Annual Report 2016-2017
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ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 D | City of Whittlesea ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 City of Whittlesea ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 | E Welcome Our services Contents Welcome to the City of Whittlesea’s Annual Report As a local government organisation, the City of Whittlesea ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 2016-2017. Council is committed to transparent is responsible for a wide range of local services to our Mayor’s message 2 reporting and accountability to the community and community. These include waste and recycling collection our stakeholders. services, building and planning services, maternal and Message from the CEO 3 child health services, maintenance and provision of local The year in review 4 This report provides an overview of Council’s parks and open spaces, services and support for the aged, Major capital works 8 performance in the 2016-17 financial year against the people with a disability and migrants, and many other seven Future Directions set out in our Council Plan services essential to our community. Community satisfaction survey 9 2013-17 and Annual Budget 2016-17. Financial summary 10 Council is also responsible for ensuring residents can Our municipality 14 The report highlights achievements and challenges enjoy new and improved community infrastructure such faced and includes statutory reporting and legislative as community centres, bike paths, upgrades to sporting Our Council 15 information as required under theLocal Government Act facilities, local roads and playgrounds and parks. Our people 20 1989 and other legislation. Council works with the State and Federal Governments, Our performance 25 The City of Whittlesea recognises the rich Aboriginal other local councils, developers, local organisations and Governance 64 heritage of this country and acknowledges the Wurundjeri community groups to advocate, plan and provide for our Willum Clan as the Traditional Owners of this place. community’s needs. ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT 2016-2017 87 Appendix 1 Protected Disclosure Act 2012 148 City of Whittlesea Council offices Edge Youth Services 25 Ferres Boulevard Shop MM1, Westfield South Morang VIC 3752 Plenty Valley Shopping Centre Opening hours 415 McDonalds Road Monday-Friday, 8.30am-5pm Mill Park VIC 3076 (03) 9404 8800 9217 2170 TTY: 133 677 (ask for 9217 2170) Epping Depot 68-96 Houston Street Locked Bag 1, Epping VIC 3076 Bundoora MDC, Victoria 3083 (03) 9409 9842 [email protected] whittlesea.vic.gov.au facebook.com/cityofwhittlesea @citywhittlesea F | City of Whittlesea ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 CityCity ofof WhittleseaWhittlesea ANNUALANNUAL REPORTREPORT 2016-20172016-2017 || G1 ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 Mayor’s message CEO’s message Cr Ricky Kirkham Simon Overland Mayor Chief Executive Officer I am proud to present the 2016-17 City of Whittlesea Annual This year saw us launch both our Middle Years Strategy and I recently joined the City of Whittlesea as CEO and it is my We have also worked to improve collaboration with Report. This year we welcomed a new Council with some Positive Ageing Strategy which will help guide Council in pleasure to present the 2016-17 Annual Report. other councils to improve efficiencies and embrace best new faces, including our youngest ever councillor who was our spending and actions to better support our diverse and practice. In a first for the City of Whittlesea, we have just 19 years old when elected. We also had to sadly farewell growing community. With some 8000 new residents joining During most of the year Liana Thompson was Acting jointly employed a Chief Information Officer, shared with one of our newly elected councillors, Cr John Butler who us each year, we are a fast growing municipality. CEO and I’d like to acknowledge her excellent work in the City of Moreland. We also developed the Epping passed away in September 2017 after a short illness. managing the organisation through a period of change, Animal Welfare Facility in collaboration with the Cities This growth has its challenges, particularly around ensuring we continued robust financial performance of Moreland and Darebin and we hope this will open the Significantly, we developed our Council Plan 2017-21 to infrastructure provision. We continue to work with the State including an unqualified auditor’s opinion. door to other opportunities for collaboration. guide our direction and budget development for the next and Federal Governments to ensure we are receiving the four years. The plan sets out our priorities with traffic funding our community needs to develop important projects. As a newcomer to the role, I have inherited some We were delighted with the 2017 Local Government congestion the focus for our advocacy priorities to both wonderful projects and activities. Our community Community Satisfaction Survey. Our overall score was State and Federal Governments. This year we were pleased to receive $8 million from the continues to grow at one of the fastest rates in the state higher than the state average and our customer service State Government’s Growing Suburbs Fund which enabled a and during the 2016/17 year Council spent $208 million score was particularly high. While we are pleased with the It was a busy year with Council launching a number of range of community projects to be developed. providing more than 100 services. Council also delivered, progress we are making, we know there are still ways we important strategies. We are once again leading the way with a best-ever completion rate of 90 per cent, a can further improve to ensure our residents are satisfied in the local government sector with the launch of our Work is progressing on the Mernda Rail extension project comprehensive $43 million New Works program to give with our performance. Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan – just one of four local and we were pleased to secure state and federal spending our community improved roads, footpaths and bike governments to achieve this level of reconciliation. We for several important road projects including the O’Herns paths, upgraded and new community facilities, parks It is my great pleasure to present the 2016-17 City of have a growing Aboriginal community and are proud of Road/ Hume Freeway interchange, Plenty Road and Yan and playgrounds. Whittlesea Annual Report. our ongoing engagement with them and our continued Yean Road duplication. reconciliation efforts. Our challenge continues to be how we can deliver the Regards, We continue, through our Advocacy Strategy, to lobby for a level of service required in a changing fiscal landscape. We have implemented significant changes this year to some dedicated pipeline of funds to address our significant traffic It’s about keeping our eye on the long term while of our processes. For example, a change to the planning congestion problems. We will also continue to advocate adapting to the challenges that come along the way. delegations and streamlining of our processes has resulted for legislative changes to reduce the impact of harm from Our People Strategy and People Plan will ensure that staff in less Council reports and significant reduction in planning poker machines on our community. This year Council have the skills, support and capability to deliver on our successfully applied to the Victorian Commission for application assessment times for residents and developers. commitments to our community. Simon Overland Gambling and Liquor Regulation to prevent the installation Chief Executive Officer In line with our commitment to develop community of electronic gaming machines at the Commercial hotel – partnerships, Council partnered with Whittlesea a big win for our community. Community Futures to launch a prospectus which calls on philanthropists and big business to fund important I would like to thank my fellow councillors, our Council staff and community projects to address social disadvantage. The the community for their work over the past 12 months. It is launch was a great success and we’ve already had funding this partnership approach that is a great strength in the City of pledged for some of the 14 projects. Whittlesea ensuring significant outcomes for our community. We also partnered with the YMCA to finalise the Orchard Road Community and Family Centre – a unique partnership approach using State Government and YMCA funding for construction and enabling Council to provide services in a cost effective way. Ricky Kirkham Mayor 2 | City of Whittlesea ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 City of Whittlesea ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 | 3 ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 THE YEAR IN REVIEW The year in review Key achievements Inclusive and Engaged Accessibility In, Out Growing our Economy Council’s work is guided by our Community and Around Our City A diverse economy offers varied career Community Plan Shaping Our Future opportunities so people can live and work Building skills and capacity so everyone can Public transport, roads for vehicles, walking in the City of Whittlesea. that details our community’s vision fully participate in community life. and bike paths, communication and digital for the City of Whittlesea in 2030. networks allow us to connect with the Highlights Highlights services we need. It is a plan that sets out the type of • Council is committed to supporting businesses municipality our community can expect • Successful launch of the Whittlesea Community Highlights to start, grow and prosper, giving the Futures Prospectus that seeks philanthropic in the future with clear outcomes that community access to a range of local jobs funding for 14 local projects that will provide • Development of a Road and Public Transport in a strong local economy. Development of Council works towards achieving. targeted support to disadvantaged communities Plan will be used to guide Council’s work as we our Economic Development Strategy will and neigbourhoods. advocate and work with key stakeholders to enhance our local economy's ability to reach its It is these community outcomes that ensure our community can enjoy access to an potential.