BALLARAT A GREAT CITY, A GREAT COMMUNITY Annual Report 2013-14 CITY OF BALLARAT ANNUAL REPORT 2013-14 We think that Ballarat is a great city and a great community. As your Council, we understand the significant responsibility entrusted to us. We’re committed to maintaining what is already great about our City and determined to make it even better. We are pleased to share this Annual Report with our community and we trust that it provides a comprehensive understanding of our achievements, celebrations and challenges during 2013-14 and what we will focus on in 2014-15 and beyond. This document provides a detailed report on how we performed against our Council Plan 2013-17 and our financial performance. In an attempt to communicate clearly and openly we have invested in improving the content and how it is presented. We hope that our readers find it informative and easy to understand. How to get your copy of this Annual Report Electronic copies available online – download at The City of Ballarat www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/ac/budget-reports-and-plans respectfully acknowledges Hard copies available on request – the Wadawurrung and see page 254 for our contact details Dja Dja Wurrung people - traditional custodians We welcome all feedback of the land on which we For details on how to contact us with your live and work. feedback on this Annual Report, see page 254. This Annual Report is prepared in accordance with the requirements and guidelines of the Local Government Act 1989. Photo front cover: The Midlands Water Play Facility, Ballarat’s first outdoor aquatic play space, opened in summer 2014 Photo this page: Café culture in Ballarat FAST STATS 2013-14 92,136 CALLS RECEIVED BY CUSTOMER SERVICE MEal140S ON WHEELS VOLUNTEERS DELIVERED MEALS TO 12,500 RESIDEN500TS EVER Y WEEK FOLLOWERS FACEBOOK AND TWIttER COmbINED $300,526 IN GraNTS TO OUR COmmUNITY 3,300meters3 OF GREEN waSTE coLLECTED FREE FROM RESIDENTs (HELPING RESIDENTS TO BE FIRE READY) 10,000TREES PROVIDED TO COMMUNITY 650 GROUPS FOR TREES PLANTED PLANTING ACROSS THE CITY 4,400km OF ROADS INSPECTED 250% INCREASE IN E-BOOK DOWNLOADS AT OUR LIBRARIES 1378 45,000 NEW BABIES VISITORS TO THE BORN 2014 BEGONIA FESTIVAL UPFR O48%M 2013 A RECORD IN ITS 62-YEAR HISTORY 14,382 MATERNAL & CHILD HEALTH VISITS 108,887 VISITORS TO THE 3,258 HOME & COMMUNITY CARE ART GALLERY OF CLIENTS RECEIVED BALLARAT 50,292HRS OF DOMESTIC CARE NEW187 AUSTRALIAN CITIZENS WELCOMED 220+ IN OUR CITY YOUTH COUNCIllORS OVER 15 YEarS 6 OVERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS 2013-14 GROWTH & PEOPLE & COMMUNITIES DESTINATION & ECONOMY DEVELOPMENT To read more see page 112 To read more see page 136 To read more see page 94 We imagine Ballarat as a well-planned We imagine Ballarat as a safe and We imagine Ballarat as a City with City that provides accessible, connected well-serviced City that provides equal a prosperous, growing economy and safe urban areas and facilities, access to opportunities for its citizens at all that attracts and retains innovative supports diverse housing and active stages of life, has connected communities businesses and enterprises who employ transport options, and uses resources that participate actively in civic life and a highly skilled local workforce, attracts sustainably while adapting to changes offers diverse and accessible recreation, new residents and promotes the City’s in climate. leisure and sporting opportunities that unique heritage. encourage healthy lifestyles. OUR MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS • Commenced works to restore the Yarrowee • Engaged with the communities of • Attracted a record attendance of 45,000 River including weed control work, walking Buninyong, Learmonth and Miners Rest on to the 2014 Ballarat Begonia Festival – the trails and tree planting – $1 million State over 40 local projects through the Engaging largest audience in its 62-year history and a Government grant Communities Program 48% increase compared with 2013 • Completed tree planting along Ballarat’s Avenue of Honour – Australia’s longest – in • Further developed the Parent Place in • Secured $30.2 million in State and preparation for the 100-year anniversary of central Ballarat as a welcoming space that Council funding to deliver the first stage World War 1 supports families of development of the Ballarat West Employment Zone – a 630-hectare site in • Signed a Memorandum of Understanding • Implemented the new Digital Hub at Ballarat’s West with Friends of the Botanical Gardens to Ballarat Library and expanded our Library work cooperatively in the management of Outreach Program • Implemented the Economic Strategy the Botanical Gardens 2010-14 to drive investment and • Implemented further social inclusion employment creation for the City – this • $300,000 in improvements at the Eureka included securing $9 million in Federal Swimming Complex initiatives for seniors following a successful audit funding for the Intermodal Freight Hub at • Improvements to our State of the Assets the Ballarat West Employment Zone Report – it now guides our long-term • Completed updates to the Buninyong financial planning Bowls Clubhouse and the St George’s • Created a Destination Management Plan Pavilion and significant capital which includes tourism products, assets, • $16 million improvement works on roads, improvements to Ballarat’s indoor sports infrastructure and attractions across the drains and footpaths across the City stadiums benefiting a wide range of sports region • Endorsement of the 7-year plan for the Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Program OUR DISAPPOINTMENTS • The reduction in Federal assistance grants • The significant delays in the original project • The poor performance against projections leading to less money for renewal of the City’s schedule for the All-Inclusive Playground due of visitation numbers to the Museum of assets to the failure to secure all project funding. Australian Democracy at Eureka (M.A.D.E.) • The construction delays encountered in the • The lack of progress in a feasibility study for • The delay in the submission of the developing a youth precinct – currently on hold development application relating to the Landfill Project and the associated costs relocation of the Ballarat Regional Livestock Selling Centre • The lack of progress in developing a clear policy position for Council on tackling alcohol-related harm and managing responses to liquor licence applications OVERVIEW 2013-14 AT A GLANCE COUNCIL PEOPLE PERFORMANCE GOVERNANCE FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE REFERENCE CITY OF BALLARAT | ANNUAL REPORT 2013 - 14 7 MANAGING OUR BUSINESS HEALTH & WELLBEING SUSTAINABILITY To read more see page 150 To read more see pages 96,114,138 & 152 To read more see page 76 We provide responsive and accessible We report on health and wellbeing We embrace and report on social, leadership, engagement and advocacy outcomes across the organisation, economic and environmental and deliver efficient services with sound recognising that all units of Council deal sustainable outcomes, ensuring financial management and accountable with strategies, programs and services that long-term development plans government practices. that impact the health and wellbeing of our incorporate sustainability principles residents. and policies. OUR MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS • Launched the Regional Capital Plan – this • Fully integrated the Municipal Public • Secured $1 million for the investigation of Plan articulates the City’s priorities in its Health and Wellbeing Plan into the Council innovative water management solutions for goal of becoming the Capital of Western Plan 2013-17 the City as part of the Living Ballarat Victoria Project – a State Government grant through • Disseminated local health & wellbeing Office of Living Victoria • Created and implemented the Investment statistics and priorities through the Facilitation Group (IFG) to fast-track production of a Health & Wellbeing • Completed the adaptive reuse of the development within the City Community Profile and fact sheets Wendouree pool as a non-potable water storage tank • Created and subsequently adopted the • Strengthened partnerships with health & 2103-14 Budget reflecting the investment wellbeing stakeholders to develop a health • The management of Lake Wendouree in required to deliver this Council’s priorities partnership agreement for collaborative a sustainable way including water supply, advocacy around key health priorities quality and aquatic vegetation. • A 4% increase in community satisfaction in Council’s Customer Service – per the 2014 • Secured external funding for the Community Satisfaction Survey investigation and implementation of a green waste solution for the City • A 93.9% staff retention rate, demonstrating a high level of staff satisfaction OUR DISAPPOINTMENTS • The lack of improvement in most areas • The poor adoption rate by some units of • The lack of external funding received for our of the 2014 Community Satisfaction Survey – the organisation of the integration of health LED lighting replacement program we achieved ‘status quo’ & wellbeing priorities into the Council Plan 2013-17 (this is still a very novel concept for • An increase in water consumption across the those units that would not usually express organisation their outcomes in health terms) – ongoing education of staff will be required on the way in which the built, economic, social, • The delays in the externally funded natural and democratic environments all Waste-to-Energy Project at the Ballarat West affect health Employment Zone 8 OVERVIEW Ballarat. A great city. A great community. PROFILE - CITY