2008/09 Annual Report draft The City of Newcastle Production 2008/09 Annual Report - The City of Newcastle was prepared by the City Engagement Group of Newcastle City Council. Enquiries For information about this document contact: Customer Service, Communication and Consultation Services Newcastle City Council Phone: 02 4974 2826 Published by Newcastle City Council 282 King Street, Newcastle. Phone: 02 4974 2000 (main switchboard) Post: PO Box 489 Newcastle NSW 2300 Australia Fax: 02 4974 2222 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au November 2009 © 2009 Newcastle City Council Cover photo: Construction fi eld workers, Chris Bloom and Kyle Snowdon discussing the footpaving work with King Street, Shortland resident, Tony Sutton. Contents 2008/09 Our City City profi le 6 Vision and mission 7 Lord Mayor’s message 8 General Manager’s message 9 Our councillors 10 150 years 12 Our organisation Our management team 16 Human Resources activities 17 Equal Employment Opportunity 18 Occupational Health and Safety 19 Our partnerships 20 Council committees 23 Award winning team 24 Our opportunities Sustainability Review 28 Business Excellence Framework 29 Year in review Our achievements 32 Financial snapshot Financial performance 38 Our awards Australia Day Awards 42 Community Awards 44 Sports Awards 46 Our performance Management Plan 2008/09 50 Ecologically sustainable development 52 City wide revitalisation 56 Healthy lifestyle 60 Compassionate community 64 Effective and effi cient governance 68 Key performance indicators ESD leadership 75 City wide revitalisation 76 Healthy lifestyle 78 Compassionate community 79 Effective and effi cient governance 79 Community and culture Diverse communities, youth and sport 84 Volunteers 85 Indigenous community 86 Grants and sponsorship Community Assistance Program 90 Need to contact Council? 92 Help shape our city’s future 92 2008/09 Additional Statutory Report (seperate) Our city City profi le Newcastle is a city with something for everyone As Australia’s second Captain Cook marked the rocky We are also recognised for our oldest and arguably islet of Nobbys Head on a map as vibrant cultural community. The he sailed north on May 10, 1770. Newcastle Region Art Gallery largest regional city, boasts one of Australia’s most Newcastle has a Today Nobbys continues to be substantial art collections and an iconic marker for the city with there are numerous other fascinating past, a Newcastle harbour on one side galleries showcasing works by brilliant present and an and the beach on the other. local artists. exciting future. Stand at the end of the Nobbys Spacious parks and colourful breakwall and you will see playgrounds are located Newcastle’s stunning coastline throughout the city, providing trail off to the north and south. sporting facilities and recreational Newcastle is surrounded by spaces for people of all ages. coastal beauty and pristine With more than 345 parks and beaches with some of the best sporting fi elds, the city is a great surf breaks in NSW. place for families, sport lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. Newcastle is a city in transition as it continues the move from The greatest asset of all is the its industrial past to a modern people of Newcastle. Home to city. The city is the economic a population of about 140,000, hub of the region, home to peak Novocastrians are renown for regional institutions including the their resilience in the tough times University of Newcastle, John and their joy in the great lifestyle Hunter Hospital and CSIRO our city provides. Energy Research Centre. Newcastle is truly a great Our city is rapidly gaining a place, with a great lifestyle national reputation as a leader and a great future. in addressing environmental sustainability. 6 2008/09 Annual Report - The City of Newcastle Our city Vision and mission Our Great Place, Great Lifestyle, Great Future Vision Providing services to the ratepayers, residents and visitors to Newcastle that: Our Enhance quality of life Mission Ensure a sustainable future Make best use of our assets Are community and customer focused Strong leadership Community focus Our Community connected Core Continuous improvement Values Develop our people Adapt to change Decisions based on fact Behave responsibly and ethically Sustainability Key Focus Areas Objectives Economic A strong focus on economic development and tourism and & Asset Development managing our assets effectively Community Ensure Newcastle has a high quality of life through effective & Cultural Development place management Environmental Ensure Newcastle has an environmentally sustainable future Enhancement Governance & A well performing, customer focused, open and transparent Organisational organisation that engages the community and encourages Development participation in Council matters Adopted by Newcastle City Council June 2009 2008/09 Annual Report - The City of Newcastle 7 Message from the Lord Mayor Councillor John S Tate On 13 September 2008 Taskforce was established to spending and asset rationalisation. develop a strategy to address the Council increased its infrastructure ten new faces joined the development of the Newcastle spending by $10 million in the elected council heralding CBD and to look for possible 2008/09 fi nancial year with a focus a fresh commitment to federal funding opportunities on city drainage and buildings. for city revitalisation. Restoring The Sustainability Review is local democracy and the CBD and Hunter Street is a also reviewing all council assets community engagement priority of this council. with a view to maximising their effectiveness and effi ciency. in the city. Community engagement was taken to a new level when This annual report will outline This enthusiasm has seen council council offi cially launched many other initiatives and and the administration working Newcastle Voice to coordinate achievements of this council effectively and productively consultation activities and manage during 2008/09. There are many together to tackle local issues a community reference panel challenges before us, but I am and secure real and lasting of Newcastle residents willing confi dent we can continue to face achievements for our city. to provide feedback to council. them and build a positive future for Council also established ward our city. The General Manager’s meetings to provide residents establishment of the Pride of with a chance to address their Place Taskforce in October 2008 councillors on local issues. gave impetus to a range of city Cr John S Tate presentation initiatives. The Council has been talking about Lord Mayor Taskforce continues to meet the challenges of managing regularly to address issues that and maintaining our $1.5billion impact on the overall amenity worth of assets for some time. of the city including graffi ti, We continue to prioritise the vandalism, community safety, management and maintenance of cleanliness and appearance. the city’s infrastructure following recommendations from the 2007 The state of Hunter Street and Review Today report including the city centre continues to be a addressing the infrastructure community concern. A City Centre backlog through increased 8 2008/09 Annual Report - The City of Newcastle Our city from the General Manager Message General Manager Lindy Hyam This annual report marks the deliver better service outcomes for Council worked strategically on beginning of a period of review our community. coastal and cultural revitalisation and transformation for Newcastle for the city, participated in the City Council that is crucial for the Signifi cant progress was made Newcastle City Centre Taskforce on future development and ongoing through collaboration with other major catalyst projects, established sustainability of council. partners, for such issues as city the Coastal Revitalisation Strategy presentation spearheaded by the and progressed the Flood At the beginning of this period Pride of Place Taskforce, affordable Management Plan. the political and operating housing, and coastal revitalisation environments were marked by with the surf clubs and the Land and All our efforts are driven by a the election of a new council, Property Management Authority. commitment to a sustainable future a city in need of renewal, a for council, our city and community. $12m defi cit, varied customer Council successfully sought service, slowness to respond opportunities to maximise I look forward to working with the to strategic opportunities and a government grant funding to community and council to meet need for cultural change within the deliver on key community projects the challenges and realise the organisation. including a substantial Federal opportunities ahead Government grant for the relocation The organisation responded to of the Newcastle Regional Museum these challenges by instituting to Honeysuckle. fi nancial management strategies Lindy Hyam to peg back the budget defi cit We maintained our focus General Manager and commencing Council’s most on closing the gap between comprehensive review of its infrastructure spending and that services and current operations. required to address our city’s ageing infrastructure. A number of A major restructure of the projects such as a $2m upgrade of organisation, the adoption of the Newcastle Road, stage one of the Australian Business Excellence Beach Improvement Program and Framework and a reinvigorated Flood Risk Management Planning customer service focus across were signigicantly progressed. the whole organisation provided a stronger foundation to