Annual Report 2015/16 About our How to read our Annual Report Annual Report Swan Hill Rural City Council is pleased to present Part one – Introduction its 2015/16 Annual Report, which provides a detailed account of our performance from 1 July Provides a snapshot of our region and highlights 2015 to 30 June 2016. what we have accomplished. Documenting Council’s performance against the Part two – The year in review 2015/16 Budget and the Council Plan, the Annual Messages from our Mayor and CEO, a financial Report highlights achievements and challenges summary and major projects highlights. faced within key service areas and programs in the third year of the 2013-17 Council Plan. Part three – Our Council Council seeks to achieve community engagement Our region’s history and profile and information on and an understanding of Council’s operations by our Councillors. conducting its affairs openly and with integrity. Part four – Our people Transparency in our decision-making and Information on Council’s employees, including our accountability are core values of Council, therefore organisational structure, Occupational Health and reflecting high levels of good governance. Safety, Equal Opportunity and appreciating our This report provides information to a variety of staff. audiences including all community groups, businesses, ratepayers, visitors, investors, Part five – Our performance government agencies and other interested Results against our Council Plan Key Strategic stakeholders. Initiatives, Local Government Performance Reporting Indicators and Major Initiatives and Services identified in the 2015/16 Budget. Part six – Corporate Governance Governance and statutory information including decision-making, elected members, risk management, benchmarking and accountability. Part seven – Performance Statement Local Government Performance Reporting Indicators for Sustainable Capacity, Service Performance and Financial Performance. Acknowledgement Part eight – Financial Performance Council’s general purpose financial statements. Swan Hill Rural City Council acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet, and pays its respects to their elders, past and present. 2 Swan Hill Rural City Council | 2015/16 Annual Report Contents Part one Part five Demographic snapshot 5 Accountability Framework 36 Our Vision, Mission and Values 5 Governance and Leadership 37 Highlights of the year 6 Community Health and Wellbeing 40 Year at a glance 8 Economic Growth 52 Built and Natural Environment 56 Part two Messages from our Mayor and CEO 15 Part six Financial Summary 16 Corporate Governance 61 Major Capital Works 20 Governance and Management Checklist 70 Part three Part seven Our municipality’s profile 23 Performance Statement 77 Our Council 24 Appendices: 90 Donations and contributions 90 Part four Organisations of which Council is a financial member 94 Our Executive Leadership Team 26 Our Organisation Structure 28 Council employees 29 Equal Employment Opportunity 31 Part eight Other staff matters 31 Financial Statements 100 3 Part one Introduction Welcome to the report Our Vision of operations A vibrant, growing and sustainable community with pride and confidence in a prosperous future. We are committed to transparent reporting and accountability to our community. The annual report is our primary means of advising residents within Our Mission the Swan Hill Rural City Council region about our operations and performance during the 2015/16 We will lead, advocate and provide a range of financial year. services that support our community and plan for the future. Snapshot of Council Swan Hill Rural City Council covers 6,116 square Our Values kilometres and is home to more than 20,400 Council values our residents and community and people. It includes the townships of Swan Hill, will be responsive to their needs. In pursuing our Robinvale, Lake Boga, Nyah, Nyah West, Piangil, objectives, we believe in, and are committed to the Woorinen, Ultima, Manangatang, Boundary Bend following values: and Tresco. Community Engagement The Swan Hill Rural City economy is driven by agriculture and manufacturing. We will ensure that our communities are engaged and informed. Almost 16 per cent of the total economic output from the region comes from agricultural production, Leadership with traditional livestock and broadacre farming We will lead with integrity and encourage accounting for almost four per cent. innovation. Irrigated farming (including stone fruit, grapes, Fairness nuts, olives and vegetable production) accounts for over 11 per cent of the total economic output for We will value and embrace the diversity of our the municipality and more than 18 per cent of all community and ensure that all people are treated jobs in the city are directly related to agriculture. equally. Food manufacturing (processing) accounts for Accountability almost 10 per cent of the municipality’s economic We will be transparent in our activities and we output. value feedback. Located along the Murray River, tourism plays an important role in our region’s economy. Our climate and natural beauty attracts about 388,000 domestic visitors each year. 20,409 Our population 6,116km2 Our area 3,492km The length of our local roads (sealed and unsealed) 11,869 Our rateable properties $1.124 billion Gross regional product 7,927 People working Part one | Introduction 5 Highlights of the year Governance and Leadership Endorsed the Draft Rural Land Use Strategy and received public submissions. Adopted the Swan Hill Rural City Council Consultation will continue in 2016/17. Communication Strategy 2015-18. Worked with the Robinvale community to Adopted the Customer Service Strategy finalise and endorse plans for Bromley Road 2016-19 and the Customer Service Charter. redevelopment. Adopted Council’s first 10-year Long Term Agreed to develop a Memorandum of Financial Plan. Understanding (MOU) with the Murray River Appointed new CEO John McLinden. Council to identify areas of co-operation, advocacy and resource sharing. The MOU Adopted the reviewed Councillor Code of will have a particular focus on replacement of Conduct in June 2016. the Swan Hill Bridge. Introduced a free parking trial on Saturdays Community Health and Wellbeing in the Swan Hill CBD. Adopted the Youth Strategic Plan Adopted the Swan Hill Car Park 2015-19. Management Strategy. Adopted the Swan Hill to Lake Boga Active From December 2015, monthly Swan Hill Trail report. Farmers Markets at Swan Hill’s Riverside Provided funding to Robinvale Family Park. Centre, a project proposed by Robinvale Completed upgrades to River Road and District Health Service. Pental Island Road in Swan Hill. Began an extensive review of the Robinvale Beveridge Street upgrade (Stage 3). Community Plan with the local community. Following a report from the independent Started construction on a Meeting Place at Planning Panel, Council adopted Swan Hill Jaycee Park in Swan Hill. Planning Scheme amendments relating to the South West Development Precinct. Drainage upgrade in Church Street, Nyah. Construction on Stage 9a of Tower Hill. Economic Growth 6 Swan Hill Rural City Council | 2015/16 Annual Report Challenges and the Built and Natural Environment year ahead Heartbeat of the Murray laser light show completed and showing nightly. Introduction of rate capping for the 2016/17 Chisholm Reserve drag strip completed. financial year. Transformed a Swan Hill CBD laneway Election of new Council at October 2016. (between Curlewis and Campbell streets) Managing the $1.7 million upgrade of Nyah into a walk-through public gallery. Road, Swan Hill. Completed works on a new transfer station at Sourcing funding for the design and staged the Swan Hill Landfill. construction of the Robinvale town levee. Continued projects for the Swan Hill Local Government elections. Riverfront Masterplan, including installation of ambient lighting along the riverfront. Lake Boga Catalina Museum café and playground project. Installed four new 33-metre high light towers at the Swan Hill Showgrounds. Implementation of Bromley Road beautification. Started installation of 85kWh solar power Adopting the Chisholm Reserve Masterplan system on the Splatt and Beveridge Street and formation of the Chisholm Reserve offices. Motorsport Committee. Replaced more than 1,400 mercury vapour Stage 2 of the Swan Hill CBD drainage globes with LED street lights. upgrade – from Campbell Street to the Murray River. Adopted and started initiating actions in the Waste Management Strategy Continued implementation of projects from the 2015-20. Swan Hill Riverfront Masterplan. Changes to Council’s Home and Community Care services due to Aged Care Reforms. Part one | Introduction 7 Year at a glance July August Glen Gerreyn workshop New riverfront lighting Council and Murray Mallee Local Learning and New lighting was installed along the Swan Hill Employment Network joined forces to bring Riverfront, between the boat ramp and the renowned speaker and entrepreneur Glen Gerreyn Riverside Park public toilets. Six feature lights now to Swan Hill. Young people and community illuminate river gums, while 23 LED lights create a members took part in workshops with Glen. The safer and accessible riverfront walk by night. workshops were aimed at inspiring young people Council and State Government funded the project. to take action in their own lives, to build resilience and make better life choices. Japanese-themed garden site unveiled Mayor Michael Adamson and Yamagata Mayor