Centennial Parklands a nnual report 2008-2009 “… a priceless part of the heritage of New South Wales. The area is one of the state’s most valuable assets.” Hon neville Wran aC QC (1983) Centennial Parklands annual rePOrt 2008–2009 the Hon. kevin Greene MP sCOPe OF rePOrt Minister for Gaming and Racing The Annual Report for 2008-09 has Minister for Sport and Recreation been structured as follows: 31 October 2009 • The Centennial Park and Moore Level 36 Park Trust’s performance against Governor Macquarie Tower the strategies of the 2006-2016 Plan 1 Farrer Place of Management is reported in the SYDNEY NSW 2000 year’s highlights table on pp.6-7. • Detailed reporting on the Trust’s performance against the challenges identified in the 2008-09 Business Dear Minister Plan is provided under the In accordance with the Annual Reports (Statutory Bodies) Act 1984, the environmental, social and economic Public Finance and Audit Act 1983 and the Regulations under those Acts, sections. Each of these sections we have pleasure in submitting the Annual Report for 2008-09 of the also include indicators of our Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust. progress towards sustainability over the year. Yours sincerely John niland aC John Walker Chairman Deputy Chairman top: Autumn colours permeate the Parklands signalling Centennial Parklands ANNUAL REPORT 2008-2009 the onset of the cooler, wetter months. contents 2 12 26 about centennial environmental social parklands performance performance About Centennial Parklands 2 Park Improvement Plan 13 Visitor Feedback 28 Corporate Direction 3 Managing Resources 18 Education Strategy 30 Chairman’s Report 4 Tree Management 23 Consultation and Director and Chief Community Engagement 32 Executive’s Report 5 Highlights for 2008-09 6 Planning Framework 8 36 42 63 economic appendices index and performance acknowledgements Five-Year Financial Strategy 38 Appendix 1 – Governance 42 Index 63 Hour-Glass Appendix 2 – Organisation 50 Acknowledgements Inside Investment Facilities 39 Appendix 3 – Legislative back flap Fees and Charges 40 and Periodic Reporting 60 Contents | CentennIAL PARKLAnDs ANNUAL REPORT 2008-2009 1 CentennIAL aboutPARKLAnDs Centennial Parklands is more than 360 hectares of cohesive and integrated parklands that provides important sport, recreation and leisure facilities for the people of Sydney and visitors from interstate and overseas. Centennial Parklands comprises three • In 1811 Governor Lachlan • In 2000 Centennial Park hosted parks – Centennial Park, Queens Park Macquarie designated the area as the Sydney Olympics Road Cycling and Moore Park – and is managed by the second Sydney Common, and event. the Centennial Park and Moore Park it was used for grazing, lime burning • In 2001 the Centenary of Federation Trust (Trust). and timber clearing. was celebrated with the Prime • In 1825 convict labour was used Minister, State and Territory leaders It is listed on the State Heritage Register to build a 3.5 km underground and the community. and the Register of the National Estate, aqueduct, known as Busbys Bore, and with an estimated 10 million visits from the swamps to Hyde Park. This More than 100 years later Centennial a year, is one of the world’s most bore supplied Sydney’s main water Park remains a people’s park – a popularly visited urban parklands. supply from 1837 to 1859. beautiful recreation area in the middle of Sydney’s densely populated eastern • In 1888 Sir Henry Parkes dedicated suburbs. It is a playground for adults CentennIAL PARK Centennial Park as a public open and children of all ages and is one of Centennial Park, covering 189 hectares, space for the enjoyment of the the few inner city parks in the world has a distinctive and special place in people of NSW. Hundreds of to offer horse riding facilities. It is Australian history and culture. It was unemployed men were enlisted to also home to diverse flora and fauna once a huge catchment of creeks, turn swamps, scrub and rock into a and many significant tree plantings, swamps, springs, sand dunes and grand park in the Victorian tradition including spectacular Port Jackson ponds fed by ground water, and was with formal gardens, ponds, statues figs, Holm oaks and Norfolk Island traditionally home to the Gadi people. and wide avenues for Sydneysiders pines dating back to the early to drive their carriages around to 20th century. The Park is historically significant to ‘take the air’. Australia and its people for many • On 1 January 1901 Centennial reasons, including: Park became the focus of the Queens PARK nation as the site of the inauguration Queens Park is a 26 hectare park of Australian Federation (this set in a natural amphitheatre at the event is commemorated by the foot of dramatic sandstone cliffs, Federation Pavilion). with panoramic views of the Sydney 2 About CentennIAL PARKLAnDs | CentennIAL PARKLAnDs ANNUAL REPORT 2008-2009 “It shall be the People’s Park... a public open space for the enjoyment of the people of NSW” sir Henry Parkes, Governor of nsW, 1888 region. It was originally established There is a detailed map of Centennial VALues to commemorate the centenary of Parklands on the inside back cover of The values of the Trust are: European settlement in 1888 and has this report. three giant Moreton Bay figs that may • Conservation and celebration of the be older than the park itself. Corporate Direction Parklands’ heritage and significance in the development of Sydney and Today the park is used for informal the nation; recreation and organised sports such MIssIon • Provision of opportunities for all as cricket, rugby, football and touch To manage Centennial Parklands football. people to enjoy a diversity of leisure, as a place of national significance arts, sporting, entertainment and for the enjoyment, social connection educational experiences; MooRe PARK and wellbeing of the community. • Conservation and stewardship of Moore Park provides 115 hectares the Parklands’ environmental values; of sports, leisure and entertainment GoALs and choices. The Corporate Plan 2007-2010 • Delivery of a high quality visitor identifies four goals, which will be On the sports and leisure front it experience underpinned by a strong addressed through a number of features tennis and netball courts, economic return. strategies and key actions to be the ES Marks Athletics Field, and an implemented by the Trust. 18-hole Group One public golf course tHRouGHout tHe and driving range. 1. To maintain and strengthen the oRGAnIsAtIon, tHe tRust: integrity of Centennial Parklands; On the entertainment front it is often • values and respects its people and used as a venue for circuses and other 2. To ensure equity of access and their diversity; outdoor events, and incorporates the: diversity of leisure experiences; • values consultation and customer 3. To work in partnership with key service; • Entertainment Quarter (on lease stakeholders; and from the Trust) • encourages teamwork and provides 4. To achieve a sustainable an inclusive working environment • Fox Professional Studios (on lease organisation that delivers sound to enable people to achieve their from the Trust) business practice and improved aspirations; and • Royal Hall of Industries and Hordern revenue in addition to assured core • is committed to managing in Pavilion (on lease from the Trust) government funding. an environmentally, socially and • Centennial Parklands Equestrian economically sustainable way. Centre (managed by the Trust) top: Centennial Parklands is less than 5 kilometres from the Sydney CBD and is colloquially known as the “lungs of the city”. About CentennIAL PARKLAnDs | CentennIAL PARKLAnDs ANNUAL REPORT 2008-2009 3 Chairman’s Report On behalf of the Trustees of the Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust, I am pleased to present our Annual Report for 2008-09. After two terms in the Chair, I will be This report details various I thank the Minister for Sport and stepping down in February 2010. achievements in 2008-09, which Recreation, and his predecessors, for Looking back over the past eight years, include: affording me the opportunity to Chair there is good reason for all associated this Trust, and for the strong support with the Trust to feel immense pride • an extensively refurbished and of Government over the years. in its many achievements and current vibrant Centennial Parklands condition. Key highlights from this Restaurant Those responsible for Centennial period include: • construction of the Korean War Parklands will continue to operate in Memorial in Moore Park a complex and changing business • Open space visitation is estimated environment, with the need to balance • newly dedicated education facilities to have grown from five million conflicting demands for recreation for children, with the help of our to six million a year, with even and leisure use, financial sustainability, Foundation, Visy and the NSW greater diversity of use, making equity of access and the protection of Government the Parklands one of Australia’s Centennial Parkland’s built and natural most loved leisure and recreational • a surplus of $0.5 million in environment. I am confident that the destinations 2008-09, in a time of severe current organisational arrangement, with economic challenge • Delivery of more than $50 million in Trustees independent of Government and working closely with it, will well capital improvements, especially: In October 2008, the Trust marked handle this unique challenge. – Upgrade of Grand Drive pathway its 25th anniversary as a stand-alone and associated infrastructure