2006/07 annual report

Annual Report Annual Report Annual Report Annual Report to to to to

30 June 200730 June 200730 June 200730 June 2007

(In accordance with Section 428 of the Local Government Act, 1993)(In accordance with Section 428 of the Local Government Act, 1993)(In accordance with Section 428 of the Local Government Act, 1993)(In accordance with Section 428 of the Local Government Act, 1993)

Griffith City Council - Annual Report 2006/2007

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COUNCIL’S VISION Council’s Mission Statement:Council’s Mission Statement:Council’s Mission Statement:Council’s Mission Statement:

The Griffith City Council has adopted a two point mission statement which it believes is the crux of Council’s role and purpose. The mission statement is:- 1. To respond to the needs of the community and deliver in an economical manner those services which are the responsibility of Local Government. 2. To provide Local Government administration that is dedicated, accountable and committed to the improvement of the quality of life and economic well-being of the citizens of the city of Griffith

Vision for Griffith City CouncilVision for Griffith City CouncilVision for Griffith City CouncilVision for Griffith City Council

To be a respected organisation committed to responsible economic management and excellence in the provision of quality services and facilities through leadership, teamwork and consultation with our customers.

Council’s Corporate MottoCouncil’s Corporate MottoCouncil’s Corporate MottoCouncil’s Corporate Motto

“Progress with Pride”

The value of this motto is that it encourages us to deliberate on both the past and the future. • It inspires us to reflect with respect, satisfaction and gratitude on what has been

achieved in the relatively short history of our community

• It provides a target to strive for, i.e the advancement of the Griffith area without the sacrificing of principle of the quality of life.

Council’s Corporate ObjectivesCouncil’s Corporate ObjectivesCouncil’s Corporate ObjectivesCouncil’s Corporate Objectives

Taking into account its role and purpose as encapsulated in the Mission Statement, Council has adopted four Corporate Objectives. These objectives are:- Finance & Management To employ sound financial and other management practices so as to optimise use of Council’s resources and ensure that the recipients of Council’s services receive value and contribute on an equitable basis.


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Council’s Corporate Objectives (continued)Council’s Corporate Objectives (continued)Council’s Corporate Objectives (continued)Council’s Corporate Objectives (continued)

Staff Resources To employ adequate numbers of appropriately trained and motivated personnel to efficiently and effectively undertake the functions of Council. Council Services To provide services in an effective and cost efficient manner that will satisfy the identified needs of the community. Development & the Environment To practice systems of control and industrial promotion that recognises the need for a balance between sustainable economic development and environmental protection.


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TABLE OF CONTENTSTABLE OF CONTENTSTABLE OF CONTENTSTABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction..................................................................................................................... 6

Section 428(a) – Statement of Financial Information (attached)...................................... 6

Section 428(2)(b) – Statement of Actual Performance .................................................... 6

Section 428(2)(c) – Statement of the Environment Report .............................................. 6

Section 428(2)(d) – Statement of the Condition of Public Works..................................... 6

Section 2(e) – Summary of Amounts Incurred in Relation to Legal Proceedings............. 16

Section 2(f) – Statement of Expenditure on Mayoral and Councillor Fees and Councillor Expenses ....................................................................................................... 16

Section 428(2)(g) – Statement of Number of Senior Staff ............................................... 24

Section 428(2)(h) – Statement of Contracts Awarded by Council in Excess of $100,000 ........................................................................................................................ 25

Section 428(2)(I) – Environmental Enhancement Statement........................................... 25

Section 428(2)(i1) – Bush Fire Hazard Reduction Programs........................................... 26

Section 428(2)(j) – Statement of Services to Assist People with Diverse Cultural Backgrounds................................................................................................................... 28

Section 428(2)(k) – Section 67 – Private Works.............................................................. 29

Section 428(2)(l) – Section 356 Contributions and Grants .............................................. 30

Section 428(2)(m) – Statement of Human Resources Activities ...................................... 30

Section 428(2)(n) – Statement of Equal Employment Opportunity Management Plan Implementation ....................................................................................................... 32

Section 428(2)(o) – Statement of all External Bodies that Exercise Functions Delegated by Council...................................................................................................... 32

Section 428(2)(q) – Statement of Partnerships, Co-operatives and Joint Ventures......... 32

Section 428(2)(r) – Additional Information....................................................................... 33


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AttachmentsAttachmentsAttachmentsAttachments

Attachment I – 2006/2007 Financial Statements Attachment II - Management Plan Review – June 2007 Attachment III - State of the Environment Report Supplementary) 2007 Attachment IV - Special Purpose Financial Statements (NCP Reporting) Attachment V – Social and Community Plan 2004-2007


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INTRODUCTION The Annual Report for the year 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007 has been prepared to meet the requirements of Section 428 of the Local Government Act 1993. **********Due to the length of some reports, these have been included as Annexures. SECTION 428(2)(a) – STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION The key financial data is located as Annexure 1. SECTION 428(2)(b) - STATEMENT OF ACTUAL PERFORMANCE Council has prepared an extensive comparison of actual performance of its principal activities with the projected performance. This report may be found at Annexure 2. SECTION 428(2)(c) - STATEMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT Council’s State of the Environment Report (SoE) may be found at Annexure 3. SECTION 428(2)(d) - STATEMENT OF THE CONDITION OF PUBLIC WORKS 1) PUBLIC BUILDINGS

Name of Building Estimate to bring to

satisfactory standard

Annual Maintenance

Required

2006/2007 Program of Maintenance

Comments

Council Chambers 2,500,000 52,000 Routine & planned maintenance

Deteriorating structural condition, poor work conditions.

Regional Theatre 110,000 12,565 Routine & reactive maintenance

Fair condition

Regional Art Gallery

110,000 3,000 Routine & reactive maintenance

Poor condition

Sports Stadium 35,000 9,000 Routine & planned maintenance

Fair condition

Library Nil 2,200 Routine & planned maintenance

Good condition

Aerodrome Terminal

100,000 1,000 Routine & planned maintenance

Good condition

Visitors’ Centre 450,000 2,000 Major upgrade of Centre air-conditioning completed

Good condition

Pre-Schools 210,000 44,000 Nil Satisfactory condition


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Name of Building Estimate to bring to

satisfactory standard

Annual Maintenance

Required

2006/2007 Program of Maintenance

Comments

Senior Citizens’ Building


Satisfactory condition

Saleyards 140,000 30,000 Routine & planned maintenance


Depot Buildings 2,500,000 5,000 Routine & planned maintenance

Unsatisfactory condition – planned upgrade & amalgamation in coming years

State Bank House 40,000 3,500 Routine & planned maintenance


Bushfire Office 450,000 Routine & planned maintenance

unsatisfactory condition

Garbage Depot Amenities

Nil 500 Routine & planned maintenance


Lake Wyangan Reserve


Unsatisfactory condition

Pioneer Park Museum

50,000 Nil – M’tce

Agreement

Routine & planned maintenance

Good condition

Parks & Ovals 100,000 10,000 Routine & planned maintenance

Good overall condition

Dwellings 200,000 7,000 Routine & planned maintenance

Fair condition

Aquatic Leisure Centre

Nil 50,000 Routine & planned maintenance

Excellent Condition

FLEET MANAGEMENT The Fleet and Supply Services section of Council replaced the following plant and fleet assets during the last financial year. Fleet Services Plant

• 7 x Sedans • 3 x Utilities • 2 x Trucks • 2 x Tractors • 1 x Street Sweeper • 1 x Amenities Van • 2 x Sit on Mowers • 1 x ATV • 1 x Stump Grinder • 1 x Backhoe


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Waste Fund Equipment • 1 x Ute

Water Fund Plant

• 2 x Trucks • 3 x Utilities • 1 x Air compressor

Sewer Plant

• 1 x Utility • 2 x Trucks • 1 x Wagon • 1x Sit on Mower

Work Performed by Fleet Services Staff A total of 2836 work orders were completed by fleet services staff during the year. In addition to these, other work orders were completed by outside suppliers and water and sewer staff.

Division Total No Work Orders Total Time (hrs)

Buildings 28 1875

Community Services Projects 5 28.3

Rural Fire Services 17 138.4

Fleet Services 2104 7438.9

Griffith Sewerage Treatments Works 66 131

Griffith Water Treatment Works 60 78.3

Hanwood Amenities 1 2.5

Minor Plant Equipment 113 476.7

Parks & Gardens Equipment 31 239.3

Oxy 31 17.5

Private Vehicles 133 190.5

Saleyards 4 24.5

SES Equipment 6 15.5

Sewer Department 9 75.3

Equipment Sold 24 51.8

Waste Department Jobs 5 69

Water Department Jobs 25 170.3

Yenda Water Department Jobs 19 57.5

Works Department Jobs 33 174

Yenda Sewerage Treatment Plant 14 18.8

Totals 2728 11273.1


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Job types carried out by Fleet Services

Job Type Total No Work Orders Total Time (hrs)

Services 200 121.3

Basic Maintenance 123 13

Breakdowns 289 2759.9

Accident Damage 62 356

Preventative Maintenance 507 4668.6

Repairs/Running 695 1769.5

Upgrades/Improvements 59 138

Insurance Renewals 3 -

Registration Inspections 76 49.8

Tyres, Tubes & Lines 166 186.3

2 Way Radios/Phones 55 29.5

Vandalism Repairs 17 4.5

Plant Commissioning 46 30.3

Inspections 190 72.9

Leave/Training/Meetings Etc 57 435.3

Safety Issues 87 73.5

Warranty 23 176.5

OHS 19 35.8

Ground Engaging Tools 32 129.8

Plant Assessor 7 52.3

Requests 74 51.5

Test & Tag 2 11.5

Operator Errors 41 101

Tenders & Quotations 6 -

Total 2836 11266.8


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PUBLIC ROADS Griffith City Council is committed to provide, maintain and develop a physical infrastructure that can effectively and safely move people, goods and resources and respond to the demands of the changing urban and rural development. Council’s present network of roads is summarised below:

Roads Sealed (km) Unsealed (km) Responsibility

State Main Roads – Urban

15.6 0 RTA

State Main Roads - Rural

84 0 RTA

Regional Roads 35.15 0 Council

Local Roads – Urban 145.85 10 Council

Local Roads – Rural 291.88 725.54 Council

Undeveloped Roads – Urban

0 2 Council

Undeveloped Roads –

Rural

0 52 Council

TOTAL: 572.48 789.54

NEW ROADWORKS 1. The following lengths of roads were constructed and sealed:

• Collins Road 0.575 km • Benerembah Lane 0.515 km • Brogden Road 0.90 km • Bus Bays on Kidman Way

2. The following roads were reconstructed:

• Myall Park Road, Yenda $289,000 • Whitton Stock Route, Yenda $82,000

3. The following intersection treatments were performed:

• Yambil Street / Ulong Street – construction of roundabout • Wyangan Avenue / Ortella Street – closure and widening • Banna Avenue / Bonegilla Road – closure • Kookora Street / Walla Avenue – construction of islands


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The following streets had kerb and gutter constructed:

• Henry Street, Yenda • Willmouth Street, Griffith • Belford Road, Griffith

4. The following new roads were created by subdivision development:

• Bertoldo Close – 161.0 m • Citrus Road – 196.5 m • Madden Drive – 204.0 m • Gillmartin Drive – 356.5 m • Tucker Street – 165.8 m • Bucello Street – 260.0 m • Brooks Street – 191.6 m

MAINTENANCE WORKS 1. Bitumen Roads Maintenance

Council conducts a large bitumen roads maintenance program each year in order to maintain its road system in a satisfactory condition.

The following bitumen resealing maintenance works were completed:

RTA Roads 108,319 m2

Regional Road Reseals 0 m2 Local Road Reseals – Rural 197,790 m2 Local Road Reseals – Urban 104,677 m2 Asphalt 0 m2 Slurry Reseals 0 m2

The following construction seal works were completed:

Local Roads 30,078 m2


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2. Gravel Road Maintenance (Gravel Re-sheeting Program)

Gravel Re-sheeting Program 2006/2007

Road

Length Re-sheeted

(km) Total Cost

Adams Road 3.1 $ 55,726.05

Boorga Road 6.9 $ 145,258.10

Drew Road 3.7 $ 101,692.50

Willow Dam Road 2 $ 27,668.41

Cremasco Road 1.4 $ 18,373.41

Cunningham Road 7.1 $ 97,919.97

Orchard Road 0.8 $ 15,328.22

Casserley Road 1.8 $ 29,797.10

Gribble Road 1 $ 13,609.96

Lakes Road 0.7 $ 8,624.43

McNamara Road 1 $ 13,871.75

Slopes Road 1.6 $ 17,199.10

Whitton Stock Route Road 1 $ 16,580.64

Bromley Road 0.9 $ 9,790.89

Rodgers Road 1.5 $ 18,437.15

Crook Road 1.4 $ 17,946.93

Briens Road 4.4 $ 46,219.86

Murdoch Road 1 $ 12,203.41

Matthews Road 2 $ 56,461.28

Clark Road 1.6 $ 20,685.39

Cooper Road 0.6 $ 9,548.06

Joncondon Road 1.6 $ 18,238.35

Sangster Crescent 0.35 $ 3,430.16

Stacy Road 1 $ 15,644.67

Thorne Road 0.4 $ 3,924.08

Todd Road 0.8 $ 5,288.55

Beelbangera Road 1.2 $ 4,500.69

Delaney Road 1.6 $ 21,028.74

Barber Road 2.2 $ 35,037.88

Lockhart Road 5.8 $ 42,116.52

Rifle Range Road 3 $ 45,061.78

Stokes Road 2.62 $ 40,038.49

TOTAL: 66.07 $ 987,252.52


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PARKS & LANDCARE The following improvement works were completed: Saleyards • Installed a new computer software program to keep up to standards with the NLIS program. • Converted 30 existing sheep yards at a cost of $35,000 - this work is ongoing. • Resealed sheep holding yards and upgraded sheep loading ramps - this work is ongoing. • Work has commenced on widening catwalks within the sheep yards at a cost of $14,000.00 • New Avdata controlled Truck Wash has been approved and materials ordered – anticipated

date of completion December 2007. Cemetery (Yenda)

• A new water pressure system ( electric pump and a 22,000 ltr supply tank) has been installed with new sprinklers fitted to the lawn section.

• Funding has been secured to fence the southern and eastern perimeter of the Yenda Cemetery

• Garden areas have been upgraded with new plants and wood chips. Cemetery (Griffith)

• New cemetery site approved (Rifle Range Road). • Constructed 3 new beams in Lawn 3 and Lawn 5 – this work is ongoing. • Constructed 34 new vaults. • Repairs carried out to the main amenities block. • Removed old vegetation from Blumer Ave & Wakaden Street. • Concrete work completed in the Roman Catholic 4 Section. • Temporary carpark constructed. • New Ash Interment in Lawn 1 constructed. Parks & Garden & Reserves

• The IMMS system (Irrigation Management and Monitoring System) has been installed in five major sporting fields and three large parks. This is an ongoing program, and designed to have much greater control, over the use of water.

• A ET system (Evapotranspiration) has been installed in the Circle Park as a trail by a local company. The system is to monitor the evaporation of the moisture and soil condition. This system could save the use of water as much as 30%.

• Playground equipment in various parks in the City has been upgraded.

• Dead trees throughout the Council area have been removed.

• Dangerous trees throughout the City have also been removed.

• Two large Champer Laurels in the Memorial Park have been removed.

• New lighting has been installed in the Memorial Park as part of its upgrade.

• Raw water has been extended to Willow, Whybrow and Loof Park.

• A new shade structure has been erected over the paved area in the Community Gardens.


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• Wade Park Yenda dressing shed has been extended which allows better use of the rooms during the football season. This extension was made possible by a grant from the Department of Sport and Recreation as well as input from the local community.

Picnic Area Lake Wyangan

• The surrounds of the Apex Shelter and Lions Shelter have been upgraded.

• A new shelter has been constructed near the children’s playground.

• Two new BBQs have been installed and others upgraded.

• A new toilet block with disabled access has been constructed. DRAINAGE/STORMWATER During the 2006/07 period, grants were received from the Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority for the following projects; • Urban Salinity education program - $2,500. • Scenic Hill – recharge area vegetation enhancement - $4,000. • Waterwise garden – Aquatic Centre - $4,000. • Installation of Irrigation Management and Monitoring Systems on 9 urban parks - $44,500. • Reduction in urban stormwater recharge by piping at a cost of $221,500 of the following

drains. � East Street, Yoogali � Moura Street, Yoogali � Erskine Road, Willmouth Street and Watson Road � Crossing Street from Railway Crossing to Banna Avenue.

The above grants were matched by a $250,000 contribution from Council. WATER 1. Capital Works Over the past year a number of activities relating to water and the provision of water were undertaken. This includes; • Installation of a new 375mm trunk water main from Penfolds Bridge to Yoogali at a cost of

approx. $540,000. • Renewal of water mains in Kooba Street, Yoolooma Street, Richards Street and Leaver

Street, totalling $167,000. • Construction of a new trunk main (5km long) linking the Griffith and Yenda water supply

systems. This will provide a security of supply for Yenda township. Cost of works was $419,000.


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• Installation of water quality control instrumentation as part of a 3 year program of upgrading

the Griffith Water Treatment Plants control and water quality measuring systems. • The installation of water saving fixtures in a large number of public toilets and civic buildings

as part of the Community Water Grant Scheme. 2. Water Production Water Production for the 2006/07 year compared to 2005/06 was:

2005/06 (ML) 2006/07 (ML)

Griffith Potable 7,431 7,252

Griffith Raw 484 679

Yenda Potable 503 362

Yenda Raw 499 374

3. Water Quality Water quality tests are taken on a monthly basis for independent testing. Testing is conducted for contamination, chemical composition, chlorine residual and dissolved solids. Test results showed 100% compliance against all health monitoring standards. SEWERAGE 1. Capital Works During the 2006/07 period, the following major works were implemented: a. Griffith Sewerage Treatment Plant inlet works were recoated with a protective coating and

new roofing was installed at a cost of $492,000. b. Sewer mains were replaced in Macarthur and Poole Streets at a cost of $101,000 as part of

an asset renewal program. c. Gardner Diamond Estate subdivision became operational utilising the new low pressure

sewer pumps. d. A tender was let for the concept design of a new wastewater reclamation plant utilising

membrane filtration (MBR) technology. This will be one of the largest plants of its type being designed in Australia.


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2. Effluent Discharge During 2006/07, the Griffith wastewater treatment plant received 1,663ML of inflow and discharged 1589ML. 3. Trade Waste Council continues to make advances with reforms in the trade waste area. All the major discharges have committed to an Effluent Improvement Program to review their operations, make on-site (cleaner production) improvements and some planning to install pre-treatment systems. Two companies discharging trade waste into the Griffith system installed large biologic pre-treatment systems to lower their loads to the Griffith plant.

SECTION 428(2)(e) – SUMMARY OF AMOUNTS INCURRED IN RELATION TO LEGAL PROCEEDINGS It is Council’s practice to wherever possible negotiate with the parties to ensure that legal proceedings are not commenced by Council or instigated against Council unless there is absolutely no room for negotiation. Council’s total expenditure on legal expenses during 2006/07 was $127,404 ($29,446 on development matters and $97,958 on other matters) which was expended on items such as legal advice, legal opinions, lease, licence and agreement preparation and the payment of stamp duty. SECTION 428(2)(f) - STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURE ON MAYORAL AND COUNCILLOR FEES AND COUNCILLOR EXPENSES. Mayoral Allowance $32,000

Councillor’s Fees $174,000

Councillors’ Expenses $44,000 S428(2)(f) cl 217(1)(a1) – 217(2)(a1)(viii)

Provision of dedicated office equipment (4 laptops) $6,000

Telephone calls N/A

Attendance at conferences and seminars $5,079

Training and provision of skill development $1,205

Interstate visits, including transport, accommodation and other out of pocket travelling expenses

Nil

Oversees visits, including transport, accommodation and other out of pocket travelling expenses.

Nil

Expenses of any spouse, partner or other person who accompanied a Councillor Nil

Expenses involved in the provision of care for a child or an immediate family member or Councillor.

Nil


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Detailed below is Council’s policy on the payment of Councillor’s expenses which was adopted by Council at its meeting of 14 March 2006.

POLICY NO: 190

POLICY SUBJECT: COUNCIL MATTERS - Councillors Payment of Expenses and Provision of Facilities

FILE REFERENCE NO: 149/150

SECTION RESPONSIBILITY: Governance

RELEVANT LEGISLATION:

PREVIOUS POLICY NO:

REVIEW DATE:

PART 1 – PRELIMINARY 3

1. Citation 3 2. Commencement 3. Objectives 3

PART 2 – CONFERENCE AND SEMINARS

1. Who May Attend Conferences and Seminars 4 2. What Conferences and Seminars May be Attended 4 3. Registration 4 4. Expenses Incurred 4 5. Payment in Advance 5 6. Categories of Payment or Reimbursement 5

(a) Professional Development 5 (b) Travel 5 (c) Accommodation 6 (d) Out-of-Pocket Expenses 6 (e) Spouse/Partner 6 PART 3 – FACILITIES FOR MAYOR AND COUNCILLORS 7

1. Mayor 7 2. Deputy Mayor and Councillors 8 3. Insurance 8 4. Mayoral Car 9 5. Superannuation 9 6. Meals 9 7. Absence 9 8. Council Mileage Claim Form 10 9. Council Management Claim Forms 11


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INTRODUCTION The policy is made under the Local Government Act 1993 and directly relates to Sections 242 through to 254 of the Act. The Act requires Council to adopt a policy concerning the payment of expenses and the provision of facilities to the Mayor and Councillors. Section 428(f) requires a Council to include in its Annual Report;- (a) total amount of money expended during the year on Mayoral fees and Councillors fees (b) Council’s policy on the provision of facilities, for and the payment of expenses to Councillors (c) total amount of money expended during the year on providing those facilities and paying those expenses Section 12 (access to information), Local Government Act 1993, provides that the public are entitled to inspect the Council’s policy concerning the payment of expenses incurred by and for the provision of facilities to Councillors free of charge, and may obtain a copy, either free of charge or on payment of reasonable copying charges. PART 1 – PRELIMINARY 1. Citation: This policy is in accordance with the requirements of the Local Government Act, 1993, and will be cited as the “Payment of Expenses and Provision of Facilities Policy”. 2. Commencement: This policy was adopted by Council on 3. Objectives: (a) To ensure that Councillors are reimbursed for actual expenses incurred (or to be incurred) by them in relation to the discharge of the duties and functions of their civic office. (b) To establish and determine the extent of the provision of facilities for Councillors and the Mayor to assist them in discharging the duties and functions of their civic office.


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PART 2 – CONFERENCE AND SEMINARS 1. Who may attend Conference and Seminars Councillors may be nominated to attend conferences, seminars and similar functions by:- (a) the Council, through resolution duly taken (b) the Mayor, acting within his/her delegated authorities and subject to due budget requirements being adhered to.

In addition, the Mayor may nominate a substitute attendee in his or her stead for functions within the Council area or the general regional area on those occasions where the Mayor is unable to be in attendance. 2. What Conferences and Seminars may be attended? The Conferences, seminars, workshops, courses and similar to which this policy applies shall generally be confined to: (a) NSW Shires Association Annual Conferences (a) Special “One-Off” Conferences called by the Local Government Association on important

issues. (c) Local and Regional Conferences and Congresses off the various local, regional and state

organizations to which this Council is a member of, or has observer status or an application with.

(d) Suitable training courses and seminars considered appropriate by Council conducted by

reputable and professional training organizations which further the training and development efforts of the Council with such attendance being within the budget framework.

3. Registration The Council will pay all normal registration costs which are charged by the organisers, including the costs of related officials luncheons, diners and tours which are relevant to the interests of the Council or assist Councillors to discharge the functions of their Civic Office.


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POLICY SUBJECT:

COUNCIL MATTERS Councillors Payment of Expenses and Provision of Facilities

4. Expenses Incurred In accordance with Section 252 of the Local Government Act 1993 payment or reimbursement of expenses will only be for actual expenses incurred or to be incurred and shall be subject to the requirements that: (a) Travel expenses relate to travel that is on Council business, including: (i) appointments involving Council business, (ii) to and from the periodical conferences and seminars of Local Government related

organisations (generally as listed in Clause 4 of this policy) at which attendance has been approved;

(b) The travel is undertaken with all due expedition, and by the shortest practicable route; (c) Only reasonable amounts are claimed or accepted towards necessary out-of- pocket

expenses; (d) Out-of-pocket expenses for which amount are claimed relate only to the actual verified

costs of meals, travel, registration fees, accommodation, stationery and the like; (e) Any time occupied or travel incurred in other than Council business is not included in the

calculation of expenses to be paid; and (f) The claim is made not later than three (3) months after the expenses were incurred, and

upon voucher form for payment with appropriate tax invoices attached. 5. Payment in Advance The Council will normally pay registration fees, accommodation deposits and airline tickets direct in advance. Where this is not appropriate or possible, a cash allowance or cheque equivalent thereto will be paid to the attendee in advance. Any surplus cash advanced to a Councillor or mayor will be returned to the Council within 5 working days of the completion of the trip. (Cash Advance less actual invoices claimable). (b) An allowance for estimate out-of-pocket expenses may be paid to an attendee in advance,

subject to a reconciliation statement, verification of expenses and the refund of any unexpended amount being submitted within a reasonable period after the close of conference, seminar or function.

6. Categories of Payment or Reimbursement Subject to nomination in accordance with the provisions of Clause 3, the categories of payment or reimbursement are as follows:


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(a) Professional Development Each Councillor will be encouraged to undertake at least one Professional Development Course every two (2) years. A Personal Development Training Plan is to be prepared by the General Manager each year based on funds allowed within the annual estimates of Income and Expenditure. (b) Travel All reasonable travel costs will be met by the Council. Where appropriate, travel will be provided by air (economy class). Depending upon the circumstances, it may be more appropriate for travel to be undertaken by car. Travel by motor vehicle may be undertaken by Council vehicle (where available) or by private vehicle, subject to prior approval from the General Manager. Persons using private vehicles will be paid the kilometre allowance at the then current rate set by the appropriate Local Government (State) Award from time to time, but subject to any such payment not exceeding economy class air fares to and from the particular destination. Costs of vehicle hire and/or taxi fares, which are reasonably incurred while attending Council business will be reimbursed by the Council. (c) Accommodation Reasonable accommodation costs (including meals) including the night before and/or after the Council business where this in necessary, will be met by the Council. (d) Out-of-pocket Expenses Reasonable out-of-pocket expenses upon provision of receipts will be provided or reimbursed for costs associated with attending the conference, seminar, meeting or function including entertainment (e) Spouse/Partner Where the attendee is accompanied by his or her spouse/partner, the attendee will be required to pay for any cost supplement involved in the accommodation (room only). All other costs for the spouse/partner (including travel and meals) are to be borne by the attendee. PART 3 – FACILITIES FOR MAYOR AND COUNCILLORS 1. Mayor The Mayor is entitled to receive the following benefits:


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(a) Mayoral allowance paid monthly in arrears in addition to the normal Councillors as per

legislation. (b) Transport being provided for use on appropriate occasions. (c) Secretarial services relating to the discharge of his/her Civic functions, including use of

official stationery and postage of official correspondence. (d) Administration assistance associated with Civic functions, meetings and the like. (e) Supply of Name Badges, Business Cards, Diaries, Memo books and Attaché case. (f) Traveling expense reimbursement of attendance at Council meetings where travel in

excess of ten (10) km (return) from Councillor’s residence is involved. (g) Council will supply the Mayor with a credit card, with a monthly limit to be determined, to be

used in accordance with the provisions of this policy. (h) The Mayor must supply receipts and tax invoices for all expenditure incurred on their credit

card. Where a receipt or tax invoice is not provided, the Mayor will repay that amount to Council.

(i) The Mayor will be supplied with a monthly statement of their credit card expense. (j) The Mayor will reimburse Council for expenditure incurred on their credit card of any

amounts not covered by this Policy. (k) Council shall provide a facsimile machine in the residence of the Mayor. 2. Deputy Mayor and Councillors The Councillors, including the Deputy Mayor are to receive the following benefits: (a) Payment of annual fees in accordance with Sections 248 and 249 of the Act, and paid

monthly in arrears. Annual fees to be linked to the increase (if any) in the rate pegging limit announced by the Minister for Local Government in respect of General Fund revenue each financial year.

(b) Use of Council Chambers, telephone and limited hospitality facilities. (c) Secretarial Services relating to the discharge of his/her Civic function, including use of

official stationery. (d) Postage of official correspondence dealing with Council business. (e) Transport to official functions (if needed) when deputizing for the Mayor.


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(f) Access to photocopying facilities. (g) Supply of Name Badges, Business Cards, Diaries and Memo Books. (h) Traveling expense reimbursement for attendance at Council meetings where travel of in

excess of ten (10) km (return) from Councillor’s residence is involved. (i) Council shall provide a facsimile in the residence of the Deputy Mayor and Councillors as

requested. 3. Insurance Council will provide, at its cost, adequate insurance to protect the interest and welfare of all Councillors in carrying out the duties of Civic Office. Council currently provides the following: - (a) Councillors and Officer Liability: Provides indemnity to any person who was, is presently, or in the future becomes an elected Member of Council, or a Committee Member of a legally constituted committee under the Local Government Act 1993, in the event of personal litigation being instigated against them for any action arising whilst that person was exercising their duty. (b) Professional Indemnity: Provides indemnity to an individual against litigation resulting from the excise of their official professional duties. (c) Statutory Liability: Provides indemnity for fines and penalties arising out of the conduct of the business of Council. (d) Personal Accident: Provides for the payment of non-medical expenses and the loss of wages resulting from an accident whilst on official business for Council and a capital payment if the accident resulted in death. This cover extends to Councillors and their partners whilst on official business of Council. 4. Mayoral Car A vehicle equivalent to a Ford Fairlane or Holden Statesman will be made available to the Mayor, with all associated expenses to be met by Council. If the Mayoral vehicle is available but not taken, the Mayor shall be reimbursed as provided for by the Local Government (State) Award.


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Should the Mayor choose not to utilize the Mayoral vehicle, Council will make an annual payment of $5,000.00 payable monthly in arrears to the Mayor, to utilise his/her own private vehicle. 5. Superannuation A Councillor can elect to have “salary sacrifice” and have his or her allowance paid into an approved Superannuation Fund. 6. Meals Council will provide light refreshments following Ordinary Meetings of Council. Council will provide a meal at the Monthly Informal Council Meetings. 7. Absence Where a Councillor will be absent from the district for a period exceeding 6 (six) weeks, a pro-rata reduction in the payment of the approved Councillors fee will apply.

____________________________________________________

SECTION 428(2)(g) - STATEMENT OF NUMBER OF SENIOR STAFF During 2006/07 Council employed four (4) senior staff members on performance based contracts (in accordance with the Local Government Act, 1993) at a total remuneration cost of $725,594.

General Manager Group Manager

Governance & Compliance

Group Manager Asset Services &

Major Projects

Water & Sewerage Group Manager

Salary Component $188,613 $131,275 $121,958 $111,389

Vehicle Allowance $20,420 $16,326 - -

Superannuation $22,099 $11,815 $23,976 $41,310

Non-cash Benefits $6,000 $6,000 $6,000 $6,000

Fringe Benefits Tax $5,957 $4,199 $2,257 -

Total $243,089 $169,615 $154,191 $158,699

GRAND TOTAL $725,594


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SECTION 428(2)(h) - STATEMENT OF CONTRACTS AWARDED BY COUNCIL IN EXCESS OF $100,000 Detailed below are contracts awarded by Council during 2006/07 other than employment contracts and contracts for less than $100,000. Included in the table below is the name of the contractor, the nature of the goods and services supplied by the contractor and the total amount payable to the contractor under the contract.

Name of Contractor Nature of Goods or Services Contract Amount

Downer EDI Works Bituminous Surfacing $1,791,013.98

Mattioli Bros. Pty Ltd Corrosive Protectionworks at the Griffith Sewerage Treatment Plant

$196,970.00

A & K Plant Hire Construction of Trunk Water Main (Mackay Ave, Griffith) $502,136.69

Rosmech Sales & Services Pty Ltd

Supply and Delivery of Road Sweeper $278,033.80

GHD Architects Upgrade to the Griffith Aerodrome Passenger Terminal $109,433.00

RMP Abbrasive Blasting

Repainting of the internal surfaces of the Yenda Water Reservoirs

$294,784.00

Intech Industrial Technicians

Supply and delivery of Wide Area Mower $101,534.30

Nextep Myama Pty Ltd

Covering of the inlet works at the Griffith Sewerage Treatment Plant

$147,562.50

CJD Equipment Pty Ltd

Supply and delivery of Backhoe Loader $138,600.00

SECTION 482(2)(i) - ENVIRONMENTAL ENHANCEMENT STATEMENT This item has been addressed in conjunction with the State of the Environment Report (SoE) marked as Annexure 3.


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SECTION 428(2)(i1) - BUSH FIRE HAZARD REDUCTION PROGRAMMES Management

• Pre Season Captain’s meetings were held on the 11th of September 2006. Post-season Captains’ and Group Captains’ meetings were also held on 3rd March 2007.

• The NSW Rural Fire Service Region South Staff Conference was held in Batemans Bay

this year, at the Couch House Resort from 29-31 May. There were representatives of the RFS Region South and Headquarters staff at the annual staff conference.

• October 15th 2006 was the start of the Bush Fire Danger Period (BFDP) for 2006-07. The Bush Fire Danger Period extended until midnight on Saturday, 31st March 2007.

• Elena Moloney was appointed as the Trainee Administration Officer in April 2007. Peter

Weatherstone resigned from the position of Fire Mitigation Officer in June 2007, which resulted in the position being re-advertised.

Operations Incidents Recorded Fire MVA Other Total

Griffith 176 6 56 238

• Funding has been allocated for the erection of a three bay station at Lake Wyangan and for a two bay station at Bilbul (for Yenda East brigade)

• Tenders will be called for the erection of these stations as soon as a block of land on which

to build each station is determined

• Funding will be sought for a station for Kooba brigade in this years estimate

• A new Cat 1 tanker was placed ion service for Yenda East brigade Hanwood brigade received a new Cat 7 tanker (both tankers are twin cab 4 x 4 wheel drive units)

• A submission for a new Cat 1 tanker will be included in this years estimate

• Fire investigators from the Rural Fire Service and the Police investigated

3 Structure fires and 8 wildfires in the Griffith Rural Fire District during the last reporting period

• Brigade AGM’s are almost complete one brigade yet to hold their AGM


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Learning and Development

• Members availed themselves of a number of Incident Management workshops/exercises held throughout the year. A number of senior field officers completed their Group Leader qualification in doing so.

• Mainstream courses offered to volunteer members included; Bush Firefighter Village Firefighter Advanced Firefighter Crew Leader Group Leader • Specialist Courses included; Rural Fire Driver Senior First Aid Prescribed Burning Chainsaw Operator Air Base Operator Conduct Briefings/Debriefings • A number of members from the MIA Zone Training Group undertook enhanced training,

gaining their Rural Fire Instructor rating (2005). This will improve the delivery of future courses to brigade members. Instructors also undertook additional training in the delivery of Advanced Firefighter (AF5).

Community Education and Safety

• 27 various Fire Awareness and Community Education events completed in the MIA Zone, including School visits, Open Days, Service Club presentations, and shows and field days attendance.

• 13 Development Applications referred to the RFS in the MIA Zone. • Fire Permits issued for 2006 – 2007 season; Griffith 325, Leeton 110, Murrumbidgee 97,

Narrandera 10. Total for MIA Zone: 542

• Successfully gained Commonwealth funding for the maintenance of Scenic Hill Fire trails. Maintenance works carried out early 2007.

Fire Mitigation

Permits Issued Hazard Complaints

DA Referrals Hazard Reduction Applications

Griffith 325 2 13 0


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SECTION 428(2)(j) - STATEMENT OF SERVICES TO ASSIST PEOPLE WITH DIVERSE CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS Griffith is noted for its cultural diversity, with a higher than average number of people of European descent, primarily Italian. Other significant population groups include Fijians, Tongans, Samoans, Indians, Turks and. Pacific Islanders. Griffith has welcomed migrants and refugees. ABS statistics indicate there are 25 non-English speaking nationalities represented in the population. However anecdotal information from the Multicultural Resource Centre suggests that there are in excess of 70 first languages and 40 settled communities. People from Culturally Diverse Backgrounds Cultural Diversity and Multiculturalism is Griffith’s greatest strength statistics

Griffith is noted for its cultural diversity, with a higher than average number of people of European descent, primarily Italian. Other significant population groups include South Pacific Islanders (for example Fijian, Cooke Islander, Tongans and Samoans), and people from India, Pakistan, Turkey, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq. Griffith is based in the Wiradjuri Nation and has a rich and complex Aboriginal history and important place in the community’s future. Griffith has welcomed migrants and asylum seekers. ABS statistics indicate there are 25 non-English speaking nationalities represented in the population. However anecdotal information from the Settlement Services Office suggests that there are in excess of 70 first languages and 40 settled communities. The more recent influx of new arrivals, (including those on temporary protection visas, permanent protection visa and range of other visa classification) makes cultural awareness and sensitivity a high priority for the community. Key achievements in the past 3 years

• Developed a local Ethnic Affairs Priority Statement. • Translation of information fliers. • Created a New settlers guide to Griffith. • Promotion of Translation and Interpretative Services (TIS). • Material promoting multiculturalism available in a range of formats and languages. • Settlement services pamphlets available in different languages. • Facilitated projects through settlement services- refugee week, harmony day. • Delivery of transcultural mental health services. • Delivery of project funded by Community Relations Commission of NSW

Issues moving forward (see action plan for recommended actions)

• Lack of appropriate responses to and resources for victims of trauma and torture. • Understanding between Cultures of tradition and language, but also rights, roles and

responsibilities. • Reluctance of agencies to utilise Translation and Interpreter Services. • Ongoing requirement for Cultural Awareness training. • Increasing refugee and sponsored settlement and the pressures that will place on

agencies.


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• English, Language, Literacy and Numeracy Skills development. • Employment for women. • Work opportunities for asylum seekers. • Programs to combat bullying. • The statistical invisibility of settlers eg. who move to Griffith as a result of secondary

migration. •

Key highlights for 2006/07 • The Library, in particular, is the key resource providing books in languages other than

English, access to the Internet and other assistance. Of particular mention are the parallel text children’s picture books to assist migrants to retain knowledge of their home languages for their children. The collection includes books in Punjabi, Persian, Farsi, Italian, Hindi, and Turkish. Visits are also made to the library by English language classes from the local TAFE College.

• Provision of Settlement Services for recent arrivals. • Council is represented on the Community Relation Commission’s Regional Advisory

Council. • Griffith City Council is a pilot LGA in the CRC Local Ethnic Affairs Priority Statement. • Griffith City Council is represented on the Social Issues reference group. • Grants schemes which are linked to the recommendations of Social, Community and

Cultural Planning. • Cultural Planning (which won the 2006 Cultural Planning Award. • Creative Riverina Youth Team (CRYT) which works with young people from diverse

backgrounds including Italian, South Pacific Islander, Indian (see highlights below). • Hosts Harmony day celebrations. • La Festa. • Delivery of Settlement Services. • Delivery of breaking New Ground project working on community harmony and cultural

understanding. • Delivery of Picture My World addressing respect, peace and acceptance.

SECTION 428(2)(k) - SECTION 67 - PRIVATE WORKS Council at its meeting of 26 June 2006 determined specific fees and charges for private works to be undertaken in 2006/07. Work was then undertaken on behalf of private individuals in accordance with Council’s policy and there were no specific resolutions relating to any of the work performed. The works which all, in real terms, are of a minor or ordinary nature fall within the usual activities Council permits to be carried out under delegation to senior staff with the charges to be applied in accordance with the principles adopted by Council (i.e. full cost recovery and profit). In late 2002, Council on the recommendation of the ICAC adopted a Private Works Policy in respect of works undertaken for and on behalf of Council staff.


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SECTION 428(2)(l) - SECTION 356 CONTRIBUTIONS AND GRANTS The total amount contributed by Council during 2006/07 for contributions or grants under Section 356 of the Local Government Act 1993 was $59,502. This includes a community grants program of $29,770, which was continued to assist self-help community organisations in a range of programs/projects. SECTION 428(2)(m) – STATEMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCE ACTIVITIES Human resource activities are managed within the Organisational Support and Improvement Group. Business Improvement In 2006/07 Council continued with its focus on benchmarking business performance across a range of services and operational activities. Four of the thirteen projects commenced in 05/06 were completed successfully and the remainder continue under development. Business Improvement groups were expanded to four during the year following completion of some major projects including the Workplace Agreement Project. For the period of this report these groups delivered twenty one major business improvement recommendations which were adopted by senior management. The review of Water and Sewerage, (focusing on structure and functions) was completed and a second business review, (Waste), was commenced. Human Resources Staff numbers increased marginally to around 370, (including casuals), during the year, reflecting continuing growth in the scope and quantity of services being provided by Council. Recruitment of professional staff proved to be the biggest challenge reflecting an industry wide problem. Council has continued its program of investing in the talents of the local community with a steady growth in traineeships. Fifty seven staff participated in the following traineeships/apprenticeships:

� Construction � Plumbing � Electrical � Water operations � Horticulture � Business � Finance � Planning � Engineering

Council invested in excess of $300,000 in the training and development of staff during the year and this included professional and technical skills and qualifications. Over 81% of all staff received formal training during the year for skills directly related to their job responsibilities and Council spent over $25,000 supporting further education for staff.

Council developed a Workplace Agreement in consultation with staff and this remains under negotiation.


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Occupational Health and Safety Council completed the 4TQ Project and now has a fully supported OHS system across Council. Major awareness programs continue to produce good results. This year Council improved its annual OHS audit score from 52% to 73% and reduced its annual workers compensation premium by over $400,000. The number of workers compensation claims remained steady at thirty one. The number or reported incidents reduced to twenty seven from thirty seven but wages lost increased by $45,000 for the year. Payroll This area continued to expand beyond its normal role with a regular program of worksite visits, counselling and involvement in changes to the pay system. During the year it played a key part in the development of the draft workplace agreement still under negotiation. Information Communication Technology (ICT) ICT is managed within the Organisational Support & Improvement Group. Training System Administrator – Currently heading towards completion of Cisco – CCNA and Microsoft MCSE accreditation. Help Desk Administrator - Currently heading towards completion of Microsoft MCSE accreditation. The completion of these courses will bring high level technical skills to the organisation. Computer Equipment The capital purchase of computer equipment in lieu of leasing equipment continued this year. It has proven to be successful with Council saving money in interest payments and the Operational Budget. This purchase system will give us more flexibility in managing our equipment turnover. The following new servers were deployed: E- Services Terminal Servers (External site access) Lotus Notes EDM File Server EDM The EDM went through a major restructure with the aim of making it more flexible and easier for staff to navigate and use.


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WAN (Wide Area Network) The year also saw the planning and deployment of our new WAN infrastructure to replace our old and unreliable microwave WAN that linked our external sites. The system has proven to be successful. Telstra has been engaged to test and optimally configure the new network and this is scheduled for completion in October 2007. SECTION 428(2)(n) - STATEMENT OF EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY MANAGEMENT PLAN IMPLEMENTATION. During 2006/07 the effectiveness of the policies and practices of Council’s EEO Management Plan were reviewed and updated in line with other HR policies and practices to ensure their continued effectiveness. SECTION 428(2)(o) - STATEMENT OF ALL EXTERNAL BODIES THAT EXERCISE FUNCTIONS DELEGATED BY COUNCIL There were no external bodies that exercised delegated functions on behalf of Council during the 2006/07 financial year. SECTION 428(2)(q) - STATEMENT OF PARTNERSHIPS, CO-OPERATIVES AND JOINT VENTURES During 2006/07 Council was a member or a party to a number of co-operatives and partnerships for the benefit of the community. These included: (i) Western Riverina Community Library (WRCL) – WRCL is a co-operative of six Councils

being Griffith City, Carrathool, Hay, Narrandera, Murrumbidgee and Jerilderie Councils which provide a contemporary library service to those local government areas for particular people in remote locations. The Joint Library Managers are located in the Griffith Library from where the service is administered. Griffith City Council also manages the group finances and arranges the audit. The Executive Officer of the group is Griffith City Council’s Assistant General Manager - Corporate. Griffith’s 2006/07 cash contribution WRCL was a figure of $167,746 a 9.3% increase over the previous year. Some of the assets of the WRCL are shared resources for example of book mobile between Griffith City Council and Murrumbidgee Shire Council and a further vehicle being shared between Carrathool and Jerilderie.

(ii) Western Riverina Noxious Weeds Advisory Committee - The Council participates in a

regional grouping of Councils that extend along the Murray as far as Wentworth and includes Councils such as Balranald, Hay, Temora, Bland Shire, Carrathool, Murrumbidgee, the Murray Noxious Weeds County Council, (Wakool & Murray), Conargo, Deniliquin, Winduran, Griffith, Leeton, Narrandera and Jerilderie.


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The purpose of the Regional Noxious Weeds Committee is to have a regional approach for the specific noxious weeds treatments for the purpose of distribution of State Government grant money from the Department of Agriculture is laudable however the inordinate amount of procedural administration appears to outweigh the financial benefit of the regional grants on a large number of noxious weeds grant applications. The State Government has changed its grant allocations to only deal with any new infestations of new noxious weeds in the area. This is severely limiting Council’s ability to maintain treatment on traditional noxious weeds in its areas without State Government funding. Most of the lands involved where Council has responsibilities are in fact State Government or Crown Lands. Council provides assistance along with other Riverina Council’s to maintain the employment of the Riverina Regional Noxious Weeds Coordinator. Regional grants consist of $16,330.48 (2006-07) this is a downfall of approx. $10,000.00 from previous years and a further grant of $61,680 was secured during 2006/07. The individual regional management plans that have been developed include St Johns Wort, Spiny Burr Grass, Silver Leaf Nightshade, Johnson’s Grass, Coolati Grass, Boneseed and Alligator Weed. Council in conjunction with Murrumbidgee Irrigation, Carrathool Shire and more recently Hay Shire have been involved with containing an infestation of Alligator Weed within the waterways at Barren Box Swamp and Mirrool Creek Dam. Considerable amount of expenditure has been incurred in containing this threat to the waterways, which would have environmental ecological disaster proportions to rural productive lands and derogation of the water quality.

SECTION 428(2)(r) - ADDITIONAL INFORMATION STATEMENT OF RATES WRITTEN OFF During 2006/07 the following rates were written off: Rates Charges Total Pensioners (Section 583) $490,851 $55,443 $546,294 SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY PLAN With the lodgement and implementation for Griffith City Council’s Social and Community Plan, Council has taken a strong role in advocating for the needs of our diverse community to other government sectors. Recognition of our strength in this area is the selection of Griffith City Council as a pilot centre for a project Ethnic Affairs Priority Statement. This project will develop a framework to assist local councils to implement the principles of multiculturalism locally. It also has seen Council work closely with lead agencies in the community towards developing long term and sustainable networks. Report on adopted Access & Equity Statement is below.


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PROGRAMS FOR THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN Council provides a number of programs through its community facilities, along with an impressive number of programs through its cultural facilities entities, along with a notable array of Council provided sporting facilities in the City. Griffith City Library has had an excellent record of providing innovative children’s programs attracting many hundreds of children. Weekly story half-hours are held to encourage the under 5’s to experience the joy of books and reading, with library staff donning a magical, shimmering story-cape to capture the children’s imagination. School holiday story times were also held for an older audience along with themes for Easter, Christmas, Australia Day and Children’s Book Week. The library maintains a dedicated parenting section offering the latest titles to assist parents, complemented by videos, DVDs and brochures. Mothers groups also regularly use the library as a safe and comfortable meeting place where they can enjoy companionship and share books with their children. 2006/07 saw the Library introduce a new service called “Baby Bounce”. This is targeted at children under 2 years and their parents. At the Griffith Regional Art Gallery children are encouraged to visit the gallery and to become involved, as both artists and volunteers. In 2006/07 children participated in a variety of ways:

• Picture My Work – a project celebrating peace, respect and acceptance delivered to all year 6 students and launched at the Gallery.

• Flower – Power – exhibition of local artists including 15 children. • Workshops – targeting young Afghani people (year 6) as a follow up to Picture My World.

Griffith Regional Theatre The Griffith Regional Theatre has a strong commitment for providing young people with access to the performing arts. In 2006/07 a Children’s program and season was developed to cater for the specific needs of this target group. All performances in the Theatre’s season had significantly discounted tickets available for young people under the age of 20 years. The Theatre runs an ongoing program of drama workshops for young people aged 5 – 21 years. Griffith Regional Aquatic Leisure Centre The Griffith Regional Aquatic Leisure Centre opened in February 2000. The complex is built on the former site of the “Olympic Pool” This fully indoor multipurpose facility provides year round programs and recreation services in a safe, well maintained and friendly environment. The Centre offers a comprehensive range of programs from “Baby Play” Learn to Swim classes, Squad Coaching, Aquaerobics, Aquaphysiotherapy, Austswim- Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety, Les Mills- Aerobics, Tai Chi, Pilates, Stationary Bicycle classes, Power Karate and Kick Boxing plus many more. We are proud to say we were one of the first pools in Australia to start recycling grey water from the backwashing process. This method of water purification and sterilization allows the Centre to reuse 85% of water that would normally be put into the sewer system. This was successful through a government grant “Community Water Grants” of $50,000. We also recycle our waste paper, cardboard and used oil.


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One of our most popular programs this year was group “Challenge” this program targets those that may have difficulty getting into a routine of regular exercise. An eating journal is kept and assessments made before and after the program has finished. The aim is to create a team of people that enjoy regular exercise in an environment that pushes, promotes and emphasises well being. Our Mother’s Challenge has allowed mothers to use our Crèche and enjoy some time for themselves whilst regaining their fitness after child birth. This year with the assistance of our Sports Liaison Officer, we visited various Schools with a power point presentation promoting “Water Safety”- these talks usually coincided with the school participating in Learn to Swim lessons. Children could then practice what they had been taught in the presentation. Another of the popular classes with children is our Power Karate, here the children are taught discipline, respect, self confidence this improves their concentration and in return receive a healthy body. At this stage we have every local school booked in for their 2008 February Swimming Carnival; this only highlights the dire need for a 50metre pool to be built to accommodate city growth and long course events west of the dividing range. Senior Aquaerobics is still the most popular form of exercise with the elderly; here it has become a social, caring group that car pools and go on little outings for “Friendly Lunches” as we call it. It has become a way of life for many of the participants especially those that are unfortunate to have to undergo a hip or knee replacement. The prognosis is always favourable as their level of fitness is of a degree that their recovery time is halved due to their participation in the water exercises. Another class that is used by the community is Aquatherapy- a fully qualified physiotherapist provides direction and assists with post-surgery, post-injury and rehabilitation. We hosted the AH Pierce Country Pool Managers Conference here in Griffith this September, this type of get together allows pool managers to network and share ideas with one another. One project we are currently working on is formulating a consistent “Banning Policy” for children that misbehave in aquatic facilities. We would like each Riverina facility to all use the same policy to allow some form of consistency throughout the area. Each facility has input and each facility will have an outcome that may be displayed in the foyer or entrance allowing a better understanding between Lifeguard and patron. Under the wing of this facility is the West End Basketball Stadium, walkball, badminton, netball and basketball are all played under the one roof. NSW Junior and Senior League Basketball are the two biggest competitions with an interschool trophy incorporating school participation. With the plans already drawn and the quantity surveyor estimating costs we plan to develop the site even further as we have already outgrown the Centre for usable space. Our vision of a 50 metre pool and the expansion of the gymnasium and Crèche to become a full “day care” is only dollars away. To date this past financial year has been the biggest on record; we are a proud band of workers uniting in a similar cause and that is; “to provide every community member a facility where their life may be enriched!”


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Westend Sports Stadium has become quite diversified with the range of activities at the facility. The three major sports groups, Basketball, Badminton, Netball have the Stadium booked up for most of the year, and the three local High Schools and district Primary Schools also make full use of the facility. In 2007 the Stadium hosted the NSW Boxing Championships, a Dance Academy Show and more recently a Cultural Dance Festival featuring the dancers from the Indian community. With almost 900 square metres of floor space, the Stadium is ideal for many of these events and a large range of indoor activities. The equipment is very quick and easy to dissemble in order to make room for festivals, dance shows, business work shops, forums and the like. Situated on the west side of town and over looking a beautiful sports oval the Westend Sports Stadium plays a very big part in the Griffith sports and social community. Creative Riverina Youth Team is a youth community development program. In 2006/07 CRYT focused on partnership development and becoming sustainable through entering into a funded partnership with The Foundation for Young Australians. This resulted in community mapping, research gathering and visioning. This is a capacity building partnership with one of Australia’s finest philanthropic organisation. Motto: Giving Youth A Voice Vision: Our vision is to empower young people and strengthen our community Guiding Values:

• CRYT believes in social justice – a fair and just society with equitable access to resources and opportunity for all

• CRYT works in partnership with young people and our community to act as a catalyst for change

• CRYT acts with integrity in everything we do and are accountable for the actions we take • CRYT uses our voice to strengthen outcomes for young people • CRYT is passionate about our work and value innovation and creativity in the

achievement of our vision. • CRYT values the safety and well-being of young people • CRYT values diversity and embraces challenges • CRYT operates in the spirit of inclusiveness, respect and tolerance • CRYT organise drug and alcohol free events and projects • CRYT enjoys working as a team and sharing our experiences and knowledge to gain

better skills in order to strengthen our community

CRYT’s major event is the YAK stage which was hosted in front of a crowd of at least 10,000 as a part of the La Festa celebration. YAK is an active proponent of celebrating diversity and addresses access, safety and boredom


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YAK: Youth Arts Kulture. This was a youth week initiative developed by local group Creative Riverina Youth Team (CRYT). Yak was a partnership. As part of the 2007 La Festa Easter street festival in Griffith, an innovative project partnership was developed between La Festa Inc, Griffith Lead On and CRYT (Creative Riverina Youth Team). The idea was to draw on the strengths of each partner organisation in delivering a youth element to the annual La Festa program. In effect a youth stage dedicated to music, art and youth culture. YAK (Youth Arts Kulture) stage became far more then just an out door event hosting local and internationally acclaimed acts. As a youth and community capacity building project YAK stage has proved itself to be extremely successful. Both Lead On and CRYT are youth development organisations that believe that for a community to remain cohesive, and grow it must engage meaningfully with young people. Lead On and CRYT youth committees identified that not only did the event need to be big but the stage needed at least one big head line act to attract young people to the festival. Thanks to $10,000 contributed by CRYT not one but two nationally acclaimed acts were secured - Local Knowledge and Kid Courageous . In keeping with the multicultural focus of La Festa great care was taken to deliver an event that represented and catered to the diversity of Griffith’s cultural make up. Lead On and CRYT addressed this issue by asking young people from as many different backgrounds as possible what it was that they wanted to see on stage. What resulted was a mix of contemporary acts that included Koori rappers, South Pacific Islander MCs, African singers, Italian rock idols, Anglo country balladeers and more. While perhaps not defining cultural identity in a traditional sense this method proved to be most popular with young and highlighted Griffith’s true contemporary cultural diversity. Community Cultural Development Outcomes The key CCD factors identified by the young people involved in YAK were;

• Local entertainment opportunities and exposure to high profile performers. • Professional development opportunities for young performers and artist. • Active inclusion in community decision making process. • Youth representation in community events. i.e. La Festa. • Diverse cultural representation in community activities.

YAK stage attempted to address these issues through the series of workshops, youth comity meetings, volunteer and performance opportunities that YAK project provided. OUTCOMES

• The knowledge that young people are capable of great things. • Unreserved support and praise from broader community. • Youth engagement with a diverse cross section of the community. Community

organisations, business, local council, PCYC, TAFE, media and peers.


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• Youth involvement from sections of the community who are traditionally under represented

in community events. YAK stage benefited greatly from the strong involvement of young KOORI people in particular members of the KOOL (Koori Options for Open Learning) course at Griffith TAFE.

• Real youth involvement in the production of a first class festival event. • Skills and confidence building both on a personal level and also in areas such as

community involvement, project management, multi media techniques, performance skills, event coordination, decision making and more.

REPORT ON ACCESS AND EQUITY STATEMENT Access and Equity Activity Statement The Social and Community Plan examines the needs of the local community, including groups that may be disadvantaged in some way, and formulates access and equity activities that Council and/or other agencies could implement to address identified needs. Access and equity activities are any activities that aim to promote social justice and enhance community well-being. They include: • a Council's social/community welfare, health, cultural and recreation activities; • the access and equity aspects of other Council activities such as providing infrastructure,

information, services, planning and regulation, and levying rates. In line with the principles of the Social and Community Planning process, the Council’s adopted vision is: To be an acknowledged major regional centre with an emphasis on best agricultural practices, providing:

• a viable local economy with sustainable development and growth;

• a clean and ecologically sustainable built environment and natural environment;

• a quality lifestyle for residents; and

• a pride in our cultural diversity. In 2004, Griffith City Council developed its third Social and Community Plan (2004-2007) and its Cultural Plan (2004-2007) to inform its access and equity activities. Copies of both documents are available to residents: • through the 28 day Public display prior to final adoption of the plans at council offices and the

library; • by request from the Council offices and library.


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Annual Reporting Annual reports will also include a comparison of the actual and projected performance of Council's access and equity activities during the year including the reasons for any differences. Annual reports will include details of activities undertaken by Council during the year to promote services and programs that provide for the needs of: • Children; • Young People; • Women; • Older People; • People with Disabilities; • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People; • People from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds; • Single Men; • The community as a whole. Annual reports will identify three key result areas for each activity aimed at assisting people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The following access and equity recommendations have been derived from the Social and Community Plan (2004-2007) and are included in the Management Plan for implementation by Council in 2006/07. Recommendations are outlined for both key target groups and the community as a whole. Children

Statistics

Families with children make up a higher percentage of the population that is the case in the rest of NSW (49.7% of families are couples with children while the National average is 45.3%). There is a high proportion of children under 14 in the LGA (23.3% of the population compare it with the national average of 19.8%). Achievements

• establishment of Children’s Services Committee • Funding of Griffith Connection’s program being delivered locally • Whole of community celebration of Children’s Week • Baby Bounce sessions at library • Partnering of community development projects – “Picture my World”

Issues (see action plan for recommended actions) • Relationship skills for families • Parenting skills • Support for families • Literacy and numeracy skills for 8-12 years • Childhood sexual assault • Lack of quality and affordable childcare


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Young People statistics

1

Young people (15 to 24 years) make up 13.2% of the population, slightly lower than the state average of 13.4%. Youth unemployment sits at 9.4% of the labour force. Key achievements in the past 3 years

• Establishment of Youth Advisory Board • Partnering of innovative strategies – Wiradjuri Youth Kulture; About a Girl; • Ongoing and improved services for young people in Cultural facilities • CRC funded Youth Project: Griffith Multicultural Youth Partnership Project

Issues (see action plan for recommended actions)

• Places and Spaces for young people • Safety, access, racism and boredom • Services and facilities for young people and workers, the freedom vs. responsibility

contradiction for young people and boredom in young people • Youth services, youth centre, youth activities • Ongoing strategies to address bullying and cultural difference • Parenting skills • Addressing literacy and numeracy • Programs to combat bullying • Financial assistance for new arrivals

Women Women represent 50% of the population, which is lower than the national average of 49.4%. A significant proportion of women living in the area are young women with children. Key achievements in the past 3 years

• Free International Women’s Day events • Nominations of Woman of the Year • Provision of information and lobbying to service providers

Issues moving forward (see action plan for recommended actions) • Women treated better – domestically and in the workplace • Addressing the high incidences of domestic violence • Teenage pregnancy • Need for increases in family support and carer support • Lack of affordable, quality, and community based childcare options restricting women’s

access back onto permanent work

1 2001 ABS


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Older People statistics

2

Older people (over 65) make up in 11.8% of the population, compared to the state average of 13.1%. However, as in the rest of Australia, the ageing population is growing. Key achievements in the past 3 years

• ongoing foot path regeneration • the growth of the U3A • recognition through volunteers morning tea • Griffith City Library’s Cultural Award for Seniors’ Services


• Aging population and the pressures on health, allied health and other services • Need for respite care • Ongoing rolling out of ramps and footpath and cycle ways to enable mobility • Services for Seniors • Life long learning opportunities • Cultural Awareness education • Programs to combat bullying

People with Disabilities statistics

3

Twenty seven percent (27%) of people living in the Murray-Murrumbidgee statistical division have a disability, compared with the State average of 16.9%. Key achievements in the past 3 years

• Access committee reconvened • Banna Ave- pram ramps, tactiles (for the visually impaired) and crossings. • Upgrading of parks • Funding from the RTA in response to PAMP.


• Sporting programs for those with a disability • Personal safety of those with a disability • Adequate and appropriate mental health services • Development of “Liberty Swing”

2 2001 ABS

3 Based upon the 2004 – 2007 Social and Community Plan and requires retrospective updating upon future releases of the ABS


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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People statistics

Griffith is located in the heart of the Wiradjuri nation, and many members of the local Aboriginal community are Wiradjuri people. Many come from Narrandera and Darlington Point. There is a relatively high population of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, 3.8% of the total population, compared to the National average of 2.3%4. In numbers this is 893. Unemployment is a major issue, with youth unemployment at 37% and 24.4% for the Aboriginal community as a whole. This compares with 9.4% and 5.2% respectively, in the general population5. Key achievements in the past 3 years

• Establishment of the Aboriginal Advisory Board • Establishment of the Community Working Party (which recently replaced the Aboriginal

Advisory Board) • Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country at major events • One off Cultural Opportunities (Bangarra workshops, Blaqseedz workshops, Lifecycle,

WYK) • Flying Aboriginal Flag on designated days of significance


• Welcome to Country signage • Improving consultation with the Aboriginal Community • Improve employment opportunities in the Aboriginal Community • Improve literacy and numeracy • Cultural Awareness training across the whole community • Lack of local knowledge in local Aboriginal history • Programs to combat bullying • Working with the Aboriginal Community Working Party in the implementation of the Social

Action Plan People from Culturally Diverse Backgrounds Cultural Diversity and Multiculturalism is Griffith’s greatest strength. statistics

Griffith is noted for its cultural diversity, with a higher than average number of people of European descent, primarily Italian. Other significant population groups include South Pacific Islanders (for example Fijian, Cooke Islander, Tongans and Samoans), and people from India, Pakistan, Turkey, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq. Griffith is based in the Wiradjuri Nation and has a rich and complex Aboriginal history and important place in the community’s future. Griffith has welcomed migrants and asylum seekers. ABS statistics indicate there are 25 non-English speaking nationalities represented in the population. However anecdotal information from the Settlement Services Office suggests that there are in excess of 70 first languages and 40 settled communities.

4 2006 ABS

5 Unemployment and Youth Statistics based upon 2001 ABS and the Aboriginal Social Action Plan


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The more recent influx of new arrivals, (including those on temporary protection visas, permanent protection visa and range of other visa classification) makes cultural awareness and sensitivity a high priority for the community. Key achievements in the past 3 years

• Developed a local Ethnic Affairs Priority Statement • Translation of information fliers • Created a New settlers guide to Griffith • Promotion of Translation and Interpretative Services (TIS) • Material promoting multiculturalism available in a range of formats and languages • Settlement services pamphlets available in different languages • Facilitated projects through settlement services- refugee week, harmony day. • Delivery of transcultural mental health services • Delivery of project funded by Community Relations Commission of NSW


• Lack of appropriate responses to and resources for victims of trauma and torture • Understanding between Cultures of tradition and language, but also rights, roles and

responsibilities • Reluctance of agencies to utilise Translation and Interpreter Services • Ongoing requirement for Cultural Awareness training • Increasing refugee and sponsored settlement and the pressures that will place on agencies • English, Language, Literacy and Numeracy Skills development • Employment for women • Work opportunities for asylum seekers • Programs to combat bullying • The statistical invisibility of settlers eg. who move to Griffith as a result of secondary

migration.


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Part A Children Planned Access and

Equity Activity Objectives Performance Targets Status

To improve the planning and coordination of children’s services.

Establish a children's services committee.

Plan developed for childcare and preschools. Consultation with children’s services in the planning of playgrounds, parent facilities and footpath and bike tracks.

Attained

To improve access to child care.

Seek funding from the Commonwealth government to complete a childcare needs analysis.

Funding application submitted. Needs analysis completed.

With a review of activity objectives, engagement strategies and visible action will be a priority, with planning for funding and joint priorities established. Will link in with Federal Funded Local Answers project being developed and implemented by local service provider, Dorothy Waide Centre for early learning.

Part B Young People

Planned Access and Equity

Activity Objectives Performance Targets Status

To improve recreational options available to young people.

Establish a Community Youth Development Officer position.

Promotion of youth services and events.

Organisational structure amended to include CRYT Youth Development Officer. No funding for recruitment of Youth Development Officer.


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Part B Young People continued … Planned Access and


Promotion of coordination and communication between services

Attained.

To recognise the current work being undertaken by young people.

Encourage youth friendly initiatives in the Section 96 allocations and major development applications, in particular for public facilities and plazas.

Number of letters sent and meetings held which lobby and advocate for youth services. Number of youth friendly developments approved.

Attained. The Youth Advisory Board has undertaken a strategy review which has been endorsed by Council.

To consult with young people.

Council endorse CRYT as a committee of Council and allocated funding on annual basis

Policy endorsing CRYT adopted. Budget created for CRYT.

Attained May 05

Establish a Youth Council.

Youth Council established. Attained December 04

To improve local training and employment options the young people.

Promote and support employment assistance programs.

Employment assistance programs established.

Council has been a part of the Western Riverina Higher Education Reference Group, the committee which is overseeing the process of establishing a university in Griffith.


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Part B Young People continued … Planned Access and


Lobby for a local university campus and a broader range of TAFE courses.

Number of letters sent and meetings held which lobby and advocate for improved further education options.

Memorandum of Understanding signed with Griffith Campus of Riverina Institute of TAFE and Charles Sturt University to promote the delivery of tertiary facilities.

To improve support services for young people.

Lobby for establishment of a court support service and broader availability of legal aid.

Number of letters sent and meetings held which lobby for improved legal services for young people.

Meeting and Consultation Outcomes NSW Police Youth Justice Conferencing – Wagga Councillor at Southern Riverina Youth Support Services Aboriginal Legal Service Juvenile Justice Officer – Department of Juvenile Justice – Macquarie Legal Centre KOOL and SRYSS CRYPT LEADON JPET – Service Provider In January 2007 Council commenced the formulation of the Griffith Community Action Plan which will incorporate the Council’s next Social and Community Plan. The document will be adopted in December 2007 and has a very strong focus on youth.


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Part C Women Planned Access and


To improve services for women.

Lobby and work in partnership with service providers to fill gaps in service provision.

Number of letters sent and meetings held which lobby and advocate for improved services for women.

Griffith City Council has included International Women’s Day on its calendar of annual events.

Lobby for establishment of a court support service and broader availability of information on legal matters.

Number of letters sent and meetings held which lobby and advocate for improved legal services.

The ongoing discussions on court support and legal aid will continue. However, a local religious organisation has started serving tea and coffee in the foyer of the Court House: a strategy which had clear importance. Much of this discussion links in with NSW Police, Domestic Violence Committee, Women’s Refuge. Promotional material from Premier’s Department circulated to Chamber of Commerce.

Part D Older People Planned Access and


To improve access to facilities.

Include specific priorities for footpaths, pedestrian crossings and ramps in its Management Plan.

Budget allocated and timeframe set to meet priorities.

There is a bike path and footpath strategy underway.


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Part D Older People continued … Planned Access and


To improve local health services.

Lobby and advocate for improved local health services.

Number of letters sent and meetings held which lobby and advocate for improved health services.

Consultations HACC Worker Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association Aged Day Care Centre

Work in partnership with the local hospital to inform the community about plans for the hospital upgrade and to promote community involvement with the hospital

Meetings held with hospital. Information made available to the community in a number of forms. Process for community involvement in hospital planning established.

Council has a seat in the new structure of NSW Health within our region, and there is great community involvement at a non executive level. The Emergency Department at the Griffith Base Hospital is currently being upgraded at a cost of $6.5M.

Lobby for increased respite care services.

Number of letters sent and meetings held which lobby for improved respite care.

Lobbying continues.


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Part E People with Disabilities Planned Access and


To improve access to facilities.

Reconvene the Access Committee to monitor and review access across the LGA.

Access Committee established and meeting regularly.

Attained and ongoing.

Work with the interagency group to promote strategic planning to promote the best interests of people with disabilities.

Council representation at interagency meetings.


Part F Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People Planned Access and


To promote the inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people into the general community

Recognise prior ownership of Wiradjuri country as part of council's community events.

Wiradjuri elders present at official events to welcome people to Wiradjuri country.



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Part F Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People continued … Planned Access and


Erect signs welcoming people to Wiradjuri country.

Signs erected.

Signs to be erected in 2008.

Fly the Aboriginal flag on days of particular significance to the Koori community.

Established calendar for flying of Aboriginal flag.


Encourage displays of Aboriginal art.

Number of displays of Aboriginal art in community.

Whilst there is no strategy, there are public displays of Aboriginal Art each year, with relationships developed with the local General Education Department of Griffith TAFE and the Aboriginal Arts and Cultural Program (now defunct).

Promote cultural awareness training for all service providers and in particular council employees, health service providers and childcare providers.

Cultural awareness training held.

Three rounds of cultural awareness training delivered. Attained.


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Part F Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People continued … Planned Access and


To improve consultation with the Aboriginal community.

Establish an Aboriginal Advisory Group to represent the views of key groups such as the Koori Youth Forum and Kool program and advocate for the needs of the Koori community in general.

Aboriginal advisory group established and meeting regularly. Plan established to meet needs.

Attained and ongoing. Council also supported the establishment of the Griffith Aboriginal Community Working Part in March 2007.

Establish an Aboriginal Community Liaison Officer position to: • assist the Aboriginal

Advisory Group in their work with the Council;

• facilitate programmes and activities for Koori youth;

• assist the Koori community to address the needs and issues identified in the Koori youth Forum held in September 2002.

Aboriginal Community Liaison Officer appointed.

Position created but not funded.


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Part G People from Culturally Diverse Backgrounds Planned Access and


To promote the inclusion of people from culturally diverse backgrounds into the general community.

Take a lead role in the promotion of multiculturalism

Number of joint projects with the Multicultural Resource Centre

• Continuation of migrant settlement services, which replaced the Council Multicultural Resource Centre. Funded through DIMA, Council is employing two workers, and having the centre open five days a week.

• Council is trialling a program where it rents its house in Yambil St to newly arrived migrant families who are having trouble finding a place to live. It has three bedrooms and will only house one family at a time, until they can find another through the real estate agents and with the assistance of Settlement Services

• A list has been compiled of multicultural events and programs which promote harmony, celebrate diversity, and showcase culture, to gauge what events Council should endorse and support in the future.

• Surveying of local groups and individuals to come up with council run multicultural events.

• Council supported the inaugural Garibar Community Festival.

• Develop Local Ethnic Affairs Priority Statement.

To improve access to support services.

Work with the local media to encourage more reporting on cultural groups.

Incidences of positive reporting in the local media.

Discussions with • NSW Commission Children & young • People and the Department of Education and Training

ongoing.


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Part G People from Culturally Diverse Backgrounds continued … Planned Access and


. Lobby for a local Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) office.

Number of letters sent and meetings held which lobby for a local office of DIMIA.

• There are 2 providers of AMEP, however for young people entering the school system it is vital to improve literacy and educational outcomes by ensuring appropriate levels of resources and qualified teachers are available, This is currently not the situation with anecdotal advise indicating that young refugee migrants are being placed in “lower classes” due to English skills and DET’s inability to resource these communities appropriately

Lobby the Department

of Education to provide an intensive English Centre and other literacy training options.

Number of letters sent and meetings held which lobby for improved literacy training options.

Part H Single Men Planned Access and


To improve facilities available for newly arrived men in town.

Make provision for shower facilities and an information and referral service for newcomers to town, in the new bus transit.

Completed building has shower facilities and information and referral service.

A new bus interchange has been completed. However, the shower has not been included due to safety reasons, and a con-current review of section 94 planning, with a potential option being a multi-purposes community centre to include such facilities. Mens Shed Project commenced with Griffith Skillls Training Centre.


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Part I Community Issues Planned Access and

Equity Activity

Objectives Performance

Targets Status

To ensure the outcomes and output of the Social, Community & Cultural Plans are attained and reviewed in line with community expectation.

Restructure the Council to create a Community & Cultural Services Department.

Restructure undertaken. Community & Cultural Services Director appointed.

Attained

To promote coordination and cooperation in the community services sector.

Appoint a Community Development Officer to facilitate coordination of services and service development.

Community Development Officer appointed.

Attained

Assume a leadership role.

Number of strategies initiated by council.

Community Services Guides (for each of the Target Groups); annual directory. Attained.

Be fully informed about

what services exist locally.

Community services directory developed.

Attained.

Be involved in interagency meetings.

Number of community interagency meetings attended.

Regular attendance and membership of Interagency. Also established a Children Services Steering Committee.


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Part I Community Issues continued … Planned Access and

Equity Activity


Targets Status

Promote the development of interagency referral systems to ensure that people in need can access the appropriate service as quickly as possible.

Interagency referral system developed.

Referral information on hand. Attained.

To improve communication & information flow between Council & the community.

Prepare a communication strategy in consultation with the community to communicate Council’s plans and activities.

Communication strategy developed.

Economic Development is benchmarking communication strategies and Griffith City Council strategy is in development. Community Consultation Toolkit developed.

Update the community information directory annually.

Community information directory updated.

Attained.

Prepare a community services directory and updated annually.

Community services directory developed.

Attained.


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Equity Activity


Targets Status

To improve social planning & development in the LGA.

Develop a long-term plan for social infrastructure and welfare options necessary to support the development of Griffith, in line with the thirty year Growth Strategy.

Long-term social infrastructure plan developed. Review Undertaken. Strategy developed. Strategy implemented

Planning for Section 94 underway which will lead to a long-term social infrastructure program. Review of GS2030 commenced.

Social & Community Plan reviewed annually. Assume a leadership role.

Annual reviews through Annual Report process quarterly reviews through Management Plan.

To address a range of environmental issues.

Introduce a kerbside recycling program.

Kerbside recycling program introduced.

Ongoing strategies under development and implementation.

Work with state agencies and farmers to reduce the impact of stubble burning on residents.

Reduction of impact of stubble burning on local residents.

Ongoing strategies under development.


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To improve facilities in the LGA.

Explore the feasibility of extending the Sports Stadium.

Feasibility study completed.

Basic introduction to study is underway, however Yenda has a Swimming Pool committee and is also addressing the issue of facilities in the LGA, as is the Section 94 review.

To improve availability of support services.

Work with Greater Murray Area Health Service to improve the availability of mental and other health services in Griffith.

Meetings held and lobbying activities undertaken.

Griffith City Council is a key stakeholder in the Transcultural Mental Health Service project.

Work in partnership with the local hospital to inform the community about plans for the hospital upgrade and to promote community involvement with the hospital.

Meetings held with hospital. Information made available to the community in a number of forms.

Issues are still raised with DIMA as there is still quite a shortfall in appropriate services for a diverse community.

To improve the availability of emergency, short-term and low-cost accommodation options.

Work with other community service agencies to provide emergency and short-term accommodation for at risk groups in the community.

Meetings held. Proposals developed.

Talking with members of the SRYSS board and Salvation Army created through a consultative mapping processing.


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Work with the Department of Housing and the Department of Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources to increase the supply of low-cost housing options in the LGA.

Number of meetings held and lobbying activities undertaken.

Meeting with Department of Housing through various strategies. Also, through Settlement Services, we invited accommodation service providers to attend to discuss the issue of stresses on housing. Department of Housing did not attend.

To improve availability of consumer information.

Ensure that information on tenant’s rights is freely available.

Information available in a number of locations, in different formats and in a variety of languages.

Southwest Housing continues to have information freely available.

To improve public and community transport.

Work with the Department of Ageing and Disability to improve the availability of community transport.

Meetings held and lobbying activities undertaken. Submissions completed.

Have joined the Murrumbidgee Transport Working Groups rather than DADHAC. Will look at applying for transport funding on a project by project basis.

Make provision for shower facilities, a cafe and an information and referral service for newcomers to town in the planning of the new bus transit.

Completed building has shower facilities, cafe and information and referral service.

The new bus transit will not have a shower or café due to the resource pressure that this will put on the service. A multi-purpose community facility will be explored as a part of a strategic review of the Section 94 monies.


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Part I Community Issues continued …

Planned Access and


To encourage more tourists to visit Griffith.

Give high priority to projects which have a benefit both for local residents and tourists, for example recreational developments at Lake Wyangan.

Number of projects developed.

The cycle path from Griffith to Lake Wyangan is complete. This is a corner stone of this activity objective. Attained.


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PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE COUNCIL’S SERVICES

During 2006/07 Council continued advertising in the “GO Magazine” to inform the community of services and activities occurring within the Council area. These advertising features were in addition to regular media releases, print media advertisements and television advertising, which Council undertakes. A number of the major media campaigns took place during 2006/07. These were;

• Information for non-residential customers who were going to be impacted by new sewerage and water charges.

• Local Government Week • DrumMuster Collection Program • Community Action Plan • Water Restrictions • GRADVET Program • Building Information Sessions

A new website was launched which has been well received by the general public. Both the Mayor and General Manager participate in interviews on radio, newspapers and television and actively encourage managers to promote their departmental activities. Local Government Week activities were the focus of a feature in the local newspaper, The Area News.

COMMUNITY CONSULTATION Council conducts a number of consultative committees for workshops and discussion upon issues that are site specific or identify community input from peak groups within the community. Some of these committees include:

1. Library Advisory Group

2. Regional Theatre Advisory Support Group

3. Community Service User Group comprising Senior Citizens, Disabled Access Advocates, Multi-Cultural Council representatives, Aged Care and Youth Groups. (This committee is chaired by a Councillor). The issues examined by this group include matters identified in Council’s Social Plan.

4. Sports User Group. This committee comprises of significant peak sporting user groups and operators of the sports facilities. It is chaired by a Councillor and has several other Councillor representatives on the committee.

5. Cemetery Advisory Committee. This committee comprises representatives of the Funeral Industry, Ministers Fraternal and elected Councillors to discuss matters relating to the harmony and decorum of the Cemetery recognising the significant multi-cultural impact issues with Councils Cemetery operations.

6. Art Gallery, a consultative group of culturally inspired persons gives advice to Council on matters relating to the quality and direction of Council’s Art Gallery.


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7. Dalton Park, a consultative committee is in existence representing pony clubs, jockey club,

harness racing club, riding for the disabled and other lessees upon an equestrian centre operated by the Council.

8. Pioneer Park tourist and historic village complex. A management committee comprising of

citizens of the community operates this complex, which caters for tourism, historic retention and for development of a new Italian Heritage Museum.

9. Saleyards, a consultative committee is responsible for advice and forward planning of the

Griffith Livestock Marketing Centre. This committee comprises representatives of primary producers, stock transporters, livestock marketing agents and elected Councillors.

10. Senior Citizens’ Centre, a management advisory committee comprising of interested

members of the community, service clubs and senior citizens constituted as an advisory committee on matters relating to a community inspired and constructed Senior Citizens Centre in Griffith.

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT, 1989 PRACTICE NOTE 7, page 23 - FOI STATISTICAL REPORT The Freedom of Information Act (NSW) provides for an applicant seeking access to Council’s records to make an application in writing. Upon payment of a fee Council will make available such records in accordance with the Act. In the 2006/07 year there were three formal applications submitted to Council under the Freedom of Information Act (NSW) for access to information held on Council’s files. Three applications were approved and access granted within the twenty-one (21) day statutory period. The following represents the statistical summary of FOI requests during the year: SECTION A - Numbers of new FOI requests Information relating to numbers of new FOI requests received, those processed and those incomplete from the previous period.

FOI requests Personal Other Total

2006 2007 2006 2007 2006 2007

A1

A2

New (including transferred in)

Brought forward

2 0 4 3 6 3

A3 Total to be processed 2 0 4 3 6 3

A4

A5

A6

Completed

Transferred out

Withdrawn

2

0

0

0

0

0

4

0

0

3

0

0

6

0

0

3

0

0

A7 Total processed 2 0 4 3 6 3

A8 Unfinished (carried forward) 0 0 0 0 0 0


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SECTION B - What happened to completed requests? (Completed requests are A4 above)

Result of FOI request Personal Other

2006 2007 2006 2007

B1 Granted in full 0 0 2 2

B2

B3

B4

Granted in part

Refused

Deferred

0

2

0

0

0

0

1

1

0

0

1

0

B5 Completed* 2 0 4 3

SECTION C - Ministerial Certificates - number issued during the period

2006 2007

C1 Ministerial Certificates issued 0 0

SECTION D - Formal consultations - number of requests requiring consultations (issued) and total number of FORMAL consultation(s) for the period

Issued Total

2006 2007 2006 2007

D1 Number of requests requiring formal consultation(s) 0 0 0 0

SECTION E - Amendment of personal records - number of requests for amendment processed during the period.

Result of Amendment Request Total

2006 2007

E1

E2

Result of amendment - agreed

Result of amendment - refused

0

0

0

0

E3 Total 0 0

SECTION F - Notation of personal records - number of requests for notation processed during the period

2006 2007

A3 Number of requests for notation 0 0


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SECTION G - FOI requests granted in part or refused - Basis of disallowing access - Number of time each reason cited in relation to completed requests, which were granted in part or refused.

Basis of disallowing or restricting access Personal Other

2006 2007 2006 2007

G1

G2

G3

G4

G5

G6

G7

G8

Section 19 {applic incomplete, wrongly directed}

Section 22 {deposit not paid}

Section 25 (1)(a1) {diversion of resources}

Section 25(1) {exempt}

Section 25(1)(b), (c), (d) {otherwise available}

Section 28(1)(b) {documents not held}

Section 24(2) - deemed refused, over 21 days

Section 31(4) {Released to Medical Practitioner}

0

0

0

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

G9 Totals 2 0 2 1

SECTION H - Costs and fees of requests processed during the period (ie. those included in lines A4, A5 and A6). Please DO NOT include costs and fees for unfinished requests (ie. those requests included in Line A8).

Assessed Costs FOI Fees Received

2006 2007 2006 2007

H1 All completed requests $10 $0 $180 $90

SECTION I - Discounts allowed - numbers of FOI requests processed during the period where discounts were allowed.

Type of Discount Allowed Personal Other

2006 2007 2006 2007

I1

I2

I3

Public interest

Financial hardship - Pensioner/Child

Financial hardship - Non profit organisation

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

I4 Totals 0 0 0 0

I5 Significant correction of personal records 0 0 0 0

*Note: except for item I5. Items I1, I2, I3 and I4 refer to requests processed as recorded in A7. For I5, however, show the actual number of requests for correction of records processed during the period.


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SECTION J - Days to process - Number of completed requests (A4) by calendar days (elapsed time) taken to process.

Elapsed Time Personal Other

2006 2007 2006 2007

J1

J2

J3

0 – 21 days

22 – 35 days

Over 35 days

2

0

0

0

0

0

4

0

0

3

0

0

J4 Totals 2 0 4 3

SECTION K - Processing Time - Number of completed requests (A4) by hours taken to process

Processing Hours Personal Other

2006 2007 2006 2007

K1

K2

K3

K4

0 - 10 hours

11 - 20 hours

21 - 40 hours

Over 40 hours

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

3

1

0

0

3

0

0

0

K5 Totals 2 0 4 3

SECTION L - Reviews and Appeals - number finalised during the period 2006 2007

L1 Number of internal reviews finalised 0 0

L2 Number of Ombudsman reviews finalised 0 0

L3 Number of District Court appeals finalised 0 0


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Details of Internal Review Results - in relation to internal reviews finalised during the period.

Bases of Internal Review Personal

GROUND ON WHICH INTERNAL REVIEW REQUESTED

Varied* Varied* Upheld* Upheld*

2006 2007 2006 2007

L4

L5

L6

L7

L8

L9

Access refused

Deferred

Exempt matter

Unreasonable charges

Charge unreasonable incurred

Amendment refused

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

L10 Totals 0 0 0 0

Bases of Internal Review Other

GROUND ON WHICH INTERNAL REVIEW REQUESTED

Varied* Varied* Upheld* Upheld*

2006 2007 2006 2007

L4

L5

L6

L7

L8

L9

Access refused

Deferred

Exempt matter

Unreasonable charges

Charge unreasonable incurred

Amendment refused

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

L10 Totals 0 0 0 0

*Note: relates to whether or not the original agency decision was upheld or varied by the internal review.


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OVERSEAS VISITS FUNDED BY COUNCIL During 2006/07 there were two overseas trips to Harbin, China and Montana Del Grapa, Italy with Councillors, staff, community members and businesses participating. Gifts were presented by members of the delegation to both hosts. Some translation services were required with the costs being in the vicinity of $2000. Council also hosted the Harbin Mayor in 2006 with a luncheon being held. NATIONAL COMPETITION POLICY / COMPLAINTS MANAGEMENT

Part A – NATIONAL COMPETITION POLICY Following on from the Competition Policy Reform Act in mid-1995, all State and territory governments have now introduced legislation and guidelines that complement and underpin the principles agreed to on a Commonwealth basis. The NSW Government has issued a policy statement on the application of National Competition Policy to local government and each local government authority is now responsible for the competition effects of its actions. The significance of the new legislation is that local government’s now have to ensure that their actions do not breach the Act and that its business activities engage in fair trade practices. That said, the principles of the Act are nothing new for all Councils, furthermore, the provisions of the Act and associated legislation are basically common sense and built around fair trade principles. The foundation stone ensconced in the legislation and principles concerns the issue of competitive neutrality. This principle is based on the concept of “a level playing field between persons competing in the market place, particularly between private and public sector competitors”. Essentially the principle is that government businesses, whether Commonwealth, State or Local, should operate without net competitive advantages over other businesses as a result of their public ownership. The philosophy underlying this is that a level playing field will enhance competition, which may ultimately lead to greater efficiency and lower costs to government and the community. The NSW Government has rejected making a prescriptive approach to competition policy, with Councils being issued guidelines on their requirements under National Competition Policy (NCP). The NSW Government also recognises that policies to enhance competition may also have social impacts and provides for exemptions should a cost benefit of analysis indicate the application of competition policy imposes net costs on the community. Under the principles of the national agreement, the NSW Government is required to: (a) ensure independent pricing oversight of government businesses; (b) foster competitive neutrality; (c) form public monopolies to facilitate competition; (d) review and form legislation which unjustifiably restricts competition; and (e) apply competition policy principles to local Council business activities.


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Council Obligations (a) Council is required to research and identify its business activities and determine how the

objectives of competitive neutrality of Council’s businesses may be best achieved. Competitive neutrality only applies to the business activities of Councils and not to the non-business or non-profit activities.

(b) Develop a complaints handling policy for competitive neutrality. Council has the discretion to determine whether it will treat an activity as a business. It is

not obliged to consider an activity a simply business because it satisfies one or more of the criteria listed below. Council, however, must be able to justify, any decision if requested by the community or if a complaint is made regarding unfair competition.

Council must categorise its business activities into category one (annual sales turnover of

$2M per annum and above) or category two (annual sales turnover of less than $2M per annum).

Type of Business Activity

Category 1 – annual sales turnover $2M pa and above.

Category 2 - annual sales turnover less than $2M pa.

Establish a complaints handling system for competitive neutrality issues

Establish a complaints handling system for competitive neutrality issues

Separate internal reporting for business activity

Council may determine the extent of separation of the activity

Apply full cost attribution, including:

♦ tax equivalent payments ♦ debt guarantee fees ♦ return on capital

Adopt full cost attribution where practicable. Can use % ‘rule of thumb’ margin

Make subsidies to business activities an explicit transaction

Make subsidies to business activities an explicit transaction

Comply with the same regulation as the private sector

Comply with the same regulation as the private sector

The only category one businesses that Council has are our water and sewerage operations and these are prescribed by the NSW Government. In order to consider other business activities carried out by Council, the following criteria is to be considered: • Is the activity to make a profit? • Does Council bid for external contracts? • Is the activity provided on a fee for service basis? • What economic impact does the activity have? • What is the nature of the activity and how important is it to customers?


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Identifying Business Activities The requirements of Council concerning the treatment and accounting for category two businesses is more flexible in its application of various pricing policies together with adopting “rule of thumb” percentages, which approximate to the appropriate tax equivalents and returns required for businesses. The requirements to continue to report separately the managed business is in accordance with good business management practices. Special purpose financial reports prepared for Council’s category two businesses for the year ended 30 June 2007 may be found at Annexure 4. Council is able to categorise and de-categorise any components of its activities as category two businesses at any time. A crucial principle underpinning competitive neutrality is the need to have an effective costing system in place in order to be able to know the full cost of the services and activities it carries out. In order for this to occur, a significant amount of work is currently occurring to develop an overheads distribution policy for Council, which will enable us to more reliably attribute full costs of Council’s activities across all programs. This work blends well with the current work being carried out by the Better Service Delivery Committee (BSD) who will rely on such costs to prepare in-house tender bids on the activities of Council. PART B – COMPLAINTS HANDLING POLICY Council must establish a complaints handling policy to deal with competitive neutrality issues. The policy statement indicates the benefits of competitive neutrality flow to the Council and the community. The adoption of this practice in local Councils will result in: • pricing policies which are fairer and more cost effective; • better allocation of resources; and • decisions being made with a clearer knowledge of the true costs. Broadly, local government is given the responsibility for resolving competitive neutrality complaints in the first instance with review by the state government where warranted. The complaints handling system will be reviewed annually for two years to determine its adequacy as to assess Council’s ability to deal effectively with complaints, together with providing a check for Council that it is complying with the spirit and requirements of the NCP statement. Complaints regarding competitive neutrality will be made either to Council directly or to the State government. The Department of Local Government has been nominated as the state agency responsible for handling these complaints. Once a complaint is referred to this Department, the government has agreed that all such complaints will be forwarded to Councils for resolution in the first instance. The Department of Local Government will pursue any complaints, which have been inadequately resolved by Council. With any further investigation or consideration of complaints required being handled under existing legislation (ie the Local Government Act, 1993). In short, where Councils compete in the market place they should do so on the basis that it does not utilise its position to gain an unfair advantage over the private sector.


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A complaint regarding competitive neutrality is: � A complaint that Council has not met its requirements under the policy statement or pricing and

costing for Council businesses. This includes a concern that Council has not established an effective complaints handling mechanism.

� A complaint that Council has not abided by the spirit of competitive neutrality in the conduct of

business. A competitive neutrality complaint is not: � A complaint regarding the level of service provided by business activities, eg water quality or a

garbage bin not being collected. � A complaint regarding the cost of a service unless it is that Council has not costed its services

to take competitive neutrality into account. � A complaint regarding the trade practices laws in its application to Councils. Complaints which

centre on the Trade Practices Act, 1974 and related issues can be dealt with by the Council but are not competitive neutrality complaints can also be referred to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

Any complaints that do not concern competitive neutrality should be dealt with through Council’s usual complaints system. A complaint management policy has been developed and adopted utilising practice notes developed by the Department of Local Government in conjunction with other regional Councils.


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PART C – NATIONAL COMPETITION POLICY COMPLAINTS No complaints were received during 2006-2007 in relation to the National Competition Policy. PRIVACY & PERSONAL INFORMATION PROTECTION ACT 1998 The Privacy & Personal Information Protection Act 1998 commenced on 1 July 2000. Council adopted a Model Privacy Management Plan at its 20 June 2000 meeting. Council revised its Privacy Management Plan during 2002/03 and formally adopted the revised Management Plan at the Ordinary Council meeting on the 8 July 2003. The Council also has the Privacy Code of Practice for Local Government, which by virtue of Section 32 of the Privacy & Personal Information Protection Act must be complied with by the Council. Griffith City Council undertook no Internal Reviews under the Part 5 of the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 during 2006/07. The Council continues to implement Council’s Privacy Management Plan and undertake further training with relevant staff on an ongoing basis. Training was provided to key personnel regarding the Privacy and Personal Information Act in May 2006. STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SERVICES REPORT 2006/07 FINANCIAL YEAR (cl 217(1)(e)

Griffith City Council introduced a Stormwater Management charge at the commencement of the 2006/07 financial year at a rate of $25 per assessment (both residential and business) in the identified urban areas of the Local Government area. A Stormwater Management Plan overview was included with the 2006 to 2009 Management Plan. This was specified as follows; Activities to be funded from new Urban Stormwater Management Charge

The income from this charge will be expended on both capital projects and recurrent expenditure

programs where applicable. The expenditure will not replace existing stormwater management services, but will be used to provide new or additional services or infrastructure.

Primarily, the stormwater management services charge will be spent on;

• Planning, construction and maintenance of drainage systems, including pipes, channels, retarding basins and waterways receiving urban stormwater; and

• Design and investigation costs associated with implementing urban stormwater catchment management plans

• Planning, construction and maintenance of stormwater harvesting and re-use projects • Monitoring of flows in drains and creeks, to assess the effectiveness for flow management

(flooding) controls, and • Other eligible costs relating to urban stormwater management as identified.


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Council will fund works based on a percentage of funding from the newly proposed urban stormwater management charge and also from existing general rate income. The percentage allocated from each area of funding may change according to the particular project or service type however as a guide, some projects may be funded up to 75% from the urban stormwater charge and 25% from general rate income. In certain circumstances a project may be fully funded from the new charge.

Council determines the priority and specific projects and areas that would receive funding from the new charge, examples of immediately eligible sites or activities are;

• Moura Street, Yoogali (drainage infrastructure due to stormwater flooding events) • Yambil Street, Griffith (drainage infrastructure due to stormwater flooding events) • Stormwater Management planning for the Griffith Local Government area (upgrading of

Catchment Management Plans) Proposed expenditure would include; • Design plans • Project management costs • Purchase of materials or contracts relating to installing drainage systems • Non-permanent employee costs relating specifically to urban stormwater projects • Consultancy fees relating to flood mitigation studies or catchment management

Projects and services may range in cost from relatively minor expenditure to projects that may cost several hundred thousand dollars. At the time of introducing the Plan, it was determined that there would be a requirement to accumulate funds for at least two (2) major projects that would be funded from the introduction of the new charge, these projects being as follows; 1. An overall Stormwater Management Plan was identified as a requirement for the city, and 2. Yambil Street infrastructure (required new drainage design and infrastructure, based on the

requirements outlined in the Stormwater Management plan). Yambil Street is a major CBD thoroughfare which houses a large number of businesses and city facilities.

There was also one other minor project (Moura Street, Yoogali) that would also utilise funding from the Stormwater charge. No dollar amounts were identified for expenditure in the 2006/07 year due to uncertainty over the commencement and completion of the installation of a completely new roundabout and associated road and stormwater drainage works in Yambil Street. These works did occur and an amount of $159,000 was utilised on designing and installing the stormwater infrastructure at the site. No funds have been expended on the Stormwater Management Plan as yet, nor has there been any expenditure on Moura Street stormwater drainage systems.


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The details of expenditure is outlined in the table below;

Project identification details Expenditure

Details Statement of reasons for differences

Stormwater Management planning for the Griffith Local Government area (upgrading of Catchment Management Plans)

NIL • Scoping and project details have not been commenced due to resourcing issues.

Yambil Street, Griffith (drainage infrastructure due to stormwater flooding events)

$159,000 • One section of Yambil Street has had a new roundabout installed, part of which was the design and installation of new stormwater drainage infrastructure which has been designed to be incorporated into the full Yambil Street Stormwater Management Plan.

Moura Street, Yoogali (drainage infrastructure due to stormwater flooding events)

NIL • The project has not been commenced in the 2006/07 year, but is scheduled for 2007/08, at which time a review of the number of assessments directly benefiting from the works will be made and an appropriate portion of the stormwater charge will be allocated against the expenditure.

STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES - COMPANION ANIMALS (cl 217(1)(f)

Lodgement of Pound data collection returns with the department.

• Period 1/7/07 – 31/6/07 supplied to the DLG

Lodgement of data relating to dog attacks with the department. • Information supplied to DLG

Amount of funding spend relating to companion animal management and activities.

• $28,000

Companion animal community education programs carried out. • Schools, Media, Local Govt. Week

Strategies Council has in place to promote and assist the desexing of dogs and cats.

• CAWS in conjunction with the RSPCA

Strategies in place to comply with the requirement under section 64 (Companion Animals Act) to seek alternative to euthanasia for unclaimed animals.

• Dog of the Week / Media

• Local rescue organisations that have contact Australia wide via internet.

Off leash areas provided in the Council area. • Yes

Use of companion Animals Fund money for management and control of companion animals in the area.

• CAWS/RSPCA $3,000

• Microchipping Equipment $1,500

2006/07 annual report

Documents

griffith city councilvision

city of griffith vision

council services

griffith area

local government act

point mission statement

use of councils resources

crux of councils role