Annual Report 2019-2020 Welcome

2019 2020 Bega Valley Shire Council Annual Report 2019-2020 Welcome Bega Valley Shire Council is proud to present our Annual Report for 2019-2020. The Annual Report is a key point of accountability between Council and the community. This report outlines progress made against the Council’s 2019-2020 commitments in the Delivery Program and Operational Plan, and describes how Council is supporting achievement of the Community Strategic Plan. In accordance with the Local Government Act 1993 the Annual Report also includes required statutory information and provides an overview of Council's financial position. More detailed information on the financial performance of Council during 2019-2020 can be found in the Annual Financial Statements, Attachment 2 to this report. Acknowledgement The Bega Valley Shire Council acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands and waters of the Shire, the people of the Yuin nations, and show our respect to elders past, present and emerging. 2 Bega Valley Shire Council - Annual Report 2019-2020 Bega Valley Shire Council - Annual Report 2019-2020 Contents Mayor's message .............................. 4 General Manager's message ............ 5 Our place .......................................... 6 Our Elected Council ........................ 12 Our organisation ............................ 15 Our year in review .......................... 23 Achieving our plan ......................... 34 • Active and healthy communities ... 37 • Employment and learning opportunities ................................. 43 • Sustainable living ........................... 46 • Liveable places .............................. 51 • Connected communities ............... 56 • Strong, consultative leadership ..... 60 Statutory and other information ... 63 Attachment 1 - Operational Plan Progress Report Attachment 2 - Audited Annual Financial Statements Bega Valley Shire Council - Annual Report 2019-2020 Bega Valley Shire Council - Annual Report 2019-2020 3 Message from our Mayor This past year has been sobering for us all. responsibility of Council. We are just one of the organisations working hard to get this Shire back Every resident of the Shire is acutely aware of the on its feet. By working together with the broader challenges we face as we come to terms with the community, we can move forward on recovery, devastating effects on our homes, livelihoods and together; and I acknowledge the hard work families left by drought, the summer bushfires, and and determination of everyone involved—your a global pandemic. resilience and strength never cease to amaze me. Reflecting on this past year through our 2019- I would like to acknowledge the leadership of 20 Annual Report you will see the actions and Councillor Kristy McBain in her role as Mayor responses we have taken to guide and support the over the last four years. Her dedication and community through some of the toughest times commitment was acutely evident earlier this year we’ve faced. as she worked tirelessly to keep the community The very nature of local government means we informed during the summer bushfires. are always working at the coalface to keep the I would also like to thank former Councillor, wheels of a busy and active community in motion; Sharon Tapscott for her dedicated service to the whether in comparatively easier times or helping community both as a Councillor over the last eight the community as a natural disaster unfolds. years and as Mayor earlier this year. I am proud to be part of this team, working As Mayor of the Bega Valley Shire, it is my pleasure alongside my fellow Councillors and the dedicated to work with so many people in our community Council staff who have given their all to support our and I look forward to continuing that work over the community, many of whom have been personally coming year. impacted by the challenges the region has met. Cr Russell Fitzpatrick As we move forward, it is important to remember Mayor, Bega Valley Shire Council that recovery is not, and will never be, a sole 4 Bega Valley Shire Council - Annual Report 2019-2020 Bega Valley Shire Council - Annual Report 2019-2020 Message from our General Manager I mentioned in last year’s Annual Report that on without wavering from the delivery of everyday difficult times present the ultimate test for the services. community and the capability of any council. Despite these challenges, we took our role as It is with sadness and humility that a year later, I am a local organisation with global responsibilities justified in saying this again. seriously, and we proudly adopted our Climate Resilience Strategy 2050, paving the way to a The end of 2019 and the first half of 2020 were climate friendly community with a strong and indeed a time without compare. I would not be resilient economy. alone in feeling the push and pull of heartbreak for a community that has lost so much in the face We also continued to lead the way in waste of fires, floods, extended drought and a global management, with our FOGO service diverting pandemic, and the upswell of admiration for the 5000 tonnes of green waste away from landfill after people who paint a clear picture of hope through only one year, and we are now moving to a second courage, resilience, selflessness and outright stage of providing FOGO to local businesses. bravery. I acknowledge and note the financial pressures we It’s a year we will never forget. At a time when our have faced as an organisation. Council has been Shire should have been enjoying the recreational clear this is an area we need to focus on despite and economic benefits of summer. Instead, we the instability of the environment we are operating were thrust into an eerie darkness and had to insist in. We are working through an improvement plan that our much-loved visitors go home. and our clear focus is on getting clear, consistent, and ‘Plain English’ documents to the community in A threat of this scale was unprecedented, and a timely manner. people needed access to essential information. Our staff worked night and day supporting the These and many others are the services we provide community and other agencies, taking a lead role in every day, regardless of the challenges we face. I keeping people informed of threats and changes as am proud of our Council staff who found an extra they happened. gear to respond to the situations with even greater urgency, thoroughness, creativity and compassion In the fire’s wake, we provided immediate support this year. through our Recovery Centre and the Bega Valley Together web portal. These ongoing core services As we look towards the future, our focus on are there every day helping impacted people to partnering with the community will continue. This rebuild their lives, homes and businesses. is how we have moved towards recovery: by joining together. My heartfelt thanks go to everyone who And then in March, when the COVID-19 pandemic helped in these difficult times. began to unfold, we had to pivot once again and focus on protecting our community from a threat Leanne Barnes, OAM we couldn’t see. This, alongside fire, flood and General Manager drought, saw our staff meet these challenges head- Bega Valley Shire Council - Annual Report 2019-2020 5 OUR PLACE The Bega Valley Shire is located at the south- eastern corner of New South Wales, half way between Australia’s two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, and three hours drive from the nation’s capital, Canberra. Our coastal fringe extends from Wallaga Lake in the north to Cape Howe and the Nadgee Wilderness and Victorian border in the South. At over 6,200 km2, the Shire is the largest local government area in coastal NSW. Our 225-kilometres of coastline forms the beautiful Sapphire Coast, the heart of Australia’s Coastal Wilderness. We are bordered by the Tasman Sea to the east and the tablelands to the west. Almost 70% of the Shire is National Park, State Forest or public reserve and large areas are used for agriculture. The Shire’s combination of natural beauty, temperate climate and its range of towns, villages, recreational opportunities and commercial enterprises have attracted visitors and new residents for many years. 6 6 Bega Valley Shire Council - Annual Report 2017-182019-2020 Bega Valley Shire Council - Annual Report 2019-2020 YOUR PLACE OUR PLACE The Yuin people are the traditional GREAT PLACE custodians of the Shire. Ancient stories, ceremonies, special places and sacred objects are embedded in the landscapes, trees, hills and waterways of the Shire, and form the basis of traditional lore, custom, spiritual connection and custodial obligations. Our place by numbers The Shire's total population of around 35,000 is dispersed, with a 1 Regional Art Gallery third of us living in rural areas and the remaining two thirds spread Regional Learning Centre amongst 12 villages, 4 major towns 1 and adjacent urban settlements. Our main industries are agribusiness 2 Ocean pools including fishing and aquaculture, health and social services, and 3 Museums tourism. The key industrial precincts are in North Bega, Eden and South Libraries Pambula and main retail areas in 4 the town centres of Bega, Eden and Merimbula. 6 Swimming pools Transport is predominantly by private car with limited bus services. 9 Skate parks Merimbula Airport provides air transport connectivity to Melbourne 11 Boat ramps and jetties and Sydney and the Port of Eden is an important working port able to Community halls berth large cruise ships. 21 We are a regional centre for schools 25 Sports fields and higher education institutions. There are currently 18 primary and 4 Estuaries high schools which include a mixture 29 of private and public facilities. 30 Natural reserves The University of Wollongong operates a campus in Bega. In addition, vocational courses and 43 Playgrounds trade skills are offered by the Bega TAFE Illawarra campus. Bega Valley 54 Tennis, netball, basketball courts Shire Council manages over $1.51 billion in assets that allow Parkland reserves visitors and community alike to live, 83 work and play in this beautiful part of the world.

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