Service delivery a highlight of report

Delivering services that meet community needs was a key focus of Baw Baw Shire in the past year, according to its recently adopted annual report.

Services delivered by council were a highlight of the report which Cr Darren Wallace said “documents the real value of council services.

Cr Wallace said a highlight in the report was the detail of services delivered by council including the delivery of 24,900 meals, 1777 children were seen through the maternal and child health service and more than 54,000 hours of home based services were provided.

In the report, mayor Joe Gauci said council was pursuing a new way of working with the community.

“We are seeking to understand community needs and engage in the delivery of council services and programs to further strengthen our social fabric,” he said.

Council adopted the 2016/17 annual report after it was signed off by the Victorian Auditor General’s Office (VAGO).

The document is released each year to report on council’s performance against the objectives identified in the council plan.

The report includes two main sections – a report of operations that provides an overview of council, highlights of the organisation’s performance against the council plan objectives; and, the financial report.

Chief executive officer Alison Leighton said council was committed to transparent reporting and accountability to the community and this report was a great example of that.

“Every business unit across the organisation has had input into the development of this report.

“It is beneficial to have this report so that we can use it to look back on the previous year and see each department’s achievements, as well as identifying our opportunities for the future,” she said.

Cr Gauci said it had been a rewarding, yet equally challenging year.

He said the closure of Hazelwood Power Station and the drop in milk prices had impacted on the community.

“Agriculture, dairy and energy have been the backbone of the Gippsland economy and it is imperative that we harness the power of the collective conscience to build upon our diverse economy and resilient community,” he said.

Cr Gauci said the report reflected council’s focus on delivering vital services and infrastructure to support rapid population growth and improving the lives of our community.

“We are extremely proud of the work that has been achieved by our organisation, which would not be possible without our dedicated team of councillors, employees, advisory groups, volunteers and broader community,” he said.

The report outlines key events, projects and programs for the year including:

Completion of the Warragul Leisure Centre $14 million redevelopment project;

Commencement of the $13.4 million West Gippsland Arts Centre upgrade;

A $24.4 million works program;

In partnership with the Federal Government reconstructed the Daveys Road Bridge in Willow Grove, with construction works completed in at a cost of $638,000;

Construction began on a new oval at the Western Park recreation precinct in Warragul; and,

Maintenance of 1775 Kilometres of road network.

Cr Mikaela Power said the annual report was an important document and record of council’s activities through the year.

Cr Tricia Jones said the annual report represented a story of the past financial year’s achievements and challenges.

“This is one of the best reports yet. It’s a document for everyone to look at to see what we have done, what we haven’t done and what we are going to do,” she said. capital