City of Greater Geelong Annual Report 2011-2012

The City of Greater Geelong acknowledges the Wathaurong as the traditional custodians of this land.

Our Vision:

Geelong: coast, country and suburbs is the best place to live through prosperous and cohesive communities in an exceptional environment.

About this Report

Geelong: the Best Place to Live Work and Play

A Word from our Mayor

A Word from our Chief Executive Officer

The Year in Review

A Snapshot of the Year’s Achievements Outstanding Achievements Calendar of Events Summary of Financial Performance

Looking Forward

Shaping Geelong’s Future Systemic Planning Process The Year Ahead Council Funding Priorities Update

Council Information

Ward Map Our Council Our Councillors

Our People

Our Mission

Our Values and Behaviours

Organisation Structure

Chief Executive Officer

Divisional Information

Staff Profile

Employee Excellence Awards

Recognition of Service Awards

Our Volunteers

Performance

Delivering Community Outcomes

Community Wellbeing

Growing the Economy

Sustainable Built and Natural Environment

2011-2012 Performance Statement

Corporate Performance

Supporting the Delivery of our Strategic Directions

Customer Focused Organisation

Responsible Financial Management

Safe Work Environment

Motivated and Skilled Staff

Efficient Service Delivery

Informed and Engaged Community

Victorian Local Government Indicators

Governance

Internal Audit

Statutory Information

Council Appointments to Committees and Groups

Best Value

External Funding

Community Arts and Festivals Grants Program

Councillor Community Grants Program

Domestic Animal (Dogs and Cats) Management

Plan 2011-2012 Update

Annual Financial Report for the Year Ended 30 June 2012

Global Reporting Initiative Index

Glossary

About this report

The City of Greater Geelong Annual Report 2011-2012 provides a comprehensive account of Council’s performance from 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012.

The City of Greater Geelong’s City Plan 2009-2013 (2011-2012 Update) is the guiding document for this Annual Report. City Plan describes our strategic objectives and key strategies. Council embarked on an ambitious program of actions during 2011-2012 aligned to our three strategic directions; community wellbeing, growing the economy and a sustainable built and natural environment. The Annual Report provides an update on the highlights and achievements emanating from this program, and addresses the minor setbacks experienced throughout the year. It also identifies the future directions and challenges that lie ahead for our city.

The aim of the Annual Report is to inform all Council stakeholders including ratepayers, residents, businesses, community and interest groups, news media, all levels of government, Council staff and the wider general community.

The Annual Report 2011-2012 meets with our commitment to be transparent in performance reporting.

Geelong: the Best Place to Live, Work and Play

Fast Facts

•Estimated resident population*: 215,151

•Population Growth Rate*: 0.94%

•Population born overseas*: 15.8%

•Population age structure*:

0-17 yrs: 24.0%

18-59 yrs: 55.5%

60+ yrs: 20.5%

•Average household size: 2.4 persons

•Rateable properties: 108,157

•Number of businesses in municipality**: 16,169

•Municipality labourforce***: 113,648

•Area: 1,247km2

•Coastline and Rivers: 45km of coastline

120km of streamside frontages

•Wetland reserves:

114 individual wetlands totalling 11,639 hectares

•Trees:

1,800 planted and 120,000 maintained annually

•Roads: 2,057km

•Off road paths (bike and walking trails): 200km

•Open space for sports and recreation: 900 pieces of open space comprising 17,000 hectares. This includes 84 formal recreation reserves, 46 netball courts, 163 tennis courts, 11 shared courts and 10 skate parks.

•Council buildings maintained: 800

•Public toilets maintained: 140

•Libraries: 13 plus one mobile library

•Neighbourhood House programs: 14

•Public Playgrounds: 279

•Overnight and day-trip tourists including the Otways: 5.7 million

• * id Profile and Population forecast, June 2011

• ** ABS Business Counts

• *** Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, "Small Area Labour Markets Australia"

Geelong offers quality living, extensive job and business opportunities and a wide range of recreational and cultural events and activities to take part in or just simply sit back and enjoy. With a proud history, a passionate community, a vibrant economy and a great lifestyle, Geelong truly is the best place to live, work and play.

History

The Wathaurong people lived in the Geelong region for more than 25,000 years prior to white settlers arriving. When the explorers Hume and Hovell arrived in the area in 1824, they approached the Wathaurong people and asked for the name of the area. They were informed that the bay was called Jillong (Geelong) and the land Corayo (Corio), or at least this is how the conversation was construed. It has been long since debated that the Europeans may have in fact made a mistake in ascribing Corio to the sea and Geelong to the land, when it should have been the other way around!

Following the gold rush era of the 1860s, Geelong began its rise as an industrial town with the main trade in its early days being the processing of wool. Huge wool stores surrounded the waterfront with some still remaining today which now house Deakin University and Westfield Shopping Centre. Towards the end of the 19th century saw the opening of the Gordon Institute of Technology, Cheetham Salt Works and cement manufacturing at Fyansford.

The Ford Motor Company was established in 1925 in Geelong and despite economic hardships over the years, it remains a major player in the region. Through the World Wars and to the mid 70s Geelong’s manufacturing boomed, including the opening of the Shell Refinery in 1954 and Alcoa aluminium smelter in 1963. Over time, the change in markets and modern needs has seen a decline in some sectors of the manufacturing industry.

Whilst manufacturing is still a significant employer within the city today, thousands of new jobs have been created in health, education, professional services, retail, hospitality and tourism. With such great natural assets it isn’t hard to see why the change has been so successful.

Sport and recreational activities have played a major role in Geelong’s history. The establishment of the Geelong Football Club in 1859 initially provided an outlet for local cricketers during the winter months, but today is often described as the heart and soul of the town.

Our City and its People

With a population of over 215,000 people, the City of Greater Geelong is Victoria’s largest regional centre.

Located some 75 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, the municipality covers 1,247km2, comprising country, coastal and suburban areas. The municipality is bounded by the Moorabool Shire in the north, Wyndham City and the Borough of Queenscliffe in the east, Surf Coast Shire and Golden Plains Shire in the west and Bass Strait in the south.

The region is characterised by the multi-award winning Waterfront overlooking Corio Bay, the picturesque Bellarine Peninsula, the Barwon River, You Yangs Regional Park, wetlands, beautiful parklands and wildlife sanctuaries. Geelong is also the gateway to the world renowned coastline of south-west Victoria via the Great Ocean Road.

Total rateable residential dwellings are estimated at 94,804 across more than 50 suburbs and townships. With the region experiencing a period of rapid growth, the population in the next 20 years is expected to exceed 290,000. A high proportion of this will come from new "greenfield" growth areas identified for development, most notably Armstrong Creek, as well as other suburban expansions.

The city is a major centre for investment with over 16,000 businesses and a highly skilled workforce of over 113,648 people.

Geelong’s proximity to Melbourne, its liveability and its price advantages continue to place it in an ideal position to attract new residents and investment.

Open for Business

Geelong is a City Open for Business, a commitment that underpins our approach to economic development.

While it is recognised that traditional industries will continue to be key economic and employment drivers, at the same time it is critical to focus on growth and emerging sectors that will underpin prosperity in the new globalised economy.

Open for Business is about being open and flexible, to facilitate rather than regulate, and to adopt a partnership approach in economic development activities. Geelong’s community leaders are united in transitioning the economy for the future through:

•providing strong leadership and fostering regional collaboration

•brokering major projects and investment

•supporting existing businesses and driving strategic growth sectors.

Building activity continues to be at record levels and in the last 12 months there has been over $565 million worth of construction projects completed across a wide range of sectors throughout the region. A further $2.1 billion worth of redevelopments and construction is currently underway, and projects worth more than $1.7 billion are confirmed and awaiting commencement.

Geelong is ideally placed as one of Australia’s most promising growth corridors and stands ready as a potential working partner to facilitate investment in key infrastructure priority projects. Together with the Federal and State governments, the City will steer Geelong through changing economic circumstances and continue to grow and diversify our workforce.

With so many major growth and development opportunities in the region and a positive attitude to investment, Geelong is a City - Open for Business.

The Best Lifestyle

The Geelong region offers a diverse and exceptional lifestyle. There are wide expanses of open space and waterways to enjoy, many kilometres of walking and bike tracks, cultural experiences, great sporting facilities, world class major events and fine dining and entertainment. There really is something for everyone!

A leisurely stroll or ride along the award-winning Waterfront or the more challenging Bellarine Rail Trail is popular on weekends all year round. Sailing on Corio Bay, skiing on the Barwon River or just enjoying our region’s beautiful beaches are also favoured pastimes.

The region offers sport and recreation activities for everyone, whether it is joining a crowd of thousands to watch the Geelong Cats play at Simonds Stadium in the Australian Football League competition, or taking part in the many local sporting opportunities offered to all ages. There are facilities for all seasonal sports from top class golf courses and equestrian facilities, a refurbished velodrome and a new cycling criterium in Belmont, an international standard baseball centre, all-weather thoroughbred racing facilities at the Geelong Racing Club, a newly upgraded Landy Field athletics track and state-of-the-art leisure and aquatic facilities.

Geelong is a city with great cultural energy. We are proud of our artistic traditions, local culture and rich natural and built heritage. Theatrical and musical productions are also regularly staged. Multicultural diversity is also celebrated throughout the year through events such as the Pako Festa and the National Celtic Festival. Each weekend you can visit one of a number of markets held in the region, and during the summer months night markets are proving a hit with locals and visitors alike.

Major events also play a key role. The Australian International Airshow, Festival of Sails, national and international cycling events, and triathlons are just some of the high profile major events on the region’s doorstep.

Geelong’s lifestyle is hard to beat. With quality living, wide-ranging recreational choices, a strong economy and a cosmopolitan, vibrant community, Geelong truly is, and will continue to be, the best place to live, work and play.

A Word from our Mayor

On behalf of all the Councillors it is with pride that we provide an overview of the City of Greater Geelong’s achievements during the past year, along with an update on the implementation of the four-year plan (City Plan 2009-2013) we set out at the commencement of our current Council term.

It has been an honour to serve the community over the last four years and we have achieved much in this time despite a number of challenges, including a global financial crisis.

During this term we have advocated strongly for the people of Geelong to secure significant funding from both levels of government. We have and continue to tell our story to attract the support we need to realise our vision.

We have worked with others to get things done, including various arms of the State and Federal Government, Regional Cities Victoria, the Committee for Geelong, Deakin University, Gordon TAFE, Barwon Health, various industry groups, residents and businesses.

In the last 12 months there have been many highlights including the opening of the new Waurn Ponds Library, the completion of the Old Courthouse redevelopment, the renovation of the historic Eastern Beach Children’s Pool, the continuation of the Armstrong Creek development and the implementation of the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy.

The City’s Learn to Swim program continues to grow with an 11 per cent increase to a record 23,257 enrolments across the City’s four leisure centres. A number of recreation projects were also completed including upgrades to the Corio Sporting Club social rooms, Grovedale Sporting Club social rooms, Highton Reserve pavilion, St Albans Reserve social room and the West Oval Flowers Stand interior change room redevelopment.

Geelong Amateurs received new netball facilities as did Bell Post Hill. The Barwon Valley Fun Park also received an upgrade.

Two cruise ships visited the region in 2011-2012 with the Spirit of Adventure anchoring in the bay in December 2011 and the Regatta in February 2012, strengthening our case for a reconstruction of the Yarra Street Pier.

Major events provided social benefits to our community as well as an economic benefit of $40.6 million. Popular events such as the Jayco Herald Sun Tour, Festival of Sails and the Pako Festa all contributed to this. 2013 will see the Victorian Open Golf Tournament held at the 13th Beach Golf Links, the return of the Australian International Airshow and we will host the Australian Masters Games.

The largest single seniors program held within Victoria, the Geelong Seniors Festival, attracted over 7,000 participants and Geelong Children’s Week also involved thousands of children and their families. The Community Arts and Festival Grants and the Councillor Community Grants Program saw 191 community groups throughout the municipality share in just over $453,000.

And who can forget that glorious spring day on 5 October 2011 when the sun shone on thousands of fans as the victorious Geelong Cats players paraded through the streets to the Waterfront following their AFL Premiership triumph over Collingwood!

Our city centre has been going through a transition with over $700 million invested in recent years and another $250 million underway or awaiting commencement.

Our vision is to expand the role of the city centre so that arts, culture, residential, entertainment, education and business combine to create a vibrant active city.

With that in mind we are working with Deakin University, the Committee for Geelong, and the State Government on Vision 2, a vision that will provide the momentum for the next 20 years of growth in central Geelong.

Planning is well underway for the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre redevelopment with designs being developed. This is the biggest ever project ever undertaken by the City, with works expected to commence in mid 2013.

The City has also been selected as one of 14 Local Government Authorities for National Partnership Agreement on Preventive Health (NPAPH) funding in Victoria. The program, which will run for four years, seeks to address the rising prevalence of lifestyle related chronic disease. In a major coup for the program, Jamie Oliver’s Ministry of Food will open in Geelong.

A new Youth Strategy will be developed in 2012-2013. We will continue to lobby for a new Yarra Street Pier and Convention and Exhibition Centre. The new Simonds Stadium Stage 3 development will be completed in May 2013 and we will have an updated Environment Management Strategy in the coming year. The Eastern Park water recycling project will also be completed in the latter half of 2012 and will save approximately 30 million litres of mains drinking water annually, with the water used to maintain the Geelong Botanic Gardens.

Please take time to read the 2011-2012 City of Greater Geelong Annual Report. We are proud of the progress Council has made during the past 12 months, and look forward to another year of exciting and lifestyle-enhancing achievements in 2012-2013.

Finally, I would like to thank my fellow Councillors for their dedication towards making Geelong the best place to live. Thanks also to our CEO Stephen Griffin and his staff for their tireless efforts.

Cr John Mitchell

Mayor

A Word from our Chief Executive Officer

Throughout the 2011-2012 year, we have undertaken many actions to achieve the aspirations set out in City Plan 2009-2013. With a year to go of the current four-year plan we are well on the way to achieving the outcomes we set ourselves back in 2009.