WESTERN SYDNEY PARKLANDS ANNUAL REPORT Acknowledgement of Country We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land, water and sky of Western Sydney and pay our respects to all Elders past, present and emerging. We extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living in Western Sydney today. Western Sydney Parklands Trust has compiled this report in good faith, exercising all due care and attention. No representation is made about the accuracy, completeness or suitability of the information in this publication for any particular purpose. WSPT shall not be liable for any damage which may occur to any person or organisation taking action or not on the basis of this publication. Published by: Western Sydney Parklands Trust Level 7, 10 Valentine Avenue, Parramatta PO Box 3064, Parramatta NSW 2124 Phone: +61 2 9895 7500 Fax: +61 2 9895 7580 Email: [email protected] Website: westernsydneyparklands.com.au Cover photo: Daniel Tran Contents Western Sydney Parklands Trust Annual Report 2019 – 20 • Letter of submission 4 Appendices • Agreements with the Community Chair and Chief Executive reports Relations Commission 54 • Chair’s report 5 • Annual report availability 54 • Chief Executive’s report 6 • Board members 54 Introduction • Audit Risk and Compliance Committee 54 • Highlights 7 • Organisational chart 55 • Western Sydney Parklands Trust 8 • Management and structure 55 • Code of Conduct 55 2019 – 20 Key achievements • Consultants’ fees 55 • Environmental protection and • Consumer response and effect of functions land stewardship 10 on members of the general public 56 • Recreational and community facilities 11 • Contacting Western Sydney Parklands Trust 56 • Community participation and engagement 12 • Disclosure of controlled entities • Financial and organisational sustainability 14 and subsidiaries 56 • Electronic Service Delivery 56 Financial statements • Equal Employment Opportunity and • Financial statements Workforce Diversity 56 for year ended 30 June 2019 15 • Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act) 57 • Statistical information about access applications – Clause 7(d) and Schedule 2 57 • Grants to non-government organisations 60 • Human resources 60 • Industrial relations 60 • Leave entitlements 60 • Legal change 60 • Policies and procedures 60 • Multicultural Policies and Services Program (MPSP) 60 • MPSP Statement 61 • Workplace Health and Safety 61 • Training 61 • Purchase card use 62 • Major capital works 2019/20 62 • Land disposal 63 • Privacy and personal information protection 63 • Public interest disclosures 63 • Reviews and appeals 63 • Digital information security 63 • Consumer response information 63 • Publications 64 • Overseas visits by employees 64 • Insurance 64 • Internal Audit and Risk Management Statement 64 • Shared services 64 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Western Sydney Parklands Trust Annual Report 2019 – 2020 3 Letter of submission The Hon. Robert Stokes MP Minister for Planning and Public Spaces 52 Martin Place SYDNEY NSW 2000 Dear Minister, We are pleased to submit to you the Annual Report of the Western Sydney Parklands Trust for your presentation to the New South Wales Parliament. This report provides a summary of our services and achievements and covers our performance for 2019/20. In addition, the report contains the audited financial statements and appendices as required by legislation. Yours sincerely, Michael Rose AM Suellen Fitzgerald Chair Chief Executive Western Sydney Parklands Trust Western Sydney Parklands Trust Greater Sydney Parklands Greater Sydney Parklands –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Western Sydney Parklands Trust Annual Report 2019 – 2020 4 Chair’s report Western Sydney Parklands Trust Western Sydney Parklands has thrived in 2020 as people have responded to COVID-19 by seeking out green open spaces. The pandemic has transformed attitudes to parks and this change has seen visitors to Western Sydney Parklands increase by 48% in recent months. The Parklands’ timely and well-targeted Get Back on Track campaign has encouraged people to get active across our 60 km network. The popular campaign attracted locals and visitors and brought together major health agencies and Councils in Western Sydney, working together for strong community health outcomes. The campaign saw a 100% increase in use of the Parklands’ tracks and trails, and views of the Parklands’ digital walking, running and cycling maps more than tripled during April and May during COVID-19 restrictions. Other highlights have included two prestigious Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) awards. The Horsley Park Urban Farming Masterplan won a Landscape Architecture Award and Shale Hills Dog Park received an Award for Excellence. The Trust continued its focus on sustainability, saving over 15 tonnes of carbon emissions by investing in 100% Green Power and planting more than 30,000 new native plants during the year. This has helped create approximately 30 ha of new bushland throughout the Parklands. I was honoured to be appointed Chair of the Western Sydney Parklands Trust in July, in conjunction with the establishment of the Greater Sydney Parklands. Greater Sydney Parklands brings together a combined board and administration for Western Sydney Parklands Trust, Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust, and Parramatta Park Trust, as well as the parklands of Callan Park and Fernhill Estate. My term as Chair commenced after the reporting period covered by this annual report. I would like to acknowledge and thank my predecessor, Anna Guillan AM and the Western Sydney Parklands Trust board members, Julie Bindon, Peter Roberts, Michael Johnson, Judith French, Marcus Ray and Deon Van Rensburg for their leadership and sustained contribution to the Parklands. I am also delighted to have the benefit of Julie’s continuing engagement, in her ongoing role on the board of Greater Sydney Parklands. I also want to thank and acknowledge the entire Trust management team for their successful and dedicated work over the past year. I am looking forward to working with them and our new Board members to build on the successes of the last year and to champion the NSW Government’s 50 Year Vision for Sydney’s Open Space and Parklands. Michael Rose AM Chair Western Sydney Parklands Trust Greater Sydney Parklands –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Western Sydney Parklands Trust Annual Report 2019 – 2020 5 Chief Executive’s report Over the past twelve months the Trust has supported the Premier’s priorities to create green, open spaces for the community and visitors to Western Sydney. Visits to Western Sydney Parklands doubled during the COVID-19 shutdown as visitors embraced the physical and mental restorative powers of the Parkland’s open green space and bushland. The Trust has promoted the use of over 60 kilometres of Parklands tracks and trails through the ‘Get Back on Track’ campaign, with new signs and maps to improve wayfinding for the community and encourage increased visitation and engagement. The new AILA award-winning Shale Hills Dog Park in the heart of Western Sydney Parklands offers 5 hectares of open space with state-of-the-art dog agility, self-guided training facilities, separate dog areas and a sensory garden. Plans are progressing for a Western Ridges Walk – a new nature-based walking destination in the heart of Western Sydney, due to launch in 2021. We have planted 60,000 trees in the Parklands to further grow our bushland corridor and help deliver the Premier’s target of one million trees by 2022. By 2020, over $1m has been invested in the Bringing Back The Bush program with 20,000 school children planting over 140,000 trees since the program’s inception nine years ago. Implementation continued on the Trust’s Business Hub program, making satisfying progress towards a sustainable future for the Parklands, as well as providing significant employment and investment outcomes for Western Sydney. Based on this sustainable position, it was heartening to be able to support our tenants through the COVID-19 pandemic and to ensure the future of community facilities right across the parklands. After considerable planning and dedicated effort on behalf of our private partners, we were delighted to see the Premier launch Sydney Zoo at Bungarribee Park, as a major new educational and tourism attraction that furthers the Trust’s strategy to build a new destination precinct around Lighthorse Interchange. Thank you to all Trust staff and contractors for their dedication, creativity and commitment to delivering these positive outcomes for our communities and future generations. Suellen Fitzgerald Chief Executive Western Sydney Parklands Trust Greater Sydney Parklands –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Western Sydney Parklands Trust Annual Report 2019 – 2020 6 Highlights The Trust’s achievements in 2019/20 include: • The Get Back on Track campaign launched, • High visitor numbers with 4.1 million visits promoting walking, running and cycling over the 12-month period • Artists at a unique Arts and Cultural Accelerator • The opening of Sydney Zoo – a $45-million proposed new cultural projects, several with a attraction in Bungarribee First Nations focus • Work commenced on a Reconciliation Action Plan • Planning and delivery of works including new tracks and trails, additional recreational • 1,500 hectares