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Our Year in Review Highlights The year ahead • We delivered a $93 million capital works program, including Key funding allocations from the 2012-13 budget include: $42m on roads and $2m on parks projects. • $117m on water and sewerage projects • We progressed plans to corporatise the Gladstone Airport to • $93m for roads and drainage allow the best financial returns to ratepayers and Council, with the changes taking effect on July 1, 2012. • $27m to further enhance our arts and culture services • Gladstone Region residents had their say at the local • $24m for parks and open space areas government elections in April 2012, returning all standing • $140m allocated in the operating budget and $188m towards Councillors seeking re-election to their positions as well as capital expenditure the incumbent Mayor Gail Sellers. Three new Councillors were elected. A total of 22 candidates stood for Council with two • $101m of this year's capital works program (54%) will be standing for the mayoral position. funded from external contributions and capital grants • The local government elections also marked the end of the first term of Gladstone Regional Council post-amalgamation. Directorate highlights 2012-13: • Council was recognised nationally and internationally for best Corporate & Community Services practice across various sections of the organisation. • $21m towards the Gladstone Entertainment Centre • Council welcomed $13.5m, the first payment from the Precinct Expansion Gladstone Foundation, to assist Council address social needs as a result of industrial impact on community services. • $2.6m for stage one of the Boyne Tannum Sport Park Development • $2m to be spent on the Gladstone Aquatic Centre redevelopment, including water play park featuring water activities, toddlers pool, adult viewing area ($1m carried Challenges over from 2011-12 budget) • Rising costs of living, coupled with a changing environment and • $1.05m for the Discovery Coast Community Health Service social stresses, tested the resiliency, values and attitudes of residents and associated governments. Engineering Services • We continued to face the challenge of managing demands and • $44m (estimated) for flood restoration works to return expectations for increased services while maintaining staff the region's Council controlled roads to pre-flood 2010-11 resources and addressing skills shortages in key areas. condition • $51m for water and sewerage works including upgrades to the Gladstone Waste Water Treatment Plant and Miriam Vale Water treatment plants and the pipeline to Curtis Island • $1m on bridges, jetties and boat ramp inspections and A 34m, maintenance 22t foot bridge was Planning & Environment one of the many • $9.6m to be spent on park maintenance and improvements capital projects delivered in 2011-12. • $1m for construction of a new animal pound in the Gladstone area • $540,000 for Gladstone Tondoon Botanic Gardens maintenance work 4 Gladstone Regional Council Annual Report 2011-12 Fast Facts 2011-12 90,785 Calls answered by Customer Service staff New Australian 196 citizens welcomed 101 groups 3088 Assisted by annual community grants Building/ Plumbing 902,296 approvals Pages viewed on the issued corporate website 72,500 Visits to the region's swimming pools 2580 Kilometres of roads maintained by Council 23,228 Visitors to the Art 483,067 Gallery & Museum 149,500 Library items borrowed Counter transactions at 6 admin centres 23% of kerbside 64Playgrounds waste 21,094 collected Gladstone is recycled Entertainment Centre patrons Introduction 5 Our Vision and Values Residents enjoy the view from Auckland Hill, Gladstone. 6 Gladstone Regional Council Annual Report 2011-12 Our Vision To be the "Region of Choice" with strong leadership, delivering quality infrastructure and services. Our Key Values • Leadership respected for its integrity and strong, transparent and ethical representation of the region • Valuing community input into local decision-making • Strong relationships with key partners • Sustainable, environmentally managed growth • Quality of life for our community • A community rich in cultural diversity, civic pride and regional identity • Valuing teamwork and partnerships Vision and Values Introduction 7 A message from the Mayor and CEO This Annual Report marks the end of the first term of Gladstone Regional Council and the first year of the current Council term which commenced in April 2012. The 2011-12 year has continued to see significant achievements within Council and the wider Gladstone Region community. It is with pleasure that we introduce the 2011-12 Annual Report on land purchased to expand Council office space; $2.8m spent on behalf of Gladstone Regional Council. asphalt overlays and road resealing; $2.4m spent on the Calliope Crossroads upgrade; and $1.3m on the Calliope River road widening Council had a busy and challenging year. While there were new and and service roads project. unprecedented issues to manage there were also some outstanding achievements. Council also progressed its plans to redevelop the Gladstone Entertainment Centre, adopting the plans for a 1000 square metre Council was recognised at a national level for its Gladstone Airport conference and event flat floor space and a vibrant new public plaza Reconstruction Project, winning the Regional Airport of the Year on Goondoon Street. Award in November, and the Discovery Coast Rural and Remote Health Service was also named category winner Rural and Remote Another significant change within the organisation occurred when Health at the 2012 National Awards for Local Government. Council moved to corporatise the Gladstone Airport, giving the airport its own corporate structure but remaining wholly owned by Council Council's social inclusion model received international recognition on behalf of ratepayers and residents of the Gladstone Region. when it was presented at the International Conference on Diversity in Organisations, Communities and Nations in Canada. The principal benefit of the corporatisation is that the Airport will no longer be restrained by local government legislation and will reap Staff were also recognised for excellent performance in safety financial rewards as a business. management with a Gold Level Award at the Local Government Association of Queensland's Annual Conference. Council continued to enjoy extensive community engagement on all of its major projects, including development and sports and Council entered an exciting phase following the second election of recreation master planning. the Gladstone Regional Council. With six elected representatives from the first post-amalgamation term returning to office, Council External industry projects have meant Gladstone is experiencing retained a core of knowledge and experience which will prove vital a resources-driven expansion on a scale never before seen in the as the region continues to develop at a rapid rate, while the new region. Council is doing everything within its power to minimise the Councillors will add a fresh approach and new ideas. extent of the housing shortage being experienced throughout the region. We offer our gratitude to former representatives Craig Butler, Clyde Cameron and Lyn Paton for all the hard work they did for the region We lobbied to the State Government and LNG industry representatives during their four year term. at every opportunity, ensuring the needs of our residents are a high priority consideration in all LNG project decisions. Council completed $93 million worth of capital works during the year, including the completion of Kirkwood Road, the Dixon Drive A partnership with LNG companies has resulted in $1.58m providing bridge linking the suburb of Telina with Forest Springs estate, rental help for Gladstone workers, and helping people meet the airport runway and terminal upgrades, a new fleet workshop and rising costs associated with living in our region. administration building, construction of the new Agnes Water The adoption of the 20-year Gladstone Region Community Plan the Community Centre, the Glenlyon Road pedestrian/cycle link and a previous year has enabled a coordinated community approach to rising main at Broadacres Reservoir. ensure that we do not lose sight of becoming the Region of Choice Several other major projects commenced or were continued from as the region grows and prospers. the previous year with $1.8m spent on purchasing the previous Commonwealth Bank building in Goondoon Street, Gladstone and Kate Daniel is fascinated by Japanese books sent from our Sister City, Saiki. 8 Gladstone Regional Council Annual Report 2011-12 A message from the Mayor and CEO Mayor Gail Sellers and CEO Stuart Randle. Council charged three reference groups with the task of actioning for their diligence in delivering quality services to the community our Community Plan and we thank them for their hard work towards through the year. implementing actions and lobbying for the community's priorities. We trust this Annual Report offers some meaningful insight into This year has seen new foundations laid for financial sustainability, Gladstone Regional Council's operations and plans for the region operational reporting and an organisational restructure to get the in the future. best out of our available resources. The Gladstone Region truly is a great place to live, work, play and Continually refining our systems and processes will ensure Council invest. can continue to meet the vision and aspirations of our community for years to come. Councillors and staff alike

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