings and social gatherings are offered – the introduction of the Boredom Buster newsletter Little Swaggies Childcare has had funding committed during the COVID-19 period proved to be a hit. for the renewal of the Playground area. Our children will benefit from this upgrade. We have managed to again visit our smaller rural communities with a visit during August to Opalton for The Masterplan for the Showgrounds has been put out their community monthly meeting and then to Corfield to public consultation and feedback is being complied. for a community meeting. These community This Masterplan will guide the future use of the engagements are important to us, and we plan to Showgrounds. In early March 2020, work commenced continue them regularly. on the new ablution block at the Showgrounds – the old ablution block was well overdue for a makeover. AB Paterson College has made a start to their Educational Campus in Elderslie Street with the arrival The Neighbourhood Centre is the pivotal contact point of their ablution blocks. This is an exciting commitment for many of our community services – Family Support, to our community by AB Paterson College. Winton Youth Sport and Recreation, Centrelink, Community Development Recovery and Central West The Local Government Elections were held in late Community Options. The Winton Neighbourhood March – I was re-elected to the new Council and for this Centre is the driving force behind most of our events I am honoured and thank all for your support. I will held in Winton. This team manages to deliver a variety endeavor to continue working hard for the Winton of diverse events that allows our community to Community – to strive for the best outcomes for our experience and support all sorts of cultural and social town, to encourage and advocate for inclusiveness and outings. Late Night Shopping, Garden Club, Youth to lobby governments and remind them that we are a Vacation Activities are to name a few regulars, but I large contributor to our State and Federal economies. believe the highlight to have been the International The past 12 months have again proven to be Women’s Day Event in March the star. A visit to The unpredictable with events well out of our control – but Australian Age of Dinosaurs with dinner following at our community resilience again has come to the the North Gregory Hotel, finishing with a performance forefront. A big thankyou to the CEO, Directors and by the Burlesque Dancers. This was a great Staff of the Winton Shire Council for their commitment to our community.
Councillor Tina Elliott.
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Cr Sandy Gillies Governance and Finance
Objective: To provide corporate leadership within governance; economic development; emergency an open, accountable transparent financial services and external utility services. Over the system. past two months, a number of workshops and meetings were organised to orientate Councillors As a first term Councillor in a year that has on their roles and responsibilities as elected presented many challenges for our community, I members and to inform the elected members on am encouraged and confident that as a strong and matters of community interest and council collective community we continue to show our priorities. ability to respond to any adverse event that gets thrown at us… be that environmental, financial or In my role I have brought my experience in protecting the health and wellbeing of the corporate and strategic planning and risk community in which we serve. stratification to the Council Chamber and as a result this has set a risk appetite for Council which The monsoonal event of 2019 and ongoing has been embedded into our governance and drought continues to still impact many rural decision-making process. Additionally, a priority industries, primary producers and small of the Audit Committee was to finalise the businesses in town. As a united group of outstanding items from the Queensland Audit Councillors, it is imperative that we hear your Office 2018-2019 Financial Management Report. concerns, ideas and solutions so we can advocate and represent the critical role all industries play in I look forward to the 2020-2021 year ahead and our community both in the present and future the opportunity as a Council to be courageous and state. innovative in setting the foundations for the future of our community over the coming financial year. I hold the Governance and Finance Portfolio which includes the strategic functions of Councillor Sandy Gillies. governance; finance; service; regional
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Cr C White Agriculture and Rural Development
There are many words to describe 2020, frustrating by the RAPAD / Queensland Feral Pest Initiative State and heart-breaking are just a couple that come to mind, Funding and the Australian Government’s Department but I like to look on the positives. This year has shown of Agriculture Funding. These fences will play a pivotal how resilient and resourceful the people of our Shire role in enabling landholders to once again bring sheep are. This is my first term on council and I’m proud to and goats back into our Shire. Additional funding was be part of a team who are working hard to build a strong also received through Disaster Recovery Fund future for our Shire. As part of that team, I hold the Assistance for weeds control and wild dog control. Agriculture and Rural Development Portfolio. Desert Channels Queensland (through the DRFA) allocated monies to Council for weed control, wild dogs Since being elected I have been out and about looking and for two aerial pig shoots. at some of the stock route network of our Shire. To The rural industry is vital to the economy of our Shire view the stock routes first hand, I have been on a and I look forward to working with Council to promote couple of the water runs with the Rural Services and grow our industry. Manager. Firstly, out to the Middleton area and then down the Diamantina River. The Showgrounds are an important facility for the Councillors have also visited the Corfield area. Winton community. The Showgrounds Masterplan is almost is 53,814 square kilometres and has 1,800km of stock complete after consultation with the user groups and routes within that area to maintain. This is a huge the general public. This Masterplan will give the undertaking and our Rural Services Manager, and his community a clear vision for future projects. The new team do a great job in keeping the network in great toilet block is close to completion and money has been shape. allocated to upgrade the ageing electricity network and stables. More improvements will be made as funds The number of meetings the Rural Lands Advisory become available. Group hold annually has been increased from 3 to 4 to ensure we give our rural community ample Tourism continues to grow in our Shire even in the face opportunities to bring their issues to the table. We of COVID-19. After a delayed start to our tourist welcomed 2 new landholders onto the Committee to season, we have welcomed an influx of travellers to our increase the representation of rural landholders from 2 Shire which has given our town a much-needed to 4. Their experience and knowledge of the rural economic boost. We have an impressive list of tourist sector will be of great value to our Committee. The attractions in our Shire. The tour operators in our town Winton Shire has offered to host the November 2020 are world class and offer a unique experience to our meeting of the Shire Rural Lands Officer’s Group. This travelling guests. The expansion at the Australian Age is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our Shire. The of Dinosaurs is amazing. It is a credit to David Elliott 2nd edition of the Rural Lands Newsletter is now in and all the hard-working staff. circulation. This newsletter is a vital communication link between Local Government, State Government I’m looking forward to continuing to work with my and Rural Landholders. community. I’m passionate about my community and it’s future. Our people are our biggest asset and my The Wild Dog Management Advisory Committee is goal as a Councillor is to continue to undertake and landholder driven with Council support. The Council support projects that secure the future of Winton and has allocated $260,000 in this year’s budget to support its residents. the group in the control of wild dogs throughout the Shire. A GIS mapping software program (ESRI), is being used to collate data collected from aerial flight maps and GPS locations of trapped/shot/sightings of dogs. This information is paramount when applying for Councillor Cathy White funding and is also another tool in the box to understanding wild dogs’ behaviour to better target control activities to maximum efficiency in our Shire. The group coordinate two aerial baiting campaigns each year which are also coordinated with other Shires to achieve maximum effectiveness. The key to the success of controlling wild dogs in our Shire is participation by landholders in some form of wild dog control (baiting, trapping, shooting and fencing). Council has endorsed its Wild Dog Management Plan and Winton’s Biosecurity Plan. The Winton Shire Council has a zero tolerance to wild dogs.
There have been several cluster fences completed in our Shire with several more in different stages of construction. These fences have been partly funded
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2019 Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) Flood Damage Program. Cr Shane Mann For NDRRA works, Council was allocated $9.5m this Transport, Infrastructure and utilities year and is expecting to receive a similar amount next year. Works to be completed, along with ongoing It’s been a very busy year for Council with several key maintenance and new construction projects include the projects being completed including the upgrade and Winton to Richmond Road and a section of the Winton landscaping of Elderslie Street and the fabulous new to Hughenden Road. Council is also planning to Water Park. The new toilet block at the Showgrounds improve the overall rural roads network. Extra funds is also well under way. have been allocated to these areas and this will enable My portfolio of Transport Infrastructure and Utilities Council to concentrate on the areas that require the includes all of Winton Shire’s rural and State controlled works. roads. This includes flood damage works, roads, As I have worked in this industry for the past 43 years, streets, stormwater drainage, water and sewerage, it is a good feeling to put something back into my waste management, plant and equipment, airport community. With our regular meetings with staff and development and infrastructure. management, we can set goals and hopefully achieve
positive outcomes for both the people of Winton and Works in our Shire - Roads and Streets the rural community. For water and sewerage, new Some of the projects completed this year include the lines have been installed where required and it is pave and seal of a section of the Kennedy planned to install a new 150mm poly water pipe from Developmental Road. Due to the high standard of the town to the Showgrounds to improve flow. The works completed by the Winton Shire Council’s water and sewerage staff continue to do a great job in construction crew on the first section (Winton side of maintaining and upgrading Winton’s water and Corfield), they have been awarded a further contract sewerage systems. Council continues to allocate near the Winton / Flinders Shire boundary. These significant funding for the renewal of plant and works are to the value of approximately $3m. equipment. It is proposed to replace two of our older Town Maintenance and Construction Works has graders with two new Cat Graders early in the next included kerb and channel rehabilitation in Blomfield financial year, the older graders will be sold through a and Dagworth Streets and resealing and line marking tender process. Plant is assessed at each Streets and in Werna, Chirnside and Vindex Streets. Crews have Machinery Advisory Committee Meeting to see how we been working on replacing footpaths and pram ramps are tracking against budget. around the town that are causing trip hazards to the Airport Development and Infrastructure – Council public. I once again highlight the great job both Roads adopted a ‘Statement of Intent’ for the Winton and Parks & Gardens staff are doing, in particular the Aerodrome to determine how best we can attract more line marking and painting of the garden beds. It is also planes and to plan for future improvements to worth noting the last conditional assessment presented infrastructure. With this in place, we can move forward a very positive result with only 1.1% of our road network to both improve, maintain and attract more people to being in bad condition. our lovely place we call Winton. The feedback from Grid Maintenance – The Works Department have been visitors is our little community is wonderful, friendly and working on getting a grid maintenance program vibrant as we battle to keep things green and growing together. All grids have been inspected in the Shire for in this climate. defects and cleanliness and a cleaning program will be As a local, I love seeing people involved in community built from this. events and Committees. I am the current President of Rural Roads – Rural road maintenance has been the Winton Men’s Shed and it is very pleasing to share progressing well. Crews have been intergrading some quality time with the older and younger people of maintenance works in with the flood damage program. Winton. I am also on the Board of the Waltzing Matilda This will enable Council to get a better value for money Centre Limited and a Council representative on the out of both programs. Roads that are not part of the Streets and Machinery Advisory Committee and the flood damage program will be monitored and Work Camp Advisory Committee. I am also on the maintenance will be conducted as needed. Rural Board of the Outback Highway which will see visitor’s reseals were completed on sections of the Jundah travelling from Cairns to Winton and across the middle Road and the Jundah – Cork Road. to Laverton in Western Australia on the Outback Capital Works – Reconstruction of Floodway’s – During Highway. I am also involved in trying to erect a lagoon the 2018 / 2019 flood events, some of Council’s / bird habitat at the South-Western side of Winton, to floodway infrastructure was damaged which allowed us complete the walking track and have a recreation area to be eligible for funding under the Queensland for both the people of Winton and visitors alike and like Reconstruction Authority Betterment Works program. so many other organisations, I am always open to Council were granted six floodway reconstruction giving a hand. works ranging from full reconstruction to installing new margins. Council work crews will complete two of the I would like to end this report by saying I am six floodways and the rest will be put out to tender for th here for the long haul, I love Winton and the contractors to bid on. Council have until the 30 June community which make up this wonderful part 2021 to complete these works. Floodway’s completed of Australia. include Lerida – Stanford and the Old Landsborough Highway. Cr Shane Mann
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Cr A Seymour Business and Economic Development In the three months of being a Councillor, the I would first like to thank the residents of the Council has worked together to present a very Winton Shire for my election onto the Winton workable and fair budget, addressing many of the Shire Council. It is indeed an honour and I will concerns and requirements from each of the endeavor to serve and represent you. Our Departments as we could afford to do. Councillors represent a great cross section of the community and are passionate contributors It is pleasing to see Council addressing the ageing within their specific areas of expertise. We are assets that need repairs and renewal, thus making committed to fairness, accountability and them safe and compliant with the Winton transparency and this will make for strong Saleyards being one that was fully supported. decision making and leadership. The 2019/2020 financial year has seen record cattle numbers either being spelled or weighed for All Councillors are appointed to portfolios which sale. It is important to maintain standards for this is an excellent way of covering all sections of facility, so workers, visitors and livestock are in a the community in this diverse Shire. I have safe working area. been assigned the Business and Economic Development portfolio which covers Tourism, The Winton Township is looking rather inviting Business, Planning, Transport and the Winton with the Parks and Gardens section working Saleyards. I also chair the Tourism Strategy wonders with difficult seasonal conditions and has Advisory Committee and the Shire transformed this town into a lovely oasis over the Beautification and Cemetery Advisory years. I would also like to acknowledge all of Committee and represent Council on the Wild Council’s staff from the grader operators to our Dog Management Advisory Committee and the wonderful cleaners – you really do make a Streets and Machinery Advisory Committee. difference…… Thank you.
As the world battles with the COVID-19 virus, it is We have a very diverse and interesting make-up certainly great to live in our special part of the as a Shire as there are no large mining companies world. I would personally like to thank the staff at or excessive public servants, but the Town of the Neighbourhood Centre for the countless hours Winton is extremely viable and a standalone spent making sure all our residents and identity that has endured many setbacks but takes businesses were kept aware of the COVID-19 it on the chin and gets on with what matters most. requirements. This support included the availability of grants and subsidies which ensured Thank You the community were well cared for during these Cr Anne Seymour difficult times.
When the travel restrictions were lifted, it was like the opening of the boom gates with a constant flow of travelers enjoying our spectacular offerings. Our tourism industry went from despair to breaking records, with many tourists raving over our friendly mannerism and the presentation of Winton. Whether it’s a special photo of the Main Street or catching the marvelous sunset underneath the ‘Winton Way Out West’ sign, we make it a special moment.
The enthusiasm and professionalism of David Elliott and his team at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs has certainly enhanced the tourism numbers in Western Queensland. If its rocks they want to see, Opalton has become a popular visiting spot as well.
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Mr Ricki Bruhn Chief Executive Officer - Winton Shire Council Certified Agreement 2019; - Winton Shire Council Planning Scheme; It has been another busy 12 months for the Winton - Winton Landfill Management Plan; Shire Council as we continue to provide a - Winton Biosecurity Management Plan; comprehensive range of services and - Winton Wild Dog Management Plan; infrastructure for our residents. I would first like to - Quarry Management Plan; acknowledge the valuable contributions of - Grids Policy; Councillors Judy Sale, Travis Harbour and Joel - Drinking Water Quality Management Plan; Mann to the Winton Shire Council and whose - Acceptable Request Guidelines. terms concluded following the March 2020 local government elections. I also welcome the newly It was very pleasing to see a Development elected Councillors Cathy White, Sandy Gillies Application approved for the A.B. Paterson and Anne Seymour who commenced their terms College site in Elderslie Street for their School Excursion Accommodation development. This in April 2020. has been many years in the planning and Council The recent audit of Council’s Annual Financial has indicated its support to work with the College Statements for 2019/2020 indicates a strong to create an Economic Development Partnership financial position, with grant funding of $21.96m which will provide considerable benefits for the received during the year. The Council is grateful Shire. for this external income which helps to support a workforce of over 100 employees, along with Recruitment and retention of staff continues to be many local contractors and businesses. Of note one of the biggest challenges faced by Council during 2019/2020 were the funding and other employers within the Shire. This issue announcements for: - is widespread throughout Central West Queensland where local government is required - Australian Government Local Roads & to provide a wide range of services, yet often Community Infrastructure $1,066,785 struggles to attract skilled and experienced staff.
- Australian Government Drought Communities The 2019/2020 financial year has seen a further Program Extension 2 $1,000,000 flood event in March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic and the drought continuing to impact - Queensland Government COVID Works for properties and local businesses. The resilience of Queensland $1,040,000 this community is unbelievable, and the level of support provided by all three tiers of government
has certainly contributed in getting the community These funds will be utilized in 2020/2021 to renew up and going again. ageing infrastructure, provide better communications in remote areas and to add to the In closing, I commend the 2019/2020 Annual tourist appeal of the Shire. Report to you. This report provides a snapshot of our achievements over the last 12 months which Council also initiated the $300 ‘Winton Buy Local are quite considerable. I also take this opportunity Card’ from the balance of the Australian to thank Mayor Baskett, Councillors, Directors and Government’s Carcass Disposal Grant which all council staff for their efforts, dedication and proved to be extremely popular and provided a commitment to their community. much-needed boost for local businesses. Council also made the difficult decision to not hold a Ricki K Bruhn Winton Way Out West Fest during 2020 and in CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER hindsight, this proved to be extremely fortunate due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. It is pleasing to report this popular event has been thoroughly reviewed with new Event Managers being appointed and planning well under way for the return of the event in 2021.
A lot of work was put in by the Elected Members and Staff during 2019/2020 to ensure several important documents, agreements and plans were updated and these included: -
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WINTON SHIRE COUNCIL STAFF PROFILE AS AT 30TH JUNE 2020
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COMMUNITY CONTACT AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Phone Fax
Council Admin Office 07 4657 2666 07 4657 1342 Works Depot 07 4657 2650 07 4657 1946 Neighbourhood Centre 07 4657 2680 07 4657 1342 Library 07 4657 0393 07 4657 0394 Waltzing Matilda Centre 07 4657 2626
Phone Email
Mayor Cr Gavin Baskett 0439 032 150 [email protected] D/ Mayor Cr Tina Elliott 0428 573 045 [email protected] Councillors Cr Shane Mann 0428 450 225 [email protected] Cr Sandy Gillies 0417 148 720 [email protected] Cr Anne Seymour 0407 310 315 [email protected] Cr Cathy White 0428 573 974 [email protected]
Chief Executive Officer Ricki Bruhn 0428 571 188 [email protected] Director of Community & Economic Development Jessica Greenaway 0418 555 129 [email protected] Director of Works Suneil Adhikari 0417 036 370 [email protected] Works Manager/Overseer Tim Williams 0407 555 385 [email protected] Parks and Facilities Manager 0448 002 338 [email protected] Water and Sewerage Manager Merv Sale 0427 570 110 [email protected]
Phone Fax
General Enquires Council Office 4657 2666 4657 1342 Postal Address PO Box 288 WINTON QLD 4735
Opening Hours Admin Office
Monday to Thursday 8.30 am - 5.00 pm Friday 8.30 am - 4.30 pm
Aerodrome Caretakers Peter and Debbie Butterworth 4657 1195 4657 1541 Child Care Centre Director Kristen Williamson 4657 1522 Centrelink Agent Caroline Sciascia 4657 0341 4657 1141 Community Options Coordinator Vanessa Howard 4657 2691 4657 1141 Community Support Officer Caroline Sciascia 4657 2688 4657 1141 Family Support Worker Helen Fogarty 4657 1877 46571 596 Diamantina Gardens Units Caretaker Archie McIntyre 4657 1513 Hall Caretaker Sam Foxwell 4657 2666 4657 1342 Rural Lands Manager (Stock Routes) Geoff Cox 0427 571 458 4657 1280 Saleyards Manager Gavin & Jodie Smith 0427 053 398 Showgrounds Caretaker R Scarr & S Van Bael 0429 034 809 Swimming Pool Lessee P, C & R Carn 4657 1560 Visitor Information Centre Jenny Elliott 4657 1466 Workshop Supervisor Peter Stephens 4657 2661 4657 1946 Workplace Safety Officer Chris Wickham 4657 2666 60 and Better Coordinator Bronwyn Searle 4657 1753 4657 1544
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COMMUNITY FINANCIAL REPORT 2019/2020
S184 - Local Government Regulation 2012
Formal financial statements and accompanying notes which contain an extensive range of information about Council's operating performance and financial position are prepared to meet financial reporting and disclosure requirements as prescribed by accounting requirements and legislation.
The purpose of the Community Financial Report (CFR) is to reduce the complexity of these documents so as to present the same information in a format that is less technical, more "reader friendly" and able to be better understood by the general community.
The summarised information and explanatory comments contained in this CFR are intended to meet this purpose. The CFR does not include the Waltzing Matilda Centre Ltd, income, expenses, assets or liabilities – they are reported separately.
S179 - Local Government Regulation 2012
The Community Financial Report must:
(i) Contain a summary and analysis of the financial performance and position for the year; (ii) Be consistent with the General Purpose Financial Statements (iii) Include relevant measures of financial sustainability for the financial year; (iv) Be in the form that can be easily understood by the community.
Income Statement (Income and Expenses) This Statement shows how much revenue (income) has been earned during the year and how much it cost (expenses) to provide high quality services and facilities to our community.
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Balance Sheet This provides our financial position as at the 30th June 2020. It details a summary of our assets and liabilities at the end of the financial year. The difference between our assets and liabilities is referenced as Community Equity and is a measure of the wealth of the community.
Community Assets are predominately physical assets and include cash, trade and other receivables, water, sewerage and road infrastructure.
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RESOLUTIONS 2019/2020 S185 - Local Government Regulation 2012
Expenses Reimbursement Policy S250(1) of the Local Government Regulation 2012.
Requirement to adopt expenses reimbursement policy or amendment (1) A local government must adopt, by resolution, an expenses reimbursement policy or an amendment of the expenses reimbursement policy.
This policy will provide the guidelines and procedures for the reimbursement of Councillors and Chairs of Committees for expenses incurred in attending to and discharging their official duties as representatives of Winton Shire Council.
Further, this policy will provide details of the facilities in the form of computers and other electronic devices, office space, office stationery or supplies and any supporting materials, including uniforms or legal or financial advice that Winton Shire Council will supply to Councillors and Chairs of Committees.
All reasonable expenses incurred in attending approved meetings, conferences, seminars, workshops, inspections and the like will be paid (or reimbursed) by Council.
Please see Appendix B for a copy of the Expenses Reimbursement and Provision of Facilities for Mayor and Councillors Policy.
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. CAPITALISATION THRESHOLDS S206(2) of the Local Government Regulation 2012
The local government must, by resolution, set an amount for each different type of non-current physical asset below which the value of an asset of the same type must be treated as an expense.
Asset Threshold $5,000
Pursuant to section 185 of the Local Government Regulation 2012, it is reported that no resolutions were passed under section 206(2) of the Regulation. This provision deals with any resolutions passed that sets an amount for each different type of non-current asset below which the value of an asset of the same type must be treated as an expense.
COUNCILLORS FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES S186 – Local Government Regulation 2012
Remuneration, including superannuation contributions paid to Councillors. a) Total remuneration (including superannuation) paid to each Councillor during the year; b) The expenses incurred by, and the facilities provided to each Councillor during the year under the local government expenses reimbursement policy; c) The number of local government meetings that each Councillor attended during the financial year.
Remuneration set for Councillors for the 2019/2020 financial year is listed below:
SUPERANNUATION MILEAGE POSITION NAME REMUNERATION (12%) ($.85/km) Mayor Gavin Baskett $106 100 $12 732.00 Nil Deputy Mayor Shane Mann $59 511 $7 141.27 Nil 2019 Deputy Mayor Diamantina Elliott $54 750 $6 569.93 Nil 2020 Councillor Judy Sale $40 583 $4 869.90 Nil Councillor Travis Harbour $40 583 $4 869.90 Nil Councillor Joel Mann $40 583 $4 869.90 Nil Councillor Cassandra Gillies $12 467 $1 495.98 Nil Councillor Anne Seymour $12 467 $1 495.98 Nil Councillor Cathy White $12 467 $1 495.87 Nil
Advisory General Special Committee Total Councillor Meetings Meetings Meetings Cr Gavin Baskett 12 5 28 45 Cr Shane Mann 11 3 11 25 Cr Diamantina Elliott 12 5 11 28 Cr Anne Seymour 3 1 5 9 Cr Cathy White 3 1 4 8 Cr Sandy Gillies 3 1 2 6 Cr Judy Sale 9 4 10 23 Cr Travis Harbour 9 4 7 20 Cr Joel Mann 9 4 1 14 Annual Report 19 | P a g e
CONDUCT AND PERFORMANCE OF COUNCILLORS In accordance with section 186 (1)(d) of the Local Government Regulation 2012.
(i) The total number of the following during the financial year-
Description Number Orders made under section 150I(2) of the Act Nil Orders made under section 150AH(1) of the Act Nil Decisions, orders and recommendations made under section 150AR(1) of the Act Nil The name of each Councillor for whom a decision, order or recommendation Nil mentioned in section 186(1) paragraph (d) was made A description of the unsuitable meeting conduct, inappropriate conduct or misconduct Nil engaged in by each of the Councillors A summary of the decision, order or recommendation made for each Councillor Nil
In accordance with section 186 (1)(f) of the Local Government Act 2009, the following is provided:
Description Number
Complaints referred to the assessor under section 150P(2)(a) of the Act by local Nil government entities for the local government
Matters, mentioned in section 150P(3) of the Act, notified to the Crime and Corruption Nil Commission
Notices given under section 150R(2) of the Act Nil
Notices given under section 150S(2)(a) of the Act Nil
Decisions made under section 150W(1)(a), (b) and (d) of the Act (1 July 2019 to 31 Nil August 2019);
Decisions made under section 150W(1)(a), (b) and (e) of the Act (1 September 2019 Nil to 30 June 2020)
Referral notices accompanied by a recommendation mentioned in section Nil 150AC(3)(a) of the Act
Occasions information was given under section 150AF(4)(a) of the Act Nil
Occasions the local government asked another entity to investigate, under chapter Nil 5A, part 3, division 5 of the Act for the local government, the suspected inappropriate conduct of a Councillor
Applications heard by the conduct tribunal Nil
• about the alleged misconduct of a Councilor (1 July 2019 to 31 August 2019), and
• under chapter 5A, part 3, division 6 of the Act about whether a Councilor engaged in misconduct or inappropriate conduct (1 September 2019 to 30 June 2020)
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ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION COMPLAINTS S187 - Local Government Regulation 2012 In accordance with section 187 of the Local Government Regulation 2012, Council makes a genuine commitment to dealing fairly with administrative action complaints. This is achieved through the adoption of policies and procedures designed to provide confidence in Council’s ability to provide feedback and deal with complaints in a fair and equitable manner. All complaints are processed in accordance with the provisions of the Council’s adopted Administrative Action Complaints Management Policy. The objectives of the policy are to ensure that the Council has an organised process for responding to, recording, reporting and using complaints to improve service to the community.
The complaints management process is established with the following objectives: • The fair, efficient and consistent treatment of complaints about decisions and other administrative actions of the Council; • A complaints management process that is easy to understand and is readily accessible to all; • Detection and rectification, where appropriate, of administrative errors; • Identification of areas for improvement in the Council’s administrative practices; • Increase in awareness of the complaints management process for the Council’s staff and the community; • Enhancement of the community’s confidence in the complaints management process and of the reputation of the Council as being accountable and transparent; • Building the capacity of staff to effectively manage complaints in an environment of continuous improvement; • Complaints will be acknowledged and resolved in a timely manner; • Council will manage complaints confidentially and ensure that complainants do not suffer any form of reprisal for making a complaint; and • Council will abide by the principles of natural justice/ procedural fairness when dealing with complaints. • Council decisions and actions can impact upon an individual’s human rights. • Council will consider human rights in all decision-making and action and will only limit human rights in a way that is reasonable and justifiable and after careful consideration.
The following particulars are provided:
Description Number
Total number of administrative action complaints made to the local government 36
Total number of administrative action complaints resolved by the local government 36 under the complaints management process
Total number of administrative action complaints not resolved by the local Nil government under the complaints management process
Total number of administrative action complaints under paragraph (a)(iii) that were Nil made in a previous financial year
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OVERSEAS TRAVEL S188 - Local Government Regulation 2012
In accordance with section 188 of the Local Government Regulation 2012, the following information is provided with respect to overseas travel:
Nil.
SENIOR MANAGEMENT REMUNERATION S201 – the Local Government Act 2009
In accordance with section 201 of the Local Government Act 2009, the Annual Report must state: a) The total remuneration packages that are payable to senior management of the local government b) The number of employees in senior management who are being paid each band of remuneration
SENIOR OFFICER REMUNERATION Pursuant to section 201 of the Local Government Act 2009 the following bands of remuneration are reported for senior contract employees reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer (Bands include CEO).
• One Employee with a remuneration package between $200,000 pa and $249,000 pa. • Two Employees with a remuneration package between $150,000 pa and $199,999 pa.
Remuneration includes Cash, Superannuation, Motor Vehicle, Housing and Expense Benefits.
EXPENDITURE ON GRANTS TO COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS S189 - Local Government Regulation 2012
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OTHER CONTENTS S190 - Local Government Regulation 2012
The Annual Report for a financial year must contain the following information —
a) An assessment of the local government’s progress towards implementing its 5 year Corporate Plan and annual Operational Plan. Council continues to work towards the goals set out in the Corporate Plan, each year Council prepares its Operational Plan based on the expected outcomes it expects to deliver in a financial year against the goals established in the Operational Plan.
Council has achieved the majority of the goals set out in the operational plan for 2019/2020 and is on schedule to effectively deliver the outcomes of the Corporate Plan over the period of the planning horizon.
b) Particulars of other issues relevant to making an informed assessment of the local government’s operations and performance in the financial year.
Winton Shire Council remains in a strong financial position; however, it is important to note that the Shire is heavily dependent on grants and subsidies to fund its operations.
The financial statements and the financial sustainability statement have been prepared on the basis that grants and subsidies will remain at sufficient levels over the medium term particularly in road project grants. Any reduction to the state or federal government grant regimes in the long term would impact on the capacity of Council to fully fund its operations.
c) Provide an annual operations report for each commercial business unit
Council had no business units over the course of the 2019/2020 year.
d) Details on any action taken for, and expenditure on, a service, facility or activity – (i) Supplied by another local government under an agreement for conducting a joint government activity; (ii) For which the local government levied special rates or charges for the financial year.
Joint Tourism Marketing Campaign with Longreach Regional Council.
e) The number of invitations to change tenders under section 228(8) during the year
Nil
f) A list of registers kept by the local government
Register of Complaints Register of Delegations by Council Register of Councillor’s Interests and Related Persons Register of Employee’s Interests and Related Persons (not open to inspection) Register of Local Laws Register of Subordinate Local Laws Roads Register Regulatory Fees Register Organisational Chart
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g) A summary of all concessions for rates and charges granted by the local government
THAT in accordance with Section 120 of the Local Government Regulation 2012, Council may grant a concession for the general rates component:
• For the construction of a new dwelling within the town of Winton; • For major building renovations to an existing dwelling within the town of Winton; • For the purchase of a dwelling by a first home buyer; • For the construction of a new commercial building within the town of Winton; • For major building renovation to an existing commercial building within the town of Winton.
For a rate concession application to be considered the project must fulfil one of the following conditions:
• The new dwelling must have a value in excess of $180,000 (excluding GST); • Major building works renovation must be in excess of $50,000 (excluding GST); • The first home buyer must fulfil the requirements of the current Queensland State Government First Home Buyers Grant or equivalent criteria to satisfy the requirements and proof as a first home owner; • The new commercial building must have a value of in excess of $360,000 (excluding GST); • The major building works renovation must be in excess of $100,000 (excluding GST).
The construction of a new dwelling, the renovation of an existing dwelling or purchase of a dwelling by a first home buyer must have commenced after the 1st July 2009 and be completed prior to an application being made for the remission of general rates. An application must be lodged within 12 months of the building works being completed and/or occupied.
The construction of a new commercial building, the major building works renovation of an existing commercial building must have commenced after the 1st July 2017 and be completed prior to an application being made for the remission of general rates. An application must be lodged within 12 months of the building works being completed and/or occupied.
For the purpose of receiving this rates concession, the term commercial building is defined as a building that is used for commercial use. Types include office, warehouses, retail and workshop types of buildings. It excludes buildings such as rental dwellings and rural grazing properties.
For any application to be considered, a building permit for the necessary works must have been approved and finalised, including the verification of the value of works. The maximum period of granted remission is two (2) years.
Council will grant a rebate of rates and charges to pensioners who hold a Queensland pensioner concession card or a Department of Veteran Affairs “repatriation card” with full entitlements, for land owned and permanently occupied by the pensioner. The amount of the “pensioner” rates and charges rebate shall be $200 per annum.
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h) The report on the internal audit for the year.
The Internal Audit Committee, comprising two Councillors and three external members oversees the application of Council’s Internal Audit Policy and the Internal Audit Program.
i) A summary of investigation notices given in the financial year under section 49 for competitive neutrality
There were no investigation notices given in the financial year under section 49 for competitive neutrality complaints.
j) The local government’s responses in the financial year on the QCA’s recommendations on any competitive neutrality complaints under section 52(3).
There were no responses in the financial year on the QCA’s recommendations on any competitive neutrality complaints under section 52(3).
SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS ACTIVITIES S45 – the Local Government Act
The Annual Report must:
(a) Contain a list of all Business Activities that Council conducted during the year
Winton Shire Council had no business activities during the 2019/2020 financial year and one controlled entity – Waltzing Matilda Centre Ltd.
(b) Identify the Business Activities that are significant Business Activities
Winton Shire Council had no significant Business Activities.
(c) State whether or not the Code of Competitive Conduct was applied, and if not, why not.
Winton Shire Council has not applied the Code of Competitive Conduct during the course of the financial year as no activities met the minimum threshold for application of the Code.
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GOVERNANCE AND FINANCE
The governance objective is to provide corporate leadership within an open, accountable transparent financial system.
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GOVERNANCE AND FINANCE the conversion to the Jadu Content Management Information Technology System. The new website backend is very easy to use and update both documents and content on a regular basis with staff being able to tend to their own sections and keep up to date information on the Computer Replacement Project website in general. The fifth year of the Computer Replacement Program refreshed 13 Council computers. The Social Media ongoing five-year plan is on schedule to see the Winton Connect - Facebook replacement of Councils entire operating environment. The environment has been maintained Councils corporate branded Facebook page, Winton with all in one computers to minimise cable Connect, saw a steady increase in followers, management issues and keep a clean and tidy increasing by 20.3% to 3296 followers. The total working space. reach of posts made for the year was 469,332. Posts reached the screens of approximately 346,583 people and videos made up the remainder in the key Remotely Operated Aircraft metrics of data provided by Facebook. The page In July, staff attended a training course and experienced an average of 119 engagements per successfully obtained Remote Pilot Licenses day where a user clicked on or interacted with a post, (RePL). Staff use Councils Remotely Operated story, or video for a total of 42,904 interactions over Aircraft on many occasions to successfully promote the financial year. the region through the use of recorded 4K video content. The remotely operated aircraft has also Experience Winton - Facebook been used to capture imaging of many of Councils major construction works to catalogue progress Councils tourism branded Facebook page, throughout the various projects. Experience Winton, saw a steady increase in followers, increasing by 18.7% to 7452 followers. Managed Service partnership The total reach of posts made for the year was 1,118,370. Posts made up approximately half of the When Yell IT was brought in to remotely manage our reach with video being far more successful on this higher end services for Council they conducted an page than Winton Connect. The page had an initial security assessment on Winton Shire Council’s average of 296 engaged users per day for a total of IT infrastructure. There was found to be a number of 107,626 over the year. The vast majority of this was issues most notably some outdated practices. They organic reach where no payments were made for helped integrate new control measures and advertising. equipment to increase the security and integrity of Council IT network. This included new Palo Alto Outback Telegraph Firewall units that allow the oversight of all data that Elderslie Street passes into Council and can block threats and unwanted usage of the services leading into Council The Outback Telegraph had a total of 3,559 unique premises. These units also allow for far more secure visitors to the network with an astounding 223,496 connections to be made into Council servers for sessions with each user on average using a little remote working staff. over 300MB of data over the previous financial year. There was an even distribution of both age Phriendly Phishing groups and genders when comparing user demographics. The uptake of the service was vastly Winton Shire Council has initiated a campaign to increased during the tourist months of April to raise awareness of phishing or scam emails to help September with utilisation beginning to slow in prevent accidental security breaches via staff October. clicking suspicious links. This campaign included multiple short training sessions that individuals can This network was bolstered significantly during the take in their own time. The platform sends out redesign of Elderslie St with a total of 6 additional irregular emails to users to determine how users are access points being added down the length of the clicking on incorrect links. This allows the targeting street to allow for greater connection and freedom of additional awareness training to be given to at risk of movement whilst on the main street. This is seen individuals. as a value add to the community as people can share experiences directly and share the Winton Winton Shire Council websites atmosphere to friends and family putting out a positive image of tourism and connectivity. The Winton Shire Council website rollout was successfully completed in March 2020. This included several staff being trained in its use. The rollout also covered two additional Council operated sites with
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Workplace Health & Safety
The following safety courses were held throughout the 2019/20 financial year
Course No of Attendees Mental Health First Aid 6 First Aid 16 Confined Spaces 2 First Aid Training 12 First Aid Training 12 Multi Combination Training 5 Chain of Responsibilities Training (Heavy Vehicles) 15 Load and Unload Goods and Secure Goods 15 Chain of Responsibilities Training (Heavy Vehicles) 15 Load and Unload Goods and Secure Goods 15 Chain of Responsibilities Training (Heavy Vehicles) 12 Load and Unload Goods and Secure Goods 12 Chainsaw Training 8 Pole saw Training 7 Test and Tag Training 1 First Aid Training 13 First Aid Training (Childcare) 6 Chemical 1 Health and Safety Representative 5 Days 2 Restricted Electrical Licence 1 Working in Proximity to Traffic Awareness Part 1 1 Working in Proximity to Traffic Awareness Part 2 1 Working in Proximity to Traffic Awareness Part 1 1 Working in Proximity to Traffic Awareness Part 2 1 Traffic Management Implementation Refresher 1 Manual Handling – Inside Staff 11 Manual Handling/Patient Handling 8 Manual Handling – Childcare 10 Health and Safety Representative 5 Days 1 First Aid 18 Scissor Lift 7 Working at Heights 8 Working at Heights 6 Health and Safety Representative Refresher 1 Silica Dust (Internal) 10 Traffic Controller Refresher 1
Incident and Accident Statistics
Measure Total Vehicle / Plant accidents 12 Near miss 2 Number of all Injuries 10 Number of LTI’s (Lost Time Injuries) 2 Number of MTI’s (Medical Treatment 2 Injuries) Number of FAI’s (First Aid Injuries) 6 Incidents 18 Total all incidents reported 52
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Workers Compensation
During the 2019/20 financial year, there was a total of three workers compensation claims lodged.
Council’s compensation claims for this financial year has seen a massive drop from the previous financial year where we had seven claims with six out of the seven claims having days lost due to injury and a total of 258 days lost.
Safety
Recognition from Principal Inspector – Construction (WHSQ)
“It is my belief that Winton Shire Council be nominated for Category four - Most significant improvement to work health and safety performance in this year’s safety awards; if it is still relevant. I would like to give as much assistance professionally possible for them to achieve this recognition.”
Bruce Elder Principal Inspector Workplace Health and Safety Queensland
Going Pink for Breast Cancer
In June, we saw a change in the colour of Council’s Hi-Viz work shirts with the outside staff wearing PINK for breast cancer.
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TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE Transport and Infrastructure services are responsible for managing infrastructure to provide safe, healthy and equitable access to the community.
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TRANSPORT AND GIS Update INFRASTRUCTURE Asset Management
Water Park
Council were successful with an application under the 2017-19 Works for Queensland Program for a total of $1M. September 2019 saw the commissioning and the opening of the Winton Memorial Pool Aquatic Park and several months later the fencing, shade structure and landscaping was installed to complete the Council’s GIS Space is complete with inground project. assets (water and sewer data), town assets, (poles, seats, fences, tables and chairs etc) road condition data and the underground assets at the Showgrounds and have been published on Council’s website.
Showgrounds Master Plan
A pre-draft Masterplan was developed for the Showgrounds and community consultation carried out with relevant user groups.
Showgrounds Ablution Blocks
Council included the renewal of the Showgrounds Ablution Blocks in the 19/20 Elderslie Street Beautification Capital Works Budget. This project has Elderslie Street Landscaping and Beautification commenced with the demolition of existing Project was completed this year with the structure and commencement of concrete following items installed: works. This new ablution block will consist of more toilets and showers for future events. ➢ Festoon Lighting which provides a wide range of colours and patterns Sewer Manhole Relining ➢ Banners Poles which promotes any upcoming events External Contractors have completed the first ➢ Metal tank that houses all the electrical, round of rehabilitation. This involved water comms and water chiller blasting the manholes, removing all loose grit ➢ Dinosaur Footprint mould and dirt, patching large holes and then ➢ Installed and commissioned all the rendering the manhole before coating with an irrigation, pumps and sprinkler systems epoxy coating. ➢ Shade Shelters/Alfresco Dining Areas ➢ Toilet Block ➢ Interactive Touch Screen which showcases local attractions, maps, things to see and do, contact details etc ➢ Metal Sheep
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Roads and Streets on the streets that were resealed in the previous financial year (Manuka and Sesbania).
State and National Roads The projects completed on the town streets and footpaths were: Transport and Main Roads (TMR) provide Council with a Road Maintenance and Reseals: Performance Contract annually. The larger ➢ Vindex Street items completed in the 2019/2020 RMPC ➢ Werna Street Contract were: ➢ Chirnside Street ➢ Jundah Road ➢ Shoulder Grading ➢ Pavement Repairs These streets were all freshly line marked. ➢ Medium Formation Grading ➢ Signage Kerb and Channel Replacement: ➢ Dagworth Street Council was awarded a Pavement ➢ Werna Street Rehabilitation Project on the Kennedy Heavy Patching Works: Developmental Road between Ch.131-138.35, ➢ Werna Street with an approximate value of $3.6M. This consisted of 7.5 km, 8m wide pave and seal. General Maintenance: Secondly Council were also awarded another ➢ General bitumen patching works Minor Works Contract on the Winton – ➢ Minor footpath repair Richmond Road between Ch. 104.64 to Ch. ➢ Sign repairs 108.50. to a value of $1.8M. This pave and seal project commenced in the 2019/20 financial Rural Roads year and will be completed in the 2020/21 financial year.
Town Streets & Footpaths
This year has been very a productive year for the works that were conducted on the streets around town. These works were funded from multiple sources including Roads to Recovery, Transport Infrastructure Development and the Town Maintenance Budget. There have been minor pavement repairs for reseals conducted. The intersection at Werna and Blomfield Street Rural road maintenance involved integrating has been stabilised reshaped and resealed to maintenance works with the current flood allow for the draining of Blomfield street kerb damage program. This enabled Council to get a and channel. Line marking was also conducted better value for money out of both programs. Roads that are not part of the flood damage program were monitored and maintenance was conducted as needed.
Council received additional drought assistance money through Roads to Recovery funding. This has been matched with funds from the Rural Roads Budget which was utilised to resheet 9.1km of the Olio Muttaburra Road. The formation of the road was laid out at 7m wide by 150mm deep and existing dirt onsite was mixed and pulled up to create a shoulder.
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Capital Works and Private Works Projects were ➢ Reconnected 250mm D.I water main which also completed on our Rural Roads, these interconnects bores 1, 2 & 3 to the new included: elevated 200mm D.I suction line from No.4 Bore. The connecting point is within the ➢ Resheeting of the Lark Quarry Access Pump Station compound in close proximity Road (100mm resheet on the entire road of to the Eastern Boundary fence. A flush out 4.8km) point has also been provided at this ➢ Council’s Road Construction Crew was connection. Connected No.4 bore to and also involved in a private works project for from the Geothermal Plant. This has the Australian Age of Dinosaurs. This allowed the plant to be pressure tested as involved upgrading the 2.2km road which well as disposing of any foreign matter, leads into the new extension to the which could be lodged in between the veins Dinosaur Museum. of the heat exchangers at the Pump Station. ➢ Perimeter fencing has been completed around the Treatment Plant, Bore No.1 and No.1 & 2 Sewer Stations, a general tidy up including providing a gravel pad will make it much easier to keep these facilities in a more appealing state. ➢ A new replacement pump to service the balance wells at the swimming pool has been installed. ➢ Carried out works at the Geothermal Plant, NDRRA – Flood Damage this included replacement of pipework and the introduction of the automatic sluice The 2018 Flood Damage Program commenced valve to the main water line. in July 2018 and was completed in August 2019. ➢ A 50mm water supply line was provided These restoration works were undertaken with including back flow prevention device for funds from the rain events in March 2018. the irrigation supply for Elderslie Street. An additional connection has also been The 2019 Flood Damage Program commenced provided for the drinking fountain at the new in July 2019 and is not scheduled to be tank. completed until June 30, 2021.This program ➢ A protection barricade has been installed has an approximate value of $18M. These around the valves at the point where bores restoration works were undertaken with funds 1,2 &3 intersect on the eastern side of the from the rain events in February and March Main Roads storage depot in Manifold 2019 with 327mm of rain recorded. One of the Street. Supply from these bores are non- many benefits of these restoration programs interconnected with the main supply line was the importation of gravel onto roads to bring from No.4 bore and can be utilized if the them back to their previous standard. The need ever arises restoration programs saw grading, gravel ➢ Alterations to the supply of water to feed the resheeting, drain clearing and repair of road caravan sites on the eastern side of the structures and furniture throughout all parts of Showgrounds with a direct supply from the the Shire. 40mm poly line which was installed to cater for the first Way Out West Festival. Water and Sewerage ➢ Installed new Sewerage Pumping Station at the Showgrounds. General repairs and maintenance work was ➢ The return cooling water line to the northern carried out on all of Council’s Water & dam at the water pump station has been Sewerage Networks. The major projects in this replaced (50%) due to severe rusting of the department are listed: DI pipe through the bank of the dam itself.
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➢ Upgrades to the water distribution link at 3 x Genelite Generators the Airport have been carried out, a new 2 x Toyota Kluger’s 4,500 litre poly tank has been replaced on 3 x Trailers the low set brick tank stand for terminal use 1 x John Deer X750 Mower only (toilets & drinking fountain) and a 1 x Kobelco Excavator second hand 20,000L poly tank sited on a 1 x Caterpillar Vibrating Roller 1 x 6000L Delivery Fuel Tank concrete slab adjacent to and on the
eastern side for irrigation purposes only. ➢ Installed new water service (Lot 82 plan Parks and Gardens AE88 Fraser Street) ➢ Installed a new 150mm blue brute water During this period, Parks and Facilities team main running from Chirnside Street West, have continued to maintain and upgrade all North to the Rail line then in a north parks and gardens areas. This is very important westerly direction, connecting into the as it showcases our town of Winton and adds existing main in the industrial estate. an interesting and pleasing outlook. ➢ Private works has been carried out on private combined sewer line servicing at 25 Street Trees & 27 Dagworth Street. ➢ A new replacement submersible sump The task of maintaining trees around town is the pump has been installed in the effluent responsibility of the Parks and Facilities team. holding tank at the Sale Yards toilets. Street trees not only provide shade but are ➢ Two new 25,000 litre poly supply tanks aesthetically pleasing, especially the avenue have been replaced on the elevated stands trees. During this period, all street trees have at Corfield. A much better flow rate has been regularly watered either by an automatic been achieved as it was found that a underground irrigation system or by the water section on the supply line from the bore to truck. the overhead tanks had a couple of galvanised fittings included which had a A new tree avenue was installed along the build-up of iron deposit internally reducing western end of Cork Street that adjoins the the flow rate by approximately half. Lawn Cemetery, in total, eight trees were ➢ Completed an extensive identification and planted in tree mounds. An existing irrigation upgrade of sluice valves and fire hydrants. system was extended to provide watering. ➢ A new 100mm blue brute water main has Showgrounds been installed on the western side of Fraser street between Vindex Street and Cork The Showgrounds area is regularly mowed, Street. This addition to the network should whipper snipped and hedged on a need basis. provide an additional boost to the The garden bed adjacent to the racetrack fence Saleyards and beyond. was upgraded. New dripline was fitted along ➢ Council has employed a new School Based with new Bougainvillea plants to replace some Trainee in the Water and Sewerage very old and tired plants. Department. Swimming Pool/Water Park Workshop and Plant The Parks team in conjunction with the Winton General repairs and maintenance work was Work Camp laid new turf in the Water Park. The carried out on all Council’s plant and machinery grass of choice was Sir Walter, this is the same fleet. turf that was laid in the main street. Various In the 2019/20 financial year, Council continued species of plants such as Callistemon, to turnover its fleet to keep on-going costs down Eremophila and Lomandra were installed. and purchased the following: These were chosen because of their durability, ease of maintenance and their aesthetic appeal. 1 x Isuzu Sign Truck Garden edging was also installed around all 2 x Ford Rangers beds for a neat and tidy appearance. Annual Report 34 | P a g e
Elderslie Street Some tourists have taken advantage of the dog pound to day board their dogs while they enjoy Parks and Gardens staff completed the local attractions in our region. landscaping in Elderslie street which consisted of preparing the base level and laying Sir Walter Rural Services Turf in the median strip and planting a wide variety of plants in the garden beds, planta Stockroute boxes and garden edging. It has been a very busy year on the Stockroutes Aerodrome with approximately 30,000 head being moved within the Winton Shire Stock route system and Normal bi-weekly inspections prior to the numbers of approximately 2000 head per mob regular REX airlines flights on Tuesdays and walking for feed and on the main roads Thursdays were carried out by the Airport (Kynuna, Longreach and Corfield). The Reporting Officers. reserves have been used as well with smaller local users utilising them. The more use the Contractors completed the Annual Technical Stock routes gets, the more likely funding can Inspection of all the runway, apron and be obtained to upgrade the facilities. Winton windsock lighting. The inspection went well with Shire has received $140,000 of funding this no malfunctions detected. Contractors also year to upgrade and repair the water points. completed the Annual Technical Inspection and Obstacle Limitation Survey of the airport. Weed Spraying
The Lark Quarry, Middleton and Corfield ALA’s This year a major focus has been along the Olio were inspected during the last year. Fairview Road and the Western River to help reduce the spread of these Class 3 pest – On the evening of 26th September, the Sunset ‘prickly acacia’. Spraying has also occurred on Charity Extravaganza Dinner was held on an the Council’s Town Common throughout the airside section of the apron at the Winton Airport year. with approximately 350 participants, as part of the Winton Outback Festival. Both Airport Council received funding for $150,000 worth of Reporting Officers were present throughout the chemical from Queensland Feral, Pest Initiative day and the evening to ensure the safety of (QFPI). EOI was advertised and a healthy event goers and airport users. number of applications were received. Chemical was purchased and distributed to the Funerals land owners who showed interest in these products. During this last year the Parks and Facilities team have completed 14 funerals. The Wild Dog & Baiting undertaking team provide a professional service in what can be difficult and emotional time for The wild dog baiting within the Winton Shire grieving families and staff alike, as quite often received less support from the landowners this the deceased is well known to us all. year but still achieved good results. There was an average of 20 tons of meat prepared each Private Works baiting round. During this financial year, a Special Bounty was offered to the local During the 2019/20 period 3 private works tasks residents for Dingo Scalps. This initiative has were completed. received extremely good feedback and results. Animal Control Council received funding from Desert Channels Over the course of the year, Parks and Facilities Queensland for Disaster Recovery Fund team have continued to perform routine dog Assistance – Wild Dog & Feral Pig Control patrols throughout town. Quite a few dogs were Program. This program involves 2 rounds of impounded. Aerial Shooting, the first round was conducted
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in April 2020 which presented good results with capturing 356 pigs, 1 dingo, 3 cats and 12 wild horses.
Council received grant funding of $800,000 for Wild Dog Exclusion Fencing from the Commonwealth’s Department of Agriculture and Water Resources. The Wild Dog Exclusion Fencing Funding was distributed to 10 properties in the Winton Shire 2 of these being cluster fences.
Commons
All three Commons were utilised in the Shire with 210 head on the Winton Common. The Winton Town Common is in very good condition after the early 2019 flood event in February/March, this allowed an increase of cattle numbers to 35 head per user.
Middleton Common is also in very good condition due to the early rain event in 2019.
Corfield Common has very little feed and will soon need to be destocked.
Biosecurity
Council has appointed a new Biosecurity Officer this financial year, who has been productive with managing the current grants and applying for upcoming funding opportunities.
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COMMUNITY, CULTURE AND LIFESTYLE To provide a suite of facilities and services that provide for the education, economic development, enjoyment and wellbeing of the community at large.
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COMMUNITY, CULTURE AND • SLAM training LIFESTYLE • Grant Writing Workshop • Complaints Management workshop • Re-enablement and Wellbeing – RAPAD CENTRAL WEST COMMUNITY OPTIONS skilling • Assist with Medication Refresher - SDAP The 2019/2020 financial year has been • Open Disclosure – SDAP challenging with the COVID-19 pandemic • Advanced Care Planning across Australia and the world. COVID-19 impacted on service delivery from 3rd quarter with many consumers choosing to cease services during this time. Other modes of delivery and support were provided during this time. All staff completed online COVID19 training focusing on transmission, infection control and safety and our program has also introduced measures to protect staff and consumers including daily temperature checks and sanitising stations.
CWCOP has been fortunate to secure the employment of some additional qualified and experienced staff to join our team supporting aged and disability in Winton and the Central West.
Staff Training completed throughout the year has included: CWCOP brokers services where there are • COVID19 – Winton Hospital identified gaps in service. One of these services • NDIS Worker Orientation Module • COVID19 – Dept. Health online modules includes home maintenance. Russell Clark, • Re-enablement and Wellbeing Field Worker from Home Assist Secure • Fire Response Instructions Longreach visits fortnightly to provide this service to eligible consumers
Client Care Coordinator has been working with the Service Development Assistance Panel (SDAP), who were engaged in 2019 to assist our program to ensure compliance against the Aged Care Quality Standards. Members of the panel have completed several site visits to Winton and are conducting the rest of their support remotely due to COVID-19 restrictions.
CWCOP meets with a variety of stakeholders throughout the year to provide consumers with a holistic approach to care. These include local businesses, carers, family, allied health and medical staff.
Commonwealth Home Support Program serviced 86 consumers for the financial year.
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CHSP Service Hrs Outputs - conditions and plant it so the community can Type Output Quality see if it is suitable for some of the gardens in the Domestic 1252 town. The community is then encouraged to Assistance plant more of this or other trees to green up our Personal Care 285 town. Goods/equipment 49 22 people joined the planning and organising Home Maintenance 116 process and are watching if the selected tree is suited to our environment and harsh weather Meals 159 conditions. Social Support Ind 682 Social Support 59 Winton Oktober West Event Group Transport 506 The Winton Neighbourhood Centre negotiated with the PHN to have this Mental Health Nursing 0 Program in Winton. The event was organised Other Food 0 with input from the various Mental Health Service Providers from the Central West. The project aimed at the residents of the Winton Home Care Packages and National Disability Shire were invited to attend an evening with a Insurance Scheme Programs band, BBQ and speakers on the importance of speaking about mental illness in their daily Service Type Hours Exits No of conversations. Clients National 1333 1 8 Recovery Centre Revisit Disability Insurance A Recovery Centre was revisited with the Scheme intention of making sure that we would be ready Packaged Care 266.25 1 7 for any major disasters that may occur. Venues were looked at, positions were discussed, to ensure everything was in place, if a disaster was Winton Neighbourhood Centre Program to occur again like the disaster our community endured last year. The Winton Neighbourhood Centre Program is housed at the Winton Neighbourhood Centre, Water Wise Gardening Project 75 Elderslie Street in Winton Queensland. This Program is funded by the Department of The Water Wise Project was changed to a Communities, Disability Services and Seniors homebased project as Garden Club and and auspiced by the Winton Shire Council. The residents did not want to participate in a Water Wise Project during the peak of the Covid-19 Program is contracted to organise and deliver Pandemic. This project was changed to a events, projects and resources. macramé project done at home.
The specific activities to be delivered will be The new project was aimed at keeping people detailed in an annual work plan agreed to by the at home safe, but giving them a project to work contracted provider through the signing of the on when it suited them. A YouTube site was service agreement with the Department of recommended for further projects. Communities, Disability Services and Seniors Approximately 13 participants worked on the (DCDSS), and varied by agreement via project from home. The project was easy for some and hard for others. It was still very well notification throughout the term of the funding received and was a great way for members to schedule. call each other for advice or help on their project during the period of isolation. This year’s program included:
Winton Mental Health Week 2019 Tree Day The Winton Neighbourhood Centre has worked This project is an ongoing project and each year hard to organise and run four events for the we choose a tree that will handle the local Annual Report 39 | P a g e
Winton Mental Health Week Event. The Neighbourhood Centre Annual Plan Neighbourhood Centre has not undertaken a The Neighbourhood Centre Plan is the Event Mental Health event of this capacity and only and Project Plan for the Neighbourhood Centre through lots of planning and community for year 1.7.19 to 30.6.20. The Plan is worked consultation, it was a complete success. The on in January each year so we have a plan for purpose of the event was to entice the visiting service providers who are encouraged community to speak freely about Mental Health. to partner with Council to complement our We invited Mental Health workers to come from events and projects. The Plan for the second other areas to our events, to start conversations half of this year took a big blow with COVID-19. and to bring mental health up as a subject for discussion. Neighbourhood Centre Brochure and Winton Neighbourhood Centre Program Winton Colour Battle Brochure The Neighbourhood Centre Brochure has been The Winton Colour Battle is an event which was updated ready for the new year. These organised to meet the social needs of the brochures are used for service delivery community and for people from all backgrounds information and promotion. Services such as to come together. The purpose of the event was visiting agencies or Government Departments to get the community to speak freely about any also use these for referrals. subject in an environment which is safe. This event encourages people from teams, to have Garden Club Calendar fun while throwing colour powder at each other. The Garden Club is very well accepted by locals The object of the battle was to cover as many as a place to come have a chat, talk about people of the opposite team in colour powder gardening and generally a great social morning and collect as many tokens as possible. tea. The event has a group of 15 to 20
attending. These Groups provide an opportunity Winton International Women’s Day Event to socialise with peers in a supportive and The purpose of the event is to celebrate the accessible environment. A calendar is strength and resilience of our women after such distributed to promote garden club events. a stressful year. The event was in two parts. We Winton Garden Club Booklet had a wine and cheese afternoon at Australian Age of Dinosaurs and then moved to the North Gregory Hotel for dinner, speeches and Because so many members of the community dancing. The evening was a great success with were gardening at home during COVID-19, we women from all over having a great night. At compiled information from our sessions at the beginning of the event we strongly Garden Club into a booklet. The booklet had encouraged the women to come out of their information on water analysis, companion comfort zone and speak to other women that planting, uses for baking soda and Tom Wyatt’s they hadn’t spoken to before. A total of 152 local book. women attended the event and this was a very enjoyable event. Winton Youth, Sport And Recreation
Queensland Day Celebration The year 2019 has been great with thanks to the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF), the This project was unfortunately cancelled due to Winton Youth Services delivered a successful COVID19, but instead we spent hours setting Arts program. Winton youth could create, up information for people who came to the produce and star in their 25-second video Neighbourhood Centre about COVID-19 and masterpiece. They learnt how to make videos ways of protecting yourself to the best ways incorporating different multimedia and art possible. The information needed to get out to genres such as photography, music, and dance. all the residents of the Shire on how to stay safe A showcase of all completed works was during the lockdown period of COVID. So, after presented to the community and published on a meeting it was decided that it was our role to the Winton Connect Facebook page. keep people informed and safe.
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Another successful submission from RADF for R U OK? A Breakfast was held in the main $5,000 has established the Bush to Beatz street as part of Mental Health Week. Locals on dance program to continue into 2020 which will their way to work and the school could stop and introduce both Jazz and Ballet as another genre grab a quick bite for breakfast and engage in for youth to include in their dance project. some of those not so easy conversations that many find hard to initiate around mental health. The Great Northern Clean Up was a very Local Mental Health Workers Phil and Jenny successful event for 2019. The Winton were there to talk to Winton locals, as well as community came together to collect bags of Cameron Dare and Parker Dance from rubbish in and around Winton. The Longreach. congregation then enjoyed a BBQ breakfast and a good old chat to conclude the event. Over The Winton Colour Battle had approximately 70 15 bags of trash were collected throughout the – 80 people in attendance. Seven teams fought morning. for the most tokens with the “Misfits” winning the perpetual trophy for 2019. The event was held White Balloon Day was held in Winton with a to bring the community together and tie in morning tea held in front of the Winton everything that has been delivered throughout Neighbourhood Centre to raise funds for Mental Health week. Winton locals have had the Braveheart’s which goes to support the opportunity to meet the new mental health protection of kids. The morning teas raised support team as well as receive information $306.50. The event was very well attended by regarding mental health support here in Winton. both locals and tourists stopping to enjoy morning tea and a chat. A “Girls Night In’ was hosted at the Winton Youth Centre. The event allows female youth to Bush to Beach was a great success with 18 openly discuss issues around body image, children travelling down to the Moreton Bay social media, bullying and other social Region for five days of jam-packed fun. The kids problems. Acting Sergeant Mel Jenkins also travelled throughout the Shire looking at the attended the evening. Numerous referrals have libraries, galleries and beachside museums. We been made to other services to ensure all issues were able to program “Ozobots” by designing are addressed and followed up accordingly. our coding. We visited Osprey House and were introduced to the newly hatched babies that A New Youth, Sport & Recreation Officer were yet to be named as well as an afternoon at commenced in mid-February of 2020 and Aqua Splash located on the Redcliffe foreshore. immediately began an overhaul of the youth The kids thoroughly enjoyed learning to surf at centre by cleaning, reorganising and reordering Woorim beach and lunch at Brennan Park in equipment and supplies to assist with a more Bongaree. Local Mayor Allan Sutherland and efficient program delivery. staff gave everyone a great send-off with morning tea at the Caboolture Hub. The sister Repairs & maintenance items were addressed city relationship between Winton Shire Council including: and Moreton Bay Regional Council is greatly - Replacement of faulty compressor in drinks valued. fridge. - A Halloween Disco was held at the Winton Installation of projector on ceiling and wiring of cables from wall to projector. Youth Centre supported by the Winton Police - Quotes obtained for the replacement of the Blue Light committee. Approximately 42 damaged windows on the Youth Centre to children attended. There were lots of costumes secure the building. Most windows were and games with many children taking home unable to be closed and are hanging out of some of the prizes kindly donated by Winton their frames causing potential hazards. businesses or purchased by the Blue Light committee. Plans to deliver an Easter holiday program commenced following discussions with both Schools and Principals. Annual Report 41 | P a g e
As a result of COVID-19 the program that was complete closure of the facility until engineers planned to be delivered had to be scrapped due could assess the extent of the problems. to strict self-isolation restrictions, but deliverables still needed to be met. With one- Family Support week turnaround our Youth Officer was able to CWA Rural Crisis Fund create a program that would service the needs of vulnerable and disengaged youth from their Family Support have contacted all persons own homes. The program was drafted with the eligible for $1,500 financial assistance which assistance of families and the schools. The will be paid directly to persons outstanding program included individual art, craft and accounts or store credit in Winton, which will activity packages that youth could engage with have a significant impact on boosting the local from home or virtually. A total of 42 youth shops finances at this time of year. registered for packages. Drought Community Support Initiative The Easter holiday program was a resounding success. Youth aged 2 years to 12 years Family Support have contacted all persons engaged with the program that was delivered. A eligible for $3,000 financial assistance which daily schedule for both weeks of the holidays will be paid directly to persons bank account was included in the packages that allowed and will also assist in boosting the local families to complete activities in their own time businesses finances. or join in virtual zoom tutorials and communications with the other children in Winton. Mental Health Week October 6th -11th.
Age Male Youth Female Youth R U OK breakfast was a great success with over 100 community members turning out for the 2 1 1 event. Morning Tea was well attended by 41 3 0 1 persons including Service Providers and 4 1 2 community members. OktoberWest was a fun 5 3 4 night for the community with a band and Mental 6 1 3 Health Guest Speaker Mary O’Brien. 7 2 2
8 1 0 9 4 1 Remembrance Day 10 1 2 11 1 2 Family Support assisted with the Poppy display 12 0 2 and presented the Winton women with their poppy mugs as a thank you for the mighty effort they put in to this project. Anzac Day activity packs were also packaged for families to complete at home and allowed Christmas Late Night Shopping Event children to participate in an Anzac poster Family Support have been very busy this month competition in the community as well as the trying to decorate the Main Street shop Driveway Dawn Service with home-made windows, this is a way of supporting our local Anzac lanterns and egg-carton poppy wreaths. businesses and making sure Elderslie Street Youth Centre looks festive for this event.
COVID-19 restrictions hindered plans for a Little Swaggies twice-weekly after school drop-in centre at the Youth Centre for Winton’s youth. Structural We started off 2020 with the refurbishment of issues were found during quotes obtained for the centre kitchen which included extending the the window repairs which resulted in the area of the kitchen, installing all new cupboards and white goods and replacing all of the Annual Report 42 | P a g e
benchtops with stainless steel. Some minor September to begin the redevelopment of the building maintenance was done throughout the playgrounds – this had been delayed due to rest of the year with Buddy’s Fire inspecting the COVID-19. Changes to cleaning checklists to fire extinguishers and fire blankets to ensure cover a more intensive clean to reduce the risks they were current. They also installed a new fire of coronavirus and other illnesses spreading extinguisher on the Junior Bushies verandah (in included ensuring morning and afternoon jobs a locked box) in case of a fire emergency on the are completed as per the jobs roster. Bathroom verandah. New fire evacuation maps were cleaning procedures were updated and a poster placed on walls in each room to accommodate completed for each room to display in their the changes to the kitchen, new evacuation bathrooms. Fridge temperatures were recorded procedures were also completed and handed each morning and afternoon to ensure correct out to all staff to display in their rooms beside food temperatures, nappy change and the fire evacuation maps. In the centre car park handwashing posters were replaced in the Little two no parking signs were installed along the Larrikins and Junior Bushies Rooms and balustrade at the entrance pathway as some handwashing posters were placed at all cars had been parking in that area and fumes entrances. from the cars exhaust were filtered into the Billabong Friends Room through the windows. All the staff have been busy throughout the year completing many different areas of professional New soap dispensers were installed in all development. This included manual handling bathrooms and kitchen areas in the Centre. training to ensure we are knowledgeable in safe New hand sanitiser dispensers were installed lifting techniques to protect ourselves from throughout the Centre including outside each injury while being involved in day to day room and the Little Larrikins verandah to ensure activities with the children. that any persons entering from the staff carpark or bin area cleaned their hands before entering Staff began the process of self-assessment in the building. each of the National Quality Standards. Every 3 years child care centres throughout the country Signs were erected in the Centre car park to are assessed and rated against the National remind parents not to leave children in cars Quality Standards. Little Swaggies last unattended. There were also signs erected at Assessment and Ratings visit was in August both the front and rear gates to notify all visitors 2017 where we were rated as meeting all seven to report to the office upon arrival to ensure that quality areas. As part of this process the staff anyone on premises (other than Centre will be holding meetings to discuss and develop educators) were signed into our visitor book. At a Quality Improvement Plan to ensure we are the rear gate, another sign indicating “no meeting the standards in all areas prior to the unauthorised entry” was erected as all visitors official Assessment and Rating process which is to the Centre must enter through the main gate due to occur in 2021. Both Kristen Williamson to be able to report to the office. (Director) and Shirley Kelly (Assistant Director) were involved in monthly zoom meetings with Yearly pest control was completed by Flick Pest the Education Department to discuss areas of Control. A cracked window in the Little Larrikins the Quality Improvement Plan and the Quality room was replaced and security screens placed Standards to assist the Centre to achieve a in Little Larrikins and Junior Bushies bathrooms, higher rating. Part of the assessment and rating main office and staff room windows. Some process includes updating our Centre changes were made to the foyer area, including philosophy, requesting family feedback by an updated staff display, parent feedback wall, placing parent surveys in our monthly relocating the sign in area, a sunscreen and newsletter on each Quality Area, updating hand sanitising area and updating the menu policies and procedures. display. The floors were polished in the whole Centre in July. Contracts were signed in Annual Report 43 | P a g e
At the start of the year the Little Swaggies P & Winton Pool F Committee held its AGM - all positions were called at this meeting. There was a very good turnout of parents from Little Swaggies to join the P & F Committee. The positions are as follows: Julie Dorries - President, Charles Dyer - Vice President, Susan Martyr - Secretary, Tiffany Neilson - Treasurer. The Committee will meet in the Billabong Friends room at 5.15pm on the first Wednesday of the month.
The Billabong Friends Kindergarten Class did • Over the winter months, the pool was get to do some excursions to join in activities closed form 30 April - 1 September. days and transition to school days at both St • Australia Day 2020 saw free entry into the Patrick’s and Winton State School. Pam pool, with a free BBQ and the inflatable Seymour, an experienced Learning and back in use Literacy support worker, joined Outback • Free Entry Sunday and Family BBQ on the Futures at one of these visits. Pam spent time last Sunday of the month (Sept – April) in the Billabong Friends Room discussing were well attended. foundational literacy skills in early childhood • Several private functions were held over and reading stories to the children to the season including birthdays and demonstrate different literacy learning skills to Christmas Parties the educators. • As always both Schools of the community used the pool weekly for their PE lessons and swimming carnivals. • Swimming lessons were well attended during the season.
• Water Fitness classes were also well used over the season. • September 2019 saw the new Water Park come into operation, this was well utilised over the season.
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Library • 30 000 plus visitors in the library this
year. This is a good result considering General Annual Public visits 41 436 COVID-19. • IT staff are maintaining equipment to a Memberships good standard. Adult Resident 655 • Staff Training – undertook required Junior/Young Adult Resident 117 COVID-19 training via Zoom, planned Total Membership 772 training cancelled. • E-resources downloads increased. Transactions Number of physical items loaned 10 193 Outback Regional Gallery
The Outback Regional Gallery achieved Number of electronic services measured development and growth since Quarter 1 307 reopening in April 2018. The public program 2 253 included six exhibitions at the Outback 3 444 Regional Gallery, two exhibitions in the 4 448 Waltzing Matilda Exhibition Hall, two learning and development workshops for the Library services community, a major State Awards launch and • Library Service web presence a historical talk at the Sarah Riley Theatrette. • Web or Online catalogue The Exhibition Coordinator sourced contacts • Online request service for our existing Waltzing Matilda Centre • Participation in SLQ facilitated programs Patrons and extended invitations to exhibition • Provision of access to information openings. services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples • Home Library and mail service clients • Printer, scanning service • Local History Research Service • Story-telling & rhyme-time • Digital Device-assistance
Programs and Public Events Early and Family Literacy Programs • 30 x programs and events • 3 x Programs delivered jointly with community • 145 Outreach Sessions Comments • Due to COVID-19 and restricted use - some events were cancelled. • Grandparents Day was a successful annual event • Weekly Story-telling & Rhyme-time sessions are held with children 0 - 5 year old’s.
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2019 Ken Done donated two original paintings to our gallery through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gift Program. Flying West, I & Flying West II valued at $13,000.
Curated inhouse, the Waltzing Matilda: A Song for Everyone exhibition opened on A.B. Paterson’s birthday, 17th February to the public and in time for the song’s 125th anniversary on April 6th. Taking two years of production and research, the exhibition showcases a small portion of the Winton Shire Council’s newly acquired 1,500-piece music collection to the public as visual and audio interactives, film, animations, static objects and musical mediums. The project was made possible with $34,769 in funding from the Queensland Government’s Office of Liquor 2019/2020 has seen some major and Gaming Regulation, Gambling achievements and increases in valued Community Benefit Fund. The Exhibition partnerships. Winton hosted the major launch Coordinator was awarded a bursary from of the Flying Arts Alliance’s Queensland Public Galleries Queensland to attend the Regional Arts Awards, Wanderlust with over 2019 Museums and Galleries Queensland 150 people attending the launch and weekend Conference in Cairns (September) to develop event. The QRAA is an annual visual arts skills, learn current industry trends and prize and exhibition for established and networks to assist with the curation and emerging artists living in regional and remote conservation of some objects within the Queensland. The program aims to provide a exhibition. platform for further professional development. Over 50 artists, staff, Board Members and major sponsors travelled to Winton making the event the first remote launch in the history of the prize. In attendance were arts and cultural patrons Tim and Gina Fairfax and Koa Elder, Auntie Lesley Williams who travelled to Reinvigorating the 2020 John Villiers Outback Winton with her family to perform a Welcome Art Prize is important for our community given to Country. His Excellency the Honourable the longevity of the national arts prize for the Paul De Jersey AC officially opened the Waltzing Matilda Centre and Winton. An prestigious State Award via a digital address. online entry platform, social media promotion The group enjoyed visiting our vibrant tourism and the restructuring of the categories were attractions. some of the necessary changes to raise the
profile of the prize that attracts entries locally One of our valued supporters, iconic and nationally. The $10,000 Major Prize now Australian artist and ambassador, Ken Done being an acquisition for the Outback Regional AM travelled to Winton for the launch of the Gallery to rebuild our collection. The creation Australian tour of his personal collection of an online People’s Choice voting platform ‘Paintings You Probably Haven’t Seen increased visibility of our museum and the Before’. Ken was joined by his wife Judy and finalist artists during the COVID19 closures in his extended family. The Ken Done Gallery, March to June with the highest view tally being Sydney organised the exhibition to be on over 8,000 views on one Facebook post. The display for the opening of the 2019 Outback John Villiers Trust, our major sponsor, Queensland Tourism Awards in Winton. In Annual Report 46 | P a g e
restructured their funding objectives and forget. By March 2020 businesses were agreed to continue to sponsor our prize between 2021-2023 increasing the funding from $37,500 to $52,500 over three years. Ros Kavanagh of Elders Insurance Central Queensland has continued to sponsor the People’s Choice Award with $500 annually.
July Flying Arts Alliance, Wanderlust, 2018 Queensland Regional Art Awards sponsored by Holding Redlich forced to close their doors and people were August Erin Dunne, Experimental directed not to travel. The Waltzing Matilda Drawing Workshop Centre closed down on 29th March 2020 and September Winton thru the Lens remained closed until 3rd June 2020. The Photography exhibition, Centre’s annual visitor numbers is a sad Winton Outback Festival reflection of the situation that unfolded. October Ken Done, Paintings You Probably Haven’t Seen Before, The opening of the John Villiers 2020 Art The Ken Done Gallery, Sydney Show was held on Saturday 7th March November Life on the Line & I’ve Been approximately 30 people were in attendance. Working on the Railway, The The major winner was Kathy Ellem, with her Workshops Rail Museum painting of the Crack Up Sisters, titled ‘Hearts November Queensland Rail Historian, as Big as the Sky’. Honorary Mention Award Greg Hallam Theatrette went to Ross Booker, his painting titled, ‘The History Talk and slide show Final Glow’ and Third Prize to Matt Bromhead Rail History of Queensland with his painting ‘Test Pattern’. (including Winton) January QAGOMA, Island Fashion (for Various events were held during the year at young audiences) the Waltzing Matilda Centre including a February Waltzing Matilda: A Song for travelling Acoustic Guitar show featuring Everyone exhibition Michael Fix, Minnie Marks and Luca March 2020 John Villiers Outback Art Stricagnoli, approximately 70 people Prize, sponsored by The John attended. Villiers Trust AB Paterson College, year 6 students March Australian Artist Lucy Culliton, performed an hour long concert which Still Life Painting Workshop included poems by Banjo Paterson and June A Portrait of Australia, A country songs. travelling exhibition from National Geographic and Destination Q Events conference was held in National Museum of Australia. Cloncurry on the 5th & 6th August, the Tourism Officer and Waltzing Matilda Centre Co- ordinator attended this event, these conferences provide opportunities to link up Waltzing Matilda Centre with other tour operators and people in the Total visitors for Financial year 2019/2020 tourism industry. 15,606 David Littleproud, Member for Maranoa was in th Winton on 12 August 2019. A public function The beginning of 2020 introduced the world to was held at the Walkway of Honour to thank COVID-19, a period in our lives we will never our Federal Minister for the ongoing support of
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the Australian Government to our Shire of practicing procedures with assistance from Winton. The Walkway of Honour being one of Queensland Tourism Industry Council. twelve projects receiving funding. By the end of June 2020 it became evident A flying group ‘Cessna 200 Series tourism attractions and operators were about Association’ held their annual get together in to embark on an extremely busy few months Winton. The group visited the main tourist with travel restrictions easing to enable attractions and held their Annual General Queenslanders to travel within their own state. Meeting whilst in town. Visitors from the Eastern and Sunshine Coast who would normally travel overseas and south The biennial Outback Festival was held in of the border travelled to our Outback Region. September 2019 and was a huge success. This event draws a large number of visitors to Annual Hall and Hire Facilities Report town boosting the economy. 2019/20
Hire Winton State School expanded their Work SUPPER Experience programme, Year 11 & 12 Area HALL ROOM EQUIPMENT students were placed at various businesses Council 16 80 10 throughout Winton with a Year 11 student completing their work experience as a Visitor Private 11 31 8 Experience Officer at the Waltzing Matilda Total 27 111 18 Centre.
An added public place in Winton proved to be • Hall in use for 27 days in total a huge success with the opening of the water • Supper Room used 111 days in total park at the swimming pool. Families from • 18 Equipment hires including chairs for neighbouring towns bought the family into funerals • No functions held from mid-March until Winton for the day, whilst in town they also end of May due to COVID restrictions visited the dinosaur attractions and the • Skirting and chairs rails were repainted Waltzing Matilda Centre. October 2019. • Baby change facilities installed in Following the re-opening of the Waltzing disability toilet. rd Matilda Centre on 3 June 2020 (after being closed for just over 2 months) staff busily prepared for the unknown, establishing plans and procedures to work within the guidelines of COVID safe plans and COVID clean
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Achievements of the Aims of the Queensland Plan
Council has taken the following steps to achieving the outcomes identified in the Queensland Plan.
EDUCATION Literacy and Numeracy Council provides literacy and numeracy skills training as required, to staff.
School Attendance Council supports the schools with initiatives for child attendance as requested. Council’s mini-bus has been utilised for the collection of children.
Post School Qualification Council has a significant incentive scheme in place to encourage staff to access certificate three, four, diploma and degree courses. The program provides for support in gaining the qualification as well as an allowance to encourage staff to maintain the currency of the qualification.
COMMUNITY
In Queensland, Nobody
Gets Left Behind Council delivers a range of services through the community to ensure equity across the community. These include affordable accommodation, HACC Programs, Seniors support, Child Care and Youth Development.
We Applaud Community
Achievers Council continues to deliver Australia Day Awards recognising contributions to the community and supporting community groups as appropriate.
REGIONS
Our Regions Are Strong and
Prosperous Council continues to investigate economic development activities for the community. Council also maintains a range of community assets to improve lifestyle opportunities for the community.
We Capitalise on Unique
Regional Opportunities and
Assets Council developed the Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival to promote the region as a location for film production.
ECONOMY Diversification of Economy Council is actively seeking opportunities for diversification of the local economy.
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PEOPLE Older People are Respected and Valued Council has supported a range of inter-generational projects such as linkages between the Youth Program and the Men’s Shed and Scouts and the Men’s Shed.
INFRASTRUCTURE Infrastructure Fits Changing Population and Demographics Council is active in enhancing its equity through sound planning.
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Appendix A – Financial Statements 2019-2020
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Appendix B - Expenses Reimbursement and Provision of Facilities for Mayor and Councillors Policy
WINTON SHIRE COUNCIL
EXPENSES REIMBURSEMENT AND PROVISION OF FACILITIES FOR MAYOR AND COUNCILLORS POLICY
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EXPENSES REIMBURSEMENT AND PROVISION OF FACILITIES FOR MAYOR AND COUNCILLORS POLICY
SCOPE
This Policy applies to the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Councillors of Winton Shire Council.
PURPOSE
This Policy will ensure accountability and transparency in the reimbursement of expenses incurred, or to be incurred, by the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Councillors.
This Policy will also ensure that elected members are provided with reasonable facilities to assist them in carrying out their civic duties.
(This Policy does not provide for salaries or other form of Councillor remuneration. Councillor remuneration is in accordance with the determination of the Local Government Remuneration Tribunal.)
DEFINITIONS
To assist in interpretation, the following definitions shall apply: Authorising person: shall mean the person with delegated authority to approve expenditure or reimbursement for Councillor expenses and facilities. Council business: shall mean official business conducted on behalf of Council, where a Councillor is required to undertake certain tasks to satisfy legislative requirements or achieve business continuity for the Council, for example official Council meetings, Councillor forums and workshops, Committees/Boards as Council’s official representative, scheduled meetings relating to portfolios or Council appointments. Council Business should result in a benefit being achieved either for the local government and/or the local government area, for example Council may decide that Council business includes civic ceremony duties such as opening a school fete. Participating in a community group event or being a representative on a Board not associated with Council is not regarded as Council business. Councillors: shall mean the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Councillors. Expenses: shall mean costs reasonably incurred, or to be incurred, in connection with Councillors discharging their duties. The expenses may be either reimbursed to Councillors or paid direct by Council for something that is deemed a necessary cost or charge. Expenses are not included as remuneration. Facilities: shall mean the facilities deemed necessary to assist Councillors in their role. Public record: shall mean any record created, received or kept in an official capacity. Reasonable: shall mean Council must make sound judgements and consider what is prudent, responsible and acceptable to the community when determining reasonable levels of facilities and expenditure.
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CONTEXT
The payment and/or reimbursement of expenses and provision of facilities for Councillors must only be for the actual cost of legitimate business use and only in accordance with the Local Government Act 2009 and the Local Government Regulations 2012.
Council is committed to ensuring that Councillors are provided with the facilities required to enable them to perform their duties.
The payment and/or reimbursement of expenses and provision of facilities for Councillors:
(i) is to be open and transparent, prudent, responsible, acceptable to the community and in accordance with statutory requirements;
(ii) based on ensuring economy and efficiency; and
(iii) subject to budget provisions.
Council’s Annual Report must contain the information as stipulated in the Local Government Act and associated Regulations.
Spouses, partners and family members of Councillors are not entitled to reimbursement of expenses or to have access to facilities allocated to Councillors.
The following expenses refer to actual expenses deemed necessary for Council business. Councillors are only entitled to the expenses contained in the categories listed below.
Travel As Required To Represent Council
All Councillor travel requires the approval of Council via a report to Council identifying the relevance of such event to the Council and as far as practicable indicate the cost of attendance. Council may approve local, intrastate, interstate, and overseas travel for Councillors where Council considers it appropriate to promote or represent the Winton Shire area for a local government purpose.
Where time does not permit the presentation of a report to Council:
(a) The CEO may approve any requests for travel by the Mayor subject to a report being submitted to the next available Council Meeting; and (b) The Mayor may approve any Councillor’s travel subject to a report being submitted to the next available Council Meeting.
Where Councillors are appointed by the Council as Council’s representative on Regional, State or Federal committees or Government associations, all travel and accommodation associated with the Councillor’s fulfilment of that role is deemed as approved without the need for a further report to Council.
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Where Councillors are attending to Council business such as meetings, functions or other activities in an official capacity, Council will pay for the approved expenses associated with that activity.
The following restrictions apply in the following circumstances:
Mayor: No limit to travel to attend meetings to represent Council in undertaking his/her responsibilities. Councillors: No limit to travel to attend meetings to represent Council when nominated or requested by the Mayor, Committee Chair or CEO.
When attending a meeting where the Councillor is representing Council on official business, Council should consider the benefits of having an appropriate Council Officer accompany them. This arrangement is to be organised through the CEO.
All travel and conference arrangements must be made in accordance with Council’s Travel Policy. All expenses incurred in relation to travel and conference attendance will be reimbursed in accordance with Council’s Travel Policy.
All requests for travel (including associated registrations) should be made in sufficient time to take advantage of discounts and gain access to the widest range of accommodation and flights. Failure to do so will limit flight and accommodation options.
Conference Attendance
The Mayor attends the following Conferences as the primary Delegate –LGAQ, ALGA.
The Council shall appoint the other delegates and/or attendees at the above conferences. In addition to the above, the following limits apply to conference attendance:
Mayor: 5 conferences per year Councillors: 3 conferences per year
The CEO, where possible, will advise Councillors of upcoming conferences. Councillors shall give notice of their desire to attend a conference by giving notice to the CEO seven (7) days prior to the relevant Committee/Council Meeting.
Where the Councillor wishes to attend a conference and has exceeded the above limits, the CEO will submit a report to the table and the Council will determine if the Councillor is able to attend.
Where the Mayor or a Councillor attends a conference, a report is to be presented at the next available Council meeting on the key learnings from the conference.
Representing Council at events
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Councillors may be required to attend a range of events and functions as part of their role in attending to Council business. Councillors may, for example, be required to attend significant sporting and other community events in an official capacity.
Where Council resolves or when the Mayor or CEO determines that a Councillor is required to attend such an event as a delegate of Council, Council will pay for expenses associated with attending that event.
Council will provide tickets to events for Councillors for the purpose of addressing Council’s advocacy strategy and to provide support for community social and economic development activities.
Professional development
The payment of expenses for professional development requires Council approval. There are two categories of professional development for Councillors – Mandatory Training and Discretionary Training.
Mandatory training
Mandatory training/Professional Development is training where one or more Councillors are required to attend courses, workshops, seminars or conferences for skill development related to the Councillor’s role. Examples of this type of training include Councillor Induction, meeting procedures and legislative obligations.
Attendance at conferences include major industry events (e.g. Australian Local Government Association Conference, Australian Local Government Women’s Association Conference, Local Government of Queensland Conference) or conferences that are related to all Councillors or a particular portfolio for that Councillor. Council will meet all costs.
Discretionary training
Where a Councillor wishes to attend a conference, workshop or training to improve skills relevant to their role as a Councillor (other than mandatory training), Council approval is required to pay the expenses of the event.
If the Councillor wishes to attend discretionary training, the CEO will approve the discretionary training if costs are within the limits of $5,000 per term, however this may count towards the number of conferences under the requirements of 5.1.1.
Where the Councillor wishes to attend a conference and has exceeded the limits, the CEO will submit a report to the table and the Council will determine if the Councillor is able to attend.
The funding limit for discretionary training is $5,000 for each Councillor during their four (4) year term in office. Travel, meals, accommodation and other costs associated with discretionary training are included in the relevant expenditure categories.
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Payment of Expenses
Expenses will be paid to a Councillor through administrative processes approved by the CEO subject to the limits outlined in this Policy and Council’s Travel and Conference Attendance Policy and associated Procedure subject to the following variation:
Expenses relating to the consumption of alcohol will be reimbursed only where such expense is incurred with the provision of a meal and which on review would not be deemed to be excessive.
Should the Councillor choose not to attend a provided dinner/meal, then the full cost of the alternative meal shall be met by the Councillor.
5.4 Hospitality Expenses
Where Councillors incur hospitality expenses while conducting Council business, apart from official civic receptions organised by the Council, the maximum amount that may be reimbursed is:
$1,000.00 per annum for each Councillor; and $4,000.00 per annum for the Mayor.
Hospitality expenses related to official receptions and other functions organised by council officers are met from relevant approved budgets.
5.5 Provision of Facilities
Facilities provided for Councillors must be deemed necessary and required to assist Councillors in their official capacity. In accordance with statutory provisions, Council may only provide Councillors with the facilities listed below.
Council determines the reasonable standard for facilities for Councillors. If a Councillor chooses a higher standard of facility than that prescribed by Council, any difference in cost must be met by the Councillor personally.
All facilities provided to Councillors remain the property of Council and must be accounted for during annual equipment audits. The facilities must be returned to Council when the Councillor’s term expires, unless Council agrees to dispose of the facility in some other manner.
Administrative tools and office amenities
Office space and access to meeting rooms
The Mayor will be provided with a dedicated office in the Winton Shire Council building.
Council provides access to occasional office accommodation and meeting rooms for all Councillors to meet with constituents and the public. Such accommodation should be booked through the Customer Service Section.
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Secretarial support
The Mayor will receive shared secretarial support with the Chief Executive Officer through the Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer and Mayor. . Limited secretarial support will be provided to other Councillors as approved by the CEO and based on demand.
Computer and Printer for business use
Councillors will be provided at their request with a laptop computer and printer for Council business use. The CEO may determine that a desktop established at the location of the Councillors choice be provided in lieu of a laptop.
Photocopier, paper shredder and facsimile
Councillors are entitled to access photocopiers, paper shredders and facsimile for Council use at the various Council offices and service centres. Access to domestic photocopiers/scanners may be provided for the home based offices, on request by Councillors.
Stationery
Councillors are provided stationery for official purposes only, including, but not limited to: Pens and pen sets Paper Note paper Letterhead Business cards Envelopes With Compliments’ slips Compendium
Council stationery is not to be converted or modified in any way and may only be used for carrying out the functions of the role of Councillor. Stationery does not include any form of advertising by Council.
Other administrative necessities Subject to Council approval, Councillors may be provided with any other administrative necessities to meet the business of Council.
Advertising Council will not reimburse or provide funds, services or facilities for the purposes of advertising for Councillors.
Community consultation Councillors may use facilities provided to correspond with community representatives for the purpose of clarifying issues that are relevant to their division or the region in general. Where a Councillor
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chooses to undertake further community consultation on a particular matter, in addition to that approved by Council, the Councillor is responsible for those costs.
Reference (eg Legislation, related documents)
Local Government Act 2009
Local Government Regulation 2012
Income Tax Assessment Act 1997
Taxation Rulings issued by the Australian Taxation Office
Review of Policy The policy will need to be reviewed on at least annually and when changes occur to the relevant legislation.
RECORD OF AMENDMENTS and ADOPTIONS REASON FOR DATE REVISION NO ADOPTED BY COUNCIL AMENDMENT 21 November 2019 1 Review by Council 21 November 2019 17th July 2020 2 Review by Council July 2020
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