2017 - 2018 Rich Traditions. Bold Ambitions. Toowoomba Regional Council 2 TOOWOOMBA REGIONAL COUNCIL I Annual Report 2017 - 2018 Contents Fast Facts about our Community 4 Mayor's Report 6 Councillors 8 Governance Structure 9 CEO’s Report 10 Executive Leadership Team 12 Council Group Performance 13 Council Goal Performance 15 Goal 1 - Culture 16 Goal 2 - Community 18 Goal 3 - Natural Environment 20 Goal 4 - Built Environment 22 Goal 5 - Infrastructure and Asset Management 24 Goal 6 - Economy 26 Goal 7 - Governance 28 Goal 8 - Innovation and Technology 30 Legislative Information 32 Community Financial Report 37 Financial Report 43 About this report Our Annual Report summarises Council’s 2017-18 activities, our many achievements, our challenges and a snapshot of the year gone by. It is also an opportunity for us to profile our organisation, the teams within it and our beautiful region. Council measures its performance against the 2014-2019 Corporate Plan and this is the second year of reporting against the current Corporate Plan. We view our Annual Report as one of the key accountability mechanisms between Council and our community and it is developed in compliance with Section 104 of the Local Government Act 2009. This report is also available in full on our website at: www.tr.qld.gov.au/annualreport Annual Report 2017 - 2018 I TOOWOOMBA REGIONAL COUNCIL 3 FAST FACTS ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY 74 roundabouts $$$ Australia’s second Gross Regional Product largest inland city $10.5 billion Local jobs 80,566 6,578 km sealed and 569 km of footpaths unsealed roads and cycleways 1.94m annual visitors 13 libraries to our region Population 166,409 Land area Over 1790km of 12,973km2 water mains 572 Council- 202 Development maintained parks applications MAYOR'S REPORT There has never been a better time to live, visit and invest ourselves for the next wave of economic growth with the in the Toowoomba Region. This year Council worked launch of Bold Ambitions 2038. Developed in partnership hard to drive further economic growth and deliver an with Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE), the unparalleled lifestyle. Queensland Government, Chambers of Commerce and all levels of economic advocacy, Bold Ambitions 2038 Through careful financial management we achieved is a blueprint for enhancing the vibrancy, liveability and outstanding results for ratepayers and the broader economic sustainability of the Toowoomba Region. community delivering on key budget commitments and priorities. At Council we recognise that community members who engage with us, business owners, Chambers of This 2017-18 Annual Report provides a comprehensive Commerce, Progress Associations and not-for-profit summary of our financial results and a snapshot of groups are best qualified to identify opportunities and our achievements. It also reflects the hard work of our solutions for their communities. Councillors, Council staff and community. This year through our various grant programs we helped We live in the best region in the world. This year, together, community groups deliver programs that enhance our we achieved a great deal. community and attract or boost employment in our towns and districts. A full list of these grants can be found on With a Gross Regional Product (GRP) of $10.5 billion, the page 36 of this Report. Toowoomba Region is one of the most diverse and robust economies in Australia. Our population trends tell a story During the year we performed the most wide-reaching of steady and manageable growth, with 50,000 new engagement activity undertaken by Toowoomba residents expected to call our region home by 2031. Regional Council with a Community Survey. The survey was scientifically designed to help us understand how Our region continues to show strong economic growth. It our services are meeting the needs of the Region. We is buoyed by significant public and private investment in achieved an overall satisfaction score of 6.6/10. This is various projects. We welcome the Toowoomba Second good recognition of the services provided by this Council Range Crossing, Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport, Pulse and gives us a clear mandate on areas that require Data Centre and the Inland Rail Project as a part of the attention. I am committed to using these results to help mosaic of exciting activity. guide our priorities in coming years. Our role as a regional capital city, agricultural hub, Over the past seven years, Council has invested $80 knowledge and research centre and a freight and logistics million into enhancing the Toowoomba Central Business hub provides enormous strengths and competitive District (CBD) through our City Centre Masterplan. This advantages. This year, we sought to strategically position year, work commenced to transform the 120-year-old 6 TOOWOOMBA REGIONAL COUNCIL I Annual Report 2017 - 2018 heritage-listed Toowoomba Railway Goods Shed into a Exchanges, friendships, memories and stories continued first-class flexible space to attract commercial and cultural to be shared through our Sister City relationships interests. A concept Master Plan was also approved for the with Takatsuki (Japan), Whanganui (New Zealand) and upgrade of Cathro Park and Council’s vision of facilitating a Paju (South Korea). Council also investigated unlocking vibrant laneway culture progressed, with the acquisition of opportunities from a growing Asian market through 174 Margaret Street. partnerships in the Yuecheng District in China. Ensuring cultural facilities meet the needs of the Volunteers are the backbone of our region and their community remained a key priority for Council this ongoing commitment enhances social cohesion and a year, with the official opening of the Toowoomba City sense of purpose within our community. Across our region Hall Auditorium and Annex, following a $7.8 million there are over 600 volunteers who support and enhance refurbishment. The magnificent restoration and extension services at our visitor information centres, museums, art work has revived an important heritage listed civic building from the early 20th century and made it a highly adaptable galleries, parks and libraries. asset for current and future use. I was delighted to thank 300 volunteers during a morning Highfields is a thriving and growing urban hub with tea in May to coincide with National Volunteers’ Week. population projections suggesting an additional 7,000 In November 130 volunteers were recognised at the people will call Highfields home by 2031. This year, Council inaugural Years of Service morning tea at the Armitage worked in partnership with the Highfields community Centre. to develop the Central Highfields Master Plan, with feedback received throughout three stages of community I was honoured to represent Council at numerous engagement. openings and events. Thank you to those of you who work behind the scenes to continue to make our The 45-hectare Master Plan for Central Highfields will region great. Attending sporting events, art exhibitions, provide a blueprint to ensure future developments – country shows, Australia Day events and Anzac Day community, commercial and residential – align with commemorations highlight to me the wonderful diversity community expectations. Once complete, it will set a within our community and the tireless work of individuals foundation for Central Highfields to become a vibrant and committees who make our region so much richer. place that reflects community aspirations and values. A socially cohesive society is one which works towards Our libraries once again proved popular destinations the wellbeing of all its members, fights exclusion and for residents and visitors. They have benefited from an marginalisation, creates a sense of belonging, promotes investment in upgrades, with opening hours adjusted trust and offers its members the opportunity of upward in Goombungee, Crows Nest, Oakey and Pittsworth to enhance service offerings for residents. Council libraries mobility. At Council we believe it is our responsibility to hosted 1,409 programs and events including TooCon, First help build resilient and productive communities through 5 Forever, holiday activities, author events and writing and continued support of multicultural, disability, youth and computer literacy programs. senior services, including the Council Cab service, YouthConnect and the Linking Leaders project. Tourism continued to contribute to the region’s economy this year. It enhances the cultural and social fabric of our With crisp, clean country air and easy access to parks and community with people flocking to our region from across wildlife, we have many opportunities to get back to nature the world. This year Council worked towards our bold and enjoy a wonderful standard of living. I am proud of vision to grow our tourism market by $41.8 million by 2020. the role Council played in contributing to our liveability, through the provision of clean and safe drinking water, The Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport contributed to visitation efficient waste disposal and well-planned and maintained numbers across the region and Council continued to work infrastructure. Our libraries, free parks, barbecues and with industry partners to offer iconic experiences, deliver kilometres of bikeways promote healthy lifestyles, increase quality services and build a strong understanding of the accessibility and enhance community connections. value of the tourism industry. Thank you to our 1,765 dedicated staff for your hard work A record 255,639 people attended the award winning and passion in