Each edition of Council magazine we choose one local government from across Australia to shine a spotlight on. Whether it's new infrastructure, an innovative technology project, a leading sustainability initiative or a community connection, we want to highlight the best of our local governments and share some valuable knowledge to other place makers across our nation. This edition, we spoke to the City of Stirling, to learn more about this unique LGA in the heart of Western Australia.
CITY OF STIRLING WESTERN AUSTRALIA QUICK FACTS
WHAT IS THE POPULATION SIZE AND LAND AREA OF THE CITY OF STIRLING?
The City of Stirling has a population of 219,981 (based on the 2016 census data) and a rich, diverse natural and physical landscape covering approximately 104 sq km, including 6.5km of coastline; 627ha of parks, gardens and developed reserves, 616ha of natural bushland; 30 suburbs; 1,118km of roads; 984km of footpaths; and 101,250 rated properties.
HOW MANY EMPLOYEES WORK AT THE CITY OF STIRLING? Approximately 1,393. WHO IS THE MAYOR? The Mayor of the City of Stirling is His Worship the Mayor Mark Irwin. Mayor Mark Irwin was born and raised in Scarborough and was first elected as a Councillor for the City of Stirling in 2015. He was elected as Mayor by his fellow Councillors in October 2017 and was re-elected as the City’s first popularly elected Mayor in 2019. WHO IS THE CEO? The City of Stirling’s CEO is Stuart Jardine PSM. Stuart possesses significant international local government experience spanning over 35 years and has been the Chief Executive Officer at the City of Stirling since 2007, and has been reaffirmed as the CEO with an extended contract out to 2023. Stuart Jardine is widely recognised as a leading CEO throughout Australia within the sector and has been awarded a Public Service Medal for his service to the community. WHAT IS THE CITY’S ANNUAL BUDGET? The annual budget for the 2021/22 financial year that was adopted in June estimates overall expenditure of $316.3
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million. In broad terms, the budget consists of $262.9 million in operating expenditure and $53.4 million in capital expenditure.
BREAKDOWN OF SPENDING FOR THE BUDGET YEAR AHEAD The budget is balanced, the City of Stirling is debt-free, and is delivering projects, programs, and initiatives in line with the key focus areas from the Strategic Community Plan 2018-2028, including: Thriving communities ($36,532,920), Vibrant economy ($4,283,775), Liveable neighbourhoods ($103,133,494), Sustainability ($45,152,071), and Governance and leadership ($17,586,345). In addition to ongoing progress toward the City’s strategic goals, a number of major construction projects and upgrades across Stirling have been progressed in the past month, delivering important strategic infrastructure and stimulating the local economy. Major earthworks are now complete for the extension of Stephenson Avenue from Scarborough Beach Road to Howe Street, with drainage works and culvert works underway at Oswald and Howe Street. Vegetation clearing, surface and subsurface remediation works, and construction and demolition waste are also 95 per cent complete. Council workshops and community information sessions on the progress of the Hamersley Public Golf Course Redevelopment project have taken place, as has the schematic design of the Golf Pavilion and Driving Range, with detailed designs completed at the end of July 2021. The Inglewood Oval/Hamer Park Project is ongoing, with oval lighting complete and the demolition, in-ground services and slab curing processes completed for both Hamer Park and Moyle Pavilion on Inglewood Oval. The Bennett Park Clubrooms (Doubleview) have been handed over to the clubs and the Dianella BMX project is on track to complete the first two approved stages of construction by the end of July.
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