CITY OF MITCHAM Annual Report 2014–15 2 CITY OF MITCHAM ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO COUNTRY We acknowledge the Kaurna people as the traditional custodians and caretakers of the land that includes much of this city, known as Tarndanyannga country which means ‘the place of the red kangaroo dreaming’. The Kaurna people’s rich cultural heritage and spiritual beliefs still connect their people with this land and we welcome a new relationship with the living members of their community today. 2014–15 ANNUAL REPORT 3 CONTENTS Acknowledgement to country . 2 Goal 3 – Inclusive and Our Leadership and People � � � � � � � � � 46 Capable Community � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 23 Message from the Mayor Our Governance � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 47 and Chief Executive Officer � � � � � � � � � � 4 Objective 8 – Creative and learning community ����������������24 Representation . 47 Our Elected Members � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6 Objective 9 – Engaged community . 25 Decision making structure at the City Profile � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 8 City of Mitcham . 48 Objective 10 – Our past ��������������������������������������������������������9 Vibrant and diverse community ������������������26 Council and Council meetings ��������������������48 Our present . 9 Objective 11 – Committees of Council . 50 Emergency preparedness and resilience ���� 28 Our people ��������������������������������������������������10 Members’ allowances . 54 Goal 4 – Healthy Environment � � � � � � � � 29 Our places ��������������������������������������������������10 Elected Member training Objective 12 – Biodiversity ��������������������������30 and development ����������������������������������������55 Our Vision � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 11 Objective 13 – Clean energy . 30 Freedom of information . 56 Goal 1 – Accessible City � � � � � � � � � � � � 12 Objective 14 – Water smart . 31 Confidential provisions ��������������������������������56 Objective 1 – Transport . 12 Objective 15 – Responsible consumption Section 270 Reviews . 57 Objective 2 – and waste minimisation . 32 Connected community places ��������������������15 National Competition Policy ������������������������57 Goal 5 – Enterprising City � � � � � � � � � � � 33 Objective 3 – Documents available to the public ��������������58 Open space and recreation facilities . 16 Objective 16 – Vibrant district centres . 33 Financial Statements � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 59 Goal 2 – Liveable City � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 18 Objective 17 – Pathways to employment . 33 Appendix A – Centennial Park Cemetery Objective 4 – City character and design . 18 Objective 18 – Authority 2014/2015 Annual Report � � � 97 Strategic projects and infrastructure . 34 Objective 5 – Green streetscapes . 19 Appendix B – Eastern Waste Authority Goal 6 – Excellence in Government � � � 35 2014/2015 Annual Report� � � � � � � � � � � 152 Objective 6 – House choices ����������������������20 Objective 19 – Financial sustainability . 35 Objective 7 – Safe public realm . 20 Objective 20 – Service efficiency and effectiveness . 41 Objective 21 – Good governance ����������������42 Objective 22 – People and workplace culture . 44 Objective 23 – Customer focus . 44 Objective 24 – Council reputation . 45 4 CITY OF MITCHAM MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Residents continue to rate the quality of life in the City of Mitcham very highly. Council strives to deliver progressive services for ratepayers and the broader community, whilst keeping rates as low as possible. City of Mitcham’s financial position continued to improve in 2014/2015 delivering a $2.60m surplus including $1,145,000 in annual ongoing savings to our community. We continued exploring new and more efficient and effective ways of delivering services. Major contributions towards achieving efficiency savings in 2014/2015 included: § internal resource rationalisation with over $575,000 in cost savings through improved Depot works and planning, introduction of precinct maintenance and multi- function teams. § improved procurement activities optimising value (social, environmental and financial) with the many goods and services that council procures. Spending on renewal and maintenance of our infrastructure remained a large part of our annual expenditure with over $11.56m spent on replacing and $3.24m on creating new assets. Our focus on improving community roads with a total of 174,217 square metres of road rehabilitation works, asphalt resealing and seal preservation was completed at a cost of $3.392 million. There was a continued focus on footpaths with over $2.8m spent delivering 14.5 kilometres of new and renewed footpaths with an additional $1.89m spent on 6.81 kilometres of new and improved kerbing. Whilst this was 2014–15 ANNUAL REPORT 5 Glenn Spear Matt Pears Mayor Chief Executive Officer a considerable improvement we still have We continued to strive to deliver natural Staff also commenced a Business Reform more to do to reduce the backlog of roads, resource conservation and waste project to improve business performance footpaths and kerbing requiring replacement. minimisation with 12,524 tonnes of domestic through reviewing processes, identifying and waste removed from 28,600 properties, implementing the best value Information, In November 2014 Local Government 6,292 tonnes of recyclables processed Communication and Technology systems elections were held across South Australia and 7,978 tonnes of green organic material achieving time and cost savings, and better resulting in the City of Mitcham welcoming a recovered for composting. Council worked customer service. new Mayor and seven new elected members. in collaboration with City of Unley and All elected members undertook an extensive Volunteers gave their time tirelessly and Zero Waste SA to provide a Household induction and training program during the first without their help, many of our programs Hazardous Waste drop-off day for residents. six months of the term. would not have achieved such levels of The highly successful event saw 16,401kg success. Our volunteers contributed with We continued to work collaboratively with of household hazardous waste collected over 350 people delivering 27,962 hours the Cities of Adelaide, Burnside, Unley and at no cost to residents. In addition Council of community service in the areas of West Torrens to develop a catchment based provided residents with 18 free green Horticulture, Community Wellbeing, Library Stormwater Management Plan for the Brown organics disposal days to assist with green Services, youth activities and support. Hill Keswick Creek catchment. The results of waste disposal in preparation for the bushfire the community consultation will be reported season resulting in 883.2 tonnes of green We would like to take this opportunity to prior to a final decision regarding the Brown organic material being collected and turned thank our past and present Councillors, Hill Keswick Creek Stormwater Management into mulch and compost material. staff, volunteers and the community for Project solution and is expected their dedication and contribution to our Our Youth Plan was endorsed providing September 2015. wonderful City. the framework required to enhance youth Planning, creating and maintaining open development within the Council area and to space is a priority for Council in providing a better prioritise resources in support of local unique outlet for exploration and play and young people. Other youth events included contributing to the health and wellbeing of the delivery of a mentoring programme for the overall community. Over 600 hectares of teen girls, the Value Me program to over 65 open space, 230 reserves, 61 playgrounds young people, drug and alcohol awareness and 22 recreational and sports grounds seminars to over 1,100 students, over 240 remained a focus for us in contributing to the students visiting the Civic Centre and over liveability and character of Mitcham. 540 young people participated in seven Community centres received upgrades events held across the City. including improvements to both Mitcham Staff initiatives to ensure our customer is and Blackwood Library amenities, asbestos always at the centre of everything we do, removal at Sturt Baseball ground and included the complete review and roll out refurbishment of the rugby clubrooms at the of personal performance plans for all staff, AA Bailey Reserve. participation in the 2015 Local Government Our Libraries continued to offer significant Managers Australia (LGMA) Leadership service to and interaction with the community Challenge, the creation of Mitcham Inspired with 379,806 library visits and 909,897 – a group established by employees to loans during the year. The introduction of inspire and promote diversity, the roll-out a customer self-check-in/out, dramatically of a leadership development program and improved the service provided by the development of process improvement, our Libraries. internal communications and culture development working groups. 6 CITY OF MITCHAM Local Government Elections were held in November 2014. A new Mayor and seven new OUR ELECTED Councillors were elected, making a total of 14 Elected Members (including the Mayor) for the MEMBERS 2014/2015 year. JULY 2014 – NOVEMBER 2014 MAYOR CRAIGBURN WARD OVERTON WARD COUNCILLORS COUNCILLORS Mayor Michael Picton Nick Greer Yvonne Poland BABBAGE WARD Elaine Grimm John Sanderson COUNCILLORS Jane Silbereisen Brett Hearne THE PARK WARD COUNCILLORS David Munro GAULT