1 Ordinary Council Meeting 24 November 2020 ATTACHMENTS DISTRIBUTED UNDER SEPARATE COVER CCL 24/11/2020 – ENDORSEMENT OF THE 2019/20 ANNUAL REPORT ITEM-86 Attachment A: 2019/20 Annual Report DISTRIBUTED UNDER SEPARATE COVER 2 3 Annual 2019/20 Report newcastle.nsw.gov.au 4 Contents Welcome Lord Mayor message 6 CEO message 7 Year in review 8 Our City Newcastle at a glance 34 Our people, our city 38 Our vision 40 Governing our city 45 Our organisation 65 Why we do an Annual Report 86 Our stakeholders 88 Our Performance 2019/20 highlights 92 Strategic directions Integrated and Accessible Transport 95 Protected Environment 105 Vibrant, Safe and Active Public Places 119 Inclusive Community 131 Liveable Built Environment 145 Smart and Innovative 155 Open and Collaborative Leadership 169 Financial performance 184 Our Statutory Reporting Enquiries Our accountability 200 For information contact Appendix Corporate Strategist Legislative checklist 220 Phone 4974 2000 Glossary 221 Published by City of Newcastle PO Box 489, Newcastle NSW 2300 Phone 4974 2000 Fax 4974 2222 [email protected] newcastle.nsw.gov.au © 2020 City of Newcastle 5 Welcome Acknowledgment City of Newcastle acknowledges that we operate on the grounds of the traditional country of the Awabakal and Worimi peoples. We recognise and respect their cultural heritage, beliefs and continuing relationship with the land, and that they are the proud survivors of more than two hundred years of dispossession. CN reiterates its commitment to address disadvantages and attain justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of this community. Smoking ceremony held at the new City Administration Centre building at 12 Stewart Avenue. The ceremony also included; Wakakulang Dance Troupe, Aboriginal catering and a special guest talk by artist Saretta Fielding. City of Newcastle City of 4 Annual Report 2019/20 5 6 A message from A message from our our Lord Mayor Chief Executive Officer This year has been one like no other. Many Our shared vision for Newcastle 2030 guides the State and Federal Government restrictions We delivered a record $92.5 million in capital works Novocastrians have been impacted by COVID-19 projects, activities and services we provide as we introduced in March 2020 to contain the spread projects, an incredible achievement over the past and are likely to be affected for some time. But as we work together to create a smart, liveable and of COVID-19 have caused a significant downturn twelve months: have shown collectively, we are a city that is resilient sustainable global city. in the local economy. The city’s response to this completion of the Tyrrell Street Bridge at Wallsend in times of crisis. pandemic has been swift and strong, with an Our capital works program delivered projects like economic and community resilience package worth local centre renewal at Beresfield Council continues on the path of financial our all-inclusive playgrounds at Brickworks Park in $5.5 million. sustainability, one of the foundations of good Wallsend and Carrington Street Reserve. December new amenities block at Lambton Park governance, this has been delivered over the last six saw us officially open the $6 million Resource COVID-19 has brought to an end an impressive five-megawatt solar farm at Summerhill Waste years through prudent and progressive economic Recovery Centre at Summerhill Waste Management and historic run of six consecutive years of budget Management Centre management. This financial sustainability has Centre, construction was completed on the new surpluses. However, it’s our strong financial allowed us to support our community and local $3.3 million Tyrrell Street Bridge and Council’s sustainability which has played a significant role playground replacement and upgrades at businesses through this uncertain time. five-megawatt solar farm generated nearly in our recovery from COVID-19. These foundations Cold Stream Crescent, Rankin Park 4,250,000 kWh of clean, renewable electricity allowed us to support our community and local Council was quick to endorse a COVID-19 economic road and drainage rehabilitation at various in its first eight months of operation. businesses through this uncertain time. Even with and community resilience package at the March locations including Cook Hill, Waratah, Newcastle, COVID-19 reducing CN’s operating position by $9.9 meeting. The package was worth $5.5 million and From landmark infrastructure projects to local centre Wickham and Lambton million, we still managed to deliver a record capital included interest free payment plans for rates, rent upgrades and progress towards flood mitigation in pedestrian crossing upgrades in Mayfield, Wickham works spend of $92.5 million, and a relatively small reductions on Council owned buildings, free online Wallsend, we’re improving the amenity, safety and and Adamstown $3.6 million deficit. training packages, and a boost to Council’s sense of community right across the city. infrastructure program to deliver an economic We have significantly increased our capital works construction of the Resource Recovery Centre. As a United Nations city, we are committed to stimulus. expenditure during the past few years with our goal contributing towards the achievement of the United to balance infrastructure renewal with revitalisation The $6 million Resource Recovery Centre at SWMC A City Taskforce, led by Council, was also established Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We projects to meet the higher community officially opened in December 2019. The newly to oversee the recovery phases of the COVID-19 have adopted the SDGs and New Urban Agenda as expectations that come with sustained growth. constructed centre processes up to 30,000 tonnes pandemic crisis. The City Taskforce was made up cornerstones for our planning. We are committed to of material each year and diverts 20% of the of 17 key city leaders from across all sectors and ensuring Newcastle is a sustainable city and materials dropped off at the facility, improving provided local leadership to local issues and acted community that is inclusive, safe and resilient our resource recovery by around 6,000 tonnes as the local coordinating advisory committee for recognising that all SDGs have targets directly or per annum. community and economic resilience. The City indirectly related to our work. I’m proud that our Taskforce established five clear work streams annual report includes reporting against the SDGs. I thank our councillors, staff and stakeholders for including advocacy, direct industry support, local their efforts to ensure Newcastle’s growth and We are always working with Newcastle’s diverse evidence base, youth employment, and most development continues in a way that benefits our community to increase engagement for positive importantly, providing a collaboration forum for entire community. Our city’s success is the sum of social outcomes. new ideas. many parts, and CN’s result this financial year is Thank you to the councillors for their leadership and testament to the performance of everyone involved. Another year of great achievement, delivering collaboration and our dedicated hard working staff a record $92.5 million capital works program for and the many volunteers who supported our 2019/20, all while facing the additional challenges endeavours over the past year. Jeremy Bath of COVID-19. Our commitment to collaborative Chief Executive Officer leadership and strong financial management has protected and delivered high-quality services while City of Newcastle City of Councillor Nuatali Nelmes also fostering innovation, investment and job creation. Lord Mayor of Newcastle 6 Annual Report 2019/20 7 7 Year in review Capital investment A record capital works program has seen $92.5 million invested New playgrounds Beresfield local centre upgrade in projects across the Newcastle local government area (LGA) CN completed the renewal of the playground at CN completed infrastructure works for Beresfield in the past 12 months. Brickworks Park in Wallsend which includes a new local centre with dramatic improvements to the Mid-year additions to the works program saw CN’s expenditure all-abilities carousel, boulder climb, nest swing, rope drainage, stormwater system, roads, pathways and increase by around 16% on the adopted capital works budget ladder and slide. Carrington Street Reserve lighting while retaining the character of the area. for last year, while also surpassing the previous year’s record playground has been upgraded to include a new Beresfield local centre was one of the first centres investment by more than $1 million. plank walk, suspension bridge, double slide, tube to be renewed in 2018/19 as part of our local and net and other activities. Other improvements and neighbourhood centres program. A community upgrades were completed to playgrounds at celebration was held to mark the completion of This program of works will Coldstream Reserve Rankin Park, Stevenson Park the revitalisation works for Beresfield local centre Mayfield and Learmonth Park Hamilton South. on 20 September 2019. continue to enhance our We worked with local businesses and residents to develop a public domain plan for the infrastructure Resource Recovery Centre works for the centre and are continuing placemaking city now and into the future, The $6 million Resource Recovery Centre at SWMC consultation with the community for the area on the officially opened in December 2019. The newly corner of Beresford and Lawson Avenues. ensuring Newcastle remains constructed centre aims to process up to 30,000 tonnes of material each year and divert 20% of the a wonderful place in which materials dropped off at the facility, improving our Solar farm resource recovery to around 6,000 tonnes per CN’s five-megawatt solar farm installed at the annum. Prior to expansion, the existing transfer SWMC has had a strong start in its first eight months to live, work and visit. station was only able to receive 10,000-12,000 of operation, generating nearly 4,250,000 kWh tonnes of material per year and diverted of clean, renewable electricity.