SORELL COUNCIL 1862 Sorell Council Annual Report 2012-2013 COMMUNITY COAST COUNTRY Contents Vision, Mission and Values 3 Fast Facts and Municipal Map 4 About Sorell 5 Mayor’s Report 6 General Manager’s Report 8 Senior Management Team 10 Senior Management Remuneration 11 Bushfire Feature 12 Your Councillors: Photos, Terms of Service and Representations 16 Councillor Attendance 18 Councillor Allowance and Expenses 18 Thank you to Carmel Torenius 18 Human Resources and Community Services 20 Engineering Services 22 Environment and Development 24 Finance and Information 26 The Way We Plan 30 Legislative Requirements Enterprise Powers Statement 47 Contract for the Supply of Goods and Services 47 Section 77 (1) donations 48 Copping Refuse Disposal Site Joint Authority 49 Environmental Health Statement 50 General Purpose Financial Report 53 Audit Opinion 96 2 Annual Report 2012-2013 Rotunda and roses in St George’s Square Our Vision To be the focus for services to a healthy and diverse community which enjoys a wonderful lifestyle; a Council open to change in the best interest of its community. Our Mission To lead with strength and integrity for the community and provide effective service delivery from which all generations can prosper and grow. Our Organisational Values INTEGRITY We behave and act ethically and seek to be truthful in all our operations and undertakings. EQUITABLE We are fair and unbiased in our work and decisions. RESPECT We value the dignity and diversity of each person in our community. OPENNESS We are transparent and take responsibility for our actions. Annual Report 2012-2013 3 Fast Facts Land Area 582.6 km2 Number of bridges 81 Population 13,194* Breakdown of revenue Major Populations Rates and charges 60% Sorell 2,476* Statutory fees and fines 2% Midway Point 2,598* User fees 4% Dodges Ferry 2,319* Operating Grants from Govt. 21% Primrose Sands 934* Interest from Funds Invested 3% Rateable Properties 8702 Investment income from Southern Water 3% Length of urban sealed road 90 km Capital Grants from Govt. 5% Length of rural sealed road 87 km Other 3% Length of urban unsealed road 28 km Total Revenue 100% Length of rural unsealed road 170 km *Figures taken from 2011 ABS Census LOCATION NUGENT PAWLEENA ORIELTON BREAM CREEK PENNA WATTLE HILL KELLEVIE SORELL MIDWAY POINT FORCETT LEWISHAM COPPING MARION BAY DODGES FERRY CARLTON RIVER BOOMER BAY CARLTON DUNALLEY TASMANIA PRIMROSE SANDS CONNELLYS MARSH 4 Annual Report 2012-2013 About Sorell Boat Park in Dodges Ferry About Sorell Sorell is one of Tasmania’s oldest towns, and today it is town of Sorell was founded. Sorell soon established NUGENT popular for its history, beautiful southern beaches and itself to be the granary that fed the fledgling colony. PAWLEENA its growing suburbs. ORIELTON After forty years of growth and development it was Located 25km north-east of Hobart and spanning decided that a Council was needed to help build and approx. 583 km2, Sorell’s key entrance points are organise much needed facilities and services. The BREAM CREEK Midway Point, Dunalley and Orielton. The border first Council was elected on 26 May 1862 and met for extends south-east around the scenic coastline the first time on 30 June 1862. Much progress soon PENNA WATTLE HILL KELLEVIE which encompasses the townships of Dodges Ferry, followed, with the electric telegraph service introduced SORELL Lewisham, Carlton, Primrose Sands, Connelly’s Marsh, in 1876, the Bellerive-Sorell railway line built in 1892, a Dunalley, Marion Bay and Boomer Bay. The Municipal water supply connected in 1916 and electricity delivered MIDWAY POINT border extends through rolling hillsides and unique to the town in 1930. Tasmanian forests, incorporating the townships of During the early years of Sorell, residents relied on Forcett, Copping, Nugent and Kellevie. FORCETT ferries to cross Pitt Water; otherwise they had to travel LEWISHAM COPPING MARION BAY The Sorell area has a rich history. The Sorell district to Hobart via Richmond. In 1854 Sir William Denison was first explored by Lieutenant Governor Collins, who began negotiations to construct a causeway. The named the shallow stretch of water between Sorell causeway took eight years to complete, with the first and Midway Point, Pitt Water after the then Chancellor vehicles making the crossing in 1872. DODGES FERRY CARLTON RIVER BOOMER BAY of the Exchequer, William Pitt. The name Pitt Water As one of the fastest growing municipalities in the CARLTON was given to the whole district until 1821 when the State, the Sorell Municipality continues to attract settlement was named after Lieutenant Governor DUNALLEY families with its affordable housing, natural coastline PRIMROSE SANDS William Sorell. TASMANIA and inland environments and the convenience of major CONNELLYS MARSH Whilst Sorell was first settled around 1808, it remained shops and services. an isolated farming community until 1821 when the Annual Report 2012-2013 5 2013 Citizen of the Year Bryan Dean with Mayor Kerry Vincent Mayor’s Report The start of my term as Mayor was marked by the Developments at the Boat Park in Dodges Ferry bushfires that devastated our community. The continue. This park is proving very popular and will see bushfires have been a big focus for our community a few more additions before it is finalised. and will remain so for several years to come as the To coincide with the 150th anniversary of the communities affected rebuild and revitalise. The establishment of Sorell Council, an Art Acquisition fires showed the strength of our smaller regional Prize was held. Six paintings were entered with Dawn communities and how they work together in the Gatehouse’s painting, All Roads Meet in Sorell, Market face of such disaster. It’s a credit to everyone in Town of the South East since the 1870’s, being selected the communities of Forcett, Copping, Boomer Bay, as the winner. This proved so popular that Council is Dunalley and Connellys Marsh in how they responded. now collaborating with Southern Beaches Regional Arts It was a busy year for Council with a number of to hold another art exhibition and prize. With twelve infrastructure projects being completed or begun. categories and fourteen prizes on offer there has already been much interest and excitement shown for Stage one developments at Pembroke Park are this initiative. progressing well. A Special Committee of Council was established to act as an advisory group to Council Council’s new Community Administration Centre (CAC) on the developments. The Pembroke Park Advisory is nearing completion. This building will be a valuable Committee also acts as a liaison between Council and asset for the community as it will allow for efficient community by feeding information back and forth. and effective operations of Council. The CAC has been Pembroke Park will provide fantastic recreational designed and is being built to achieve a NABERS 5 star opportunities for not only our community, but also the rating. NABERS measures the energy efficiency, water wider south-east region. This project will draw people usage, waste management and indoor environment into our community which will provide a flow on effect quality of a building and its impact on the environment of substantial proportions to local businesses. up to a maximum 6 star rating. Our present offices 6 Annual Report 2012-2013 have been sold to South Eastern Community Care (SECC) which will allow this organisation to expand and flourish in Sorell. SECC offers our community much needed in-home care for the elderly which helps keep them in their home. Council continues to expand upon the C3 computer software. This is now in the early stages of being used for community engagement and provides an opportunity for Council to further engage the community in projects. This project has been funded by the Federal Government’s Digital Local Government Programme to the tune of $292,400. The yellow house on the causeway has been demolished ready for entrance redevelopment. This will be completed in line with Council’s Streetscape Strategy. The Waterway Trail along the Sorell Rivulet was completed. This is a fantastic recreational trail for our community. Access to the area around the rivulet was previously quite limited. The trail has opened the area up so the beautiful natural Carmel Torenius resigned from Council in September environment and history can be fully appreciated. 2012. Carmel served as an elected member on Council The bridge used to cross the rivulet is made of for 22 years, with 17 of those years as Mayor. On composite fibre and topped with enduroplank, behalf of Council I would like to thank Carmel for her which is made from recycled plastics. Sorell Council commitment to serving her community over many years. was the first in Tasmania to install a pedestrian bridge made out of composite fibre. I’d like to commend Deputy Mayor Brett McDonald for his time spent acting as Mayor. He did a fantastic The Waterway Trail also hosted Council’s Tassie-As job and I appreciate his efforts. I’d also like to thank all Day Firies Fun Run, which was a fantastic success. Councillors for their support throughout the year. It is As part of Betta Milk’s Tassie-As Day celebrations, much appreciated. Council held a Firies fun run to celebrate the hard work of the local fire brigades during the bushfires. In closing I would like to thank Council’s General The event was well supported by our firies and Manager, management and staff for all their hard work general community. Frank and Nikki, members over the past year. of the Betta Milk Protection Squad, arrived in a helicopter much to the delight of all those in Mayor Kerry Vincent attendance.