Community & Client Services
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Community & Client Services Monthly Review > November – December 2013 Community Services Monthly Review > November and December 2013 Table of Contents Executive Summary 3 Department Overview 4 Department Main Operations 4 Workplace Health Safety 5 Innovation & Improvement 6 Review of Operations 6 Corporate Communications and Marketing 7 Community Programs 10 Mackay Convention Centre and Events 28 Parks and Environment 34 Property Services 60 Page 2 Community Services Monthly Review > November and December 2013 Executive Summary Director Community and Client Services It has been a busy period for the department following the organisational restructure. Corporate Communications launched council’s new website, which has received positive feedback from the community. The website was redesigned to improve the readability and access of the site and generally enhance the user experience when using the site. Council’s 2012-13 Annual was ratified by council and has been published and distributed. Another successful Cyclone Saturday was held to raise community awareness of the need to be prepared for the forthcoming cyclone season. A significant refurbishment of the Client Services Centre in the Administration Building was commenced, to utilise our back office space more effectively and to increase the functionality of the building. Client Services also successfully completed the end of half year financial rollover. An inaugural meeting of the South Mackay Sports Working Group was held, to start working on developing relationships and discussing the future of the precinct. The Memorial Pool chalked up a significant milestone, when the pool celebrated its 50th birthday. Mayor of the Mackay Region, Cr Deirdre Comerford presided over the celebratory events. The MECC continued with its packed program, with highlights including a concert by 1980s songstress Belinda Carlisle and the opening of Ice City II. The MECC also organises the highly successful Carols in the City, which included the annual lighting of the Christmas Tree by the Mayor. It was a busy couple of months for Parks, with upgrades to the McHugh Street playground, Finch Hatton Township, Dianne Street, Blacks Beach Park and Catherine Street parks and an upgrade of pathway at the Gooseponds. Property Services also has been kept busy by taking advantage of the dry weather to progress a number of building projects, whilst the Sarina Sugar Shed was kept busy following the release of a second batch of rum. Lawrence Booth Acting Director Community and Client Services Page 3 Community Services Monthly Review > November and December 2013 Department Overview Department Main Operations Handle all enquiries from the media Corporate Communications Marketing, advertising and promotions and Marketing Civic events Deliver community based programs through Community Development, Libraries and Sport and Recreation Community Programs Provide arts gallery and museum service Payments processing and other client services Development and management of Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre MECC and Events Delivery of festivals and events Develop entrepreneurial performance and season programming Maintenance of parks and gardens across the region Provision of arboriculture services Parks and Environment Management of the natural environment through revegetation and regeneration Maintenance of all council buildings Property Services Land acquisitions, resumptions and sale of properties Management of Aquatic Facilities Page 4 Community Services Monthly Review > November and December 2013 Workplace Health and Safety Workplace health and safety remains a major focus for the department. Staff are actively encouraged to complete their Take 5’s, participate in Tool Box Talks, and to report accidents and near misses. Staff in formal workplace health and safety roles conduct hazard/risk inspections, risk assessments, and monitor workplace health and safety across the department. Management provides active oversights of workplace health and safety and ensures all legislative requirements are met. The incident statistic graph provides a summary of the Community & Client Services incident and Injury performance. These statistics do not include motor vehicle, loss, theft or damage Page 5 Community Services Monthly Review > November and December 2013 Innovation and Improvement Key Achievements Improvement initiatives implemented during the month: Title Stage Council’s new look website launched Completed Refurbishments of Mackay Client Service Centre 90% complete Implementation of Review of Matsuura Sister City Relationship recommendation Developing modus Invitation of South Mackay Sports and Recreation working group operandi Ice City II – installation of temporary ice skating rink at MECC Completed New Year’s Eve Celebration Successfully completed Hosted Belinda Carlisle Concert Completed Tender let for redevelopment of Edward Lloyd Park Underway Project and Process Reviews currently active: Title Stage Activation of Old Town Hall Underway Service delivery review Underway Digitisation of House Connection Plan files Underway Volunteer review Underway Development of Reconciliation Action Plan Underway Review of membership of Visual Arts Advisory Committee Underway Page 6 Community Services Monthly Review > November and December 2013 Corporate Communications and Marketing Management Attended Australia Day organising committee meeting. Finalised sponsorship for 2014 Australia Day and Sports Expo events. Final arrangements in place for Pioneer Valley passport promotion (to be launched Australia Day 2014). Website A key project completed in November and implemented in December was the launch of council’s new look website. This was a six-month project to enhance the user experience of website visits and improve readability and access. Visits down this month. Visit’s to Council’s Website – November 2013 Nov-13, Nov-12, 46,318 46,221 No figures available for December 2014 because of the migration to the new site. Google Analytics did not record any statistics for the Mackay Regional Council website due to the new website being launched in early December. Facebook Fans: 4,679 Twitter Followers: 762 YouTube Video views: 161 Page 7 Community Services Monthly Review > November and December 2013 New Look and redesigned website launched in December Council 2012-2013 Annual Report ratified by council (Report entered in Australasian Reporting Awards). Successful promotion for annual Cyclone Saturday event at Caneland Central. Engaged to develop and implement a water marketing campaign for Whitsunday Shire Council – radio, print and email signature campaign( refer print example below). Page 8 Community Services Monthly Review > November and December 2013 Example of print advertisement for Whitsunday Regional Council water campaign Organised radio campaign for Evans Avenue Traders (via council’s Economic Development program). McEwens Beach rock wall issue – media strategy implemented. Council Connect editions published in November and December. Designed council eChristmas card for distribution. A hard copy Christmas card produced for SLPT. Organised radio campaign for Evans Avenue Traders. Arranged media coverage and presentation of Christmas funds raised by council staff. Media promotion for Christmas donations from council staff Christmas awards and e Media promotion for Christmas donations from Council staff Christmas awards and eChristmas card Page 9 Community Services Monthly Review > November and December 2013 Community Programs Management A significant refurbishment of the Client Services Centre in the Administration Building was commenced, to utilise our back office space more effectively and to increase the functionality of the building. Client Services also successfully completed the end of half year financial rollover. The Youth section of Community Development has developed a Stand Silent for the Night regional anti-bullying campaign. A group of 21 residents from Mackay travelled to Matsuura in November and the trip was hailed as a great success. The Library Service conducted a Read 4 Life Professional Development Workshop for Parents and Educators, in partnership with the State Library of Queensland and Mitsui Coal. The workshop was designed to build awareness and understanding of the importance of oral language and early literacy and was well attended. Weekly Story Time program statistics were compiled and an amazing 14,100 children and their parents/carers attended sessions across the 5 branches. Well-known author and actor Judy Nunn developed an author talk and 70 people attended the event at which her new book Elianne was launched. An inaugural meeting of the South Mackay Sports Working Group was held, to start working on developing relationships and discussing the future of the precinct. The Memorial Pool chalked up a significant milestone, when the pool celebrated its 50th birthday. Mayor of the Mackay Region, Cr Deirdre Comerford presided over the celebratory events. Artspace Mackay had a busy couple of months with the opening of the popular Lloyd Rees Exhibition, Life and Light. This was followed by the Blakey Lloyd Never Again photography exhibition about the genocide in Rwanda. A new exhibition from the Queensland Art Gallery featuring sculptures from Ah Xian was also opened. An exhibition of pottery by the Pioneer Potters held by Artspace Mackay was also held. Page 10 Community Services Monthly Review > November and December 2013 Client Services Refurbishments