WAVERLEY COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT 2019–20 Waverley Council 3 CONTENTS Preface 04 Part 3: Meeting our Additional Mayor's Message 05 Statutory Requirements 96 General Manager's Message 07 Amount of rates and charges written off during the year 97 Our Response to COVID-19 and its impact on the Operational Plan and Budget 09 Mayoral and Councillor fees, expenses and facilities 97 Part 1: Waverley Council Overview 11 Councillor induction training and Our Community Vision 12 ongoing professional development 98 Our Local Government Area (LGA) Map 13 General Manager and Senior Waverley - Our Local Government Area 14 Staff Remuneration 98 The Elected Council 16 Overseas visit by Council staff 98 Advisory Committees 17 Report on Infrastructure Assets 99 Our Mayor and Councillors 18 Government Information Our Organisation 22 (Public Access) 102 Our Planning Framework 23 Public Interest Disclosures 105 External bodies exercising Compliance with the Companion Waverley Council functions 25 Animals Act and Regulation 106 Partnerships and Cooperation 26 Amount incurred in legal proceedings 107 Our Financial Snapshot 27 Progress against Equal Employment Performance Ratios 29 Opportunity (EEO) Management Plan 111 Awards received 33 Progress report - Disability Grants and Donations awarded 34 Inclusion Action Plan 2019–20 118 Grants received 38 Swimming pool inspections 127 Sponsorships received 39 Works undertaken on private land 127 Recovery and threat abatement plans 127 Part 2: Delivery Program Environmental Upgrade Agreements 127 Achievements 40 Voluntary Planning Agreements 128 Arts and Culture 41 Contracts awarded by Council 129 Community Services and Well-being 45 Report on Special Rate Variation 131 Recreation and Open Spaces 51 Report on Stormwater Levy 132 Local Economy 57 Planning, Development and Heritage 61 Transport, Pedestrians and Parking 65 Buildings and Infrastructure 69 Sustainable Environment 73 Sustainable Waste 79 Corporate Leadership & Engagement 85 Knowledge and Innovation 91 Our Performance Snapshot 95 Annual Report 2019–20 4 PREFACE PURPOSE OF THIS ANNUAL REPORT This Annual Report documents Council’s performance during the 2019–20 financial year in relation to the principal activities detailed in the Delivery Program 2018–22 and Operational Plan 2019 –20. THE ANNUAL REPORT IS MADE UP OF FOUR PARTS: Part 01. Is an overview of Council Part 02. Provides details of Council’s performance against the Delivery Program 2018–22 Part 03. Provides additional reporting information required by legislation Part 04. Contains Council’s audited financial statements The first three parts are published in one volume. Part four is published separately. This report is prepared in accordance with Section 428 of the Local Government Act 1993 and the Office of Local Government Integrated Planning and Reporting Guidelines for Local Government in NSW. Waverley Council 5 MAYOR’S MESSAGE everyone. Policy and actions with This year we’ve also laid solid positive social impact and civic groundwork for things that will reap benefits have been enacted along community benefits for years to with supporting infrastructure. Here come, some I’m particularly proud are just a few highlights: of are: • Developing a Resilience Framework • A new street play trial was with community at its foundation. launched in February 2020, closing The framework aligns to the Resilient pilot streets to traffic to allow Sydney strategy and addresses our children and families to play and responses to, and preparedness socialise safely. for emergencies and risks through • T Compassion, resilience and social measures, strategic planning, he Bondi Pavilion Restoration determination have characterised environmental initiatives and and Conservation Project received the way Council and community infrastructure assessment and development application approval have dealt with the unprecedented management. in December 2019 following the year that was 2019—2020. I great work from Council staff and am proud of our community for • Our resident amenity fund was the Bondi Pavilion Stakeholder responding with kindness and created to improve and beautify Committee. The build is now selflessness in the face of adversity; the look and feel of our village underway. from residents banding together centres, commercial areas, and local • A process for undertaking in January to help people affected shopping areas. social impact assessments of by bushfires to the many acts of • The heritage-listed Boot Factory at developments is being developed kindness witnessed across Waverley Bondi Junction is being transformed which will add an improved, under COVID-19 restrictions. We into an innovative community people-focused dimension to the have always had a strong sense of space connected to the Mill Hill latest Waverley DCP. community and its been wonderful Community Centre. to see this come to the fore this year • Council is committed to securing when most needed. • Refurbishment of the South Bronte an environmentally sustainable amenities building and the Bronte future for our community through Waverley Council has worked hard to Village streetscape upgrade were many avenues, just one example support the community and business completed. is our support for maintaining throughout the pandemic. Our small Centennial Parklands and Moore business package gave one million • Participation in the Climate Park as valuable green spaces and dollars a month in relief and we Emergency 2020 summit, signing on Sydney assets, locally managed and worked with the Bondi and Districts behalf of Waverley the Safe Climate protected, with adequate funding Chamber of Commerce on the Keep Declaration, and committing to a and local community input. it Local campaign to encourage our goal of net zero emissions by 2030, community to support our local which Waverley Council is on track to I would like to thank Council businesses. Our community support achieve. staff for their efforts serving the focused on the vulnerable through Waverley community. Services, outreach and resilience initiatives, • Council addressed traffic accident infrastructure and policy have been in partnership with a number of spots at three locations on Military delivered with people front and wonderful community groups and Road. Parking and line marking centre, and that approach is how community members. adjustments near the corner of we support and build a resilient, Kimberley Street are complete and caring community for years to Council staff have worked tirelessly road widening between Wentworth come. to ensure our essential services were Street and Hugh Bamford Reserve not interrupted, as well as delivering and at the Bus Stop on the east side Paula Masselos great projects and initiatives for south of Blair Street are underway. Mayor of Waverley Annual Report 2019–20 6 Waverley Council GENERAL MANAGER’S MESSAGE 7 mitigation approach. In particular, completed a significant asset our ‘Swim and Go’ and ‘Surf and renewal project at North Bondi, Go’ plan enabled us to provide safe including the replacement of a access to the water for residents collapsing stormwater culvert for exercise at a time when mental along with safety lighting, complete health continues to be a priority. replacement of the promenade, new balustrades and improvements to Despite the negative budget the children’s pool. implications of COVID-19 (with revenue reduced on forecast by $8.2 • The Bondi Junction Cycleway million), Council’s financial position and Streetscape Upgrade works remains steady with a net operating continued throughout 2019–20. surplus of $2.32 million for the This Council and NSW Government 2019–20 financial year before the priority project is largely funded by The 2019–20 financial year has non-cash, revaluation of investment the NSW Government and travels been eventful, with smoke from properties was incorporated into through Bondi Junction commercial a devastating bushfire season the accounting result. Our cash and centre, linking Oxford Street, and affecting Waverley, followed by investments were at $172.64 million Bondi Road to an existing cycleway impacts from the ongoing COVID-19 at 30 June 2020. at the north-eastern corner of Centennial Park. pandemic. Throughout these events, Council has continued to deliver I was impressed by the resilience of capital works projects across the • In April 2020, Council started the the Waverley community and the LGA. Last financial year Council Notts Avenue Streetscape Upgrade, Council staff that provide services to completed 18 footpath projects, which will improve the safety for them. with approximately 4,147m2 of both pedestrians and vehicles whilst In January 2020, Council sent concrete footpath reconstructed. improving access to the Coastal a number of staff to provide Twenty-seven roads were resheeted Walk. assistance at bushfire affected across Waverley. Three of those roads were resheeted using • Eastern Reserve and Diamond Bay councils. The Council was pleased, boardwalk remediation and safety on behalf of the Waverley Reconophalt, which uses recycled materials including soft plastics, fencing works commenced in April community, to be able to provide 2020 and were completed in June skilled assistance to other toner, glass and reclaimed road material. 2020. As well as maintain a beloved communities badly affected by walkway, the works are part of a bushfires. Our efforts were in- Operational staff have also been range of measures to inhibit people line with the generosity of the working hard to increase standards