Taking stock

meeting process and on our website in the coming months.

At the beginning of each financial year, Council develops an Annual Plan based on Council’s strategic plan and the budget process. Given we are now over half way through the current financial year, and will soon be heading into the new budget planning phase, it was timely for us to have an update on how we are tracking for 2022-2023.

Council was pleased to see we are very much on track to achieve our goals for the year. There were a large number of goals that we had set ourselves for this year and if you are interested in getting a full update on how we are tracking, this is available in the meeting agenda for the January OCM on our website. Here is just a small selection of our achievements that are perhaps less talked about in recent times but incredibly important for us to thrive as a growing community here in Brighton.

Community Infrastructure Needs – The Draft Brighton Social Infrastructure Plan was endorsed by Council in December 2022 and the community will be able to have a say in February/March 2023, with the plan on track to be completed by this financial year.

Housing – Council continues to lobby for a more holistic approach to public and

Andres’ bright future plans

Brighton Council’s Andres Perez-Roca recently received a commendation for Young Planner of the Year, as part of the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) Tasmanian Division Awards. Andres was praised for his knowledge of the planning system and his excellent customer service skills. He was recently elected to the TAS PIA Divisional Committee, and also participates in the Tas Community Fund (TCF) Emerging Community Leaders Program.

In addition, Andres is a mentor in the Career Foundation Mentoring Program.Having moved to Hobart from Colombia to study the Master of Planning at the University of Tasmania, Andres is only a couple of years into his planning career, but he already has a lot to add to his CV.

Andres is a valuable asset to the Brighton Council planning team and we congratulate him on this well deserved award.

affordable housing projects, engaging with Centacare Evolve Housing. Council has offered land to be purchased for future public and affordable housing projects.

Transport – Council is always advocating for improved public transport, including ferry infrastructure and services. We are pleased to advise that State Growth is undertaking background work to inform a Derwent River Masterplan, which will consider sites within our municipality. We are working closely with State Growth to inform this plan.

Jobs and Training – The Southcentral Workforce Network (SWN) in Pontville continues to go from strength to strength. The team has expanded to five staff members and the number and range of programs managed by the ‘Jobs Hub’ has grown significantly.

Climate Change – Staff are preparing a planning scheme overlay for overland flooding to assist and educate the community and this will soon be available for publication on Council’s website and for the submission of a planning scheme amendment. A coastal hazards risk assessment has also commenced.

Council has ordered its first electric vehicle to be included in the fleet.

Council continues to report on Council’s corporate greenhouse gas emissions and take actions to reduce emissions by 30% by 2030 and zero by 2040. Council’s emissions reduced by 73% on 2021, and this rapid fall was unexpected and is largely a result of introducing FOGO and Brighton’s landfill waste now being sent to the Copping facility managed by Southern Waste Solutions that captures methane gas and generates electricity from biogas. Our corporate emissions target will be revised early this year.

Waste Management – Council is very active in waste and sustainability education in the community and schools. We have been recognised for our efforts with a number of awards in recent times, including the Environmental Leadership and Sustainability Award by Local Government Professionals Australia – Tasmania for FOGO, finalist in the Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT) Awards for Excellence for ‘Building and environment and climate change program’, runner-up as overall winner in the most Sustainable Community award from Keep Australia Beautiful – Tasmania as well as awards for Community Spirit and Inclusiveness, Community Health & Wellbeing and the population award for places with 5,000-20,000 people.

Culture and Arts – Council has activated its public art strategy with three spaces receiving completed art installations: Gagebrook Community Centre, Cris Fitzpatrick Park public toilets and a community created paint by numbers piece for the Brighton Civic Centre. This work will continue throughout the year.

We also began the year with a workshop on the Future of Local Government Review. After a period of comprehensive community consultation, the Tasmanian Government released an Options Paper in December 2022. In January, Council took the time to work through these options and discuss views and opinions on each in order to familiarise ourselves with the outcomes and make a submission. Council’s preliminary views on the Options Paper will be provided to the review board. If you would like to learn more about the ‘Options’ for the Future of Local Government in Tasmania visit www.futurelocal.tas.gov.au.

Finally, it is really pleasing for me to note two significant events that will be held in our municipality early this year and we can all be extremely proud that our Brighton Civic Centre and region has been chosen to hold these important gatherings. In March/April we will host ChangeFest23 – 1-3 March 2023 and Big Weekend of Sustainable Living Ideas – 25 & 26 March 2023.

We hope the community enjoys and benefits from hosting these events right here in Bridgewater.

Brighton Mayor

Leigh Gray