ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 CreateWOLLONDILLY “Growth, development and change is inevitable and much of the time, out of our control. What we can control is how we respond to it and the direction that it takes. The challenge for Wollondilly's future will be 'balance' between the past, the present and the future. Wollondilly is unique. It is Sydney's water bowl and a large part of its food bowl. It's a beautiful rural setting and rural lifestyle with towns and villages, a strong sense of community, a rich and diverse environment including green space, rolling hills, rivers, lakes, mountains, heritage and agriculture. The challenge for Wollondilly will be the preservation of these treasured aspects of living in our Shire. I want our future generations to still have these views, to enjoy what we have now and what we possibly take for granted. Once it's gone, it's gone. You can't get it back.” Karen Burgess, Winner of the Create Wollondilly 2033 Art Competition (16 years and older category) 2 | WOLLONDILLY SHIRE COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | 3 CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Acknowledgement of the Original Custodians 8 1.2 We are Wollondilly 9 1.3 Message from the Mayor and CEO 10 1.4 Your Councillors and Wards 12 1.5 Our Vision, Mission and Values 16 1.6 Organisational Structure 18 1.7 Service Delivery in a Growing Shire 21 1.8 What Council Delivers to the Community - Service Overview 22 2. COUNCIL PERFORMANCE 2.1 The Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework and Annual Report 27 2.2 Community Satisfaction with Council Services 28 2.3 Summary of Council’s Overall Annual Performance 32 2.4 Measuring Performance – Overall Performance by Strategic Theme 33 Theme 1: Sustainable and Balanced Growth 35 Theme 2: Management and Provision of Infrastructure 43 Theme 3: Caring for the Environment 49 Annual Re port Theme 4: Looking after the Community 55 Theme 5: Effective and Efficient Council 63 3. LEGISLATIVE AND OTHER INFORMATION 3.1 Mayoral and Councillors’ Fees, Expenses and Facilities 70 CONTENTS 3.2 Senior Staff Salaries 70 3.3 Legal Proceedings 71 3.4 Contracts Awarded for amounts greater than $150,000 72 3.5 External Bodies, Companies and Partnerships 76 3.6 Private Works 77 3.7 Council’s Assets and Asset Renewal 78 3.8 Fit for the Future 82 3.9 Local Planning Panel 84 3.10 Planning Agreements 86 3.11 Community Grants Program 87 3.12 Bushfire Hazard Reduction and Mitigation Activities 92 3.13 Food Inspection Program 93 3.14 Swimming Pool Audit Program 93 3.15 Companion Animals 94 3.16 Wollondilly Workforce Diversity 95 3.17 Workplace Health and Safety 95 3.18 Risk Management 96 3.19 Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee 96 3.20 Government Information – Public Access Act (GIPA) 96 3.21 Privacy and Personal Information Protection 101 3.22 Public Interest Disclosures Act 101 4. ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 4.1 General Purpose Financial Statements for Year Ended 30 June 2019 105 4.2 Special Schedules for Year Ended 30 June 2019 188 4 | WOLLONDILLY SHIRE COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | 5 SECTION 1 6 | WOLLONDILLY SHIRE COUNCIL IntroductionANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | 7 INTRODUCTION WE ARE Wollondilly, onWollondilly the south western outskirts of Sydney and at the foothills * of the Southern Highlands, is surrounded by spectacular, natural beauty and rural pastures. Its 2,560 square kilometres stretch from Yanderra in the south, Appin and Menangle in the east, Warragamba in the north with Acknowledgement the Nattai wilderness, Yerranderie and Burragorang Valley to the west. Wollondilly Shire Council acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land in The district is rich in Aboriginal and European history. The earliest known inhabitants of the Wollondilly, the Dharawal and Gundungurra peoples. district were the Gundangurra Tribe, who gave the area its name. The word Wollondilly is We acknowledge the living culture and spiritual connections to the land for the attributed to having three meanings. “A place where spirits dwell”, “Water trickling over rocks” Dharawal and Gundungurra people and that Wollondilly is remarkably placed as and the third meaning is connected to a legend about the burning black coal that was carried the intersection of these two tribal lands. inside the skull of a bunyip, within a basket woven of waratah stems. “Worron” means black coal and “dilly” means carry basket. We recognise the traditional Custodians have occupied and cared for this Country A colourful tapestry interweaves the Dreamtime legends of the Gundungurra and Tharawal over countless generations and celebrate their continuing contribution to the people on a backdrop of gorges, ranges and plains with a rural patchwork created by the Shire. white settlers who followed the first fleet’s famous straying cattle to the Cowpastures. We also acknowledge and remember the Dharawal and Gundungurra peoples who Each of the towns and villages have their own stories to tell and personalities to meet but were killed in the Appin Massacre on 17 April 1816. the rural charm with country hospitality is found everywhere. Balancing what we value as a community against the future growth projected for NSW is, and will remain, the biggest Council *We acknowledge our collaboration with the Tharawal Local Aboriginal Land challenge and commitment for Council over the next 15 years. 8 | WOLLONDILLY 2040SHIRE COUNCIL DRAFT LOCAL STRATEGICANNUAL PLANNING REPORT STATEMENT 2018/19 | 9 MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR & CEO MESSAGE FROM TCRhe MATTHEW Mayor DEETH Chief BENE TAYLORxecutive Officer This year has seen Council continue to deliver great • Supporting the Dilly Youth Advisory Committee outcomes for the Wollondilly Shire. to run the ‘Branch Out’ Pool Party at the Wollondilly Council is in a strong financial position and is Leisure Centre, raising awareness about wellbeing investing wisely in priority infrastructure and services in the community for the community. We’re setting the foundations for • Providing the Summer Beach Bus, popular our organisation so that we are well placed to protect amongst the Shire’s young people as well as and enhance all that our community loves about families and seniors, overflowing every Friday Wollondilly and shape the future of our Shire. with residents keen to take advantage of the warm Some of the highlights from the year include: weather to visit the beach in Wollongong. • A record breaking $21 million Capital Works • For the NSW Seniors Festival, offering free pool Program, including investing $14.6 million on entry for seniors to the Wollondilly Leisure Centre our roads, bridges, kerb & gutter, footpaths and and Warragamba Pool for the month of February transport/traffic facilities, $4 million on open space for as a Seniors Festival booklet outlining all the projects and $1 million on buildings. free or low cost activities and events available to seniors during February/March. • Developing master plans for many of our parks and sportsfields, such as Telopea Park, Wilton • Improved community resilience and safety with Sportsground, The Oaks, Appin Park, Redbank Get Ready Wollondilly website as part of the Reserve and the Menangle Old School site, putting Climate Wise Communities initiative in partnership us in a great position to access future funding to with Ku-ring-gai Council. develop these sites to their potential. • Playing a leading role in the Western Sydney City • Improving DA turn-around times and creating a Deal, including coordinating the Western Sydney new DA tracking and lodgement system which will Digital Action Plan as well as the establishment allow DA documentation to be viewed online and of the Western Sydney Health Alliance, and greatly improve transparency and communication participating in the Integrated Intensive with customers. Production Hub workshop and associated initiatives with the Western Sydney Aerotropolis • Advocating strongly for the local area, including Agribusiness Precinct. for the local disease free koala population with the #SaveOurKoalas campaign and Summit, and • Engaging the community on a number of projects opposing the proposed raising of the Warragamba as part of the Western City Parkland Liveability Dam Wall in partnership with Blue Mountains City Program, including the Wollondilly Community, Council. Cultural & Civic Precinct, Tahmoor Sportsground and the installation of exercise equipment in eight • Holding the rejuvenated Illuminate Wollondilly locations across the Shire. Festival, attracting thousands of visitors throughout the day and night to enjoy the fifth year of the There are some big opportunities ahead as our Shire popular arts and cultural festival, showcasing moves into the future. Our focus is on maximising many of the town’s historical buildings and new these opportunities, continuing to deliver outstanding elements including a silent disco, neon putt-putt infrastructure and services and improving our financial golf and LED dancers. sustainability for the benefit of all of our community. 10 | WOLLONDILLY SHIRE COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 | 11 YOUR COUNCILLORS NORTH JUDITH HANNAN SIMON LANDOW MATT GOULD - Deputy Mayor P 0414 557 799 P 0415 406 719 P 0427 936 471 E [email protected] E [email protected] E [email protected] CENTRAL YOUR ROBERT KHAN MICHAEL BANASIK BLAIR BRIGGS P 0407 705 100 P 0425 798 068 P 0418 269 913 COUNCILLORS E [email protected] E [email protected] E [email protected] EAST MATTHEW DEETH - Mayor NOEL LOWRY MATT SMITH P 0428 335 743 P 0406 047 086 P 0448 083 566