CORANGAMITE SHIRE ANNUAL REPORT 2015-2016 www.corangamite.vic.gov.au CONTENTS OVERVIEW Our Shire 3 Year in Review 6 Message from the Mayor 8 Message from the CEO 9 Operational Performance 10 Financial Performance 12 Sustainability Performance 16 Councillors 18 Our Organisation 21 Our Vision, Mission, Values & Behaviours 22 Our People 23 Community Contributors 27 COUNCIL PLAN REPORTING 29 Strategic Theme 1: Stewardship, Governance, Advocacy and Collaboration 30 Strategic Theme 2: Positioning for Economic Growth 36 Strategic Theme 3: Sustaining our Natural Assets 42 Strategic Theme 4: Strengthening our Communities 48 Strategic Theme 5: Infrastructure 60 Strategic Theme 6: Our Organisation 66 Democratic Governance information 71 Corporate Governance information 74 FINANCIAL REPORTING Performance Statement Financial Report WELCOME Corangamite Shire is proud to present the 2015-2016 For further information and to provide feedback, Annual Report to our community. The report describes please contact us on 5593 7100 or email Corangamite Shire Council’s operations, accomplishments [email protected] and the challenges we have encountered during the year. An electronic version of this report can be viewed online It documents and benchmarks, in detail, our performance at www.corangamite.vic.gov.au If you wish to obtain a against strategic objectives set out in the Council Plan hardcopy, please visit our Civic Centre at 181 Manifold 2013-2017, key actions outlined in the Annual Action Plan Street, Camperdown or contact us. 2015-2016 and figures set in the 2015-2016 Budget. 2 CORANGAMITE SHIRE ANNUAL REPORT 2015-2016 OUR SHIRE Located two hours south-west of Melbourne, Corangamite History is a large rural shire with a population of 15,671 (Estimated The Djargurd Wurrung people are the traditional aboriginal Residential Population June 2015). owners of the land around Camperdown and district. For From the wild Southern Ocean and rugged Shipwreck tens of thousands of years they successfully occupied the Coast in the south, our boundaries stretch 120 kilometres area as a semi−nomadic hunter gatherer society. past forests and fertile farmland to the grazing expanses The first European settlers to arrive in the Camperdown of the north. Our large geographic area of 4,400 km2 district were the Manifold brothers; John, Peter and is home to a number of stunning and diverse natural Thomas. Most of Corangamite’s townships were settled in landscapes including the world-renowned Twelve Apostles the 1840s and 50s and each of our communities has their and Port Campbell National Park. We have state parks, own story to tell. Simpson was the centre of the post- some of the deepest lakes in Australia, dense bush and war dairying area, where after World War II the Soldier grassland, and plains dotted with dormant volcanoes as Settlement Commission cleared the Heytesbury Forest far as the eye can see. and settled 430 farms. Our largest township Camperdown (pop. 3,320) is both Today, there are reminders of our heritage – dry stone the geographic and commercial centre of Corangamite walls, cultural sites, homesteads, shipwrecks and buildings Shire. Terang (pop. 2,210) and Noorat are a 20 minute such as the Shire town hall, built in 1886 and still used to drive west, Cobden (pop. 1,886) is 10 minutes south, while this day. Timboon (pop. 2,210) is 30 minutes south. Smaller towns in the north include Skipton, Derrinallum, Darlington and Population Lismore. In the south there are the small coastal towns of Approximately 89 per cent of Corangamite Shire’s Princetown and Port Campbell and the farming community population was born in Australia, with 6.6 per cent born of Simpson. overseas (and 4.3 per cent not stated). 0.8 per cent Much of the rural area in Corangamite Shire is used for identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and 2 per agriculture, particularly dairy farming, sheep and cattle cent come from a non-English speaking background.* grazing, and grain growing. Tourism is also an important One of the biggest challenges facing rural communities, industry, especially in the south along the Great Ocean and in particular Corangamite Shire, is population Road. decline. Like 10 other Victorian municipalities, our current population of 15,671 is expected to continue to decline between now and 2031**. The flight of youth – where Corangamite Shire young people leave their rural communities for education and employment opportunities- is a contributing factor. Skipton The national trends of ageing population, downturns in manufacturing and the changing face of agriculture are also issues faced by Corangamite Shire. Derrinallum *ABS Census data 2011 **State Government’s Victoria In Future 2015 Lismore Darlington Our name Corangamite Shire was created in 1994 when the Town Noorat of Camperdown and Shires of Heytesbury and Hampden Camperdown amalgamated. The Shire is named after the large inland Terang Lake Corangamite on its boundary. Corangamite is an Cobden aboriginal word to describe ‘bitter’ or ‘salt’ referring to Simpson the high salt content of the lake. Timboon N Port Campbell Princetown CORANGAMITE SHIRE ANNUAL REPORT 2015-2016 3 Economy AT A GLANCE The five major industry sectors are: • Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (2,197 persons or 32.5%) AREA WARDS • Healthcare and Social Assistance (700 or 10.4%) 4,400 KM2 5 • Retail Trade (677 or 10%) COASTLINE TOWNS • Manufacturing (577 or 8.5%) KM • Education and Training (500 or 7.4%) 60 12 Agriculture is a major driver of the local economy with RATEABLE PROPERTIES the industry employing just under one third of the Shire’s population. Corangamite is one of the most productive 9,566 dairying regions of Australia with dairy contributing $300 million to the local economy. Cropping, wool and beef production are also important sectors. Tourism is also an important industry with the Twelve Apostles attracting 2.6 million visitors per year. Services to the community Corangamite Shire is a large rural shire council employing 179.58 full time equivalent staff who provide a diverse range of services and programs to the community. NORTH WARD Services include aged care, recreation, arts and culture, family, children and youth, planning, roads, drains and footpaths, waste, parks, gardens and local laws. POPULATION For every $100 in Council rates and charges: 15,6711 Aged & Disability Services $2.19 2015 Building & Planning Services $2.76 Economic Development & Tourism $2.13 CENTRAL WARD Local Laws & Emergency Management $3.86 Community Planning & Customer Relations $4.55 SOUTH Community Facilities $5.09 CENTRAL SOUTH WARD Family & Children’s Services $1.41 WEST WARD Parks & Gardens $8.19 Culture, Leisure & Recreation $8.00 Environment & Waste Management $9.10 COASTAL WARD Roads, footpaths & drainage $52.72 0102030405060 $ 1 ABS Estimated Resident Population 2015 2 ABS Census of Population and Housing, 2011 3 Small area labour markets Department of Employment March 2016 4 National Institute of Economic and Industry Research (NIEIR) 2016 5 National Institute of Economic and Industry Research (NIEIR) 2016 6 ABS Census of Population and Housing, 2011 7 ABS Census of Population and Housing, 2011 4 CORANGAMITE SHIRE ANNUAL REPORT 2015-2016 MEDIAN AGE EMPLOYED RESIDENTS AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD 42 2 7,861 5 2.43 PEOPLE 6 UNEMPLOYMENT RATE LOCAL BUSINESSES POPULATION BORN OVERSEAS 2.31% 3 2,344 2.2% 7 GROSS REGIONAL PRODUCT VALUE OF BUILDING APPROVALS POPULATION DENSITY $1.5 BILLION 4 $25 MILLION 0.04 PERSONS PER HECTARE Twelve Apostles, Port Campbell National Park CORANGAMITE SHIRE ANNUAL REPORT 2015-2016 5 YEAR IN REVIEW JULY 2015 SEPTEMBER 2015 NOVEMBER 2015 • The new Retail Area Façade • Corangamite Fun Run Series • Camperdown celebrates the Improvement Program is kicks off opening of the new Camperdown launched, providing Apex Park businesses with grants to OCTOBER 2015 • Cr Jo Beard elected Mayor improve the appearance of their shopfronts • Performer Jade Hurley headlines • Swimming pools open across the Seniors Festival Shire • $100,000 is awarded to community groups via the • Heart of Corangamite Network • Corangamite Shire wins the Local annual Community Grants & wins the 2015 Early Years Government Award for Tourism Facility Program Award for Outstanding at the 2015 RACV Victorian Leadership for Health and Tourism Awards • Beyond the Bell Community Wellbeing Action Plan officially launched DECEMBER 2015 to improve low Year 12 or • Young Achievers recognised at equivalent attainment rates the Youth Awards in Terang • Roadside blackberry spraying program starts • Camperdown Cruise and AUGUST 2015 Rockabilly Festival – Round • Council adopts the Arts and • A review of the Corangamite 7 of the Roller Derby Statewide Culture Plan 2016-2020 Planning Scheme commences Stampede held in Camperdown • State Government announces • Corangamite Shire wins first • Cobden Spring Festival Expressions of Interest (EOI) prize in Technology and process for the use of vacant • Corangamite Shire hosts a Innovation category at the MAV Glenormiston College Regional Planners Forum, Awards for developing the attracting planners from across • Shipwreck Coast Master Plan Roadside Weed Mapping the state launched by Minister for and Works Tracking App Environment, Climate Change and Water, Lisa Neville • The Lakes and Craters Three Day Horse Trial Event near Camperdown attracts 300 riders from across the country 6 CORANGAMITE SHIRE ANNUAL REPORT 2015-2016 JANUARY 2016 MARCH 2016 MAY 2016 • Top citizens recognised at • Council hosts a Welcome