A SNAPSHOT OF OUR ACHIEVEMENTS G E N E R A L M A N A G E R’ S R E P O R T JANUARY - JUNE 2017
A SNAPSHOT OF OUR ACHIEVEMENTS
G E N E R A L M A N A G E R’ S M ES S A G E
Dear Councillors, Here is the latest edition of the General Manager’s Report covering the period January to June 2017. This is a regular snapshot of operational achievements and major projects for your information and interest. Highlights of this period: ■ The Council was successful in winning its case in the Court of Appeal against a forced merger with Hornsby Council. The Court has set aside the current merger proposal. ■ The North Turramurra Recreational Area neared completion, with the final element of the project – the car park – to be finished by July. ■ A draft budget and Delivery Program was developed and placed on public exhibition, with $54 million of capital works planned. ■ A draft Destination Management plan for the sustainable management of tourism in the local area was developed and placed on public exhibition. ■ Three new parks and playgrounds – Lapwing Reserve St Ives, Cameron Park Turramurra and Golden Jubilee Field Wahroonga – were opened. ■ An upgrade to Howson Oval at Turramurra was completed and the upgrade to Koola Park Killara was substantially completed.
■ The Council was recognised by the Greater Sydney Commission for the quality of its master planning for the Turramurra and Lindfield projects. The Activate Ku-ring-gai program of urban renewal also won the Parks & Leisure Australia NSW Open Space Planning Award. ■ The inaugural Ku-ring-gai Architectural & Urban Design Awards were presented. ■ The Council took over management of the Gordon Golf Course. ■ A new policy on boat trailer parking was adopted and implemented. ■ Ku-ring-gai’s Family Day Care scheme was placed in the top 20% of Australian family day care providers. ■ Mayor Jennifer Anderson won the 2017 Minister’s Award for Women in Local Government. ■ An extra recycling collection was introduced, in partnership with the Bower environmental charity. Details of these highlights and other aspects of the Council’s operations during January to June 2017 are contained within. I hope you enjoy reading the report; if you have any questions please get in touch with the Directors or myself.
■ Two new vacation care services opened at St Ives and Lindfield. ■ The successful anti-littering campaign in St Ives, Wahroonga and Turramurra was extended to Gordon, Lindfield and Roseville.
Cover Image: Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden 2
General Managers Report
| January - June 2017
John McKee General Manager, Ku-ring-gai Council
The Council won a significant court victory in its battle to remain a stand alone council representing the Ku-ring-gai community. Photo: Aditya Chordia
Ku-ring-gai’s Local Citizen of the Year Awards, Australia Day 2017 Ku-ring-gai Council
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A SNAPSHOT OF OUR ACHIEVEMENTS
THEME 1 C O M M U N I T Y, P E O P L E A N D C U LT U R E A healthy, safe, and diverse community that respects our history and celebrates our differences in a vibrant culture of learning.
Family day care The high quality of Ku-ring-gai’s family day care scheme was recognised through the accreditation process which took place in March. Ku-ring-gai’s family day care scheme was assessed under seven nationally based criteria, as part of a regular process every early childhood care service undergoes through the Department of Education. The accreditation score puts Ku-ring-gai Council’s family day care scheme in the top 20% across Australia. The Council’s family day care scheme has 20 educators in suburbs across Ku-ring-gai. Educators provide care and education for up to four pre-school children on a daily basis and are supported by childcare professionals from the Council.
Fitness and Aquatic Centre for people with physical and intellectual disabilities ■
Library services extended for people with a disability. These include the Libraribus which transports people to and from their homes to libraries; the home visit library service and more items for the visually and hearing impaired
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The Missed Business Guide developed with the Better Business Partnership and distributed to local businesses to raise awareness of the access needs of customers
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A personalised waste collection service for residents with a registered disability
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Providing bushwalking tracks with wheelchair access eg. Blue Gum Creek Track in Lindfield
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Revisions to key planning documents such as Council’s Development Control Plan, Public Domain Plan and Pedestrian Access and Mobility Plan to ensure accessibility, particularly in new developments
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Major developments requested to submit access audits as part of the development application process
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Local business centre masterplans for Lindfield, Turramurra and Gordon centres feature accessibility as a key objective of the design and include requirements for accessible public domain areas, parking facilities and housing
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A variety of workshops and events such as info sessions on the National Disability Insurance Scheme; forums on mental health and International Day of People with a Disability
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Community grants and assistance given to disability groups and services on an annual basis eg. The Merrymakers dance and performance group; North Shore Special Olympics
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Development of Ku-ring-gai Playground Strategy with inclusivity for all new playgrounds
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A concept design created for new regional inclusive playground at St Ives Showground
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New inclusive playgrounds built and opened at Killara Park, Lofberg and Golden Jubilee Ovals at West Pymble and Lapwing Reserve St Ives
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Inclusivity and access training for Council staff in a range of areas e.g. Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden ranger guides for interacting with children and adults with an intellectual or physical disability
The service has introduced initiatives such as visits to a nursing home to encourage interaction between young children and residents with dementia, which attracted widespread acclaim.
Disability services The YMCA have continued to run their Swimability program at the Ku-ring-gai Fitness and Aquatic centre will a total of 27 participants currently enrolled. The centre raised another $18,000 for services to residents with a disability through the annual Swimathon event in March. These funds will be used for staff training and resources to enable those with a disability to have swimming lessons. In January the then NSW Minister for Disability Services the Hon John Ajaka MLC visited the Ku-ring-gai Fitness & Aquatic Centre for a presentation on the Council’s Disability Action Plan. These plans are now mandatory for all councils and Ku-ring-gai was one of the first in the state to implement its plan. Out of a population of 120,000, Ku-ring-gai has an estimated 22,000 residents with a disability that limits, restricts or impairs their daily activities. The Minister was briefed on the following actions that have arisen from Ku-ring-gai’s plan: ■
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Construction and opening of two new major public facilities with full accessibility; Ku-ring-gai Fitness & Aquatic Centre and Ku-ring-gai Library Gordon Fitness and swimming programs introduced at Ku-ring-gai
General Managers Report
| January - June 2017
The dawn service at Roseville Memorial Park was held from 5am on ANZAC Day. The President of the Roseville RSL Sub Branch led the service and the 2/17 Battalion RNSW Regiment provided the Catafalque Party. Mayor Jennifer Anderson delivered a speech at the service on behalf of the Council and Ku-ring-gai community. Other ANZAC Day dawn services assisted by Council were held at Bicentennial Park, West Pymble and at Wahroonga and Turramurra. A service was held at Wahroonga Memorial Park on the corner of Millewa Ave and Illoura Avenues, Wahroonga, hosted by the National Servicemen’s Association. A memorial service was also held at Turramurra Memorial Park, Eastern Road Turramurra organised by the Association. A wide range of free activities are available to help residents stay healthy
Active Ku-ring-gai Another free activity was added to the Activate Ku-ring-gai program called Stepping On. Funded by NSW Health, Stepping On is a falls prevention program that focuses on balance, mobility, stability and flexibility with 16 participants enrolled to its introductory course. Stepping On will be supplemented by an Active Ku-ring-gai program that will give participants an ongoing platform to ensure they are consistently improving their skills as well as maintaining their health. The Yoga for Men10-week introductory course was also introduced, designed for and by men of all ages. For those men who have been interested in trying yoga but unsure of their suitability for the practice, the course assists men to become stronger, more flexible and more relaxed.
Ku-ring-gai Art Centre Accomplished botanical artist and centre tutor Tina Spira appeared at Gordon Library in May for her Botanical Art Demonstration. Tina gave an insightful talk and demonstration among sculptures and newly planted citrus and herb gardens. Building on the success of this demonstration, centre tutor Shipra Shah will present a weekend workshop called ‘Introduction to Botantical Art’ Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 June.
ANZAC Day commemorations in Ku-ring-gai concluded with a special service of remembrance at St John’s Anglican Church Gordon from 11.30am on Sunday 30 April, which the Mayor attended. Booklets for the service were designed and printed by Council.
Vacation care services Ku-ring-gai Council’s Vacation Care scheme has recently opened two new centres. The new service at West Lindfield Community Hall is structured for older children and offers an excursion-based program to meet the needs of 8-14 year-olds with lots of fast-paced excursions. The Council also opened a new vacation care service in time for the July school holidays in partnership with Corpus Christi Primary in St Ives. There are up to 60 places available between 7am and 6pm on weekdays Monday to Friday. Based at 17 Link Road St Ives, the service will open for bookings for the winter school holidays from 7.30am on Monday 5 June. This service caters for children aged 5-12 years and offers a variety of in-centre days and excursions.
The centre hosted a school holiday program of arts and creative writing classes in April. Several exhibitions were held during the period between January and June, including a Tutor Focus exhibition featuring portraits by Stephanie Galloway Brown and the ‘Ocean and Water’ exhibition of students and tutors works. The Centre’s vegetable garden continued to grow in this period, which will now include a tiled mural. New ideas have been to use the veggie and herb garden as a tool to teach children and adults about healthy eating and sustainability as well as using the space as a visual aid for art classes.
Centenary of ANZAC The Council continued to support a range of community based events commemorating ANZAC Day and the Centenary of ANZAC during this period. Ku-ring-gai’s commemorations of Australia’s most solemn day commenced with two dawn services at Roseville RSL and Bicentennial Park, West Pymble.
Our vacation care service is growing
The Council’s former service at St Ives Park Primary will no longer operate but the new service at Corpus Christi Primary is offering an expanded number of places for vacation care. Extra staff will be recruited in coming weeks in readiness for the winter school holiday vacation care program. Due to this increased growth, Vacation Cares has recently put enrolments, bookings and payments online. This allows parents to be in control of all their own vacation care bookings and payments. The change has streamlined the booking process, making it easier for both families and staff. Ku-ring-gai Council
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Our vacation care service has also been recognised by the Federal Government’s Inclusion Support Service providers for NSW for its work in integrating additional needs school-aged children into our services.
Thomas Carlyle children’s centre In April, the newly renovated nursery room of Thomas Carlyle Children’s Centre became operational. The removal of internal walls has extended the available play area and expanded the cot room, creating additional 0-2 year-old places for the community. In addition, the centre has been repainted. With the assistance of two families, the centre successfully applied for two Telstra Kids grants. The grants will be used to purchase iPads for use by the preschool children to assist children to learn Mandarin through the Department of Education and Training, through the Early Learning Languages Australia (ELLA) program.
Thomas Carlyle Children’s Centre making a positive impact on preschool children
Older children & young adults The 6th annual Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Mental Health Youth Forum was held on Tuesday 4 April at Macquarie University, involving 20 partner organisations. 250 students and 30 teachers from 16 high schools gathered in collaboration to reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues through the development of practical, youth-driven pathways to well-being. Students had the opportunity to workshop and pitch their project ideas for enhancing wellbeing in their school environments.
Services for seniors Our Seniors in Action program continued to experience high levels of interest with many activities booked out with waiting lists. 2329 seniors participated in 24 events, forums or activities over this 6 month period. These included seminars on responsible dog ownership, changes to the pensioner assets test, federal government changes to the aged care sector, a dementia awareness information morning, a discussion about elder abuse and an info session on the NBN broadband network. The weekly Falls Prevention classes remain popular with 108 seniors attending a class each week during the two terms. Council staff implemented a pilot class in Qi Gong to assist seniors with mobility issues. Staff also attended a training workshop on recognising elder abuse a forum on new funding arrangements for the aged care sector. The annual NSW Seniors Festival was run over a four week period during March. Over 30 events were run in partnership between Council and local community groups. The Festival kicked off with our annual senior’s morning tea concert at Turramurra Uniting Church. At this concert the Mayor presented 11 awards to worthy recipients to acknowledge their contribution to our community. Over 140 people attended and they were entertained by students from Ku-ring-gai High School. Over 40 students and two teachers spent the morning at the concert ensuring it was a resounding success for all in attendance. Event Cinemas once again generously sponsored a free movie which attracted 150 seniors. Staff at Gordon Library invited local residents over the age of 60 to share their memories of their lives as part of a new oral history project. With a grant of $3,000 from the NSW Government’s Seniors Festival grants program, the “Tell Your Story” project is designed to preserve 20th century history, highlight changes in our community and to give a lasting snapshot of these changes for future generations. Younger residents and library staff spent time with older residents recording their memories over several weeks. Initial sessions took place during the NSW Seniors Festival.
Discobility, a dance party for young people with special needs, was held on Friday 7 April at St Ives Community Centre. This is a much anticipated event for both young people and their carers, providing a social event and relaxation for both. The innovative iPads for Seniors program involves young people utilising their tech knowledge to teach older residents how to operate smart devices effectively. The 30 seniors who took part expressed their thanks at the generosity and knowledge shown by the nine young volunteers during the sessions held in March as part of NSW Seniors Festival. Some of the young people participated as part of the community service requirements for school programs or Duke of Edinburgh Awards. The annual Seniors Festival was extremely popular with over 30 events held in March 6
General Managers Report
| January - June 2017
Community events
Library services
The first major event of this reporting period was the Australia Day celebrations held at Bicentennial Park, West Pymble on the morning of 26 January, followed by a pool party hosted by the YMCA at the Ku-ring-gai Fitness & Aquatic Centre, also at West Pymble. Around 4000 people attended the morning’s event, beginning with a special presentation of Ku-ring-gai’s Local Citizen of the Year Awards, which recognised some of the most outstanding local heroes.
In April, Mayor Jennifer Anderson and NSW Supreme Court Justice Geoff Lindsay launched the Library’s Heritage Festival exhibition “Charles Bean: Life and Work” at Gordon Library. The exhibition was well patronised with visitors coming to the Library from around Sydney to view it. Best-selling children’s author and passionate advocate for reading to and with children Mem Fox gave a talk for community members and Library staff. Mem discussed her writing approach for several of her picture books including her new release “I’m Australian too!” and gave audience members insights as to how her books could be shared. In May, Paul Di Michiel author of Fired to Hired: The Guide to Effective Job Search for the Over 40s shared practical tips on job seeking. This event attracted a different audience from the usual author talk attendees, a number being mature men dealing with redundancy and other employment difficulties. Paul’s talk provided an opportunity to promote the many resources the Library has to assist job seekers of all ages. Another author talk featured Thomas Keneally and his daughter Meg in April. They talked about their latest historical crime series Monsarrat, a murder mystery set in the early days of Australia’s colonial settlement, and how they write their books collaboratively.
Over 20,000 people came to the Festival on the Green on Sunday 8 May
Following the presentation was a Citizenship Ceremony welcoming 61 new Australian Citizens from 19 countries. Residents then enjoyed live stage performances by ABC Kids show Splash Dance, local bush band Reel Matilda, Wuruniri Music and Dance Group, and an Australian reptile show. Other activities included face painting, thong throwing, amusement rides and Australian-themed art and craft. Sheep herding and shearing demonstrations were popular with the crowd, as were the baby farm animal and reptile petting zoos. The Council’s free Moonlight Movie was held in February at Turramurra Memorial Park for a second successive year. Several hundred locals, despite heatwave conditions, enjoyed the romantic classic Dirty Dancing. The park opened in the early evening so people could enjoy the pizzas, ice cream, popcorn and more from the local vendors. Others brought along their own picnics for a fun, thrifty outing. Over 20,000 people flocked to St Ives Village Green in early May to make the most of perfect weather at this year’s Festival on the Green. The Dinosaur theme was a hit with all ages, as dinosaurs roamed the grounds, tiny dinosaurs gave rides to enthusiastic youngsters and giant dinosaur statues stood watch over it all. The event was a budget-friendly affair, with free activities including face painting, fossil digging, mini train rides, and a futuristic 9D cinema. Patrons sampled delights from across the globe with over 20 food stalls to choose from. The alleyway of market stalls also proved popular, as local artisans set up shop alongside community groups, children’s activities, and health and fitness booths.
Susi Prescott spoke at Ku-ring-gai Library Turramurra in May about her memoir Where Hummingbirds Dance about second chances, personal transformation and one woman’s power to make a difference in the world. She spoke about her move to Peru and her ongoing work at an impoverished school at the foot of the Andes. The Mayor and 25 enthusiastic budding scientists helped launch new science discovery kits for children in early April. The science kits are aimed at encouraging and fostering STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) skills for primary-aged children to help them meet and enjoy the challenges of the future. The collection has been very popular since its launch. Holiday activities in January and April continued to attract young library goers. Workshops included K’nex creation sessions, stop motion animation, cartooning with Dave Hackett and the beautification of a community garden bed in the Secret Garden at Gordon. Creator Club sessions were run at all libraries for school-aged children, with the aim of supporting creative and lateral thinking skills. The club sessions have seen children build their own Lego tree houses and master the construction of K’nex mechanical models. The Library has been touring its 3D printer around the four libraries over the last few months and running introductory workshops for the public, which have been very popular. Staff have printed off examples demonstrating the technology’s versatility including figurines and more recently, a scales of justice used for a display for Law Week at Gordon library.
Ku-ring-gai Council
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A SNAPSHOT OF OUR ACHIEVEMENTS
THEME 2 N AT U R A L E N V I R O N M E N T Working together as a community to protect and enhance our natural environment and resources.
Climate change adaptation Council was recently successful in receiving grant funding from the NSW Office of Emergency Management to further develop the Climate Wise Communities program. Climate Wise aims to build community resilience to the impacts of severe weather events as a result of a changing climate. The grant funding will be used to build an online platform to connect Ku-ring-gai residents, the Local Emergency Management Committee and Council. This will assist residents to better understand their personal and neighbourhood vulnerability to severe weather events and build a shared capacity to respond. The online platform will complement the Climate Wise Communities workshop series.
Water and catchment management Culvert remediation works were nearing completion along Mona Vale Road St Ives, to improve water quality flowing into ecologically significant bushland. The contract has been awarded and a design finalised to install a GPT at the corner of McIntosh and Arthur Street, Gordon, with construction expected to start shortly. The GPT will treat stormwater runoff from a 40 hectare catchment which includes run off from the Pacific Highway, Gordon town centre and nearby school and residential areas. Pollutants captured will include
litter, food wrappers, bottles and leaves. The GPT will ultimately improve water quality in Rocky Creek which flows into Middle Harbour. As part of Wahroonga’s George Christie playing field car park upgrade, a biofilter system will be constructed to treat stormwater runoff. The biofilter system will improve the water quality running into downstream bushland as well as returning flow frequency and volumes to that of an undeveloped catchment. These works will also include weed removal, revegetation of a large area of bushland and channel protection works. Construction is expected to begin shortly.
Flood risk management The Blackbutt Creek Flood Risk Management Study and Plan is underway, and with grant funding recently received the Lovers Jump Creek Flood Risk Management Study and Plan will commence shortly. The preparation of these flood risk management studies and plans will help develop an appropriate mix of management actions within Ku-ring-gai to deal with different types of flood risk. Factors considered when developing these flood risk management studies and plans are flood behaviour, danger and damage; the community costs of flooding; future land use; current flood risk management measures available and the environmental and cultural impact of management measures.
Flood risk, water and catchment management is an important part of Ku-ring-gai Council’s strategy for managing environmental impacts 8
General Managers Report
| January - June 2017
Solar PV upgrades are part of the smart building initiatives by the Council to reduce electricity consumption
Energy management Since the completion of the smart building initiatives at Gordon Library earlier this year, including solar PV, an intelligent lighting upgrade and improved HVAC controls, 60% to 70% monthly energy savings have been recorded. 100kW of solar PV will be installed later in the year at the Kuring-gai Fitness and Aquatic Centre, increasing the Council’s solar capacity by approximately 40%, to a total of 343kW. This solar PV upgrade is expected to reduce electricity consumption by 7% at the Centre. Council is also soon to commence an LED lighting upgrade for the St Ives Library and Bridge Street Depot. Following the completion of the first stage feasibility study last year, Council is proceeding with the second stage feasibility study for a North Shore Regional of Councils (NSROC) solar PV master plan. The second stage feasibility study will focus on a 3MW solar PV system that would be funded and used by northern Sydney Councils.
Community programs
Through the Federal Government’s Green Army program, a number of young people were working on local environmental projects in Ku-ring-gai, whilst gaining practical skills and training. Projects include removing weeds, planting out degraded areas, monitoring hollows for habitat and propagating plants at the community nursery. Council staff provided information at the Festival of the Green to local residents on illegal dumping in bushland, avoiding food waste, installing rainwater tanks and solar panels, tick prevention, local plants and animals, weed prevention, walking tracks in the area and bush fire management. Ku-ring-gai continues to be the number one local government area in NSW for the collection and recycling of second fridges and freezers through the Fridge Buyback program. On average, Ku-ring-gai residents are redeeming 25 unwanted fridges or freezers per month and have recycled a total of 3,270 units since the program first started, representing a collective saving of $981,000, 25,510 tonnes of greenhouse gases saved and 26.4 tonnes of metal recycled.
Through Council’s Loving Living Ku-ring-gai program, 14 community sustainability workshops and events were delivered during this period. These included workshops on solar power and battery storage for homes, green cleaning, cheese making and yoghurt making, raingarden design and construction, keeping chickens, productive ponds and wood carving; a native snail talk, a welcome bus tour and a bush walk and tai chi session. Council’s 619 Bushcare, Streetcare and Parkcare volunteers at 152 sites contributed over 6,000 volunteer hours over the past 6 months to bush regeneration activities that improve our natural environment. Council continues to offer residents tailored home sustainability and garden advice – this service is offered to residents five days a week and can be booked online or by calling Council. A further 100 native bee hives were distributed to Ku-ringgai residents this bee hive splitting season, bringing the total number of hives distributed to over 1000 since the project’s inception. Native bees are important pollinators of our gardens and food crops.
Young people were actively involved in Ku-ring-gai ‘s local environmental projects Ku-ring-gai Council
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Waste management
Bush fire management
Two specialist waste investigators were engaged in February. Their role is to find the persons responsible for dumped household waste outside houses and unit blocks and mulch and vegetation left in local parks and reserves. The investigators have been engaged through grant funding from the NSW Government through its Better Waste & Recycling Fund. The waste investigators will be using a variety of methods including surveillance to track down culprits and will issue fines where cases are proven.
Bush fire prone areas of land are now formally identified in the new map.
The update to Ku-ring-gai’s Bush Fire Prone Land Map was certified by the Rural Fire Service and adopted by Council. This replaces the previous map which was prepared in 2008. The new map formally identifies areas of land affected by bush fire hazards, acting as a legislative trigger for appropriate planning and development controls. The adopted changes result in the addition of bush fire prone status to a small number of properties. However the net result is the removal of approximately 400 hectares of land previously designated as bush fire prone.
Council has stepped up efforts to track down culprits and stamp out iIlegal dumping
To boost recycling in Ku-ring-gai, the Council entered into a partnership with the Bower environmental charity in Janaury. The Bower charity is based in Marrickville and Parramatta and collects, repairs and sells pre-loved household goods. Its stated mission is to ‘stop … unwanted items from ending up as waste in NSW’s overflowing landfills, repair and upcycle them if need be and provide them to the community at affordable prices’.
The summer bush fire season passed without incident and preparations are now being made for upcoming hazard reduction burns in cooler months, including the addition of a number of new vegetation burns. Major fire trail resurfacing and stabilisation works have been completed in the Fox Valley area with funding assistance from the RFS Bush Fire Risk Mitigation and Resilience Program. The bushland team has taken advantage of favourable conditions to carry out a series of pile burns in May.
Ku-ring-gai residents can access The Bower’s collection and rehoming service by contacting them by phone and answering a few questions to check the suitability of their unwanted goods. Goods accepted by The Bower include furniture, sporting equipment, bikes, and some electronic appliances, small quantities of building materials, bric-a-brac, kitchenware and books. Goods not accepted include baby and children’s items including strollers, cots, car seats, mattresses, washing machines and dishwashers due to safety, hygiene and storage limitations. However Bower staff can suggest alternative solutions for these unwanted goods. 10
General Managers Report
| January - June 2017
Staff undertaking hazard reduction work as part of the bush fire risk mitigation strategy
The Council’s Eastern Pygmy Possum monitoring program is instrumental in helping improve conservation management of this species
Native animals
Companion animals
In partnership with WildThings NSW, Council has expanded its Eastern Pygmy Possum monitoring program. There are now 24 nest boxes being monitored monthly and remote cameras are being used to help understand foraging and habitat spaces to improve conservation management.
Several thousand dog-owners and their pets attended the annual Dogs Day Out event at St Ives Showground in March.
During this period, microbat monitoring was conducted at 10 natural waterways and at Pool to Pond sites across Ku-ringgai. The monitoring seeks to compare the results of natural and artificial habitat spaces and increase knowledge about the abundance and distribution of microbats in the local area. Analysis of the results was completed in collaboration with the forest science unit of the NSW Department of Primary Industries with the monitoring recording nine species of microbats, including three listed as Vulnerable under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.
This year’s event theme was ‘The Dog’s Got Talent’ and dogowners were encouraged to dress their dogs up in rock starinspired costumes for the much anticipated Best Dressed Pet competition. Other highlights included presentations by renowned dog trainer Steve Austin and animal behaviourist Dr Jo Righetti, with training performances by the Northern Suburbs Dog Training Club. Animal rescue and welfare societies were available to discuss issues with pets and potentially match residents with their next family pet. Vets were also in attendance to talk about pet health matters.
Mapping has commenced of the critical habitat of the Rosenberg’s Goanna, a species of goanna listed as vulnerable under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. Mapping their habitat is the first step in understanding what areas are crucial for Rosenberg’s Goanna to lay their eggs. Results will lead to better conservation outcomes, bushland management and impact assessment. A feral fox baiting program was conducted in northern Sydney council areas during March and April. The program aims to control the spread of feral foxes, which are threatening domestic pets and native wildlife in bushland.
The Rosenberg’s Goanna is listed as vulnerable under the Threatened Species list
Thousands descended upon the annual Dogs Day Out at St Ives Showground Ku-ring-gai Council
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A SNAPSHOT OF OUR ACHIEVEMENTS
THEME 3 P L A C ES , S PA C ES & I N F R A S T R U C T U R E A range of well-planned, clean and safe neighbourhoods and public spaces designed with a strong sense of identity and place.
■ People’s Choice Awards – Tribe Studio Architects; House in Roseville Awarded by popular vote to a project that demonstrates great inventiveness and playfulness, maximising the useful space of the house and garden.
Ku-ring-gai Architecture & Urban Design Awards The Council presented its inaugural biennial awards recognising excellence in architecture and design in the local area. Nominations for the awards opened in November and 36 entries were received. Entries came from homeowners, architects or other consultants in the categories of heritage design, contemporary design, dwelling house design, sustainable building design and a ‘people’s choice’ award. The awards, which were presented in early May, recognised new buildings and developments in the local area that ‘support and enrich Ku-ring-gai’s quality built environment’. The award winners were: ■ Heritage Building Design – McCullum Ashby Architects; ‘Rothiemay’ in Wahroonga Awarded for the use of good heritage practice across original spaces, fine details and finishes and incorporation of modest internal alterations. ■ Contemporary Design – Architectus; Shout Ridge Apartments in Lindfield Awarded for innovative sustainable high density housing that responds to its bushland setting and heritage listed neighbour. ■ Dwelling House Design – Sam Crawford Architects for a Roseville House Awarded for the sensitive and skilful addition that transformed the modest original cottage. ■ Sustainable Building Design – Anna Vaughan Architects; Childcare Centre in North Turramurra Awarded for sensitive consideration of the full spectrum of simple and cost-effective sustainable strategies.
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General Managers Report
| January - June 2017
Heritage The Council has received a determination from the NSW Department of Planning for the proposed Middle Harbour Road heritage conservation area which will be on public exhibition for comment. During this period the Council gave out $21,000 in grants to owners of heritage properties for conservation and maintenance work. Funding of $6000 for the grants scheme was obtained through the NSW Office of Environment & Heritage. The Council has been successful in appointing a community representative for the Heritage Committee, who will work with Councillors and Council staff to prioritise issues and work on heritage policies and planning.
Lindfield Village Hub Located on the western side of the Lindfield Town Centre at an estimated construction cost of over $120 million, the Hub site comprises 1.3 hectares. The Hub will be a new mixed use precinct with community buildings, boutique shops, cafes, restaurants, apartments and a below-ground supermarket. A briefing on the Hub’s status was held with Councillors in March and detailed studies have been commissioned through independent consultants on financial and other aspects of the project. Negotiations continued with TfNSW for funding of 140 commuter car parking spaces to be located within the basement level of the proposed community hub building. Discussions were also held with the RMS concerning traffic management issues and solutions in the vicinity of the Hub.
Sportsfields at North Turramurra will be available for use by mid-year
In February, the Council was awarded two high commendations through the Greater Sydney Planning Awards. The awards have been introduced by the Greater Sydney Commission to ‘celebrate best practice and showcase examples that integrate social, economic and environmental considerations with regard to the principles of ecologically sustainable development’. A total of 47 entries were received in six categories. Ku-ring-gai Council received a high commendation in the Great Integrated Planning Project category for its master-planning of the Lindfield Village Hub. The Council also won a high commendation for the overall program of urban renewal known as Activate Ku-ring-gai.
Lindfield Village Green A development application seeking consent for the Lindfield Village Green project has been lodged by DEM (Aust) Pty Ltd on behalf of Ku-ring-gai Council. The DA was publicly exhibited during January and February and is being assessed. A community information session was held on Saturday 11 February from 10am to 1pm. Approximately 200 people attended to speak to council staff about the project. Following representations from local residents and business owners, the Council sought a feasibility study on a third level for the underground car park to provide additional parking. At this stage, construction is scheduled to commence in early 2018. Construction of the basement car park will take approximately 12 months. The new plaza and associated facilities will open a few months later toward the middle of 2019.
North Turramurra Recreation Area Work on the North Turramurra Recreation Area is progressing well and scheduled for completion in July. The synthetic field is already being used for regional soccer games. The turf fields are only used for training and will not be available for play until the construction of the car park is completed. However, bookings are currently being taken for their use. Work on the amenities building and cart shed is now complete. Public toilets have been incorporated into the new amenities building to provide better facilities for golfers. Work on the car park construction is progressing well and in order to save costs of disposal of unsuitable material, earth mounds have been created on site to help with noise and light attenuation for residents along Bobbin Head Road. The earth mounds will be planted with native trees once the car park is completed in July. The golf course is now well established and attracting higher visitor numbers due to its 18-hole championship layout. The Council’s recreational staff are working with the golf pro to establish a junior golf program later in the year.
Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden During this period, the Garden’s ranger-led programs included Bush Kids school holiday programs, Bush Birthday Parties, Toddlers & Tadpoles weekday playgroups and Junior Rangers Club sessions. Campfire and Spotlight Walk birthday parties were also popular.
The Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden is a great place for our children to learn about and appreciate the gift of nature.with activities throughout the year Ku-ring-gai Council
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Wildflower Garden rangers also delivered school excursions. Among other activities, many participants were involved in a program of bush regeneration with weed removal. The Wildflower Garden hosted a new community-based event called the Bushranger Festival in May. The Festival featured poetry and play readings, historical re-enactments and music from the era of Australia’s bushrangers. Around 400 people attended. During this period the Council’s community nursery relocated to the Wildflower Garden from its former site at 430 Mona Vale Road St Ives. Council’s community nursery specialises in local indigenous plants which are expertly cultivated using locally sourced seeds and cuttings. The decision to relocate the nursery was to complement the work of the visitor centre and Garden rangers, as well as taking advantage of the increasing visitor numbers to the Garden. As a result of the move, the nursery held a one-day plant sale on Friday 10 February. Thousands of native tubestock, plants and tree saplings were on offer to the public as well as landscapers and other garden supply businesses.
St Ives Tourism Precinct During this period, preparations commenced for the fourth St Ives Medieval Faire to be held during the weekend of 23 and 24 September 2017. A new website and marketing brand was developed and early bird ticket sales were launched at the end of May. Negotiations are continuing with broadcast partners Fox Sports and other sponsors. A new event called Aussie Night Markets was trialled for four weeks during April and May with great success. The Friday night event attracted around 5000 people on each Friday night of the trial, with a combination of food trucks, market stalls, music and live entertainment. The markets will become a regular Friday night fixture at the Showground from 9 June. Concept plans for a major new regional playground at St Ives Showground were developed during this period and detailed documentation prepared for tender. This additional play area will be an inclusive and large play space for the Showground, in response to increasing population growth and visitor numbers.
facebook.com/stivesfaire ■ stivesmedievalfaire.com.au 14
General Managers Report
| January - June 2017
Funding for the playground upgrade has been assisted by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment through the Metropolitan Greenspace Grant Program. Construction of the new playground will start later this year. A tourism strategy for Ku-ring-gai called the Draft Destination Strategy was adopted by the Council for public exhibition between April and May. The strategic tourism plan will outline ways to boost economic development and visitor numbers to the St Ives Showground and Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden from 2017 until the year 2020. Workshops were held with local businesses and other tourism providers in January to discuss ideas and obtain feedback. Public feedback on the strategy is now being analysed in readiness for a further report to the Council.
Koola Park Killara Construction of the major upgrade at the park in Koola Avenue in East Killara is almost complete, with just the car parking area outstanding. Completed works include an additional fourth field, field floodlighting, landscaping, improved fencing, a shared pathway around the perimeter of the park for cyclists and pedestrians, as well as outdoor exercise equipment stations. Construction of the car park and drop-off area is scheduled to begin in the 2017-2018 financial year, subject to funding.
Cameron Park Turramurra After the addition of approximately 2,600sqm of land, Cameron Park was opened to the public in early March. Four residential properties adjacent to the existing Cameron Park were purchased in 2011 as part of Council’s Open Space Acquisition Strategy. Around 2000 households within a kilometre of the park were surveyed to help create a plan for the upgrades. The upgraded park includes open grassy areas and shade trees; a multipurpose paved area with outdoor table tennis table and picnic facilities; a self-cleaning, accessible public toilet, plus brand new seating, fencing, pathways and lighting. The park’s popular play facilities, bike path, and sculptures have also been renovated to fit in with the updated park.
Lapwing Reserve (Carcoola Park) St Ives Lapwing Reserve was opened on 17 January and adds nearly 2000 square metres of parkland to the existing park in Carcoola Road, St Ives. It was created through the Council’s purchase of two properties previously owned by Roads & Maritime Services at 12-14 Carcoola Road. The purchase was funded by Section 94 contributions, which are funds generated by new development and reserved for the creation of community facilities such as parks and playgrounds. The name for the new park - Lapwing Reserve - was chosen by residents in 2015. The park is named after the masked lapwing plover birds which are native to Australia and inhabit the park. Features of the new park include: ■ An open play area and grassy hill fort at the rear of the site; ■ New equipment such as slides, swings, see saw, roundabout, toddler spinner, log steppers and cubby playhouse; ■ A drinking fountain, seating and a shaded picnic shelter; ■ Nature play elements such as rock scrambles and logs and landscaping including shade trees; ■ Full fencing with accessible gates; ■ A shade structure to be installed over slides.
Golden Jubilee Field Wahroonga The new playground at Golden Jubilee Field Wahroonga is adjacent to the Jubes mountain bike trail and was opened in April. The new playground has proven to be extremely popular since its opening, with a ‘Tiny Town’ ideal for younger children to explore pretend buildings. It also has a junior cycle track, fourway rocker, swings and a climbing frame with a baseball theme to reflect the Field’s historic use by local baseball players.
Council staff are liaising with Gordon Golf Club over management of tee times and payments, among other issues. The new website will be live in early June.
Other upgrades The Howson Oval upgrade was completed in December 2016 and the oval opened for use by sports teams in January. Lofberg playground at West Pymble was also completed in time for the summer holidays. The former playground was relocated to a more visible position adjacent to the Community Hall, approximately 50 metres away. A substantial benefit of moving the playground will be enabling Council to better manage the recovery and regeneration of the Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest Endangered Ecological Community at the current playground location. The new playground works has a dome climber, slide, swings, playhouse and springer set in softfall to comply with Australian Standards. It also has new fencing, seats, a drinking fountain and a sandstone play sculpture. An upgrade to the amenities at Turramurra Memorial Park was delayed by bad weather but this has now commenced. The amenities will be upgraded to respect their heritage character and are expected to be completed by July. The next new playground planned for construction later this year is at Park Avenue Roseville Chase.
Anti-litter campaign
For parents and carers extra seating has been installed, as well as shade trees. The playground has been designed to be inclusive for all children, including those with special needs or a disability.
New park at Turramurra Detailed designs were developed for the new park planned at the corner of Allan Avenue, Holmes Street and Duff Street in Turramurra. When built, the new park will be approximately 2,700m2. Construction of the park is proposed for the 2017/18 financial year.
Gordon golf course
Residents are encouraged to keep their suburbs litter-free
Following the success in keeping Wahroonga, St Ives and Turramurra largely litter-free since 2015, the anti-litter program was extended to Gordon, Roseville and Lindfield during May and June. The program is being funded by the NSW EPA Waste Less, Recycle More initiative. New bins, planter boxes and seating are being installed in Roseville and Lindfield centres by the end of May, with Gordon due to be completed by the beginning of June.
The Council took over management of the golf course in April 2017, under an agreement reached with the Gordon Golf Club. The Council will now be responsible for green keeping, maintenance, course management, the pro shop and golf lessons. The Club will be responsible for functions, catering and membership of the golf course.
Disposable coffee cups and soft drink containers are the biggest litter culprit in Gordon, whereas cigarette butts make up the bulk of littered items in Lindfield and Roseville.
Work continued during this period on creating a new website for the course and club, along with other collateral such as score cards and signage. Recruitment for new staff including a golf pro, team leader, trainee and casual staff was also undertaken.
Wahroonga, St Ives and Turramurra all showed littering had either plateaued or there was a further decrease. Wahroonga, which in 2015 was the most heavily littered centre, had improved to around 90% litter-free.
The original centres to receive new bins and other street furniture in 2015 were recently reassessed to check whether litter was being kept at bay.
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A SNAPSHOT OF OUR ACHIEVEMENTS
THEME 4 A C C ES S , T R A F F I C & T R A N S P O R T Access and connection to, from and within Ku-ring-gai provides safe, reliable and affordable public and private travel , transport and infrastructure. Cycling Quotes have been received for the implementation of the part of the Roseville1 Route (Roseville - Roseville Chase) adjacent to Babbage Road, which is expected to be constructed in June 2017 as part of other works around Roseville Chase Community Centre. The public domain component of the Technical Brief for the Lindfield Community Hub is being revised to incorporate facilities to allow bicycle access to key parts of the site via the eastern end of Bent Street, Woodford Lane and the southern end of new Drovers Way.
measures to assist local shopkeepers and residents affected by the clearway: ■ Extending the council car park on Mona Vale Road opposite Stanley Street to provide an additional 15 spaces ■ Installing signage on Mona Vale Road to help customers find off-street parking ■ Implementing two-hour parking restrictions on Porters Lane from 9am to 6pm every day ■ Implementing one-hour parking restrictions on Mona Vale Road northbound between Denley Lane and Memorial Avenue from 10am to 3pm on weekdays ■ Implementing one-hour parking restrictions on Mona Vale Road southbound between Stanley Street and Rosedale Road from 10am to 3pm on weekdays and from 9am to 2pm on weekends ■ Implementing two-hour parking restrictions on Mona Vale Road southbound between Rosedale Road and Porters Lane from 10am to 3pm on weekdays
Works are scheduled for bicycle access to key areas
Roads, drainage & footpaths An upgrade to the bridge on Lady Game Drive, West Lindfield was completed during this period. As the bridge spans both Kuring-gai and Willoughby, a joint application that was successful was made to the RMS under the Block grant program for partial funding. The objectives of the improvements are to improve road safety for all road and pedestrian users and to extend the life of the bridge through repairs and upgrades to the guardrail, balustrade, concrete and pruning of vegetation overhanging the bridge, as well as minor footpath repairs. The overall Council capital works program for roads, drains and footpaths was delivered on target during this period. Car parks are under ongoing assessment, with upgrades focussed on resurfacing and line marking improvements. The introduction of clearways through St Ives shopping centre during peak periods was implemented in March by the RMS. The Council is working with the RMS to introduce the following 16
General Managers Report
| January - June 2017
■ Changing 12 spaces in the ‘Old School’ council car park on the eastern side of Mona Vale Road, and two spaces on Stanley Street to half-hour parking. RMS is also working with Council to review the layout of parking in the ‘Old School’ car park There has been no update from Transport for NSW regarding nominations for funding in the 2017/2018 Active Transport Program (Transport for NSW/RMS), which were for the following projects: ■ Lindfield Avenue (Havilah Road - Russell Avenue): separated 2-way on eastern side, as part of the Lindfield Village Green Project ■ Kochia Lane (Lindfield Avenue - Milroy Street): shared user path, as part of the Lindfield Village Green ■ Killeaton Street (Warrimoo Avenue - Bonnaroo Avenue): separated 2-way on the northern side Transport for NSW is now expected to notify of successful nominations in the next quarter. The Council’s draft budget for the 2017-2018 has set aside $16.6 million for road upgrades and $1 million for footpaths. The budget will be finalised after feedback from the public is analysed in June.
Photo by James Vodicka
An artists’s impression of the Turramurra Community Hub
Boat trailer parking In June 2016, the Council voted to adopt a policy that supported new legislation affecting boat trailer parking in Ku-ring-gai. Under the new rules, boat trailers are now permitted to park for a maximum of 28 days on the street before they must be moved or parked on private property. The new policy was implemented in February and all Ku-ring-gai residents identified as boat owners were advised of its requirements. Council rangers have conducted an audit of boat trailers parked in local streets and identified around 350 that would be subject to the new policy. Rangers are liaising with these boat owners on an ongoing basis to ensure they are aware of the requirements of the policy.
Public transport Council is continuing to liaise with Transport for NSW to secure further additional commuter parking, associated infrastructure and bus interchange upgrades at the key local centres of Gordon, Lindfield and Turramurra, as part of the Activate Ku-ring-gai local centres program. Negotiations regarding the proposed commuter car parking in the Lindfield Village Green and Lindfield Community Hub sites also continued. A new fleet of double-decker buses and public transport routes was announced by the NSW Government, which includes improvements to Macquarie Park services. This specifically relates to enhanced services on the 197 route (Mona Vale to Macquarie, Park via Terrey Hills and Gordon) operated by Forest Coach Lines.
Transport planning Further transport analysis and assessment of the Turramurra Community Hub was completed during this period and the findings presented to Council. This incorporates the traffic and transport improvements identified in the Ku-ring-gai Contributions Plan 2010, as well as other improvements and refinements to increase transport accessibility.
Work is underway on the development of a draft Car Share Vehicle Policy. As work on the policy progresses, there will be checks to ensure its consistency with the Integrated Transport Strategy. Larkin Lane car park in Roseville was reviewed to satisfy residents/visitors who attend Roseville cinema. Out of 43 parking spaces in the car park, 12 parking spaces were signposted with three-hour parking restrictions to meet the longterm parking demand. Lord Street car park in Roseville was reviewed to accommodate elderly persons attending the church activities/weekly seniors’ event to park for three hours. Out of 58 parking spaces in the car park, 24 spaces were allocated to three-hour parking while the remaining spaces were left as two-hour parking spaces. Two new disabled parking spaces were also created in this car park close to Hill Street end, to assist disabled residents parking close to Roseville Station and shops. A suite of Transport Access Guides for 47 local schools was developed by the Council’s design team to encourage alternative modes of transport. The guides focused primarily on mapping safe walking distances to schools as well as other transport features, such as pedestrian crossing facilities. The guides are expected to be completed by June. For learner drivers, the Council produced nine separate driving routes graded according to the degree of difficulty and the required level of experience needed to pass the provisional driving test. Routes include the approximate timing, skills to practice such as merging, changing lanes and sharing the road with larger vehicles. The maps also include features for novice drivers to be aware of, such as school zones, pedestrian crossings and roads with high traffic volumes. All nine routes are downloadable via the Council’s website at www.kmc.nsw.gov.au/learners. A free printed booklet of the maps can also be requested.
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A SNAPSHOT OF OUR ACHIEVEMENTS
THEME 5 LO C A L E C O N O M Y & E M P LO Y M E N T Creating economic employment opportunities through vital , attractive centres, business innovation and technology.
Small business events During this period, Council continued to support business through its business engagement program designed to provide top-quality learning and networking experiences and access to useful information about other government programs and local business groups. The reach of its Business Connection e-news has increased by 106% to 604 local business people. The newsletter contains information about Council events and support. In the period January to May, Council delivered four business events attended by over 200 local businesses:
Events also aim to support micro and small businesses that often lack the time and resources to upskill and/or meet with groups of business peers. February 2017: Business Grants Speaker: Keith Whelan (The Grants Guy). Attended by 40 people. The event was funded by the NSW Department of Industry as part of its Back to Business Week program. One Business Forum Medium to large events of 50 – 100 attendees designed to improve communications between the business community and Council, and play a key part in Council’s commitment to business engagement as part of its membership of the Small Business Friendly Council’s program. May 2017: Wealth of Ideas – Turning Concepts into Cash Half day event delivered in partnership with CSIRO Lindfield, funded by the NSW Governments’ Boosting Business Innovation Program. Attended by 134 people. Keynote speakers: James Chin Moody (CEO Sendle), Brian Dorricott (COO Slingshot Accelerator), Alli Baker (CEO Workible), Anna Grocholsky (Director Innovation and Commercialisation at Macquarie University).
Business Forum on Collaboration, Killara Golf Club
Two Small Business Roundtable events Small events of 10 – 20 attendees designed to assist businesses get together, connect and learn, collaboratively tackling business challenges and identifying opportunities for growth and innovation.
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Post-presentation exhibition exhibitors included: Better Business Partnership, CSIRO, Macquarie University/ Macquarie Park Innovation District, NSW Department of Industry, NSW Business Chamber, Data 61 and NSW Business Connect (Realise Business). Facilitated networking session also connected business and individuals. These following events are planned for the next three months:
March 2017: Business Administration Facilitated by Alexi Boyd of Boyd Office Management Services. Attended by 10 people.
2 June: Small Business Roundtable - Surviving the end of the financial year Facilitated by Matt Lye, Business Advisor from Realise Business. 10am – 11.30am at Gordon Library.
April 2017: Recruiting and retaining staff Facilitated by Tony Swift of Swift Support. Attended by 16 people.
22 June: Using Linked in to Drive Sales Facilitated by Mark Warncken. 6pm to 8pm at Killara Golf Club.
One Business Seminar Medium sized events of 40 – 80 attendees providing educational and networking opportunities for local businesses.
August: Networking Masterclass Facilitated byith Julia Palmer, Networking Strategist. The venue and date will be advised shortly.
General Managers Report
| January - June 2017
Access a wealth of information on properties in Ku-ring-gai through the Council’s innovative mapping system on kmc.nsw.gov.au
Digital services
The ten most popular pages on the website were:
The Council’s innovative mapping system is now being used by property consultants, the development industry, builders and local residents. Developed through the Geocortex system, the mapping tool provides a wealth of information about properties in Ku-ring-gai, including zoning, historical records and other property-based information. At present, the system can be accessed via a web browser but work is well underway to develop a smart device version. The mapping system can be accessed via www.kmc.nsw.gov.au During this period, work continued on developing a suite of applications and permits that will be available to residents online. These include Driveway Levels, Minor Heritage Works, Pre-Complying Developments, Pre-DA Applications and applications for Hoardings and Barricades. Bookings for vacation care services were moved online in April in time for the July school holiday booking period which opens in June. The Council’s website remained well maintained and utilised during this reporting period. Unique page views are on track to meet the goal of 1.9 million for this financial year. Statistics for January to May 2017 were: Page views = 1,091,323 Unique page views = 518,045 Users = 134,229
Home page = 73,056 unique page views My Library = 16,311 DA Tracking = 21,517 Contact Us = 20,437 Ku-ring-gai Library = 15,843 Waste and Recycling = 14,953 Sportsgrounds closures = 13,870 Library: Opening hours and information = 13,361 Waste and Recycling: Household = 10,961 Cleanup & Whitegoods Collection = 10,314
2016 Census data A community information session is being planned for July to advise the public of key findings of the 2016 Census. This information is essential for those involved in planning, research, policy decisions, business and community-based initiatives. The presentation will provide an overview of the key characteristics of the local population and its housing needs, as well as trends and changes in our local demography. Attendees will obtain the latest analysis of Ku-ring-gai’s population and learn about other demographic tools available online. The 2016 Census data will also be available in detail via the Council’s website at www.kmc.nsw.gov.au
The 2016 Census results are expected to confirm that Ku-ring-gai’s population is growing and diverse Ku-ring-gai Council
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A SNAPSHOT OF OUR ACHIEVEMENTS
THEME 6 LEADERSHIP & GOVERNANCE Ku-ring-gai is well led, managed and supported by ethical organisations which deliver projects and services to the community by listening, advocating and responding to their needs. Court victory against forced merger Following the Council’s appeal in the Supreme Court against the Land & Environment Court ruling that there was no impediment to a forced merger between Ku-ring-gai and Hornsby Councils. Three Court of Appeal judges delivered their judgement on 27 March. The judges ruled that there were reasons in law why the proposal to forcibly merge Ku-ring-gai Council and Hornsby Shire should not proceed in its current form. The main reasons were: ■ The excision of Epping and parts of other suburbs from Hornsby Shire was not properly considered by the Delegate Garry West ■ Neither the Delegate nor the public could form an objective view of the merger proposal because the KPMG report was not publicly released ■ Ku-ring-gai Council was denied procedural fairness as a result. Ku-ring-gai Council’s victory in the court is now being used as a basis for legal appeals by other councils, including most recently Randwick. Woollahra Council has also been given leave to appeal in the High Court. Ku-ring-gai has continued to seek meetings with Premier Berejiklian and the Minister for Local Government Gabrielle Upton to press the case against being forcibly merged with Hornsby. To date there has been no response to these meeting requests.
Mayor Anderson wins top award Mayor Anderson won the Elected Representative - Metropolitan category in the 2017 Minister’s Award for Women in Local Government. She was presented with her award by the Minister for Women the Hon. Tanya Davies MP and the Minister for Local Government the Hon. Gabrielle Upton in March. The Minister’s Awards for Local Government are awarded each year for female Councillors and staff to celebrate the achievements of women in local government and encourage more women to take leadership roles in Councils. 20
General Managers Report
| January - June 2017
Mayor Anderson won the Minister’s Award for Women in Local Government this year
A Ku-ring-gai resident for more than 30 years, Mayor Anderson was elected to Council in 2006 and has served four terms as Mayor, including her current term. Along with her commitments as a Councillor, Mayor Anderson also serves as patron of the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Women’s Shelter and Meals on Wheels. She has previously served on the executive of the NSW Parents Council and the state council of the NSW Federation of P&C Associations.
Ku-ring-gai Sports Forum The annual Sports Forum was held in mid May at Warimoo Oval with over 50 representatives from local sporting associations attending, including all four football codes, netball, cricket, baseball, Oztag, archery and school sports. The Sports Forum is held every year for Ku-ring-gai’s sporting groups and associations to meet Council staff and get updates on major projects.
The annual sports forum is an opportunity for sporting groups to discuss their needs with Council
A guest speaker from the NSW Office of Sport discussed how sports clubs and associations can access government grants, marketing tips for social media and sponsorship. Senior Council staff hosted a panel discussion on issues such as fees and charges and maintenance schedules, as well as providing an update on the progress of major sporting upgrades and projects.
Professional development for staff Council has now implemented an online learning management system, which provides capability to roll out e-learning across the organisation. Staff are now able to access over 40 e-learning modules in ethics, leadership, EEO, communication and personal development with more than 40 additional modules in development. Leadership, management and personal development programs are in development that will align to Council’s values and complement and support the performance culture at Council.
Risk management Testing of the Council’s redeveloped Risk Management Program began during this period with a number of areas participating. Training for responsible officers will be progressively implemented. A review has been undertaken of Council’s events management processes, with the redevelopment of the Events and Sustainability Risk Management Plan. This document has been successfully tested during the planning of a number of events and will be introduced across the organisation.
Volunteer management A comprehensive review was undertaken in relation to the way in which Council manages its volunteer programs. Consultation is currently being undertaken with relevant managers, staff and volunteers in relation to the revised Volunteer Management Policy and procedures which will be referred to Council in the coming months. The Council has reviewed its processes for managing risk at public events
Work Health & Safety Due to the resignation of Council’s Work Health and Safety Officer, recruitment of a replacement officer was successfully undertaken. The new officer is currently reviewing and updating Council’s Emergency Plans at all Council sites, fire wardens and first aiders, and Council’s consultation arrangements with staff on work health and safety matters. Volunteers are a vital part of Ku-ring-gai Council’s services to the community Photo credit: Jasper Chiu
Back Cover Image: Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden Ku-ring-gai Council
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818 Pacific Highway, Gordon NSW 2072 | Locked Bag 1006, Gordon NSW 2072 P 02 9424 0000 | F 02 9424 0001 | E kmc@kmc.nsw.gov.au | www.kmc.nsw.gov.au