CITY OF MITCHAM ANNUAL REPORT 2019/20 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO COUNTRY We acknowledge the Kaurna people as the traditional custodians and caretakers of the land that includes much of this city, known as Tarndanyannga country, which means ‘the place of the red kangaroo dreaming’. We respect and value the Kaurna people’s cultural beliefs and past, present and ongoing connection to the land. WELCOME TO THE CITY OF MITCHAM 2019-2020 ANNUAL REPORT We are pleased to present the City of Mitcham’s 2019/20 Annual Report. This report describes the Council’s performance in delivering the Annual Business Plan and Budget activities over the financial year as they contribute to the strategic objectives and priorities of the Strategic Management Plan 2017-2027. During 2019/20, it was more important than ever that Council’s website provides more information about Council’s the Mitcham Community came together to respond to the plans, policies and activities. Please visit challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. www.mitchamcouncil.sa.gov.au. This report will provide an overview of the activities, projects Your feedback is valuable as it helps us improve our next report. and services that were delivered and implemented across the If you would like to provide feedback or would like more City during the year. information about anything in this report, please contact us. The Report is divided into eight sections: Email your feedback or questions to: [email protected] • Our Vision Write to us at: • Mitcham Profile PO Box 21 • Our Council Mitcham Shopping Centre Torrens Park SA 5062 • Our Leadership and People Speak to a Customer Communications Officer on 08 8372 8888 • Our Performance • Our Governance • Financial Statements • Subsidiary Reports Text adopted by Council on Civic Centre: Telephone: 24 November 2020 131 Belair Road, 08 8372 8888 TORRENS PARK SA 5062 ISSN Number 2207-0354 (Print) Facsimile: Postal address: 08 8372 8101 ISSN Number 2207-0362 (Online) PO Box 21, Internet: City of Mitcham Record Number: Mitcham Shopping Centre, www.mitchamcouncil.sa.gov.au 4445444 Torrens Park SA 5062 Email: © City of Mitcham [email protected] CITY OF MITCHAM ANNUAL REPORT 2019/20 PAGE 1 CONTENTS Our Vision 3 Mitcham Profile 4 Our Council 6 Message from the Mayor and Chief Executive Officer 7 Our Elected Members 10 Awards and Recognition 13 Grants Awarded 14 Our Leadership and People 16 Our Performance 18 Goal 1 Accessible and Connected Community 21 Goal 2 Sustainable City 29 Goal 3 Dynamic and Prosperous Economy 33 Goal 4 Vibrant and Rich Culture 37 Goal 5 Continuous Organisational Improvement 41 Our Governance 44 Representation 45 Decision Making Structure 46 Council and Council Meetings 48 Council Assessment Panel 49 Committees of Council 50 Designated and Informal Gatherings 53 Delegations to the CEO 56 Council Subsidiaries 57 Member Allowances 58 Elected Member Training and Development 59 Confidential Provisions 60 Freedom of Information Applications 62 Section 270 Internal Reviews of Decisions 62 National Competition Policy 65 Local Nuisance and Litter Control Act 66 Community Land and Council Facilities 67 Public Documents Maintained by Council 68 Financial Report 69 Subsidiary Reports 121 Centennial Park Cemetery Authority 2019/20 Annual Report 121 East Waste 2019/20 Annual Report 121 Brown Hill and Keswick Creeks Stormwater Board 2019/20 Annual Report 121 PAGE 2 CITY OF MITCHAM ANNUAL REPORT 2019/20 OUR VISION We are a welcoming and inclusive community that values its heritage and natural environment. The community’s aspirations for the future are captured in “Mitcham 2017-2027 - Let us build for posterity”*. In order to achieve the Vision for the City of Mitcham, Council is focussing its efforts around the following five goals: • Accessible and Connected Community • Sustainable City • Dynamic and Prosperous Economy • Vibrant and Rich Culture • Continuous Organisational Improvement The Goals are underpinned by objectives which provide a focus for Council in developing its annual business plan actions each year. The Annual Business Plan and Budget process determines the activities to be undertaken during the year. Council’s performance in delivering those activities for 2019/20 is provided in the Our Performance section of this report. * In March 2020 Council endorsed its new Strategic Management Plan ‘Mitcham 2030’. This Annual Report will be the last to report on the goals and objectives outlined in ‘Mitcham 2017-2027’. CITY OF MITCHAM ANNUAL REPORT 2019/20 PAGE 3 MITCHAM PROFILE The City of Mitcham is one of the oldest The City of Mitcham covers an area of 75.7 square kilometres, councils in South Australia, comprising towns with a population of approximately 66,700 and over 5,000 registered businesses generating over 30,500 local jobs and and suburbs settled by Europeans from as $3.5 billion in Gross Regional Product. early as 1837. This picturesque City is located The original inhabitants of the Mitcham area were the Kaurna in the foothills approximately six kilometres people and today, the community comes together to share south of Adelaide. The City has an enviable stories, reflect on the past and look to the future at Colebrook blend of both urban and semi-rural areas and Reconciliation Park. European settlement began in areas of Mitcham Village, St Marys and Coromandel Valley, accelerating is renowned for its avenues of street trees, in the mid to late 1800s, spurred by the opening of the railway its beautiful parks, reserves and gardens, its line, with new residents attracted by the semirural surrounds historic homes, unique historical areas and its of the foothills. Growth continued in the early 1900s, with the magnificent views from the hills over the City most significant development during the interwar period and post-war years. Much of the recent growth has been in the and to the coast. southern suburb of Craigburn Farm. The City is well served by many tourist attractions including Carrick Hill Estate, Belair National Park, Brown Hill Creek Reserve, Waite Arboretum, Wittunga Botanic Garden, Sturt River Linear Trail, Windy Point , reserves and numerous trails through the historic Mitcham Precinct, Blackwood, Brown Hill Creek, Colonel Light Gardens, Lower Mitcham and St Marys. PAGE 4 CITY OF MITCHAM ANNUAL REPORT 2019/20 The diversity of the Mitcham area is unique with our suburbs Our City’s largest industries are Health Care and Social including State Heritage listed Colonel Light Gardens part of the Assistance and Education and Training. We have world-class original Thousand Home Scheme and Australia’s most complete medical and research facilities, including Flinders Medical example of an early 1900s garden suburb; historic Belair, a Centre, Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, Flinders Private unique suburb surrounded on three sides by parks including Hospital and the Repatriation General Hospital within our City. South Australia’s oldest park Belair National Park; Springfield, Our vibrant education sector is home to over 65 high quality one of Adelaide’s most prestigious suburbs with sweeping educational institutions including kindergartens, schools and views over the Adelaide plans; Bedford Park and St Marys, universities such as the Waite Institute, Flinders University and adjacent to Flinders University and home to many new Mitcham the Australian Science and Mathematics School with many residents and students from overseas as well as a new housing local and international students living locally. The City is also development at Craigburn Farm. home to Centennial Park Cemetery Authority, a joint regional subsidiary of the Cities of Mitcham and Unley. The majority of properties located in Mitcham are residential with over 26,000 dwellings across 33 suburbs each with their Mitcham boasts a diverse range of unique natural habitats, own particular style and community spirit. New dwelling specimen trees and native vegetation that form part of a construction is relatively stable with an average of 143 significant green corridor across the western slopes of the approvals per year over the last 10 years with the majority of Mount Lofty Ranges. The hills are the home of many threatened people living in separate houses. Most commercial premises native plants and animals and preserving our natural landscape are located along or near Belair Road, Goodwood Road, South is an important legacy. Road and Main Road (Blackwood and Belair). Most industrial Mitcham is in the catchment area for both Brown Hill Creek and premises are located along the western boundary immediately the Sturt River and collects significant volumes of stormwater adjoining South Road. from the Adelaide foothills before flowing into Gulf St Vincent. CITY OF MITCHAM ANNUAL REPORT 2019/20 PAGE 5 OUR COUNCIL PAGE 6 CITY OF MITCHAM ANNUAL REPORT 2019/20 Dr Heather Holmes-Ross Matt Pears Mayor Chief Executive Officer MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER The year 2019-20 presented many challenges Government Professionals Leadership Excellence Awards. Even better is to see this precinct embraced by our community, but also highlighted the strength and resilience whether it’s kids playing in the creek, students doing of our community. homework in our many study nooks, or groups enjoying a picnic on the lawns. We saw many examples of people caring for one another, checking in on isolated neighbours, and choosing to spend The past year also shed light on the important work of Council’s money to support local businesses. Environmental Health team who partnered with the Local Government Association and SA Police to keep businesses For many of us, the pandemic presented an opportunity to and residents up to date on food safety and social distancing slow down and reflect on the importance of community, requirements, financial assistance and mental health support. the environment and the role of local government in our everyday lives. Our Community Wellbeing team provided support to our older and isolated residents with phone calls, welfare checks and Thank you to our Elected Members whose directions paved the continued community services.