Annual Report 2014-15 Ipswich City Lockyer Valley Region
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Annual Report 2014-15 Ipswich City Lockyer Valley Region Logan City Southern Downs Region Gold Coast City Tweed Shire Kyogle Shire OUR REGION LOCATION South East Queensland ESTIMATED RESIDENT POPULATION 39,463 (calculated by Queensland Statistician’s Office at 30 June 2014) AREA 4,238 square kilometres GROSS REGIONAL PRODUCT $1.547 billion (2013-14) COUNCIL OPERATING EXPENDITURE 2014-15 $53.2 million COUNCIL CAPITAL EXPENDITURE 2014-15 $47.5 million Contents 02 Introduction 22 Sustainable & Prosperous 38 Accessible & Serviced 04 Our Council Economy Region 10 Performance Highlights 26 Open & Responsive 42 Healthy, Engaged & Resourceful Communities 12 Community Financial Government Report 30 Relaxed Living & 48 Organisational Sustainability 18 Spectacular Scenery & Rural Lifestyle 52 Statutory Information Healthy Environment 34 Vibrant Towns & Villages 56 Financial Statements Cover image: The picturesque waters of Lake Moogerah. 2 2014-2015 ANNUAL REPORT SCENIC RIM REGIONAL COUNCIL It continues to be my privilege to serve Mayoral initiative launched in 2014- the Scenic Rim community as Mayor 15 and funded through efficiency and head a team of Councillors who savings, are dedicated to delivering are committed to delivering effective infrastructure improvements to leadership and advocacy. enhance the character of our towns I am proud to lead an organisation and villages. which is forward-thinking and We remain committed to assisting determined to create a positive legacy, the many community organisations both for our community today and for that contribute to strengthening the future generations. social fabric of our region through our Council continues to maintain a focus Community Development Grants, Sport on delivering effective and sustainable and Recreation Grants, Environmental outcomes for the Scenic Rim across Grants and the Scenic Rim Regional infrastructure, service delivery and Arts Development Fund. financial management. Council also supports a calendar of A message from This approach, which has included events and activities which contribute achieving cost savings and efficiencies, to the shared vision for the future of OAM CR JOHN BRENT has seen us ranked among the most the region captured in the Scenic Rim MAYOR financially sustainable councils in Community Plan including Be Healthy Queensland for consecutive years. & Active, Eat Local Week and Winter Harvest Festival, the Studios and It gives me great pleasure to introduce Ultimately, this has positioned Council Cultural Trails of the Scenic Rim, and the seventh annual report of Scenic strongly to fund vital infrastructure the Scenic Rim Business Excellence Rim Regional Council. spending on roads, bridges and Awards. This document is the final full-year report facilities in addition to a range of of the 2012-16 Council and in many essential community services and respects is an opportunity to reflect not programs. only our achievements during the past Programs such as Vibrant and Active fiscal year, but also the current term. Towns and Villages, a $1 million Queensland Audit Office in 2014-15, capital works to restore damaged ranking the organisation among the infrastructure. most financially sustainable local However, a significant milestone for government areas in Queensland for the financial year ending June 2015 the third successive year. was the finalisation of the disaster A financially sustainable long-term restoration program arising from position remains a key objective of 2013’s ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald. the organisation, one which requires This brought to a close an prudent and disciplined management unprecedented rolling reconstruction with a focus on efficiency. program which commenced in the Council’s leadership continues to aftermath of the “summer of disasters” review the resourcing and processes in 2010-11, a significant chapter in the of the organisation to ensure the history of this Council. outcomes delivered represent value As with previous documents, the for the community. 2014-15 Annual Report reflects A message from The result of this is a responsive Council’s continued focus on financial and resilient organisation capable sustainability, providing value for CRAIG BARKE of meeting the current and future money outcomes for ratepayers and CEO needs of the Scenic Rim region, responding to the needs of the Scenic which remains one of the fastest Rim community. Scenic Rim Regional Council is growing local government areas of committed to effectively managing Queensland. infrastructure and service delivery to Financial outcomes over the past our community in a manner which several years, including 2014- is both financially sustainable and 15, have included a substantial responsible. component of funding assistance The organisation’s fiscal performance under the Natural Disaster Relief and was again acknowledged by the Recovery Arrangements for contract SCENIC RIM REGIONAL COUNCIL 2014-2015 ANNUAL REPORT 3 OUR COUNCIL SCENIC RIM REGIONAL COUNCIL DRAWS ITS NAME FROM A PHRASE COINED BY AUTHOR AND NATURALIST ARTHUR GROOM TO DESCRIBE THE CHAIN OF MOUNTAINS, PLATEAUX AND PEAKS TO THE WEST AND SOUTH OF BRISBANE WHICH COMPRISE MUCH OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA. Scenic Rim Regional Vision By 2026 Scenic Rim will be a network of unique Residents will benefit from the region’s productive farmland, rural communities embedded in a productive and stunning natural environment and character-filled towns sustainable landscape. and villages which attract tourists and visitors and provide ecosystem services for the broader South East Queensland We will enjoy a high quality rural lifestyle in self-reliant community. communities that provide a choice of quality local food, products, services and recreation opportunities. Scenic Rim will be an inclusive, caring and creative environment with healthy and active residents. The region Our residents will have affordable transport options and ready access to the broader South East Queensland region. will provide a happy, safe and nurturing environment for children and families. Our community will support sustainable farms, businesses and industries that are compatible with our environment and We will participate in planning and managing our lifestyle and provide rewarding employment and prosperity communities and act to ensure the Scenic Rim is enhanced for residents. for future generations. SCENIC RIM COMMUNITY PLAN but the Mayor has some extra CORPORATE AND OPERATIONAL The Scenic Rim Community Plan responsibilities. PLANS 2011-2026 was adopted by Council 3. All Councillors have the following Council’s operations for the year are in November 2011 following extensive responsibilities: guided by the Corporate Plan 2013- community consultation. It captures a. Ensuring the local government: 2018. The plan details organisational the long-term vision of the Scenic i. Discharges its responsibilities strategies under the seven themes of Rim community and summarises its under this Act the Community Plan. aspirations under seven themes. These ii. Achieves its corporate and desired outcomes form the basis of our community plans An additional theme of Organisational Regional Vision (above) and provide the iii. Complies with all laws that Sustainability is included in the Corporate foundations of Council’s Corporate Plan apply to local governments; Plan to provide a focal point on Council’s 2013-2018. b. Providing high quality leadership performance and financial sustainability. to the local government and the SCENIC RIM REGIONAL COUNCIL community; The 2014-15 Operational Plan provided Council is governed by a popularly c. Participating in council meetings, for 134 actions to be undertaken across elected Mayor and one Councillor policy development, and decision the eight themes of Council’s Corporate for each of the region’s six electoral making, for the benefit of the local Plan. A summary of performance in divisions. The current Council comprises government area; completing those actions is shown on Mayor Cr John Brent OAM, Deputy Mayor d. Being accountable to the page 11. Cr Virginia West, Cr Nigel Waistell, community for the local Cr Nadia O’Carroll, Cr Jennifer Sanders, government’s performance. STRATEGIC DIRECTION Cr Rick Stanfield and Cr Duncan McInnes, As outlined in this report, Councillors who were elected at quadrennial MEETINGS continued to develop the organisation’s elections held in April 2012. Council decisions are made at monthly strategic direction during 2014-15 Ordinary Meetings with business items through the adoption and review of REPRESENTING THE COMMUNITY generally referred for initial consideration various strategy documents, policies The role of Councillors is prescribed in to one of Council’s three Standing and local laws. This work ensures the Local Government Act 2009: Committees. Special Meetings were Council is positioned to best serve the 1. A Councillor must represent the current convened during the year for purposes public interest - both now and into the and future interests of the residents of of Budget adoption and consideration future. Councillors also performed a vital the local government area. of urgent business items. A schedule representational role as direct points of 2. All Councillors of a local government of meetings held during the period is contact for Council with many community have the same responsibilities, included on page 53 of this report. organisations and Scenic Rim residents. SCENIC RIM REGIONAL COUNCIL 2014-2015 ANNUAL REPORT 5 COUNCIL MEMBERS CR JOHN BRENT OAM Mayor