Annual Report 2018 - 2019 Rich traditions. Bold ambitions. Toowoomba Regional Council 2 TOOWOOMBA REGIONAL COUNCIL I Annual Report 2018 - 2019 Contents Fast Facts about our Community 4 Mayor's Report 6 Councillors 8 Governance Structure 9 CEO’s Report 10 Executive Leadership Team 12 Council Group Performance 13 Council Goal Performance 15 Goal 1 - Culture 16 Goal 2 - Community 18 Goal 3 - Natural Environment 20 Goal 4 - Built Environment 22 Goal 5 - Infrastructure and Asset Management 24 Goal 6 - Economy 26 Goal 7 - Governance 28 Goal 8 - Innovation and Technology 30 Legislative Information 32 Community Financial Report 44 Financial Report 50 About this report Our Annual Report summarises Council’s 2018-19 activities, our many achievements, our challenges and a snapshot of the year gone by. It is also an opportunity for us to profile our organisation, the teams within it and our beautiful region. Council measures its performance against the 2014-2019 Corporate Plan and this is the final year of reporting against this Plan. We view our Annual Report as one of the key accountability mechanisms between Council and our community and it is developed in compliance with Section 104 of the Local Government Act 2009. This report is also available in full on our website at: www.tr.qld.gov.au/annualreport Annual Report 2018 - 2019 I TOOWOOMBA REGIONAL COUNCIL 3 FAST FACTS ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY 87 roundabouts Australia’s second Gross Domestic Product largest inland city $10.81 billion 85,369 jobs 6,591 km sealed and 716 km of footpaths unsealed roads and cycleways 2.94 million annual 13 libraries visitors to our region Population 167,657 Land area 1,780 km of water 12,973km2 pipeline 575 Council- 2,578 development maintained parks approvals MAYOR'S REPORT The Toowoomba Region’s transformation over the past 10 This year, Council injected $475 million into the economy, years has been remarkable and the next decade promises including operational (service delivery) expenditure of to be just as exciting. $322 million and a capital (infrastructure) program of $153 million. Our regional centre, Toowoomba, has transformed from a large country town to a cosmopolitan city, influenced Local government cannot be left to shoulder the full by our emerging laneway culture. We have a jet-capable cost of providing essential infrastructure for our growing airport, a large data centre, solar farms and the initial communities, while meeting residents’ increased approvals to commence construction on the Inland Rail. expectations across other activities. We will continue to advocate for our fair share of funding to achieve We have Rich Traditions and Bold Ambitions. community goals and ambitions. In 2013 we sat down with the community to set our vision Council continued building and maintaining our for the future: a roadmap to guide how we would use infrastructure network to support projected growth, resources strategically to realise current and future needs including the Toowoomba Enterprise Hub Stimulus Project and aspirations. (Nass Road Upgrade Project), Pittsworth Industrial Precinct This is the last time we report against our 2014-19 Enabling Project, including Gap Road, and Peters Road in Corporate Plan. West Meringandan. Our 2018-19 Annual Report also chronicles the Our long-term ambition of diverting heavy traffic out of achievements of our Region and provides a transparent Toowoomba edged closer to reality, with Council upgrading summary of how we spent money received via rates, Boundary Street, Mort Street and Griffiths Street to provide grants, fees and revenue. links to the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing. Our Region has a diverse and stable economy that is able This $1.6 billion project is a game-changer for the Region to avoid the boom and bust cycles experienced by many and I welcome the completion of this landmark project. other regions. Last year the Gross Regional Product for the Toowoomba Region edged over $10.81 billion, up 4.5% Over the past decade, our Region has experienced on the previous 12 months. Our average growth over the dramatic climatic conditions, including a devastating flash past 10 years is around 3.6% per year, exceeding the state flood in 2011 and prolonged drought. average of 2.1%. We can no longer rely on ‘regular’ seasons with our dams Looking forward, there is reason to be optimistic with running low. This year Council responded to challenging strong employment growth, the highest in the state, and a drought conditions by investing in infrastructure and solid population growth rate. innovation to ensure resilient water and sewerage services. 6 TOOWOOMBA REGIONAL COUNCIL I Annual Report 2018 - 2019 Key projects included construction of an 8.2ML reservoir New technologies, such as NBN, are changing the way at Charlton, securing water for Hodgson Vale and new we do business, find information and communicate. Our sewerage infrastructure at Highfields. Region is becoming a communications hub, with the recent construction of the only accredited Tier III data Dam pump stations and water mains projects also centre outside an Australian capital city. progressed for the Toowoomba Bulk Water Supply dams (Cooby, Perseverance and Cressbrook), along with the Council continued to strengthen and promote a ongoing staged renewal and replacement of sewage unique calendar of regional and local events, with our pump stations across the Region. support of the award-winning Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, Regional Summer Tunes, the Millmerran Camp I was thrilled to attend the official opening of the $28 Oven Festival and hundreds of other community-led million Highfields Sport and Recreation Park in April, development programs including Queensland Day and following staged construction by Council over several High Country Festivals. years. Sporting clubs connect communities and promote healthy and active lifestyles and it’s heartening to hear Sports tourism grew across the Region and the annual that netball, cricket, football, running and rugby clubs are Hutchinson Builders Toowoomba International tennis event utilising this wonderful facility. was successfully delivered despite significant weather delays throughout the event. When people think of the Toowoomba Region, they think of fresh country air, wide open spaces, rich agricultural Ten Sports Tourism Grants, valued at $58,000 were also land and award-winning parks and gardens. awarded to support events across the Region, including the Pony Club Queensland State Championships at the I am proud of the role Council has played in contributing Millmerran Showgrounds and the Arthur Postle Gift in to our liveability, through the provision of parks, barbecues Pittsworth. and bikeways that promote healthy lifestyles, increase accessibility and enhance community connections. Attracting international students to study in our Region gained traction during this year, with the launch of Study This year, Council completed an extensive Parks Renewals Toowoomba, an education and training industry cluster program to ensure our 575 Council-maintained parks that will support the growth of the education industry. are of the highest standards for visitors and residents, with upgrades at numerous parks including Haden Park, The launch of Study Toowoomba was made possible Mountain View Park and Harlaxton Park. through a grant of $145,000 over two years from the Queensland Government under the International Transforming the city into a thriving regional centre for Education and Training Partnership Fund, with matching the Darling Downs remained a priority, with continued funding being provided by Council and the University of investment in the City Centre Master Plan. Southern Queensland. The 120 year-old Heritage-listed Toowoomba Railway Sister City relationships continued with Takatsuki (Japan), Goods Shed was officially opened. Upgrades to Cathro Whanganui (New Zealand) and Paju (South Korea). I Park also progressed to create a link from the Railway enjoyed my official role of welcoming visiting students Parklands Precinct to Queens Park. from Mishima High School, Ena City High School and Haruhigaoka High School in Japan to our Region. Highfields is a thriving and growing urban hub, with population projections suggesting that an additional 7000 At Council we believe it is our responsibility to help build people will call this area their home by 2031. This year, resilient and productive communities through continued Council worked in partnership with the community to support of multicultural, disability, youth and senior progress the Highfields Library Project, with construction services, including the Council Cab service, YouthConnect expected to commence in 2020. The new facility will and the Linking Leaders project. include a library, customer service centre and a community meeting facility. At Council we actively seek to understand our community’s aspirations and needs and are committed to Council also researched options for the provision of informing, explaining and listening. Your valuable feedback library services to the western growth corridor (including will help us to continue to deliver exceptional outcomes. Wilsonton and Glenvale) and the Cambooya and Westbrook areas, as part of a wider strategic discussion on On behalf of my fellow Councillors, I thank CEO library service levels. Brian Pidgeon for his leadership during the year and acknowledge the ongoing contribution of our valued staff Council commenced a review of its Toowoomba Regional and committed volunteers. Planning Scheme this year,