Adopted 24th November 2008 2007-2008 ANNUAL REPORT Cowra Council Cowra Council Cowra: Your Shire ............................................................................................................. 5 The Region ...................................................................................................... 5 The Cowra Shire .............................................................................................. 5 Population Growth .......................................................................................... 6 Cowra: Your Council ........................................................................................................ 7 Council’s Vision, Mission, Motto & Values....................................................7 Cowra: Your Representatives ......................................................................................... 8 Elected Representatives: Councillors .............................................................. 8 Organisation Structure ................................................................................. 9 Contacting Your Council.............................................................................. 10 A Word from the Mayor................................................................................................ 11 A Word from the General Manager............................................................................ 14 Principal Activities ............................................................................................................16 Health & Well-Being..................................................................................... 16 Education, Training & Research.................................................................. 18 Lifestyle ........................................................................................................ 19 Governance....................................................................................................23 Business & Industry..................................................................................... 28 Transport & Infrastructure ........................................................................... 29 Natural Resource Management ...................................................................36 Expenses & Payments ...................................................................................................... 38 Legal Proceedings ......................................................................................... 38 Rate and Charge Write-offs ......................................................................... 38 Section 356 Donations................................................................................. 38 Contracts over $150,000............................................................................... 39 Mayor and Councillors................................................................................. 39 Environmental Activities ................................................................................................. 59 Bushfire Reduction Activities...................................................................... 59 State of Environment Report ...................................................................... 74 Companion Animals Clause 217 (1)(f)...................................................... 85 Cultural Awareness.......................................................................................................... 86 Diverse Culture Programs.............................................................................86 Migrant Support...........................................................................................87 Cowra Cultural Council ................................................................................87 Cowra Festival of International Understanding......................................... 88 2007-2008 ANNUAL REPORT Cowra Social Plan 2005-2009 ..................................................................... 89 Cowra’s Sakura Avenue ............................................................................... 90 Council Works.................................................................................................................. 91 Private Works................................................................................................ 91 Public Works................................................................................................. 91 Business Activities & Competitive Neutrality............................................. 91 Council Employment........................................................................................................ 92 Senior Staff Remuneration......................................................................... 92 Human Resources Activities ........................................................................ 92 Equal Employment Opportunity................................................................. 93 Associated Organisations & Companies ..................................................................... 94 External Bodies – Delegation........................................................................94 Controlling Interests in Companies .............................................................94 Co-Operatives, Partnerships, Joint Ventures.................................................94 General Regulation Requirements................................................................................ 95 Overseas Visits Funded by Council ............................................................. 95 Activities for Children .................................................................................. 95 Access & Equity of Services to All............................................................... 96 Information......................................................................................................................... 97 Privacy and Personal Information ..............................................................97 Freedom of Information................................................................................97 Financial Reports...............................................................................................................98 2007-2008 ANNUAL REPORT Cowra: Your Shire The Region Cowra Shire is located in central New South Wales, only two hours from Canberra, the nation’s capital, four hours from central Sydney and eight hours from Melbourne. Bathurst and Orange are the major cities of the region. The shire forms part of a larger Western NSW region, Covering more than half of the state, which extends from the Great Dividing Range in the east across to the South Australian border. The Lachlan River runs through the shire with Wyangala Dam at its headwaters. The river provides town water supplies along its length as well as irrigation to river properties within the shire and to the adjacent local government authorities of Forbes and Lachlan Shire (Condobolin). The Cowra Shire The Cowra Shire is located in the fertile Lachlan Valley and covers an area of approximately 2,810 km² and accommodates a resident population of 12,924 as at 2007. The major urban centre in the shire is the Cowra township which is the heart of the region; having a long established centre since its early settlement as a river crossing in 1849 to facilitate cattle-grazing and gold mining activity in the area. There are also a number of small villages in the shire, including Billimari, Darbys Falls, Gooloogong, Morongla, Noonbinna, Wattamondara, Woodstock and Wyangala. The history of these settlements is varied but originates from early mining and agricultural activities of the late 1800s. A count of business by industry type as at June 2007 shows the following: Cowra No of Businesses % of Total Businesses Agriculture, Forestry and 600 45% Fishing Retail Trade 147 11% Construction 129 10% Property and Business Services 102 8% Manufacturing 75 6% Others 291 20% Total Businesses 1,344 100% 2007-2008 ANNUAL REPORT Page 5 The top seven areas of Employment by Industry sector are: Industry % of Employment Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing 17.39% Retail Trade 15.89% Manufacturing 12.73% Health and Community Services 10.01% Education 7.12% Wholesale Trade 5.98% Construction 5.26% Tourism is also a key industry for Cowra in terms of investment, economic development and opportunity however its activities range over a number of industry sectors. Population Growth Shire Population 12,924 Cowra Town Population 9,200 Cowra shire’s population has had an average annual growth rate over the last 30 years of just under 1%. Traditionally, Cowra has exhibited moderate but positive population growth over the last 30 years, however, six years of drought has impacted on employment and resulted in a loss of 170 persons from 2006 to 2007. The population growth for Cowra, based on past trends, is illustrated below. With two major housing developments and a new supermarket the population is expected to fully recover and return to its normal growth pattern. COWRA SHIRE 13500 13000 12500 12000 11500 COWRA SHIRE 11000 10500 10000 9500 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2007 2007-2008 ANNUAL REPORT Page 6 Cowra: Your Council Council’s Vision, Mission, Motto & Values Vision For Cowra to be the most attractive and rewarding area in all aspects of life in rural NSW Mission Foster community relations, actively lead, facilitate and ensure sustainable development and provide, maintain