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Urban Services Annual Report 2003-2004 Volume 1 ISSN 1036-2569 © Australian Capital Territory, Canberra 2004 This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without permission from Customer Services and Information, Department of Urban Services, ACT Government, GPO Box 158, Canberra City ACT 2601. Produced by Publishing Services for the Department of Urban Services. GPO Box 158 Canberra City ACT 2601. http://www.urbanservices.act.gov.au/index.html Phone: 6207 6227 Publication No 04/1117 http://www.act.gov.au Telephone: Canberra 13ACT1 or 132 281 ii Urban Services Annual Report 2003–2004 Contents Transmittal Certificate 1 Chief Executive Review 3 Agency Role and Overall Performance 7 Departmental Overview 8 Business Unit Reports 13 City Management ACT NOWaste 14 Canberra Urban Parks and Places 19 Roads ACT 25 City Operations 30 City Services Fire Management Unit 36 ACT Forests 40 Fee-for-Service Businesses 44 Corporate 48 Customer Services and Information 54 Environment ACT 61 Policy, Arts and Transport artsACT 70 Road Transport 75 Organisational Governance Arrangements 80 Internal Accountability Structures and Processes 81 Strategic and Organisational Planning 83 Risk Management and Internal Audit Arrangements 83 Fraud Prevention Arrangements 84 Culture and Values 84 Procurement Contracting Principles and Processes 85 External Scrutiny 85 Financial Performance 88 Financial Results and Analysis of Financial Performance (Volume 2) Capital Works Management 89 Asset Management Strategy 98 Government Contractual Debts (Interest) 99 Human Resource Performance 100 Analysis of Human Resource Performance 101 Workplace Relations 103 Workplace Injury Prevention and Management 104 Annual Report 2003–2004 Urban Services iii Workplace Diversity 107 Learning and Development 109 Information and Access 112 Freedom of information 113 Public Interest Disclosure 115 Records Management Program 116 Community and Environment 117 Community Engagement 118 Cost-Benefit Analysis of Business Regulation Reform 119 Commissioner for Environment Reporting 119 Ecologically Sustainable Development 120 Bushfire Fuel Management 125 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Reporting 128 Multicultural Framework 130 Justice, Options and Prevention Policy Framework 132 Annexed Reports 134 ACT Heritage Council 135 Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Coordination Network 138 Animal Welfare Authority 139 Conservator of Flora and Fauna 141 Environment Protection Authority 143 Appendices 146 Advisory and Consultative Boards and Committees 147 Diversity, Staffing and Agency Profiles 149 Community Consultation 152 External Sources of Labour 162 Financial Statements (See Volume 2) Reports by the Auditor-General 187 Reports by the Ombudsman 187 Legislative Assembly Committee Inquiries and Reports 187 Regulatory Activities 187 Legislation Administered by Urban Services 188 Summary of Approved Grants 190 Subsumed Reports 201 Report of the Director of Territory Records 202 Compliance Index 206 Glossary of Abbreviations and Acronyms 207 Contact Officer and Other Sources of Information about Urban Services 209 Alphabetical Index 210 iv Urban Services Annual Report 2003–2004 Annual Report 2003–2004 Urban Services 1 Transmittal Certificate This report has been prepared under section 5(1) of the Annual Reports (Government Agencies) Act 2004 and in accordance with the requirements referred to in the Annual Report Directions. It has been prepared in conformity with other legislation applicable to the preparation of the Annual Report by the Department of Urban Services. I hereby certify that the attached Annual Report is an honest and accurate account of the operations of the Department of Urban Services during the period 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004 and that it complies with the Chief Minister’s Annual Report Directions. I also hereby certify that fraud prevention has been managed in accordance with Public Sector Management Standard 1, Part 4. Section 13 of the Annual Reports (Government Agencies) Act 2004 requires that you cause a copy of the report to be laid before the Legislative Assembly within three months of the end of the financial year. Signed and dated by Alan Thompson Chief Executive 22 September 2004 iv Urban Services Annual Report 2003–2004 Annual Report 2003–2004 Urban Services 1 2 Urban Services Annual Report 2003–2004 3 Chief Executive Review Alan Thompson, Chief Executive 2 Annual Report 2003–2004 Urban Services 3 Chief Executive Review Sustainable Resource At the time of writing, the intense drought and the Management aftermath of the January 2003 bushfires are both Sustainable water management was a major focus of pervading much of the work of Urban Services. Think water, act water, the ACT water resources strategy Nevertheless, I consider that the staff of the department developed in partnership with ACTEW. The development can be rightly proud of our achievements in “Making of the strategy involved extensive consultation with the Canberra an even better place”, which is our corporate community and a range of experts. The strategy focuses mission. on water resource management until 2050. Over the last year, we have successfully implemented Sustainability was also a key theme of our nature a range of strategies around our key priorities, namely conservation and waste management strategies. Post-Bushfire Management, Sustainable Resource Significant environmental initiatives included the Management, Service Delivery, Look of Canberra, Our development of the ACT Lowland Woodland Conservation People, and Integrated Outcomes. Strategy, successful continuation of the Corroboree Frog Husbandry Program and the establishment of Post Bushfire Management Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve, a new woodland reserve to help protect endangered woodland and threatened bird A significant amount of resources has been directed species. towards ensuring the community is as safe as possible from the threat of bushfire, a major achievement being an Initiatives associated with our No Waste Strategy resulted extensive program of fire fuel reduction works throughout in the recovery of 70 per cent of the total waste generated the ACT. during the year, the highest annual recovery rate since introduction of the strategy in 1996. The opening of a Other post-bushfire initiatives arising from the new state-of-the-art Materials Recovery Facility at Hume recommendations of the McLeod Inquiry were also put in contributed to this positive outcome. place. In particular, the establishment of the department’s Fire Management Unit has provided a more strategic Integrated Outcomes approach to the planning of bushfire-related activities across the department. At Urban Services, we continue to work in partnership with other agencies and community groups to deliver The continuing massive clean-up and recovery program integrated outcomes for the ACT. We have actively in urban and rural areas, particularly the restoration of contributed to policy development at a whole-of- recreation areas in forests and nature parks, including the government, regional and national level. Cotter and Tidbinbilla, was a significant achievement. An extensive tree surgery program to remove dead and Water and transport security issues are a high priority dangerous trees, along with the implementation of erosion for both the Territory and the nation as a whole. We and weed control measures, was also undertaken. are working collaboratively with other Commonwealth and State jurisdictions in the development of a national In partnership with community groups and Greening security strategy for Australia’s transport system. We are Australia a massive re-greening program is helping to also working closely with a wide range of organisations, restore the lost beauty of parks, reserves and forest after such as the Cooperative Research Centre for Freshwater the 2003 bushfires, although the pace of this program has Ecology, on policies for better water management. been tempered by the drought. 4 Urban Services Annual Report 2003–2004 Annual Report 2003–2004 Urban Services 5 Chief Executive Review We continue to work closely with ACTPLA to ensure of William Hovell Drive and Majura Road were significant integrated outcomes for urban development. Our projects that eased traffic congestion and improved road Community Partnerships Program recognises the diversity safety for North Canberra and Gungahlin residents. In of community values and continues to build collaborative the Tuggeranong Valley, it was pleasing to complete the and cooperative relationships with a wide variety of groups duplication of a significant length of Athllon Drive, thus throughout Canberra. easing congestion around the Tuggeranong Town Centre. Service Delivery To further improve access to other parts of Canberra for the residents of Gungahlin, preliminary works commenced During the year, the department maintained its on the construction of the Gungahlin Drive Extension. The commitment to delivering the highest quality of service project was significantly delayed by a number of legal to the ACT community, ensuring efficient, equitable and challenges. The works have now resumed following the accessible services to our customers. passage of legislation and new ministerial authorisations We continued to listen to the community by providing in the Assembly. many consultative mechanisms that allow the public to Cyclists are beginning to benefit from the construction of have input into decisions affecting them.

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