Annual Report 2009-10
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WELCOME___________________________________________________________________ 3 SHIRE PROFILE_______________________________________________________________ 4 OUR COMMNITY_____________________________________________________________ 7 Mission Statement and Values Message from our Mayor Message from our Chief Executive Officer OUR COUNCIL_______________________________________________________________12 Elected Representatives Executive Staff Corporate Governance OUR PEOPLE_______________________________________________________________ __18 KEY PROGRAM AREAS________________________________________________________20 Corporate Governance Corporate Services Planning, Development and Environmental Health Services Rural Services Infrastructure Services Community Lifestyle Economic Development Commercial Services STATUTORY INFORMATION ___________________________________________________ 37 COMMUNITY FINANCIAL REPORT______________________________________________ 44 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS______________________________________________________ 2 Welcome to the 2009/10 Balonne Shire financial and financial information to Council Annual Report. This report enable the community to assess the provides a snapshot of Council’s performance of Council in achieving performance and achievements over the goals and objectives outlined in the past twelve months in undertaking the Corporate Plan 2009-2013. Under its legislative and community the Local Government Act 1993 we responsibilities. are required to prepare and adopt an annual report for each financial year. The annual report is a major Our community and stakeholders are accountability tool in Council’s strongly encouraged to read the governance framework providing non- report. 3 The Shire of Balonne is located in South development and the provision of West Queensland on the New South urban water supplies, waste water and Wales border some 500 kilometres from cleansing services. the east coast of Australia and has an area of 31,130 square kilometres. COUNCIL SERVICES Council is responsible for managing The Shire has a predominately rural and maintaining the following services. based economy with cotton, wool, beef, grain and horticultural production • Shire road network – 2,377 being the most common primary kilometres industries. More recently, promising • Reserves – 14,040.65 hectares growth has been shown in areas such as classified as reserves under the tourism, as well as wine and table Land Act 1994 grapes and melons for the export • Shire libraries in Bollon, Dirranbandi, market. Hebel, St George & Thallon • Community halls in Bollon, Industry is supported by the towns of Dirranbandi, Hebel, St George & Bollon, Dirranbandi, Hebel, Mungindi, St Thallon George and Thallon. Small localities such • Public swimming pools in as Boolba and Nindigully are important Dirranbandi and St George meeting places for the rural • Aerodromes in Bollon, Dirranbandi, communities and travelling public. Hebel and St George • Water Supply and Wastewater The existence of these distinct infrastructure communities spread across such a large • Community sports grounds and part of Queensland presents a special parklands challenge to the Balonne Shire Council as it carries out the functions of local ECONOMIC PROFILE government. The leading primary industries in the Shire are cotton, beef/cattle, grain These functions which have been crops, sheep/wool, fruit/vegetable determined on the basis of community production, wild game harvesting. The needs and in some cases through the horticultural industry is a rapidly devolution of powers from the state expanding and successful sector in the government include, in broad terms, Shire economy, which has been led by the provision of transport infrastructure, local production of table grapes. community, recreational, sporting and cultural facilities, the control of building Although agriculture is subject to the and development, the administration fluctuations of the weather, the St of public and environmental health, George district has a proven record as the promotion of economic a valuable agricultural producing 4 area with a reliable water source due George having the second largest to a large water catchment area. plant in Queensland certified to Although, we are not immune to the human consumption standards. This effects of drought, upon receiving rain expansion is currently being in the catchments the district will undertaken and will provide further quickly recover and return to more opportunities for this industry and productive times due to our more jobs for our district both in diversification. The Shire is fortunate processing and harvesting. Macropod that the district contains a balance of harvesting is somewhat immune to allocation and flood farmers which effects of the drought and provides a provides some stabilisation in water stabilising effect in our local resources for the area. economy. Chiller boxes are dispersed throughout the Shire supporting The Shire is heavily reliant on employment in our smaller agriculture involving crops and communities which then transfer livestock. In 1997, the total area of carcasses to St George for processing. land holding for agricultural use in the Shire was 2,883,152 hectares, which is The area of the Surat Basin is known to about 90% of the Shire’s total area. contain large deposits of oil, gas and coal. Recently released reports from The total value of the agricultural State Government confirm coal industry at the year ending March deposits within the region. Future 1999 was calculated at $297.2 million development potential for these in value terms while current projections resources would allow a further are calculated at $425.6 million which diversification of our local economy. is evidence of a rapidly expanding agricultural base. Grain crops amount Based on census data, around 2,800 to 70% wheat, 10% barley and the people are employed in Balonne Shire. other 20% made up of all other cereal The Shire’s largest sector is agriculture, grains. forestry and fishing which accounts for 37.5% of employed persons. This is Thallon is the location of the largest followed by wholesale and retail trade grain storage facility in Queensland. 15.7% and health and community services 7.3%. Cotton growing was the The St George Irrigation Project largest agricultural activity accounting provides water to about 113 cotton for 60% of the value of production. and horticultural farms, and water harvesting permits have allowed The cotton industry is supported by additional areas of crops to be three cotton ginning plants located planted. The Shire’s climatic conditions within the Shire. are ideal for a large variety of horticultural and agricultural crops as Beef cattle (12%) and sheep grazing well as cattle and sheep grazing. were also significant, with wool accounting for 3% and sheep meat Macropod (Kangaroo) harvesting has accounting for a further 2.7% of the had a long term impact on the value of agricultural production. economy of Balonne Shire. In 2007 the Cereal grain (wheat and sorghum) processing plant located near St accounted for 12% with horticulture George announced further accounting for a further 4%. The expansions to include processed accommodation, cafes and meat to human consumption restaurants sector are the sixth largest standards which will result in St employer in the Shire. 5 ITEM AMOUNT VALUE Cotton - fibre approx. 70 000 ha $252 536 200 Beef/Cattle approx. 100 000 head approx. $50 000 000 Cotton – seed $39 200 000 Wheat approx. 150 000 ha $32 400 000 All other cereal grains approx. 30 000 Wool approx. 40 000 Bales approx. $15 000 000 Grapes approx. 491 ha $9 820 000 (predominantly table) Wild Game Harvesting approx 394 000 approx $7 269 000 (excluding skins trade) Sheep Meat approx 150 000 approx. $6 000 000 Melons 400 ha $5 500 000 Pasture and Grasses for 621.5 ha $3 049 620 Hay and Seed Onions and Garlic 69 ha $ 3 000 000 Pumpkins 60 ha $1 000 000 Peanuts 171 ha $442 693 Soybeans 331 ha $379 205 Olives n/a n/a Cut Flowers n/a n/a TOTAL $425 596 718 Data sourced –Economic Profile Balonne Shire May 2007 6 VISION, MISSION AND VALUES • TEAMWORK We value teamwork, trust and OUR VISION loyalty in a collaborative effort to For the People deliver the best possible service to A vibrant dynamic community, living our customers. and celebrating our diversity, natural assets and talents. • ACCOUNTABILITY We accept responsibility to our OUR MISSION community for our decisions, our To respond to community needs and successes and our failures. expectations and to provide a range of services through quality leadership, • INNOVATION policies and community representation. We embrace continuous improvement and encourage new OUR VALUES ideas and innovation. Council is committed to the following core values, which it believes will • EMPOWERMENT enable it to achieve its vision and We seek to develop the capacity mission. of our communities to achieve self determination. • RESPECT We value respect for the system of We value our staff and are government, laws, people and committed to their ongoing environment. training and development. 7 MESSAGE FROM OUR Council continues with capital MAYOR upgrades on roads with the completion of a further seal of 14 kilometres of the It is with much Thallon/Noondoo Road at a total cost pleasure that I of $3.6 million, it is envisaged that the present my third rest of this road will be completed in annual report to the next financial year. This project will the people of the be brought forward to address