2011 - 2012 Contents About Central Highlands Regional Council ................................................................ 2 Our Vision ................................................................................................................. 3 Our Mission ............................................................................................................... 3 Our Values and Commitment .................................................................................... 3 A Message from Our Mayor and CEO ....................................................................... 4 Our Mayor and Councillors April 28 2012 – June 30 2012 ......................................... 5 Our Mayor and Councillors 2011 – April 28 2012 ...................................................... 7 Our Senior Executive Team ...................................................................................... 9 Our Employees ....................................................................................................... 11 Community Financial Report ................................................................................... 13 Assessment of Council Performance in Implementing its Long Term Community Plan ................................................................................................................................ 19 Meeting Our Corporate Plan Objectives .................................................................. 19 Achievements by Department ................................................................................. 23 Other Statutory Disclosures ..................................................................................... 29 Page 1 About Central Highlands Regional Council The Central Highlands Regional Council was created on 15 March 2008, following the amalgamation of the shires of Bauhinia, Duaringa, Emerald and Peak Downs. Our Council is 59,970 km2 in size, an area almost equivalent to 90% of Tasmania. It stretches from the Peak Ranges in the north, to the Arcadia Valley in the south, from Boolburra in the east, to Bogantungan in the west. It includes the major towns of Emerald, Blackwater, Springsure, Capella, Tieri, Rolleston and Duaringa. The area is rich in agriculture. Much of it is grazing land which has been extensively developed and improved, and now produces top quality beef for domestic and export markets. We have a very productive irrigation industry supported by the mighty Fairbairn Dam and storages built along the Nogoa, Comet and Mackenzie Rivers. Crops produced include cotton, grains, table grapes and citrus. We also have a large dryland farming sector. We are located in the heart of the Bowen Basin, home to the largest coal reserve in Australia. A wide range of major global mining companies are active in our region. Millions of tonnes of coal are extracted by the coal industry annually and transported by electric rail to ports in Gladstone and Mackay. Coal seam gas is another resource that has become increasingly more important to our region. We have a range of stunning natural features that include the Carnarvon Gorge, Blackdown Tablelands, the Peak Downs ranges. We also have large sapphire producing fields in the area known as the Gemfields, situated 50 km west of Emerald. This is a popular destination for tourists and an important economic contributor to our local economy. Our Council has in excess of $800 million in assets, including eleven library branches, six aquatic centres and swimming pools, and seven customer service and rural transaction centres. We maintain almost 5,000 km of Council roads, and numerous parks and gardens, including the glorious Botanical Gardens in Emerald, the Linear Parkland in Capella, Zamia Parkland in Springsure, and Mackenzie Park in Duaringa. We have a dedicated staff of over 500 people that work hard to deliver and maintain our community assets for our residents and visitors. We have an estimated resident population of 33,741 people1. This does not include the fly-in fly-out workforce from south east Queensland, or the drive-in drive-out workforce that come by road from coastal centres. 1 Source: ABS, 2012 (based on Census 2011) Page 2 Our Vision Shaping the future by valuing people, partnerships and place. Our Mission A region, working in partnership, to foster sustainable development and vibrant communities. Council’s strategic priorities are: Creating a region of choice. Building and delivering sustainable infrastructure. Harnessing sustainable economic growth. Protecting our environment. Our community and our lifestyle. Strengthening the organisation. Our Values and Commitment Honesty and integrity: Being honest with our community and colleagues, and treating them with respect, fairness, trust and consistency Innovation and continuous improvement: Striving for excellence through best practice, creativity and new ideas Transparency and accountability: Providing open and transparent practices and accountable governance Diversity: Respecting social, cultural, economic and environmental diversity Open communication: Assuring timely and effective communication with our community and throughout the Organisation Leadership, engagement and fair representation: Providing effective leadership to ensure Council’s actions best reflect community Aspirations Page 3 A Message from Our Mayor and CEO It is with pleasure that we provide an introduction of the Annual Report for the 2011 / 2012 year for the Central Highlands Regional Council. 2011 / 2012 will certainly be remembered as a year when major repairs to many flood affected roads was carried out as a result of the severe flooding to the area, particularly in late December 2010 / early January 2011. The year was also a time of sustained development triggered by the mining and gas boom. A major milestone achieved was the adoption of the long-term Central Highlands Region Community plan which was formulated with community participation. This plan is a framework to assist in guiding the future growth, prosperity and liveability of the region. The contents of the report details our progress towards strategic goals set in the 2009 / 2013 Corporate Plan. Some of the major achievements completed during the reporting period included: Construction of a new bitumen roads, reseals and addition funding for capital road projects Re-sheeting of gravel roads, in addition to flood damage restoration works Seniors Week in Springsure – over 150 of our older residents across the region attended Continuing hydrology studies were commissioned by Council to assist in finding mitigation measures that can be used for future planning and implementations with outcomes expected in the next reporting period. All Abilities Park Blackwater designed for use by persons of all abilities Skate Parks in Springsure and Bluff Sapphire Aquatic Centre Five units for the aged in Sapphire Gemfields SES Facility McIndoe Park Master Plan Council reviewed and made changes to its organisational structure with a view to providing productivity and efficiency gains. This period also saw a change in Council representation from the quadrennial local government elections held in April 2012. The Mayor was re-elected unopposed, Councillors Paul Bell AM and Gail Nixon were re-elected with six (6) new Councillors being Crs Charles Brimblecombe, Kevin Cracknell, Gail Godwin-Smith, Peter Maundrell, Kevin Pickersgill and Gai Sypher. Welcome to the new Councillors and thank you to the previous Councillors who retired or were not returned for their genuine contribution to the newly formed Central Highlands Regional Council. Page 4 We take this opportunity to thank Councillors for their untiring commitment to the community, Senior Executive Staff for their ongoing leadership and Council Staff for their diligence in delivering quality services to the community throughout the year. We trust this Annual Report provides some meaningful insight into the operations of the Central Highlands Regional Council and its plans for the Region into the future whilst “Valuing People, Partnerships and Place.” Bryan Ottone Cr Peter Maguire Chief Executive Officer Mayor Our Mayor and Councillors April 28 2012 – June 30 2012 Mayor Cr Peter Maguire Representative Allocations: Capricorn Enterprise Nogoa River Flood Plain Board CHRC Local Disaster Management Committee CH Regional Road Partnership Group CQLGA Management Committee Local Government/State Government Advisory Forum - Gemfields Blackwater International Coal Centre Native Title Negotiations Central Highlands Development Corporation Central Highlands (QLD) Housing Company Ltd Deputy Mayor Cr Gail Nixon Representative Allocations: Area Disaster Management Committee – Springsure/Rolleston CHRC Local Disaster Management Committee Queensland Community Housing Coalition CH Arts and Culture Advisory Committee/RADF CQLGA Management Committee Capella Retirement Homes Management Committee Bauhinia WORC Community Advisory Committee Bauhinia CQ Accommodation Advisory Committee Page 5 Bauhinia Health Advisory Network Committee Central Highlands Development Corporation Cr Paul Bell Representative Allocations: Blackwater International Coal Centre (alternate) Emerald Driver Training Facility Native Title Negotiations- Blackwater CHRC Audit Committee Central Highlands (Qld) Housing Company Ltd GP Super Clinic Foundation Board Cr Charlie Brimblecombe Representative Allocations: Nogoa River Flood Plain Board Local Government/State Government Advisory Forum - Gemfields