Great Southern Development Commission Building partnerships for regional prosperity STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE Hon John Bowler, JP MLA Minister for Local Government and Regional Development; Land Information; Goldfields-Esperance and Great Southern 11th Floor Dumas House 2 Havelock Street WEST PERTH WA 6005 Sir, In accordance with provisions of Section 66 of the Financial Administration and Audit Act 1985 [as amended], we submit the report of operations and proceedings of the Great Southern Development Commission for the period from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005. RUSSELL HARRISON BRUCE W MANNING CHAIRMAN CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Great Southern Development Commission Great Southern Development Commission Pyrmont House 10 Dore Street 110 Serpentine Road KATANNING WA 6317 ALBANY WA 6330 Telephone: (08) 9821 3211 Telephone: (08) 9842 4888 Facsimile: (08) 9821 3336 Facsimile: (08) 9842 4828 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Web site: www.gsdc.wa.gov.au Page 1 GSDC ANNUAL REPORT 2004 - 2005 Great Southern Development Commission Building partnerships for regional prosperity STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE WITH RELEVANT WRITTEN LAW The Great Southern Development Commission was established under the Regional Development Commissions Act 1993. Legislation Administered The Commission does not administer legislation. Legislation Impacting on Office Activities In the performance of its functions, the Commission has complied with the following relevant written laws: * The Regional Development Commissions Act 1993 (as amended) * Financial Administration and Audit Act 1985 * Public Service General Agreement 2004 * Public Sector Management Act 1994 * Public Service Award 1992 * State Supply Commission Act 1991 * State Records Act 2000 * Salaries and Allowances Act 1975 * Equal Opportunity Act 1984 * Freedom of Information Act 1992 * Government Employees Superannuation Act 1987 * Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 * Official Corruption Commission Act 1998 * Library Board of Western Australia Act 1951 * Disability Services Act 1993 * Public Disclosure Act 2003 * Worker’s compensation and Assistance Act 1981 * Circulars to Ministers from the Premier In the financial administration of the Commission, we have complied with the requirements of the Financial Administration and Audit Act 1985 and every other relevant written law, and exercised controls which provide reasonable assurance that the receipt and expenditure of moneys and the acquisition and disposal of public property and incurring of liabilities have been in accordance with legislative provisions. At the date of signing, we are not aware of any circumstances which would render the particulars included in this statement misleading or inaccurate. RUSSELL HARRISON BRUCE W MANNING BERT PARDINI CHAIRMAN CHIEF EXECUTIVE PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING Page 2 GSDC ANNUAL REPORT 2004 - 2005 Great Southern Development Commission Building partnerships for regional prosperity OFFICER OFFICER TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 1 CHAIRMAN’S FOREWORD 5 2 THE GREAT SOUTHERN REGION 8 3 GSDC CORPORATE PROFILE 10 3.1 General Information 10 3.2 Corporate Structure 11 3.3 Board 12 3.4 GSDC Operational Staff Complement 15 4 GSDC STRATEGIC PLAN 16 Key Goals of the Commission 17 4.1 Goal 1 Regional Leadership 17 4.2 Goal 2 Industry Development 18 4.3 Goal 3 Improve Infrastructure 19 4.4 Goal 4 Natural Resource Management 20 4.5 Goal 5 Efficient Agency Performance 21 5 REPORT ON OPERATIONS FOR THE 2004/2005 YEAR 22 5.1 Output: Regional Development 22 5.1.1 Goal 1 Regional Leadership 27 5.1.2 Goal 2 Industry Development 34 5.1.3 Goal 3 Improve Infrastructure 41 5.1.4 Goal 4 Natural Resource Management 47 5.1.5 Goal 5 Efficient Agency Performance 51 Mungart Boodja Noongar Art Centre 51 Capital Purchases 51 Financial Management Information System (FMIS) 51 Staff Training, Recruitment and Development 51 Workers Compensation and Rehabilitation Arrangement 52 WA Cleaner Production 52 Sustainability Action Plan 52 Page 3 GSDC ANNUAL REPORT 2004 - 2005 Great Southern Development Commission Building partnerships for regional prosperity Complaints Policy 54 Equal Employment Opportunity Outcomes 54 Cultural Diversity and Language Services Outcomes 54 Youth Outcomes 55 Recordkeeping Plan 55 Freedom of Information Statement 56 Disability Service Plan 57 Risk Management Plan 58 Electoral Act 1907 Compliance 58 Statement of Compliance with Public Sector Standards 59 Method of assessment 59 Summary of extent of compliance 59 Public Interest Disclosures 61 6 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY IMPLEMENTATION 62 7 REPORTING ON BETTER PLANNING – BETTER SERVICES 65 8 PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 68 8.1 Certification of Performance Indicators 68 Opinion of the Auditor General 69 8.2.1 Key Performance Indicators 70 8.2.2 Key Effectiveness Indicator 70 8.2.3 Key Efficiency Indicator 72 9 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 73 9.1 Certification of Financial Statements 73 Opinion of the Auditor General 74 9.2 Statement of Financial Performance 75 9.3 Statement of Financial Position 76 9.4 Statement of Cash Flows 77 9.5 Notes to the Financial Statements 79 Page 4 GSDC ANNUAL REPORT 2004 - 2005 Great Southern Development Commission Building partnerships for regional prosperity 1 CHAIRMAN'S FOREWORD This year revealed that “the secret” is out about the Great Southern and its regional centre, Albany. It is apparent that sea changers have discovered the South Coast, as reflected in housing construction figures and the rise in Albany and Denmark housing prices. It is interesting to note that major property magazines are now highlighting Albany as one of the last remaining cities where people can still buy affordable coastal housing. We are now witnessing the consolidation of a new regional economic driver, the plantation blue gum industry. Last year some 350,000 tonnes were harvested with 1 million tonnes expected in 2005/06. This is encouraging other value adding industries to emerge, such as industries proposed at the Mirambeena Timber Processing Precinct, which include the Lignor’s Engineered Strand Lumber plant and the Beacon’s Biomass Energy plant. Assuming both projects come to fruition, they will contribute an additional $63 million to Gross State Product. The GSDC has won praise from these companies for the leadership role it has taken in regard to securing the necessary planning and environmental approvals for their projects. In brief, the Commission has facilitated and chaired a regular meeting with the proponents and senior representatives of all relevant State agencies and local government in order to ensure that a co-ordinated and consistently supportive response is provided by government. As more major development projects are proposed, this work is emerging as a key role for the Commission and is highly valued by project proponents. As a further example, the same approach has been initiated by the Commission this year in regard to supporting the development of a proposed iron ore mine 90 kilometres east of Albany by Grange Resources. In terms of providing income and further diversifying the regional economy, this is potentially a highly significant project. The current feasibility phase alone will see the company expend $14m and employ about 40 people on the South Coast. Despite an “average” year for the farming sector, the region’s economic backbone, the region remained buoyant with skilled labour shortages emerging. These shortages were evident through the Great Southern Development Commission’s (GSDC) role as a Certifying body for the Commonwealth Department of Immigration’s Skilled Visa Program. GSDC processed some seventy-five applications on behalf of the region’s businesses, ranging from the world’s leading geneticists for blue gums to panel beaters in Albany. The State Government through GSDC made significant infrastructure commitments to the region this year which will help secure its future. The leading project, the Albany Waterfront Development, received virtually unanimous support of the community. Page 5 GSDC ANNUAL REPORT 2004 - 2005 Great Southern Development Commission Building partnerships for regional prosperity The formal sign off by Albany City Council in May reflected the patience of GSDC’s approach. Working in partnership with Department for Planning and Infrastructure, and the City of Albany, we successfully undertook a major consulting process with the community to engage them in the project. This has enabled the State Government through Minister MacTiernan and the Member for Albany, Peter Watson MLA, to move the project from a water based boat harbour to include a major land based infrastructure development involving LandCorp. Consequently, additional funds of $15m have been committed to the project, making the total value $27.8m As well as economic infrastructure, GSDC was active in monitoring and supporting the enhancement of the social infrastructure in the region. We were able to secure State funding for a day therapy centre for the elderly with the aim of keeping our older generation active in the community, an entertainment centre to be located on the foreshore and a revamped aquatic centre. Away from the coast, GSDC was very active with regional community activities, such as continuing to support the proposed $1 million Yongergnow Malleefowl Interpretative Centre at Ongerup, the proposed redevelopment of the Katanning saleyards, timber roads through The Timber Industry Roads Evaluation Strategy (TIRES) to which the Government has contributed $3.86 million to date, and the invariable innovative and creative projects that