Annual Report
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Kingborough Council ANNUAL REPORT Kingborough Council 15 Channel Highway KINGSTON TAS 7050 Phone: (03) 6211 8200 2014 2015 Web: www.kingborough.tas.gov.au CONTENTS MAYOR’S MESSAGE 2 GENERAL MANAGER’S REPORT 3 1. ELECTED MEMBERS 1.1 Your Councillors 4 1.2 Council and Committees 5 1.3 Appointed Council Representation on Sub-Committees 9 1.4 Councillors Attendance at Meetings 10 1.5 Remuneration of Councillors 11 2. KEY CORPORATE FUNCTIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS 12 2.1 Corporate 12 2.1.1 Organisational Development 12 2.1.2 Finance 13 2.1.3 Information Services 14 2.2 Community Planning and Development 14 2.2.1 Community and Recreational Services 15 2.2.2 Kingborough Sports Centre Precinct 16 2.2.3 Manor Gardens Club 16 2.2.4 Family Day Care 17 2.2.5 Environmental Health 17 2.2.6 Climate Change 18 2.2.7 Natural Resource Management 18 2.2.8 Compliance 19 2.2.9 Development Services 19 2.2.9.1 Planning Services 19 2.2.9.2 Development Engineering 19 2.2.9.3 Building Services 20 2.2.9.4 Plumbing Services 20 2.3 Infrastructure and Services 21 2.3.1 Engineering Services 21 2.3.2 Works Department 22 2.3.3 Roads and Bridges 23 2.3.4 Recreation and Reserves 24 2.3.5 Halls and Buildings 24 2.4 Kingborough Waste Services 25 2.5 Copping Refuse Disposal Site 25 3. GOVERNANCE 26 3.1 Contracts for the Supply of Goods and Services 26 3.2 Financial Assistance and Grants 27 3.3 Human Resource Policies 29 3.4 Senior Staff 29 3.5 Public Interest Disclosures 29 3.6 Public Health Statement 30 4. FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR THE YEAR – ANALYSIS OF ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT 31 APPENDIX I: Annual Financial Report 32 APPENDIX II: Performance Manager 92 APPENDIX III: Nature of Complaints 102 ANNUAL REPORT KINGBOROUGH COUNCIL 1 MAYOR’S MESSAGE I am pleased to present the 2014/15 Annual Report for Council continues to take the issue of climate change and Kingborough Council, my first as Mayor. the identified risks to our community very seriously. Our commitment to reducing our emissions and energy use is It is an honour to serve the community and we have increasing and we are adapting to the impacts of climate been delighted to support the diversity of programs change while working with the community to increase and events in the municipality. As a Council, we pride awareness and to provide advice on transitioning to a ourselves on supporting a strong quality of life for low carbon lifestyle. We have installed over 70 kilowatts Kingborough residents and provide many unique Council of solar panels on key facilities to offset our energy usage services, which play a vital role in many residents’ lives. cost, reduce our carbon footprint and to demonstrate Our Kingborough community continues to expand and is the cost savings of this change. projected to grow by a further 40 per cent over the next As a key part of our bush fire planning, we urge property two decades, which is the strongest population growth in owners to prepare for the coming fire season. Fire Tasmania. I am optimistic for our future as Kingborough damage is a real risk to the community and we will has one of the strongest footholds of any Tasmanian improve our resilience and planning, and work with Council when it comes to community service delivery emergency services to raise awareness and to safeguard and business partnerships. The building blocks are in our community. place and we have the people, the ideas, the service platform and the desire to embrace our challenges and We are discussing council amalgamations and/or turn them into opportunities. resource sharing with Huon Valley, Hobart and Glenorchy councils. The best interests of our community are the The former Kingston High School site is a key priority in evaluating future proposals and to make development for the future of Kingborough, which sure that we continue to provide the best service for will reinvigorate the central business area of Kingston ratepayers. Our Volunteer Program is a prime example, and provide commercial, retail, civic and cultural with up to 60 volunteers assisting over 200 older opportunities and benefits. It is encouraging to see the community members to remain in their homes and enjoy project moving forward, with demolition completed in a far higher quality of life. January this year. Kingborough is a vibrant and growing community, Kingston has an important role to play as a key situated in the midst of a beautiful and natural employment centre in Southern Tasmania and this environment with a peaceful lifestyle and expanding development will secure increased job opportunities commercial centres with strong services and facilities. for our community going forward. The site will also incorporate significant components of public open space, My fellow Councillors and I will build on our which will add to the overall appeal for businesses, achievements over the coming year and will support tourists and residents; it will be our heart and soul. economic drivers, safeguard the environment and will continue to provide and enhance desired services for the Another important project for the municipality will be Kingborough community. the development at 25A Osborne Esplanade, Kingston Beach. The proposal includes restaurant opportunities, headquarters for the Kingston Beach Surf Life Saving Club and increasingly important, an updated and new public toilet facility. The expansion of our business opportunities in Cr Steve Wass Kingston will be complemented by the major residential MAYOR development at Spring Farm on the southern edge of Kingston. This is the largest single residential development ever built in Kingborough and will be a major stimulus for the local economy. As well as providing many new home sites, this development will provide opportunities for a road extension through to Kingston View Drive and an extension of the Whitewater Creek walking trail. This year Council moved from an Annual Assessed Value model to a Capital Value model for assessing rates, which is more relevant for residential property owners. Properties were also revalued during 2014/15 by the Office of Valuer-General. 2 ANNUAL REPORT KINGBOROUGH COUNCIL GENERAL MANAGER’S REPORT The 2014/15 Annual Report provides a summary of Council has commenced a review of the Long-Term Council’s operations and performance over the past Financial Plan to ensure our financial sustainability 12 months. moving forward. I encourage community members to read it, and hope While internal communication can be challenging in a you find it both informative and interesting. diverse organisation where staff work from a multitude of locations across the geographic span of Kingborough, As well as continuing to provide over 100 valued services communication remained a top priority for Council’s to the community, highlights during the year included: management team. • Completion of Council’s Strategic Plan 2015-2025 Regular staff meetings were conducted during the year following extensive community feedback. to provide an open forum for discussion and report on • Demolition of buildings on the former Kingston High organisational projects and progress. School site. Kingborough Council staff are passionate about their • Installation of solar panels on the Civic Centre, Twin work and dedicated to serving the community to the Ovals and Barretta Waste Transfer Facility buildings. best of their ability. On behalf of our management team, • Public exhibition of Council’s new Planning Scheme. I thank you all and look forward to another exciting year of achievement and positive outcomes for the • A staff team winning the LGMA Australasia community of Kingborough. Management Team Challenge. The first time in the 23 year history of the event that a Tasmanian Council team has won. For the second consecutive year, Council has finished the financial year with an operating surplus. However Gary Arnold when you take into account one-off items, which include GENERAL MANAGER the Federal Government paying $1 million Federal Assistance Grant in advance (on 30 June 2015) ,the end result is an underlying deficit in accordance with budget predictions of $1.3 million. ANNUAL REPORT KINGBOROUGH COUNCIL 3 1. ELECTED MEMBERS 1.1 YOUR COUNCILLORS FOR THE PERIOD 10 NOVEMBER 2014 TO 30 JUNE 2015 Mayor Steve Wass Councillor Flora Fox M: 0412 634 647 T: 6267 2571 or 6267 2851 E: [email protected] E: [email protected] (Cr Wass held the position of Deputy Mayor from 1 July 2014 up to 10 November 2014) Deputy Mayor Paula Wriedt Councillor David Grace T: 6229 4045 T: 6267 2974 E: [email protected] M: 0438 679 200 E: [email protected] Councillor Richard Atkinson Councillor Michael Percey M: 0408 411 941 M: 0419 892 511 E: [email protected] E: [email protected] Councillor Bernadette Black Councillor Nic Street M: 0404 060 507 M: 0418 573 554 E: [email protected] E: [email protected] Councillor Dr Graham Bury Councillor Dean Winter T: 6229 8399 M: 0427 253 654 E: [email protected] E: [email protected] (Cr Bury held the position of Mayor from 1 July 2014 up to 10 November 2014) FOR THE PERIOD 1 JULY 2014 TO 10 NOVEMBER 2014 Councillor Councillor Councillor Councillor Councillor Julian Bush Paul Chatterton Michele Higgins Roger McGinniss Susan Nolan (Cr Higgins resigned from Council on 11 July 2014) 4 ANNUAL REPORT KINGBOROUGH COUNCIL 1.2 COUNCIL AND COMMITTEES During the 2014/15 year the Council was made up of • Planning Authority and Development Committee twelve elected Councillors. Elections for Councillors • Infrastructure and Recreational Services Committee were previously held every two years with six Councillors retiring at each election.