Annual Report 2015/16
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The new suburb of Lucas in Ballarat West – details on the development of the Ballarat West Urban Growth Zone can be found on page 98. City of Ballarat respectfully acknowledges the Wadawurrung and Dja Dja Wurrung people as the traditional custodians of the land on which we live and work. Cover: Archibald Prize Exhibition 2015 at the Art Gallery of Ballarat. Front cover: Jaiwai Shen How to explain a white rabbit, oil on canvas, 183 x 183 cm, © the artist Back cover: Kerry Mcinnes Omar Musa, The poetry of unease, oil on canvas, 230 x 165.9 cm, © the artist Photo courtesy of the Art Gallery of Ballarat. WELCOME FROM YOUR COUNCILLORS We are pleased to present this Annual Report to our community. It reports on how we performed during 2015-16 against the Council Plan 2013-17 based on the theme Leading Sustainable Growth, Strengthening our Community and Respecting our Heritage. It also reports on the challenges and disappointments we faced and what our focus will be looking ahead in the final few months of this Council term. We trust that it is a detailed and honest account. We hope that you find this report informative and easy to understand. It demonstrates the diversity and breadth of our operations and the services we deliver to our community on a daily basis. In an effort to continuously improve how we communicate with you, we welcome your feedback. Details on how you can provide feedback can be found on page 222. Ballarat’s CBD looking south along Lydiard Street – details on the development of the Ballarat CBD can be found on page 124. OUR STRATEGIC PURPOSE Leading Sustainable Growth, Strengthening our Community and Respecting our Heritage. We will achieve our goals by adhering to these principles: » Demonstrate clear, decisive, and consistent direction. » Be financially responsible. » Demonstrate to the community a transparent and consultative approach to key decisions. » Advocate for Council’s priorities and form partnerships to deliver the projects. » Foster innovation and creativity in the delivery of results. » Review core Council services in the context of our strategic intent. » Bring rigour and an evidence-based approach to decision-making. CONTENTS 1. OVERVIEW 02 Executive Management Welcome from your Councillors 03 Reporting Structure 59 Contents 05 Organisational Divisions 59 Highlights – Our Performance 06 Leadership Team Profiles 60 Your Rates at Work 08 Management of Information 62 About this Annual Report 09 Protected Disclosures 63 Ballarat – a Snapshot 10 Local Laws 63 Major Projects - Highlights 12 Statutory Information 63 Events - Highlights 14 Service Performance Indicators 64 A Message from the Mayor 16 Local Government Performance A Message from the CEO 17 Reporting 66 A Message from the CFO 18 Special Ceremonies 19 5. OUR PEOPLE 75 Organisational Awards 20 Overview 75 Community Awards 21 Staff Profile 76 Service Recognition 76 2. ENGAGING OUR COMMUNITY 25 Staff Improvement Program 79 Keeping Residents Informed 27 Occupational Health, Wellbeing & Safety 80 Encouraging Residents to Have Their Say 28 6. OUR PERFORMANCE 82 Encouraging Residents to Participate in Decision-Making 29 Sustainability 82 Empowering Our Community 30 Asset Management 84 Customer Service 32 Growth & Development Portfolio 95 Council’s Volunteer Program 34 People & Communities Portfolio 107 Community Impact Grants 35 Destination & Economy Portfolio 121 Managing Our Business Portfolio 131 3. OUR COUNCIL 37 7. OUR FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE 141 Overview 37 Council’s Portfolio Structure 38 Financial Report Summary 142 Mayors 2015-16 39 Understanding this Financial Report 144 Councillor Profiles 40 Financial Statements 146 Youth Council 46 8. APPENDICES 205 4. GOVERNANCE 49 1. Community Impact Grants 206 Overview 49 2. Advisory & Non-Advisory Council’s Planning Framework 50 Committees, Groups & Organisations 208 Democratic Governance 50 3. Reports considered by the Committees 52 Audit Advisory Committee 212 External Audit 52 4. City of Ballarat Local Laws 213 Internal Audit 53 5. Service Recognition Award Recipients 214 Best Value 54 6. External Funding Sources 216 Risk Management Framework & Policy 55 9. REFERENCE 217 Local Government Performance Glossary 218 Reporting 56 Index 220 Corporate Governance 58 How to Contact Us 222 Organisational Structure 58 6 | City of Ballarat Annual Report 2015-16 HIGHLIGHTS OUR PERFORMANCE GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT PEOPLE & COMMUNITIES PORTFOLIO PORTFOLIO We imagine Ballarat as a well-planned We imagine Ballarat as a safe and city that maintains a unique urban well-serviced city that provides equal character, provides accessible, access to opportunities for its citizens connected and safe urban areas and at all stages of life, has connected facilities, supports diverse housing communities that participate actively and active transport options, and uses in civic life and offers diverse and resources sustainably while adapting accessible recreation, leisure and to changes in climate. sporting opportunities that encourage healthy lifestyles. Highlights Highlights » Advancing the Ballarat Botanical » Delivering Ballarat’s first inclusive play Gardens Fernery project located within space at Victoria Park. the Lake Wendouree Precinct. » Delivering two new outdoor aquatic » Making sure there are great public open play spaces in Sebastopol and Ballarat spaces, more trees and new parks in East following the success of the first growth areas in Ballarat West such as one in North Ballarat and planning for Lucas to ensure urban character. an additional play space at the Ballarat Aquatic & Lifestyle Centre which will » Advancing Greening Ballarat Projects include a water slide. such as significant tree planting – more » Investing in further amenity improvements than 1,400 street trees were planted. at the Eureka Swimming Complex. » Enhancing further the city’s five major » Hosted the Matildas v NZ Ferns soccer entrances and boulevards. match prior to the Olympic Games at » Investing in city presentation projects the Ballarat Regional Soccer Facility at across the city including street Morshead Park. landscaping, street furniture and street » Delivering a significant upgrade (oval irrigation, public place recycling, bus reconstruction and lighting) at the shelters and restoring city monuments. Alfredton Recreation Reserve. » Investing in drainage works across the » Upgrading a significant number of city including kerb and channel works neighbourhood playgrounds and parks and footpath repairs. across the city. » Investing more than $16 million in road » Seeing the 3-year/$900,000 investment (including rural roads) infrastructure in Buninyong, Learmonth and Miners such as road construction, renewal Rest come to fruition through the and repairs and bridge rehabilitation. Engaging Communities Program. » Investing in maintaining the city’s » Introducing the Engaging Communities parks, gardens, sporting and Program in Sebastopol, Brown Hill and recreational facilities for the benefit of Cardigan Village to facilitate and seed all residents. local neighbourhood investment. » Investing more than $2 million in » Investing $300,000 in empowering local maintaining the city’s community groups and organisations through the Community Impact Grants Program. buildings to ensure they are in the best possible condition for community use. » Investing further in bookstock for the city’s libraries. » Investing in bicycle infrastructure projects throughout the city. » Advancing the Sebastopol Library redevelopment project. Challenges/Disappointments Challenges/Disappointments » Working through the complex process » Not yet securing Federal funding for the relocation of the Ballarat required to bridge the gap for the saleyards and balancing community development of the Wendouree Sports expectations of this project has been a and Events Centre has been a significant significant challenge. disappointment. Looking Ahead Looking Ahead » Finalising the work on the Victoria Park » Pushing ahead with the redevelopment Master Plan to provide more inclusive of the Sebastopol Library to continue and attractive spaces within the to provide improved services and precinct that will encourage increased facilities that promote lifelong learning physical activity and social connection. and encourage residents to actively participate in community life. Overview | Engaging Our Community | Council | Governance | People | Performance | Financials | Appendices | Reference | 7 DESTINATION & BUILDING A MORE ECONOMY PORTFOLIO SUSTAINABLE CITY We imagine Ballarat as a city with We continued to maintain and manage a prosperous, growing economy the city’s resources and to invest that attracts and retains innovative in initiatives as part of our ongoing businesses and enterprises who commitment to achieving sustainable employ a highly skilled local workforce, environmental outcomes. attracts new residents and promotes the city’s unique heritage and vibrant cultural life. Highlights Highlights » Finalising the decision in 2015 on the » Putting in place the new green waste future site for the Ballarat saleyards. kerbside collection service for the A development plan for the new site city which included significant capital at Miners Rest is due for approval in works at the Ballarat Transfer Station. 2016-17, with works to commence » Investing in the city’s landfill with the post-approval. construction of a new cell to meet » Holding four TenderWrite workshops future needs. in 2015-16 in support of the Ballarat » Replacing some street lighting with low Industry Participation