Annual Report 2016/17
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Newcastle City Council Annual Report 2016/17 www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au 2910OCT17 ACKNOWLEDGMENT Newcastle City Council acknowledges the traditional country of the Awabakal and Worimi peoples. We recognise and respect their cultural heritage, beliefs and continuing relationship with the land, and that they are the proud survivors of more than two hundred years of dispossession. Council reiterates its commitment to addressing disadvantages and attaining justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of this community. For information about this document contact: Newcastle City Council 282 King Street, Newcastle NSW 2300 Post: PO Box 489 Newcastle NSW 2300 Australia Phone: 02 4974 2000 Fax: 02 4974 2222 Email: [email protected] Web: www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au November © 2017 Newcastle City Council Authorisation: Interim Chief Executive Officer Cover image: Merewether Ocean Baths Image on right: Bathers Way, The Esplanade at Nobby's Beach ii Newcastle City Council Annual Report 2016/17 iii CONTENTS WELCOME .............................................................................................1 OUR PERFORMANCE .......................................................................14 A Message From the Lord Mayor ................................................1 Snapshot - Our Performance in 2016/17 ...................................15 A Message From the Interim Chief Executive Officer ................2 Community Satisfaction Survey ................................................17 Operational Plan Actions ............................................................20 OUR COUNCIL ......................................................................................3 Connected City ....................................................................21 Who We Are....................................................................................3 Protected and Enhanced Environment ................................23 Administration ........................................................................4 Vibrant and Activated Public Places ....................................25 Elected Council 2016/17 ........................................................5 Caring and Inclusive Community .........................................27 Liveable and Distinctive Built Environment ..........................29 Snapshot - Our City in 2016/17 ....................................................7 Smart and Innovative City ....................................................31 Newcastle ......................................................................................9 Open and Collaborative Leadership .....................................33 Our People ....................................................................................9 Where Did Your Rates Go ...........................................................36 What We Do .................................................................................10 Where Did Our Money Come From? ....................................37 Our Vision .....................................................................................12 How Does Our Performance Compare with Previous Years? .. 38 Community Vision .......................................................................12 Where Was the Money Spent? .............................................39 Integrated Planning & Reporting Overview ..............................13 Financial Performance Measures ..............................................40 Special Rate Variation .................................................................41 Measuring Our Success .............................................................43 Corporate Performance Measures ............................................43 Our Organisational Success .......................................................48 Executive .............................................................................49 Planning and Regulatory .....................................................51 Corporate Services ..............................................................53 Infrastructure .......................................................................55 Measuring Our Meters ................................................................57 Capital Works Performance .......................................................59 Long Term Financial Plan ...........................................................61 Workforce Management Plan .....................................................63 Our Values ............................................................................63 Our People ...........................................................................64 Key Strategies ......................................................................65 Strategic Asset Plans ..................................................................67 Our Assets ............................................................................68 Infrastructure Backlog ..........................................................68 Customer Satisfaction ..........................................................69 Key Strategies ......................................................................69 iv Newcastle City Council OUR STATUTORY REPORTING.......................................................70 ATTACHMENTS Statutory Requirements ..............................................................71 Financial Statements Amounts Contributed or Otherwise Granted End of Term Report Regulation Cl 217(1)A5 ........................................................71 Coastal Protection Services Regulation Cl 217(1)(E1) .......................................................71 Companion Animals Management Regulation Cl 217(1)(F) .........................................................71 Controlling Interest Statement Regulation Cl 217(1)(A5) .......................................................72 Mayoral and Councillor Expenses Regulation Cl 217(1)(A1) .......................................................72 Details and Purpose of Overseas Visits by Councillors, Council Staff Or Other Persons Representing Council Regulation Cl 217(1)(A) .........................................................72 Contractors/Works Awarded Regulation Cl 217(1)(A2) ......................................................73 Private Works and Financial Assistance Regulation Cl217(A4) &S67(3) ..............................................74 Eeo Management Plan Implementation Regulation Cl 217(1)(A9) ......................................................74 External Bodies, Companies or Partnerships Regulation Cl 217(1)(A8) .......................................................75 Functions Delegated by Council Regulation Cl 217(1)(A6) .......................................................75 Legal Proceedings Regulation Cl 217(1)(A3) ........................76 Public Interest Disclosures (Public Interest Disclosures Act 1994 Regulation 2011) ...............................77 Total Remuneration for General Manager and Senior Officers Regulation Cl 217(1)(B) And (C) ............77 Stormwater Levies and Charges Regulation Cl 217(1)(E) .........................................................78 Nat V3 Work Health and Safety - Element 3.3.6 ..................81 Total Rates and Charges Written Off Regulation Cl 132(5) ............................................................82 Government Information Public Access (Gipa) Annual Report ......................................................................82 Swimming Pools Act 1992 ...................................................85 Annual Report 2016/17 v WELCOME A MESSAGE FROM THE LORD MAYOR Our shared vision for Newcastle 2030 guides the projects, We have developed a grand plan to make Wickham a residential, activities and services we provide as we work together to commercial and transport hub and are delivering neighbourhood create a smart, liveable and sustainable city. improvements and suburb-specific master - and public domain plans at Stockton, Beresfield, Wallsend and Merewether. The past year was one of substantial social, cultural and economic achievements for Newcastle City Council. We continue to revitalise the coastline through the Bathers Way - and with it Newcastle's tourism prospects. We are extending We continued our collaborative leadership by starting a shared pathways elsewhere in the city to encourage more year-long engagement process to update our 2030 strategic cycling and improving the much-loved Blackbutt Reserve, with plan. This will be our road map for the next decade so new picnic shelters, pathways and a $1.5 million adventure broad community engagement is essential to ensure we can playground on the Richley side of the bushland reserve. continue to protect and deliver high-quality services while fostering innovation, investment and jobs. Newcastle Library has enjoyed a $1.3 million upgrade to bring it into the digital age and we have worked with Newcastle's Council has forged a pathway to financial sustainability as diverse community to achieve positive social outcomes, none we transition from a great regional centre to an emerging more positive than the multicultural small business program global city. to give recently arrived migrants the knowledge to open their own businesses. Recognition of this has come via the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development's annual yearbook, Meanwhile, we are building partnerships with a range of a National Geographic Traveler magazine "cities to watch" organisations and fostering