Darebin City Council Annual Report 2019-20
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Darebin City Council Annual Report Summary 2019—20 A greener, bolder, more connected city Alphington | Bundoora | Coburg | Fairfield | Keon Park | Kingsbury Macleod | Northcote | Preston | Reservoir | Thornbury Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people Darebin City Council acknowledges the Wurundjeri people as the Traditional Owners and custodians of the land we now call Darebin and pays respect to their Elders, past, present and future. Council also pays respect to all other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Darebin. Council recognises and pays tribute to the diverse culture, resilience and heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We acknowledge the leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait communities and the right to self-determination in the spirit of mutual understanding and respect. Darebin’s Diversity Statement Situated on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people, the City of Darebin is now home to a diverse community of people with different socio-economic status, gender, age, ability, race, culture, ethnicity, language, sexuality, sex characteristics, gender identity, beliefs, occupations, income, education, carer status and household type. The Darebin community cherishes this diversity and values it as an important civic asset. Darebin City Council acknowledges the history and contributions of the various communities, migrants and refugees who have made the municipality their home. Their endeavours have enriched the economic, social, cultural, artistic, community and civic character of the city and created a cosmopolitan locality where variety and difference are welcomed and encouraged. Council also acknowledges that who we are today as a municipality rests on the history of loss and dispossession inflicted upon Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, past and present, despite their strengths, resilience and continued contributions to our city. Contents 2019–2020 Highlights 02 Introduction 04 Foreword 04 Message from the Chief Executive Officer 08 2019–2020 financial summary 11 Darebin’s residents – who we are 13 Our services 14 Our performance 15 Overview 16 Goal 1: A sustainable city 18 Goal 2: Opportunities to live well 27 Goal 3: A liveable city 34 Goal 4: A strong economy 40 Goal 5: Involving our diverse communities 44 Goal 6: A well-governed Council 49 Contact us 53 Darebin City Council 2019–20 Annual Report 01 2019–2020 Highlights Goal 1 Pages 18–26 Goal 2 Pages 27–33 Goal 3 Pages 34–39 A sustainable Opportunities A liveable city to live well city Highlights Highlights Highlights Installed 397 solar systems for Architectural design for the Multi- Council strongly advocated households. By June 2020, Sports Stadium is complete and to the state government to the Solar Saver program had the tender for construction went protect what's important at the installed 40,855 kW, meeting its to market on 23 April 2020. Preston Market Precinct, and to 2021 target of 36,000 kW one ensure that the Level Crossing In April 2020, the Immunisation year early. Removal designs achieve desired team immunised 3,453 people – community outcomes. Introduced food waste recycling more than four times the number for households across the city as immunised in April 2019. Design guidelines for townhouse part of the green waste service. and apartment development were Provided a flexible and culturally drafted in 2019–20 and have since Planted more than 6,700 trees safe Maternal and Child Health been adopted by Council and in bushland, parks and streets, service for Aboriginal and Torres published as part of the Darebin including 4,600 tube stock in Strait Islander families, with Good Design Guide. bushland areas, 1,900 street trees participation relatively high at and 200 park trees. 84.11% despite the pandemic Digital library collections were conditions. expanded, enabling access to more Results than 3,000 e-magazine titles in 17 Amount of solar power Results community languages, more than generated in Darebin (kW) Proportion of children fully 10,000 e-books and more than Target: 36,000 kW by 2021 immunised up to 5 years (%) 30,000 films and documentaries. Result: 40,855 kW Target met Target: Increase to 95% by 2021 Result: 94.1% On track Results Volume of waste to landfill Satisfaction with condition (kg per person) Satisfaction with Council's of sealed local roads (%) Target: Reduce by 1kg festivals and events (%) Target: 85% year-on-year per person each year Target: 85% year-on-year Result: 88.5% Target met Result: Reduced by 7kg Result: 91% Target met per person Target met Reduction in crashes per year Looking forward on speed-reduced roads Looking forward Build the Multi-Sports Stadium. Target: Reduce Planting 6,000 trees in Result: 82 less (193% improvement Continue necessary upgrades streetscapes by October 2021 since previous year) Target met for Reservoir Leisure Centre will contribute to the mitigation (RLC) and Northern Aquatic of the effects of climate change. Looking forward and Recreation Centre (NARC) Finalise investigations into Roll out temporary bike lanes redevelopment and renewal. the use of Council land for on Council-managed roads. affordable housing and progress These will function as safe development of new social transport options that adhere housing, via the appointed social to social distancing requirements housing provider on a Council- and act as an alternative to owned car park in Preston. private motor vehicle use. Improve safety of streets and roads across the city for everyone including walkers, wheelers and riders through range of safety improvements, and by supporting schools to socially distance during drop off and pick up. 02 2019–2020 Highlights Goal 4 Pages 40–43 Goal 5 Pages 44–48 Goal 6 Pages 49–51 A strong Involving our A well-governed economy diverse communities Council Highlights Highlights Highlights Engaged with registered food Established a homelessness Adopted a COVID-19 Financial and health businesses in relaying assertive outreach support Hardship Policy that provides a State Government directions program. framework for financial relief to and information to ensure they residents and businesses. Implemented an $11.8 million are best prepared to protect COVID Community and Business Developed a streamlined themselves and their customers Resilience and Recovery package 'business concierge process' from COVID-19. focusing on business and that makes it much easier Increased support for community most in need. for businesses to establish community-run child care centres and significantly reduced the Provided more than $300,000 and kindergartens, including paperwork they need to do. for emergency food relief with provision of PPE, advocacy and local partners including the Managed a high volume of establishment of a peer support provision of approximately calls and provided high-quality network. 200 grocery vouchers, 1,300 customer service. The average Provided $530,000 in rapid food parcels and 2,000 meals daily number of calls was 540. response grants to 156 local to residents each week since businesses affected by COVID. mid-April. Results Satisfaction with Results Results Council decisions (%) Number of registered local Satisfaction with Council's Result 2018–2019: 70.8 businesses of all kinds performance in making Result 2019–2020: 69.0 Target: Increase decisions in the interests Councillor attendance Result: 4% increase (from of the community (%) at Council meetings (%) 12,707 to 13,157) Target met Target: 80% year-on-year Result: 83.5% Target met Result 2019–2020: 93.1 Number of reactivated vacant shopfronts Electronic gambling machine Looking forward Target: Increase losses in Darebin ($’000s/day) Implement the Council Result: 50% increase Target: Reduce below $231,000 Complaints Handling Policy. (12 activated) Target met Result: $156,000 Target met Lead the Council Plan and long- term Community Vision process Looking forward Looking forward with the newly elected Council Allocate additional COVID Continue to provide a and the Darebin community. Business Recovery Grants of comprehensive COVID $500,000 by December 2020. Community and Business Resilience and Recovery package Deliver food handler information including $1m in grants, targeted sessions to support new and emergency relief, support for existing food businesses in food local community organisations/ safety education. sectors and focused advocacy. Deliver a job-ready program, in partnership with a local jobs provider organisation, for diverse community members from low socio-economic backgrounds. For more details about our performance in 2019–2020, go to page 16. You can read the Council Plan on our website, darebin.vic.gov.au/CouncilPlan Darebin City Council 2019–20 Annual Report 03 Foreword Council has a clear goal to create a greener, bolder and more connected city, and our pathway is outlined in the 2017–2021 Council Plan. The past 12 months have been incredibly challenging for Council and the community, but we’re proud of the progress we’ve made with our goals while ensuring our most vulnerable residents are supported and delivering unprecedented support to the community in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 We allowed our ratepayers to defer their rate To support our community in dealing with payments for 12 months, no questions asked, COVID-19, Council introduced an $11.8 million and were one of only four Victorian councils to Community and Local Business Resilience and do so. To help our artists and creatives Council Recovery Package, the biggest Victorian local spent almost $250,000 to honour 100% of its government response other than the City of commitments to artists and contractors for the Melbourne. cancelled Autumn FUSE festival and refund 100% of ticket sales to audiences of shows that We set up a Community Navigation Service couldn’t proceed. to provide support and advice to vulnerable residents, taking hundreds of calls in May and COVID-19 has also challenged Council June. We supported our Aboriginal and Torres operations. Our staff have responded strongly Strait Islander communities and developed and continued to adapt to ongoing restrictions.