Brimbank

Annual Report

2017-2018

2

I

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018 I

3

About this Annual Report

2

Welcome to the Report of Operations 2017-2018

4

Snapshot of Council

5

Snapshot of service delivery

7

Highlights of the year

14

Challenges and opportunities

17

The year in review

18

Message from the Mayor

18

Chief Executive Officer’s message

20

Financial summary

22

Description of operations

24

Significant service achievements 2017-2018

25

Strategies, policies and plans adopted

32

Major changes

33

Our Council

33

About the Council

33

About the Councillors

34

Executive Management Team at 30 June 2018

39

Organisation structure at 30 June 2018

40

Workforce profile

41

Equal Opportunity

43

Other staff matters

43

Planning and Accountability Framework

46

Council Plan Strategic Objectives

47

48

53

58

60

Governance and Management

64

Governance and Management Checklist

71

Statutory information

73

Infrastructure and development contributions

77

2018 Community Satisfaction Survey

78

Advocacy, consultation and community engagement

80

Volunteering in Brimbank

82

Sustainability

84

Awards

88

Description of municipality

91

Sustainable Capacity Indicators for the year ended 30 June 2018 91

Service Performance Indicators for the year ended 30 June 2018 92

Financial Performance Indicators for the year ended 30 June 2018 94

Other Information

96

Certification of the Performance Statement

97

Independent Auditor’s Report

98

A Plain English Guide to the Annual Financial Report

102

Certification of the Financial Statements

105

Independent Auditor’s Report

106

Financial statements

108

Acronyms

152

Index

153

Brimbank City Council’s 2017-2018 Annual Report details

Council’s performance during that financial year and includes

a report against the objectives set out in Brimbank’s Council

Plan 2017-2021.

The

aims

to fulfil Council’s statutory responsibilities under the

and

.

To obtain a copy of this document, please contact Council’s

Customer Service Centre on

or view a copy

online at

4

I

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018

01

Council is transparent

and accountable

in reporting to the

community. The Report

of Operations 2017-

2018 explains in detail

Council’s operations and

performance during the

financial year.

About Brimbank

Who we are

Brimbank is a vibrant, growing community in the

heart of Melbourne’s west. Diversity is central

to our identity – we are proudly multicultural,

embracing people from around the world and

weaving their stories into our own. Brimbank’s

estimated resident population of 208,443

in 2017 makes it the third most populous

municipality in Greater Melbourne.

Where we came from

The City of Brimbank was established in 1994,

uniting the former Keilor and Sunshine Councils.

It was named after Brimbank Park in Keilor,

which gained its name from the practice of

farmers driving livestock ‘around the brim of the

bank’ of the Maribyrnong River.

The land the municipality now occupies has

a human history that began with Aboriginal

traditional custodians, the Kulin Nation, more

than 40,000 years before European settlement.

The area was originally occupied by the Kurung

Jang-Balluk and Marin-Balluk clans of the native

Wurundjeri people.

The first European settlements were established

at Keilor in the late 1840s, Sunshine (then known

as Braybrook Junction) in the mid-1880s, and

St Albans in the late 1880s. Many suburbs grew

around the original settlements after World War

II to house the influx of migrants. More recently,

areas that were once industrial hubs have been

transformed into new residential suburbs that

are continuing to grow rapidly.

Our place

Brimbank spans an area between 11 and 23

kilometres north-west of Melbourne’s CBD.

It is bound by the City of Hume in the north, the

Cities of Maribyrnong and Moonee Valley in the

east, the Cities of Hobsons Bay and Wyndham in

the south, and the City of Melton in the west.

Fifteen per cent of Brimbank’s total area is

classified as open space, including natural

treasures such as Organ Pipes National Park

and Mount Derrimut Grasslands, as well as

Green Gully Reserve, Brimbank Park and Iramoo

Wildflower Grassland Reserve.

Our strategic position at the heart of

Melbourne’s west has been cemented with major

infrastructure commitments that continue to

transform the region. Sunshine’s railway station

was completely rebuilt during the Regional Rail

Link project, while the removal of level crossings

in Furlong Road and Main Road has united the

two halves of St Albans and drastically improved

safety. The Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s

Hospital in Sunshine, due for completion in late

2018, will offer children’s services and enable

more women to give birth closer to home.

Our suburbs are as diverse as our people – from

the hustle and bustle of Sunshine and St Albans

to historic Keilor, each has its own flavour and

personality.

Sunshine: A major activity centre, Sunshine’s

profile is rising due to its proximity to the city

and its mouth-watering food scene. It houses

a Victoria University campus, the Brimbank

Community and Civic Centre, and Sunshine

Hospital. Sunshine services suburbs which

include Albion, Sunshine North, Sunshine West

and part of Brooklyn.

St Albans: St Albans is a designated major

activity centre that includes a Victoria University

campus, the newly developed St Albans

Community Centre and Bowery Theatre, and a

thriving restaurant and retail precinct. St Albans

services neighbouring suburbs Albanvale, Kings

Park and Kealba.

Deer Park: Servicing the nearby suburbs of

Ardeer, Derrimut and Cairnlea, Deer Park has

a rich array of restaurants and shops. Major

features of the area include the Hunt Club

Community and Arts Centre, Black Powder Mill

and Brimbank Central Shopping Centre.

Sydenham: Brimbank’s third activity centre,

Sydenham services suburbs including

Sydenham, Calder Park, Taylors Lakes, Delahey

and parts of Hillside. Watergardens Town Centre

is the jewel in its crown, while Calder Park

Motorsport Complex is another landmark.

Keilor: Keilor is set among rolling hills and national

and state parks, including Organ Pipes National

Park, Brimbank Park and Green Gully Reserve. It

services suburbs including Keilor Downs, Keilor

North, Keilor Park and Keilor Downs as well as

parts of Keilor, Keilor East and Tullamarine.

Our people

Brimbank is one of the most culturally diverse

municipalities in Australia, with almost half of

our residents born outside Australia.

Brimbank’s suburbs boomed after World War II,

when migrants from southern Europe flowed to

the area. More recently, newly arrived Asian and

African communities have developed alongside

the more established European communities.

More than half of our residents speak a

language other than English at home, with more

than 160 languages represented. The top 10

languages other than English are Vietnamese,

Maltese, Italian, Greek, Macedonian, Filipino,

Cantonese, Arabic, Punjabi and Croatian.

Brimbank is increasingly becoming a major

employment hub for Melbourne’s west.

Manufacturing is the key employer in Brimbank,

followed by retail, health care and social

assistance.

Brimbank is home to a range of established

organisations, including Aldi, ARC, Australia Post,

Boral, Bunnings, Caterpillar, FedEx, Ferguson

Plarre, Fisher and Paykel, Hunter Leisure, John

Deere, Lombards, Schweppes, Schiavello and

Sims Metal.

In more recent times companies such as

IBM, Metronode, Digital Realty, Rand Group,

Preshafruit, Sleepyhead and Vistaprint have

also chosen to settle in Brimbank.

Reconciliation and Indigenous

information

Brimbank has a rich Indigenous history, going back

to when the Wurundjeri people first inhabited the

region, thriving in the Maribyrnong Valley.

Council acknowledges the Kulin nation of people

as the traditional owners of the land and their

continuing spiritual connection to the land, and

renews its commitment to respect Indigenous

beliefs, values and customs.

About 440 Registered Aboriginal Places exist

in the Brimbank Local Government Area. The

oldest artefacts found in the City are over

30,000 years old.

On 26 February 2008, Council adopted the

full motion passed by the Federal Government

on 13 February 2008 in saying sorry to the

Stolen Generations on behalf of the Australian

Parliament and people, and extended an

apology to those Stolen Generations on behalf

of the people of Brimbank.

Since July 2011, Council has flown both the

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags

alongside the Australian national flag every day

outside its Municipal Office.

Each year Brimbank City Council hosts a broad

range of activities during Reconciliation and

NAIDOC Week, such as Aboriginal cultural

heritage tours, Sorry Day events, Indigenous

art exhibitions, library storytelling sessions and

NAIDOC flag raisings.

On 17 April 2012, Council endorsed a

Reconciliation Statement of Commitment and

officially signed the Statement on 29 May 2012,

committing it to learning from the past and

seeking new ways to build relationships with the

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community,

and to developing a Reconciliation Action Plan.

It was committed that the Reconciliation Action

Plan would be developed in consultation with

internal and external stakeholders including

Council staff, Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander residents and local Aboriginal and

Torres Strait Islander service providers and

community groups.

6

I

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018 I

7

In May 2013, Council adopted a Reconciliation

Action Plan that demonstrates its commitment

to reconciliation for all Aboriginal and Torres

Strait Islander people.

In September 2016, a

(MOU) between Brimbank City

Council and the Wurundjeri Tribe Land and

Compensation Cultural Heritage Council was

signed, marking an important step toward

reconciliation and reaffirming the genuine

connection, pride and belonging for our

Indigenous community.

Brimbank at a glance

u

Area

123 square kilometres

u

Population count

208,443

(estimated resident population, June 2017)

u

Males

50.0%

u

Females

50.0%

u

Residents aged under 18 years 22.1%

u

Residents aged between

18 and 59 years

58.9%

u

Residents aged 60 years and over 19.0%

u

Indigenous population

816

u

Residents who speak a

non-English language at home 58.4%

u

Median house price for 2016 $599,852

(June 2017)

Vision, Principles, Goals,

Strategic Objectives and Values

sets

out Council’s Vision, Principles, Goals and

Strategic Objectives and Values as follows:

Vision

Brimbank – vibrant, harmonious and welcoming,

a great place to live, work and grow.

Principles

The following principles underpin the core of

Council’s work and frame the decisions made

now and into the future.

Building community resilience to survive,

adapt and grow during the fast paced

challenges of the 21st century will be

essential to help communities prepare for

change and whatever the future may hold.

Council will draw on the strengths of our

diverse communities and geographies, to

pursue our shared interests, embrace our

differences and be stronger together.

Serving the Brimbank community is why

we exist. Every decision we make and every

dollar we spend is with the aim of continually

improving the lives of the people who live in

our city. In our decision-making and delivery of

Council business we will place our community

first.

Council is committed to access, equity,

community participation and human rights for

all citizens. By working in partnerships with local

groups, community agencies and government

departments, Council aims to build upon our

existing community assets, strengths and

capabilities to achieve social change, fairness

and better outcomes for disadvantaged groups.

Council seeks to build a legacy which enables an

engaged and resilient community that supports

a sustainable environment containing rich social,

economic and environmental characteristics.

‘Sustainability’ means our actions meet current

needs without compromising the prospects of

future generations. In achieving this Council

will incorporate environmental considerations

alongside social and economic values in our

decision-making processes and support our

community to become sustainability stewards.

Goals and Strategic Objectives

• Goal: An inclusive community

- Our community members are safe,

healthy and well

- People have opportunities to

participate in community life

- Services and facilities are fit-for-purpose

and well-run

- Our community belong and are proud

of where they live

• Goal: A liveable community

- Public and open spaces are safe, clean

and well-maintained

- People can get around easily on foot,

by bike, car or public transport

- Our community lives sustainably

- The natural environment supports

thriving biodiversity that is protected

and well connected

- The urban environment supports a

growing population in designated

areas while respecting neighbourhood

character and heritage where appropriate

• Goal: A prosperous community

- People are able to access quality

education and lifelong learning

opportunities

- People are able to find and maintain

jobs that provide income security

- The local economy is strong and

provides opportunities for the

community to thrive

- Housing is of good quality, well located

and affordable

- Brimbank is a leading destination for

business, working, learning, recreation

and living

• Goal: An innovative and responsive

‘Community First’ Council

- Council is fair, honest and transparent

- Council advocates and works in the

interests of our community

- Council manages our assets and

finances sustainably and responsibly

- Council staff are high performing and

community-focused

Values

At Brimbank all our roles impact and support the

diverse needs of our community. Our values and

behaviours demonstrate what is important to us:

u

we show

RESPECT

u

we act with

INTEGRITY

u

we work

TOGETHER

u

we

COMMUNICATE

openly

u

we strive for

EXCELLENCE

Council plans, develops and delivers a range of sport and recreation, health and fitness and community meeting opportunities to enable the community to

engage in physical activity, sport and social activities at its sports grounds, leisure centres, major sports facilities and community halls for hire. Council also

plans and implements community infrastructure such as community hubs and sport and recreation facilities to strengthen local communities.

• 21 capital works projects completed to

improve sports facilities for community

benefit with a total contribution of $8.33m

• 7 capital works community facility

improvement projects for community benefit

• 578,920 visits across both Sunshine and

St Albans leisure centres

• $5,000 external funding secured from

Football Federation Victoria for In2Sport

Brimbank

• Delivered four Sports Club Development

network meetings and training sessions to

educate and inform Brimbank sports clubs

• 131 sports clubs volunteers attended Council

delivered volunteer training sessions

• Successfully delivered the Female Football

Festival, a seven-a-side tournament with 10

teams (81 females in total). The event was in

partnership with Football Federation Victoria

(FFV), and hosted an Aldi MiniRoos program,

Melbourne City Girls clinic and Soccer Mums

program all for female participants

• 2,159 Brimbank residents involved in the

Active Premiers Challenge

• Supported 12 Heart Foundation Walking

Groups, assisting over 150 community

members to stay active

• Supported the continued development of the

Community Soccer Hub providing a place for

the newly emerging communities to come

together through soccer

• Continued to deliver Sons of the West Men’s

– a men’s health program run in partnership

with Western Bulldogs

• Introduction of Daughters of the West, which

currently has 95 women engaged with the

program

What we delivered

• 99 community groups managed across 26

different nationalities with 7,039 regular hire

bookings at community facilities

• Online community space bookings for

Keilor Community Hub and the Brimbank

Community and Civic Centre made available

for residents and community members

• Renewed seven leases and licences involving

scouts, guides, senior citizen clubs and

community groups

• A total of 57,768 learn to swim visits across

both leisure centres

• 65,741 casual aquatic visits across both

leisure centres

• Managed 79 sports clubs using 130+ sports

facilities

• Supported sports clubs to provide 12,212

children and adults with sports participation

opportunities

• Adopted the Sports Facility Development Plan

2018 • Parks and Leisure Australia Finalist –

Community Program of the Year for In2Sport

Brimbank

• 50 per cent increase of female applications

for the Winter In2sport Program due to

increased four-week priority period

• $5,000 Funding from Football Federation

Victoria (FFV) for the In2Sport Program

• $3,000 ANZ Sponsorship for 2019 In2Tennis

Event

• Successful in receiving $100,000

Commitment Funding from AFL Vic to

support Council’s Sport and Recreation

Victoria Funding Applications for Lionheart,

Keilor Park and John Mcleod Pavilions

• Facilitated 313,543 visits to the Keilor

Basketball and Netball Stadium, increasing

visits by 13,334

• Introduction of Chinese badminton training,

wheelchair hockey training fortnightly and

successful inclusion of Japanese basketball

teams to the Keilor Basketball Netball

Stadium

• The Keilor Basketball Netball Stadium held

the Go Grey in May – KBA raised over $8,000

for the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation

• The Keilor Basketball Netball Stadium hosted

62 Big V basketball games in March-June

• A total of 37,387 visits to the Keilor Public

Golf Course

• 34 community facilities managed available for

regular, casual and function hire

• A total of 289,398 people visiting community

facilities

• 6,782 bookings across community facilities

halls for hire

• 742 casual bookings of community facilities

halls for hire

• 256 functions held in community facilities

halls for hire

• 49 regular group bookings of community

facilities halls for hire

• Nine capital work community facility

improvement projects for community benefit

• Renewed three leases and licences involving

community groups

8

I

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018 I

9

Council delivers a range of services for families

and young children and opportunities for young

people to develop skills and contribute to

community life.

What we delivered

• Coordinated home-based child care with 147

equivalent full-time child care places and 861

monitoring visits to 45 active Family Day Care

Educators, contributing 266,641 hours of

care

• Supported provision of child care at nine

centres

• Maintained 30 preschool premises

• Processed 2,782 four-year-old kindergarten

applications

• Supported playgroups with Smalltalk

intervention in 16 groups, two shopping

centre playgroups, 88 community

playgroups combining facilitated and

volunteer supported playgroups

• Conducted 300 home visits

• Conducted 2,774 Maternal and Child Health

first home visits

• Completed 23,613 Key Age Stage visits,

3,334 additional appointments and

2,316 telephone consultations

• Provided Youth Support and Counselling

Services to 132 young people.

• Supported a range of diverse youth

programs such as Young Citizens Jury, Youth

Ambassadors, Young Researchers, Just Kutz,

Baby and Beyond, Queer Crafter-noon,

School Holiday Show-bags, L2P Program

and Universal Access Disco attended by

792 young people

Council offers a range of services to the community including arts and culture, events, and community centres.

• Presented five FReeZA events to engage

young people including the Push Start Music

Competition, First Dance and Block Party

• More than 20 community cultural

development projects, regular programs,

events and courses including the Brimbank

Multicultural Choir (including masterclass

with Ajak Kwai), Toddler Tuesdays,

Landscapes course, Movement Makers

and Common Ground

• Two information sessions presented on

the new Festivals & Events Policy and

grants program

• Conducted four Places of Worship

tours including a tour of regional

Bendigo places of worship attended

by approximately 160 people

• Brimbank Maribyrnong Interfaith Network

attended and presented at a World Interfaith

Harmony Week, Harmony Dinner event

hosted by MiCare new and emerging leaders

network, with over 50 people attending

• Held Brimbank Midsumma celebration

with a performance at STACC, attended

by 100 people

• Partnered with the Brimbank Annual Writers

Festival to deliver “In conversation, event”

with Julian Burnside QC talking about

refugee settlement in Australia, which

drew over 100 people

• Delivered Brimbank’s Annual IDAHOBIT

rainbow flag raising event with guest

speakers from the Greek Welfare Association

and a performance by a local youth vocalist,

which over 60 people attended

• Hosted a Cultural Diversity event ‘Hands up

for Refugees art project’, where over 200

people showed their support for refugees

• Hosted 12 Brimbank Settlement Action Plan

review sessions throughout the municipality

• Coordinated a range of community events

including NAIDOC flag raising community

activities; National Sorry Day; IDAHOBIT;

Midsumma; National Reconciliation Week

– Brimbank Reconciliation Walk; and the

#HandsUpForRefugees initiative

What we delivered

• Provided community grants funding to 75

community groups valued at about $457,700

• Delivered eight grant information sessions

and two grant writing sessions to 97 people

• More than 14,000 people engaged in arts

and cultural activities across Brimbank

• Delivered five murals at Council facilities

across Brimbank

• Presented 24 solo and seven group shows

across six exhibition spaces

• Held five INfuse workshops to support artist

development

• Supported four Activation Partnership

projects to activate spaces across Brimbank

• Provided 13 studio and shopfront spaces to

support 16 artists at six locations

• Supported the development of two key public

art projects including the Sunvale Community

Park Indigenous Art Project

• Regularly hosted about 2,000 hirers

and visitors a week at STACC

(St Albans Community Centre)

• Hosted two Seniors Summits for hirers

at STACC

• 40 functions held by hirers at STACC

• Entered into eight partnerships including

Room to Move (dance), Be Bold (performance

projects) and community programs at STACC

• Actively engaged new communities

including Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

(e.g., In Conversations Program, Koorie

Homework Club), LGBTIQ and disability

communities in addition to engaging

Brimbank’s diverse cultural communities

• More than 55 productions events, by Council

and community, presented in the Bowery

Theatre, including internal collaborations

such as the Writers & Readers Festival

• Seven schools with more than 180 students

engaged in Council theatre productions

• Presented the St Albans Festival for Families

with 2,996 participants involved, and 36

professional artists engaged in the festival

• Coordinated eight National Disability

Insurance Scheme presentations and

information sessions to 180 people

• Coordinated four community networks –

Brimbank Disability Network Group, Brimbank

Maribyrnong Interfaith Network, Brimbank

Active Seniors and Brimbank Seniors Forums

• Coordinated four Brimbank Aboriginal and

Torres Strait Islander Reconciliation Action

Plan Consultative Committee meetings

• Delivered Community Leadership Programs

for 45 people

• Provided 27 Community Governance training

sessions to 318 participants

• Held three Brimbank Leadership Alumni

Networking events

• 45 children participated in nine projects as

part of the Dynamic Young Citizens project

• 103 volunteers participated in volunteer

training held during Volunteer Week

• 42 volunteers joined Brimbank City Council

increasing the total number of volunteers

to 429

• Developed the Disability in Brimbank Guide

for service providers, agencies and National

Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) based in

Brimbank to support with the implementation

of the National Disability Insurance Scheme

(NDIS)

• Developed the Enabling Women in Brimbank –

ID leadership program

• Developed the Aboriginal Leadership Program

• Delivered four Sexual Lives Respectful

Relationship training sessions

• Held three Brimbank Active Seniors meetings

and three Brimbank Seniors Forums

• Provided 29 $250 Neighbour Day Grants to

support 1,000 people to participate in various

activities organised by 200 neighbours across

29 locations

• Supported 20 Brimbank primary

school children and their neighbours –

approximately 60 people in total – to take

part in a Neighbour Day artwork exhibition

• Hosted a delegation of 14 Japanese Local

Government Delegates on Brimbank’s

multicultural practices and programs

• 36 Brimbank residents participated in the

SKM recycling tour in North Laverton

• Held Community Safety Forums in Sunshine

and Keilor in partnership with Victoria Police,

which were attended by 56 people

• Conducted three school tours of the Brimbank

Community and Civic Centre and two school

on-site visits as part of Council’s civic

education program

• Held four Brimbank Social Justice Charter –

Strategic Implementation Group meetings

• Held the 2018 State and Federal Budget

forum, with 50 participants

• Held a Social Justice themed event in the

Writers & Readers festival with over 100

participants

• Chaired four Brimbank Service Provider

Network meetings

• Held 10 Councillor and Community

Engagement sessions attended by 115 people

• 396,800 annual visits to Council’s seven

neighbourhood houses

• Council’s neighbourhood houses signed a new

Brimbank Neighbourhood House Strategic

Partnership Agreement 2016-2019 with the

five independent neighbourhood houses in

Brimbank

• The Kororoit Creek Neighbourhood House

Inc signed a five-year lease with Council to

deliver Neighbourhood House programs

from the Albion Eco-Living House in

Selwyn Avenue, Albion

• Provided grants totalling $145,000 to five

independent neighbourhood houses to

support the delivery of community programs

and community development activities

• 19,192 hours of programs run across the

seven neighbourhood houses

• 25 special events run by neighbourhood

houses

• 116 volunteers supported the delivery of

programs at seven neighbourhood houses

• 80 people attended Neighbourhood House

Week activities such as Pottery Open Studio

celebrating the upgrades to the studio and

equipment, and Ceramics come-and-try

activities

• Westvale Men’s Shed first birthday and

the launch of Women’s Shed Experience

(women’s woodworking group) run by

the Westvale Men’s Shed champions

• Partnerships with 23 community groups

and organisations

10

I

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018 I

11

Council provides a comprehensive waste

service to the community while striving

to manage waste sustainably.

What we delivered

• Introduced online services on Council’s

website to allow people to apply for a new, or

amend an existing bin service

• Weekly domestic waste and fortnightly

recycling collection for 69,353 households

and fortnightly green waste collection for

39,642 households

• Lifted 6,440,227 bins

• Collected 42,742 tonnes of waste

• Recycled 16,094 tonnes of waste

• Collected 11,550 tonnes of green waste

• Collected and recycled 3,979 tonnes of

hard waste, 243 tonnes of steel, 10,321

mattresses and 4,714 tyres in the annual

kerbside hard waste collection service

• Collected 30,000 kilograms of paint, 15,200

litres of motor oil and 1,200 kilograms of

household batteries

• Accepted 550 kilograms of fluorescent tubes,

1,051 car batteries, 43,300 kilograms of

e-waste and 5000 kilograms of gas cylinders

at the permanent Detox Your Home centre at

Stadium Drive, Keilor Park

Council is responsible for planning permit approvals, providing building permit services,

and conducting inspections of building works and fire safety audits.

Brimbank’s five libraries offer collections of books, magazines, DVDs, toys and other items as well

as programs and information services for the whole community at no charge, and cater for all ages.

Collections are available in English and 19 community languages. A Home Library Service operates

for people who are unable to visit the library. Library programs support lifelong learning and include

weekly story times and computer classes. All libraries offer study facilities, Wi-Fi, Internet and

computer access and printing. Of the 225,946 items available to borrow, 26 per cent are on loan at

any given time. The library’s Online Library provides access to downloadable e-books and audio books,

access to hundreds of online magazines and newspapers in over 60 languages. Library members can

browse, reserve and renew their library items through the Online Library.

• Online services on Council’s website

to allow people to apply for:

- A planning permit

- An amendment to a planning permit

- Copies of planning permits and/or

endorsed plans

- A demolition request

- Extension of time to a planning permit

- Planning advice

- Plans subject to Conditions

• 1,048 planning application decisions made

• 658 planning-related property information

requests received

• 262 subdivision applications received

• 471 investigations resulting from planning

compliance complaints

• 1,224 inspections resulting from planning

compliance complaints

• 15 Magistrates’ Court prosecutions for

planning compliance

• 48 Planning Infringement Notices issued

• 900 people attended the Brimbank Writers &

Readers Festival

• 961 Home Library Service visits delivered

by 33 volunteers to 67 active Home Library

Service customers in their homes

• 945 children registered for the 1000 Books

Before School program, bringing the overall

total of registrations to 2,176

What we delivered

• Online services on Council’s website

to allow people to apply for:

- A building permit or request a quote

- A report and consent

- Copies of building documents

- Register a Building Permit – Private

Surveyors

- Request to Vary or Extend the Time

of a Building Permit

- Property Information

• $589.69 million total value of new building

projects requiring building permits

• 290 report and consent requests received

and processed for buildings

• 402 mandatory building inspections

• 2,037 building-related property information

requests

• 315 requests for copies of plans received

• 387 Building Notices and Orders served

• 45 illegal rooming house inspections

• 125 swimming pool barrier inspections

• 103 essential services maintenance

inspections

• 15 emergency after hours call outs

• 476 investigations resulting from

building-related complaints

• 282 illegal building works identified

• 37 matters referred to Council’s solicitors

for legal action

What we delivered

• 37,220 new physical items added to the

collection in English and 19 community

languages

• 2,045,786 total library visits; of these visits,

1,263,891 were made to the five libraries and

781,895 to the online library

• 1,412,887 collection loans; of these, 957,550

physical items were borrowed and 455,337

electronic resources were utilised

• 170,451 catalogue searches completed

• 15,068 new library members registered

bringing the total active library membership

to 72,005

• 258,010 Internet bookings made

• 141,109 instances of IT help provided to the

community

• 12,896 video game bookings made

• 149,094 reference questions answered

• 3,595 library programs delivered with 64,504

people attending:

- 1,655 children’s programs with 45,149

children attending

- 144 teen programs with 1,090 teens

attending

- 1,072 adult programs with 8,680 adults

attending

- 598 IT classes with 2,180 people attending

– these included classes in languages other

than English and those aimed at seniors

Council has a responsibility to provide services

and information to the community in order to

protect the public from disease, provide safety

and ensure wellbeing.

What we delivered

• Conducted 1,946 food premise inspections

(including Streatrader compliance checks)

• Administered 3,407 vaccinations to infants

• Administered 9,832 vaccinations to school

aged children

12

I

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018 I

13

Council is responsible for upgrading and maintaining local parks, creek corridors, sports grounds,

municipal reserves and street trees.

• 9,400 indigenous grasses, herbs, shrubs and

trees planted to restore habitat

• Installed structural habitat elements along

200 metres of Kororoit Creek, Sunshine West

and Deer Park such as rocks, logs, and rock

animal sculptures

• Engaged with over 2,500 community

members (including school students) to

promote the natural environment

• Continued with external partnership

programs, including the Maribyrnong Valley

Connection Project, resulting in the enhanced

maintenance of natural assets in Brimbank

• Administered the Sustainable Land

Management Grant Scheme

• Continued to support ‘Friends of’ groups and

conservation volunteers, assisting them to

improve Brimbank’s biodiversity and liveability

• Maintained approximately 1,180 hectares

of public open space, streetscapes, grassed

areas and soft landscaped areas

• Inspected and maintained approximately

200,000 trees in parks and streets including

powerline clearing works in line with Council’s

Electric Line Clearance Management Plan

• Maintained 29 sports reserves comprising

63 playing fields

• Maintained 143 irrigation systems

• Maintained Keilor Public Golf Course

• Proactive inspection of high-risk trees

Council is responsible for managing the

City’s local roads, footpaths and other assets.

What we delivered

• 1,310 kilometres of underground drain

pipes managed and maintained along

with 60 kilometres of table drains

• 45,329 storm water pits, 361 litter traps

and 42 gross pollutant traps maintained

and cleaned

• Approximately 4,000 drain pits inspected

and cleaned

• 1,657 litter traps inspected and cleaned

• 909 kilometres of local roads inspected

and maintained, including 4.8 kilometres

of unsealed roads

• 1,490 kilometres of footpaths inspected

and maintained

• 80,000 street/road signs proactively

inspected and maintained and approximately

6,000 signs physically maintained

• Approximately 31,000 kilometres of

residential and commercial kerb and

channel swept

• 1,809 tonnes collected through street

sweeping program

• 122,876 street litter bins emptied

• 2,459 tonnes of litter collected through the

street litter bin and manual litter collection

service

• 229,340 square metres of road pavement

resurfaced or rehabilitated

• 291 buildings maintained on 165 sites

• 215 playgrounds maintained, of which

155 are in open space and 60 in preschools,

child care and community centres

Council’s Ageing and Inclusion provides services

for the community under the Commonwealth

Home Support Programme (CHSP) for people

over 65 years of age and the Victorian Home

and Community Care Program for Young People

(HACCPYP) for people under 65 years of age.

Council also provides a range of community

programs including community transport,

volunteer support and support for seniors.

What we delivered

• 61,311 meals on wheels

• 34,369 hours of domestic assistance

• 11,373 hours of personal care

• 11,068 hours of respite care

• 3,923 hours of property maintenance

• 48,101 hours of social support services

• 7,390 hours of assessment and care

management

• 25,039 passenger trips on community

transport buses

• 2,194 clients received a service

What we delivered

• Upgraded three local parks

• Upgraded five neighbourhood parks

• Completed suburban park upgrade at

Jamieson Street Reserve, St Albans

• Planted more than 60,660 new trees as part

of One Million Trees planting initiative

• Planted 5,329 trees along streets and main

roads

• Upgraded shared user path connection

from Apollo Road to Sunshine Avenue,

Taylors Lakes

• Planted 10,000 tubestock plants in parks

• Planted 4,000 semi-mature trees in streets

• Planted 1,000 semi-mature trees in parks

• Upgraded Perth Avenue, Albion streetscape

and shopping strip

• Completed Elaine Street, St Albans

streetscape upgrade

• Advocated for good urban design outcomes

at Melton Highway Level Crossing Removal

project

• 46 conservation sites managed to improve

habitat for indigenous flora and fauna,

covering 370 hectares

• 14 ecological burns completed to reduce

biomass and increase vegetation quality,

covering 13.71 hectares

Council is responsible for providing education

and enforcement through relevant legislation,

local laws and Council policies, and maintains

a safe and healthy environment in which the

community can enjoy a quality of life that

meets their expectations.

What we delivered

• Introduction of Litter Enforcement Cameras

across the municipality

• Implementation of a responsible pet

ownership community campaign to promote

animal desexing, microchipping and

registrations

• 13,184 compliance service enquiries

attended to, including

- 3,129 for parking

- 1,059 for local law

- 874 for litter

- 1,508 for abandoned/derelict vehicles

- 2,403 for condition of land

- 1,472 enquiries about cats

- 2,328 enquiries about dogs

- 411 regarding other animals

• 1,713 stray animals collected by Council

(685 dogs, 996 cats, 32 other animals)

• 12,135 pets registered (8,905 dogs and

3,230 cats)

• Six dog attack prosecutions and 366

infringements for animal-related matters

• 22,536 parking infringements and

545 local law infringements issued

• 1247 vacant properties inspected and

594 fire hazard reduction notices issued;

of these, 245 land owners were issued

with infringements and 115 properties

had to be cut by Council’s contractor

• 104 event/film permit applications processed

- 76 event permits issued

- 15 film permits issued

• One busking permit issued

• Six Community Training sessions

conducted on event compliance

• 117 school crossings supervised

every school day

• 874 individual littering investigations

conducted

14

I

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018 I

15

Our Goal:

An Inclusive Community

Strategic Objectives:

• Our community members

are safe, healthy and well

• People have opportunities to

participate in community life

• Services and facilities are

fit-for-purpose and well-run

• Our community belong and

are proud of where they live

Our Goal:

A Liveable Community

Strategic Objectives:

• Public and open spaces are safe,

clean and well-maintained

• People can get around easily

on foot, by bike, car or by public

transport

• Our community lives sustainably

• The natural environment supports

thriving biodiversity that is

protected and well connected

• The urban environment

supports a growing population in

designated areas while respecting

neighbourhood character and

heritage where appropriate

• Complete and commence implementation

of the Brimbank Car Parking Management

Framework, including revised planning

scheme provisions for car parking in St Albans

and Sunshine town centres.

• Implement the Waste, Recycling and Litter

Strategy 2018-2028.

• Incorporate integrated water management

practices into Council’s planning and projects.

• Continue to project manage the delivery of

the Upper Stony Creek transformation project

on behalf of all partners.

• In partnership with the Western Alliance

for Greenhouse Action (WAGA), investigate

options for large-scale renewable energy.

• Implement actions within the Climate Change

Adaptation Framework including Integrated

Heatwave Response Plans.

• Continue to encourage and facilitate

community participation in environmental

activities.

• Implement the Habitat Connectivity Plan

including the Maribyrnong River Research

Project.

• Continue to actively manage conservation

assets through revegetation, pest plan/

animal control and ecological burns.

• Administer the Sustainable Land

Management Grant Scheme.

• Implement a subsidised cat desexing program

to support residents and reduce the impact

on the environment.

• Facilitate the Maribyrnong Valley Connection

Project.

• Complete and commence implementation of

the Brimbank Planning Scheme and Municipal

Strategic Statement, including reformed

residential zones.

• Update the Brimbank Activity Centre Strategy.

• Implement the Environmentally Sustainable

Design (ESD) Framework on Council facilities

and investigate options for applying

ESD through Council Statutory Planning

responses.

• Prepare neighbourhood character and design

objectives for Brimbank residential zones.

• Support the development planning process

and urban renewal on strategic sites.

• Complete and commence implementation of

a Comprehensive Development Plan for the

Sunshine Health, Education and Wellbeing

Precinct.

• Complete and commence implementation of

the Brimbank Heritage Strategy.

Key Achievements

• Implementing the St Albans CCTV project.

• Installing public art murals in five public places

that promote visual art, prevent graffiti and

improve local amenity.

• Undertaking a review of the General Purposes

Local Law (no.2).

• Implementing a snake catching service.

• Expanding the program of mobile surveillance

cameras to monitor illegal dumping in public

areas.

• Increasing proactive cleaning, maintenance

and amenity in St Albans and Sunshine town

centres and other Council-owned shopping

strips including the addition of new bin wraps

and stickers and new Christmas decorations

and banners.

• Developing the Sunvale Community Park.

• Implementing recommendations from

the Management Plan for the H.V. McKay

Memorial Gardens.

• Implementing road rehabilitation projects and

other road works from the Year 1 (2017-2018)

Capital Works Program.

• Developing the 2018-2028 Waste

Management Strategy incorporating a Clean

Green Brimbank Litter Management Strategy.

• Working in partnership with the Western

Alliance for Greenhouse Action (WAGA),

to investigate options for large-scale

renewable energy.

• Developing and implementing the Climate

Change Adaptation Framework.

• Continuing to encourage and facilitate

community participation in environmental

activities by:

1. facilitating environmental campaigns

including Clean Up Australia Day, World

Environment Day and National Tree Day

2. providing support to ‘Friends of’ groups

and other community groups to engage

in environmental initiatives

• Continuing to implement street tree planting

programs as part of the Urban Forest

Strategy.

• Developing and implementing a Habitat

Connectivity Plan.

• Establishing a Sustainable Land Management

Grant Scheme.

• Implementing the Maribyrnong Valley

Connection Project.

• Continuing to monitor the proposal for the

Ravenhall Tip and advocating to ensure no

detrimental impact on Brimbank.

• Completing the Municipal Development

Contributions Plan Overlay.

• Developing and implementing an

Environmentally Sustainable Design

Framework.

• Supporting development planning processes

and urban renewal on strategic sites, including

the Broadcast Australia site in Delahey.

• Monitoring and applying for heritage funding

to support restoration of Council-owned

heritage assets.

Future Initiatives 2018-2019

• Deliver the Light Up program in St Albans and

Sunshine town centres.

• Develop a Graffiti Management Strategy.

• Construct Stage 3 of The Lakes Reserve

Flagship Park in Taylors Lakes.

• Undertake a community building feasibility

study to result in the development of a

master plan for Parsons Reserve.

• Construct a new skate facility at Delahey

Recreation Reserve, Delahey.

• Complete identified neighbourhood and

suburban park upgrades.

• Commence implementation of Stage 3 of the

Master Plan for Selwyn Park, Albion.

• Advocate to the State Government for

improved public transport services and

supporting infrastructure.

• Undertake works to improve pedestrian and

vehicular access through the various road and

footpath programs in Council’s Capital Works

program.

• Undertake a comprehensive condition survey

of Council roads, footpaths, shared paths

and bridges to ensure that they are safe and

appropriately funded in future years.

Future Initiatives 2018-2019

• Implement an action plan for Women’s

Participation in Sport and Recreation in

Melbourne’s West.

• Upgrade sports facilities to be inclusive

of female sport participation.

• Review and implement an updated Plan to

Prevent Men’s Violence Against Women,

Towards Gender Equity

• Conduct safety forums in partnership

with Victoria Police.

• Continue to work with services regarding

access to alcohol and other drug services

• Pilot new engagement and decision-making

model for young people.

• Implement the Inclusivity Plan to reduce

the health inequalities amongst LGBTIQ

young people.

• Provide a strong network of equitable and

accessible services, facilities and open space.

• Develop a Sunshine Leisure Centre Master

Plan.

• Report on outcomes of analysis and

consultation relating to the feasibility

study for youth centre facilities.

• Commence implementation of the Community

Services and Infrastructure Plan.

• Implement the new Festival and

Events Grants Program.

• Identify the location and award the

commission for the installation of the

2019/2020 Public Art Commission.

Key Achievements

• Promoting local physical activity events

in parks and community spaces through

promotion and community grants.

• Developing service enhancements through

the Growing Brimbank Collaboration to

improve outcomes for children and families.

• Working in partnership with local services to

provide an expanded breastfeeding support

service including the introduction of a

lactation consultant.

• Participating in the pilot Local Government

Listen, Learn and Lead Gender Equity

Program.

• Developing local safety community

information in consultation with the

Brimbank Community Safety Roundtable.

• Developing a local profile of drug and

alcohol issues in consultation with local

services providers for improved services

planning and advocacy.

• Monitoring outcomes of State Government

reviews regarding regulation of electronic

gaming machines and harm minimisation

measures.

• Reviewing and updating the Brimbank

Social Justice Charter.

• Considering performing arts and facility

needs in the development of the Arts

and Culture Strategy.

• Developing the Brimbank Age Friendly City

Plan 2018–2022.

• Undertaking a community survey on library

services.

• Assessing community programs needs at

the Hunt Club Community and Arts Centre

and the Keilor Neighbourhood House.

• Undertaking assessment of Glengala

Community Centre to determine

maintenance and upgrade requirements.

• Updating the Sports Facilities Development

Plan.

• Developing a Master Plan for the Deer Park

Primary School surrounds.

• Supporting and increasing funding to

community-based festivals including

Keilor Gift and Neighbour Day.

• Developing the Brimbank Volunteer Strategy

2018-2022.

• Developing a Public Art Strategy that

incorporates street art provision.

• Reviewing the new Reconciliation Action Plan

(RAP).

16

I

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018 I

17

Our Goal:

A Prosperous Community

Strategic Objectives:

• People are able to access quality

education and lifelong learning

opportunities

• People are able to find and

maintain jobs that provide

income security

• The local economy is strong and

provides opportunities for the

community to thrive

• Housing is of good quality,

well located and affordable

• Brimbank is a leading destination

for business, working, learning,

recreation and living

Key Achievements

• Developing the Brimbank Lifelong Learning

Strategy 2018–2023.

• Implementing the Education Development

Centre at Visy Cares Hub.

• Advocating to State and Federal Governments

for improved education provision.

• Assessing current and future population

demand in advocating for a high school

in Derrimut.

• Preparing a position paper about

unemployment in Brimbank.

• Implementing the Western Youth

Employment Partnership Action Plan.

• Developing the Brimbank Youth Jobs

Strategy 2018–2023.

• Working in partnership with different levels

of government to deliver an employment

initiative, bringing together unemployed

jobseekers, employers, employment

providers and industry bodies.

• Continuing to implement the Brimbank

Economic Development Strategy.

• Renewing the Sunshine Marketing and

Business Development Special Rate.

• Supporting the Keilor Village traders to

establish a Business Association.

• Advocating to government to improve funding

and services to address homelessness.

• Continuing to undertake activities that attract

investment and facilitate development with

a focus on employment areas, including

the Sunshine National Employment and

Innovation Cluster.

Future Initiatives 2018-2019

• Implement Year 2 of the Strategic Framework

for Library Collections through investigation

of new library formats in response to

changing community needs.

• Activate Brimbank Learning Futures at Visy

Cares Hub through partnership development

and community engagement.

• Develop a five-year Strategy and Action Plan

for Council-managed neighbourhood houses.

• Support community learning through

innovation in library and Neighbourhood

House programs, services and resources.

• Identify and develop responses to key issues

in learning and education.

• Advocate to State and Federal governments

for improved education provision.

• Support the operation of a Brimbank

co-working and accelerator space.

• Implement the Western Youth Employment

Partnership Action Plan.

• Implement the Youth Jobs Strategy in

partnership with key stakeholders.

• Complete and commence implementation of

the Brimbank Industrial Land Use Strategy.

• Complete strategic work required for the

Solomon Heights Estate.

• Implement Year 2 Brimbank Economic

Development Strategy actions.

• Complete and commence implementation

of the St Albans Town Centre Place

Management Business Plan.

• Complete and commence implementation of

the Sunshine Town Centre Strategic Business

Plan, and continue the implementation of the

Sunshine Rising Program.

• Continue to administer the current Sunshine

Marketing and Business Development Special

Rate scheme.

• Renew the St Albans Marketing and Business

Development Special Rate scheme.

• Advocate to the State Government for

increased supply of social and affordable

housing.

• Implement the Experience Brimbank Strategy.

• Continue to undertake activities to attract

investment and facilitate development with

a focus on employment areas, including

the Sunshine National Employment and

Innovation Cluster.

Our Goal:

An Innovative and Responsive

‘Community First’ Council

Strategic Objectives:

• Council is fair, honest and

transparent

• Council advocates and works in

the interests of our community

• Council manages its assets

and finances sustainably and

responsibly

• Council staff are high performing

and community-focused

Key Achievements

• Reviewing legislative governance and

reporting in line with new

requirements.

• Reporting on the outcomes of the annual

Local Government Community Satisfaction

Survey.

• Implementing Stage 2 of Business

Transformation with a focus on automated

systems and processes.

• Developing a Brimbank Advocacy Framework

to deliver more coordinated and systematic

approaches to advocacy.

• Developing the Brimbank Resilience Strategy

based on the Resilient Melbourne Strategy.

• Providing information to the community

on the range of services, community

organisations and facilities available in

Brimbank.

• Reviewing language services provided by

Council and third parties.

• Developing the ‘Welcome. We are Brimbank’

marketing strategy incorporating digital

channels.

• Developing a Community Engagement Policy

and Toolkit.

• Developing a program for ongoing Councillor

engagement with the community.

• Reviewing and implementing the Annual

Budget and Long Term Financial Plan in

accordance with agreed timeframes.

• Finalising annual accounts by 30 September

each year.

• Continuing to deliver staff learning and

development programs.

Future Initiatives 2018-2019

• Pilot and review Councillor portfolios.

• Conduct a bi-annual fraud awareness

program.

• Review legislative governance and reporting

in line with new

requirements.

• Report on the outcomes of the annual Local

Government Community Satisfaction Survey.

• Implementation of approved Business

Transformation projects with a focus on

customer centric benefits and automated

systems and processes.

• Implement the Brimbank Advocacy

Framework to deliver more coordinated and

systematic approaches to advocacy including

the identification of Council’s Year 2 advocacy

priorities.

• Commence implementation of the Resilient

Brimbank Strategy.

• Provide information to the community on the

range of services, community organisations

and facilities available in Brimbank.

• Deliver the new language services program

to improve access for people from CALD

backgrounds to information and services of

Council.

• Implement ongoing marketing activities to

promote People, Pride and Places in Brimbank.

• Implement the Brimbank Community

Engagement Toolkit.

• Review and implement the Annual Budget

and Long Term Financial Plan in accordance

with legislative requirements.

• Finalise annual accounts by 30 September

each year.

• Continue to offer staff learning and

development programs.

Challenges and Opportunities

As we look to the future, a number of key challenges and opportunities have been identified for

Brimbank, including:

• Providing community services and infrastructure designed to meet community need, whilst

operating in a cost-constrained environment.

• Improving health and wellbeing outcomes for our community through partnerships and advocacy.

• Land use planning that provides the right mix of industry, commercial and residential development.

• Creating healthy places and greener spaces that will support a diverse and increasing population.

• Waste and energy minimisation and management that is innovative and cost effective.

• Improving education and employment outcomes for our community. This will be achieved through

advocacy and partnerships.

• Advocating for improved transport connections to enable travel across Brimbank and to the City.

• Maintaining financial sustainability despite rate capping and a reduction in the availability of

external grants. Council will continue to seek external funding sources to reduce the impact of

rate capping on the community.

• Delivering equitable and quality community services whilst transitioning through the Aged Care

and Disability Service Reform process.

• Preparing and planning with the State and Federal governments to maximise the opportunities

for Brimbank with the proposed Melbourne airport rail link through Sunshine.

18

I

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018 I

19

Brimbank City Council’s 2017-2018

Annual Report details Council’s

performance during that financial

year and includes a report against

the objectives set out in Brimbank’s

Council Plan 2017-2021. The

functions and powers of Council are

set out in the

.

The role of Council includes:

• Setting the strategic direction for Council

and monitoring and improving ongoing

performance

• Managing Council’s assets and resources

responsibly

• Considering the current and future needs of

the local community when making decisions

• Providing accessible, accountable and

transparent government

• Advocating the needs of the Brimbank

community to promote investment by other

spheres of government and the private sector

• Promoting civic participation and delivering

programs, which enhance community health

and wellbeing

Highlights

It has been another busy and rewarding year

for our Council and our City. We made great

headway with many of the initiatives that

this Council has undertaken on behalf of its

residents.

Among the highlights of our year were:

• Supporting and increasing funding to

community-based festivals including

Keilor Gift and Neighbour Day

• Embarking on an exciting and ambitious

project to replace the St Albans Leisure

Centre with a multi-generational health

and wellbeing hub that includes leisure

and aquatic services

• Announcing the opening of the new

Vietnam War Memorial at Kevin Wheelahan

Gardens in Sunshine, paying tribute to the

521 Australians who lost their lives in the

Vietnam War

• Introducing the new monthly Council

electronic newsletter ‘Brimbank View’, issued

to local community stakeholders to keep

them informed with news, events, reminders,

video updates and profiles of the teams and

services that make Brimbank an amazing and

diverse community

• Developing the 2018-2028 Waste

Management Strategy incorporating a Clean

Green Brimbank Litter Management Strategy;

all part of our increased focus on better waste

management

• Developing some of the key plans and

strategies that will help Council look after

its community into the future – Brimbank

Age Friendly City Plan 2018–2022; updating

Sports Facilities Development Plan;

2018-2028 Waste Management Strategy

incorporating a Clean Green Brimbank Litter

Management Strategy; Brimbank Lifelong

Learning Strategy 2018–2023

• Expanding the program of mobile surveillance

cameras to monitor illegal dumping in public

areas – an important part of our crackdown

on dumping

• Developing the ‘Welcome. We are Brimbank’

marketing strategy, which promoted all the

great things about Brimbank and strengthen

city pride

• Continuing to monitor the proposal for the

Ravenhall Tip and advocating to ensure no

detrimental impact on Brimbank, including

our appeal to the Victorian Civil and

Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) to review its

expansion

Common to all the above achievements is

adherence to our ‘Community First’ principles.

Community is at the heart of everything that we

do. We are looking to the long-term health and

wellbeing of our community; we have invited

community consultation and sought community

engagement; and we celebrate the diversity of

our community through the many events and

initiatives that Council undertakes. This diversity

is reflected in the make-up of Council itself.

Advocacy and engagement

As a western region council, Brimbank continued

to work in partnership with the community

in 2017-2018 to actively advocate across all

levels of government and the not-for-profit

and private sectors on a number of key issues

affecting the wellbeing of the community, and

which are important for the west.

In August 2017 Council adopted the Council Plan

2017-2021, which outlines Council’s vision to be

a welcoming, great place to live, work and grow

and sets out goals for the Brimbank community

to be an inclusive, liveable and prosperous

community, led by an innovative and responsive

‘Community First’ Council.

Council advocated for change in areas including:

• Transport infrastructure

• Funding support for the replacement of

St Albans Leisure Centre

• Investment in sports facilities

• The upgrade of the Calder Freeway Council

• A Melbourne Airport rail link with a stop at

Sunshine station

• Electronic gambling reform

Council also consulted on a wide range of topics,

draft policies, plans, strategies and topics,

including:

• Draft Annual Budget 2018/2019

• Draft Age Friendly City Plan 2018-2022

• Draft Brimbank Community Vision 2040

• Draft Community Engagement Policy 2018

• Draft Brimbank Planning Scheme Evaluation

Report 2017

• Draft Brimbank Transport Disadvantage

Policy 2017

• Draft Climate Change Adaptation Framework

2017-2022

• Draft Community Engagement Policy 2018

• Draft Environmental Sustainability Policy

• Draft Experience Brimbank Visitor Strategy

2018-2023

• Draft Festival And Events Policy And Strategy

2018-2021

• Draft revised Greenhouse Reduction Strategy

2013-2023

• Draft Sports Facility Development Plan 2018

• Draft Strategic Framework for Library

Collections 2017-2020

Thank you

This has been the first full financial year of

Brimbank’s return to democratically elected

Councillors, and that so much has been

achieved in this period is due, in large part,

to the dedication of my fellow Councillors.

I would like to thank them all for their hard

work, commitment and above all, their

passion to create a better Brimbank.

I would like to thank the ratepayers and

residents of Brimbank, who have elected us to

serve their community. The Brimbank people

that I have encountered in my time as Mayor

come from all walks of life and never cease to

inspire and amaze me with the breadth of their

achievements and the things they have done

to make this diverse city such a wonderful

place to be.

To all our many friends and partners, including

those at State and Federal government levels

who work tirelessly with us to improve the lives

of our people, thank you for working with us on

so many projects and initiatives over the last

year.

And finally, thank you to all the hard-working

staff of Brimbank City Council, who serve in

a truly diverse array of roles to keep the city

humming.

We look forward to working collaboratively into

the future with everyone who makes up the rich

fabric of the City of Brimbank.

Mayor, Brimbank City Council

20

I

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018 I

21

On behalf of Brimbank City Council,

I’m pleased to introduce the

Council’s 2017-2018 Annual Report.

As the CEO, the council delegates certain powers to

this position to implement their strategic decisions.

There are also a number of responsibilities set out

in Section 94 A of the

regarding the role. These include:

• Providing an appropriate organisational

structure for the council

• Quickly implementing council decisions

• Overseeing the daily management of council

operations with respect to the Council Plan

• Implementing and embedding a code of

conduct for council staff

• Providing timely advice to the council

• Safeguarding compliance with relevant

legislation in respect to council operations

Highlights

It has been another exceptionally busy and

rewarding year for Brimbank City Council.

We’re now fully settled in at the purpose-built

Community and Civic Centre in Hampshire

Road, Sunshine, and our new surroundings

aptly symbolise Council’s increasing focus on

innovative and long-term objectives to ensure

that Brimbank remains not only a great place

to live but plays a central role in the growing

importance of the western region, to the

ultimate benefit of all our residents.

This type of long-term thinking was evident

in our initiatives over the last year. Since the

return of elected representatives there has

been a concerted effort to improve the ageing

physical structure of the city, notably in the

number and quality of our public parks and

in such projects as the once-in-a-generation

health and wellbeing hub planned for St Albans.

The health and wellbeing hub will stand

as testament to our vision of the city’s

future and is an important example of

what the present Council is aiming to do:

make decisions for the long-term benefit

of Brimbank and create a legacy that will

benefit generations of residents to come.

In some ways we laid the groundwork for the

city’s future by building on our virtues at the

grassroots. A tangible example of this over the

last year was our ‘Welcome. We are Brimbank’

campaign, which was all about strengthening

city pride and creating a stronger sense of

inclusiveness, here and now.

On the other hand, we developed plans and

strategies that will help Council look after its

community well into the future, including the

Brimbank Age Friendly City Plan 2018–2022,

the updated Sports Facilities Development

Plan, the 2018-2028 Waste Management

Strategy incorporating a Clean Green Brimbank

Litter Management Strategy, and the Brimbank

Lifelong Learning Strategy 2018–2023.

What has been evident in so much of the

work we have done over the last year is that

the traditional role of Local Government has

broadened. More than ever, it has innumerable

touch points with its community members

through every phase of their lives, and in a richly

multicultural city like ours these touch points are

often profoundly important to local residents.

This creates both challenges and enormous

opportunities. It is also with these many touch

points in mind that the organisation has taken

on a far more active advocacy role over the last

year, to ensure that Brimbank and its residents

continue to get a ‘fair go’ on a range of fronts.

In all this activity, we continued to be guided

by our ‘Community First’ principles to ensure

we provide the best possible service to our

community. This will be even more important

in the years ahead, because Brimbank is clearly

a city in transition. As it continues to rapidly

evolve, partly changing on account of emerging

economic opportunities, we firmly intend to

ensure that we bring the whole community

along with us in this great change, and that

the needs of all residents – from long-standing

to relatively new – are addressed through the

work we do.

Much of that work, as undertaken in 2017-

2018, is outlined in this Annual Report. All of

it has, in common, a strong determination by

all of us here to leave things better than we

found them; that is, to improve the services

and infrastructure of this wonderful city in

the challenging context of limited resources,

competing needs and changing circumstances.

These are big challenges, to be sure; but they

are, too, exciting and rewarding ones.

Organisational performance

Despite the challenges associated with such

factors as a rate capping environment, the

organisation’s financial position remains sound.

Council achieved a surplus of $20.41 million

in 2017-2018, which is in line with the

budgeted surplus of $20.2 million. The adjusted

underlying surplus is $12.6 million. Sustaining

an adjusted underlying surplus is a critical

financial strategy that provides capacity to build

new assets and to renew the $2.5 billion of

community assets under Council’s control. Cash

has increased by 38 per cent from the prior year,

mainly due to the carry forward of capital works.

More information, including economic factors

impacting Council’s operations, is available in the

Financial Summary.

Council’s determination to plan for the

long-term future needs to be balanced, from

an operational perspective, with the daily

challenges of running the organisation and

maintaining the city’s current infrastructure and

services to the highest standard.

Our primary goal, always, is to ensure healthy

financial sustainability – at a time when costs

are increasing across the board and almost

three-quarters of our income derives from

rates in a rate-capping environment. Council’s

planning in all matters is responsibly informed

by these vital considerations.

Thank you

I would like to acknowledge my appreciation of

the remarkable work done by our Councillors

over the last year and in the period since the

return of elected representatives to Brimbank.

The passion, dedication and determination of

our Councillors to create a better Brimbank – one

that vastly improves the health and wellbeing of

our community in every respect – has ensured

that they have been vital conduits between

Council and the people of Brimbank, ensuring

that our ‘Community First’ approach is relevant

and responding to local needs.

I’d also like to thank our many partners in the

community for their advice, expertise and

enthusiasm. And of course, thank you to our staff,

who collectively bring a breathtaking array of

skills and knowledge to the office – and out in the

streets of Brimbank – every day to ensure that

the pulse of the city remains strong and vibrant.

Together we will all ensure that Brimbank

continues to be a remarkable city that balances

the wonderful traditions of its history with the

exciting opportunities of the future.

Chief Executive Officer

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

Underlying Surplus / (Deficit) $'000

4,077

26,528

13,787

2013-14

2014-15

2015-16

2016-17

2017-18

5,058

13,787

12,557

05

15

25

35

45

10

20

30

40

50

Debt Ratio (%)

46

35

2013-14

2014-15

2015-16

2016-17

2017-18

41.76

40

42

0 10

30

50

70

90

20

40

60

80

100

Asset Renewal

87

68

61

2013-14

2014-15

2015-16

2016-17

2017-18

57

76

0 10

20 30

40 50

60 70

80

Rate Concentration (%)

69

73

2013-14

2014-15

2015-16

2016-17

2017-18

70

76

76

0

50

100

150

200

250

Working Capital Ratio (%)

145.44

220.11

235.00

200.66

93.66

2013-14

2014-15

2015-16

2016-17

2017-18

22

I

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018 I

23

The 2017-2018 financial year

results reflect Council’s ongoing

commitment to financial and

infrastructure sustainability as

outlined in Council’s Long Term

Financial Plan.

Financial summary

Council’s financial position continues to remain

sound. Detailed information relating to Council’s

financial performance is included within

the Financial Statements and Performance

Statement sections of this Report.

Council manages over $2.5 billion dollars in

assets. These comprise land, building and other

infrastructure assets such as roads, footpaths

and bike paths and drainage.

Operating position

Council achieved a surplus of $20.41 million

in 2017-2018. This surplus is in line with

the budgeted surplus of $20.2 million. The

adjusted underlying surplus of Council, after

removing non-recurrent capital grants, cash

capital contributions and non-monetary capital

contributions, is $12.6 million. Sustaining an

adjusted underlying surplus is a critical financial

strategy that provides capacity to renew the

$2.4 billion of community assets under Council’s

control, and build new infrastructure to meet

the expectations of our growing community.

Liquidity

Cash has increased by 38 per cent from the

prior year mainly due to the carry forward of

capital works. The working capital ratio, which

assesses Council’s ability to meet current

commitments, is calculated by measuring

Council’s current assets as a percentage of

current liabilities. Council’s result of 235 per

cent is an indicator of satisfactory financial

position and is in line with the expected target

band of 100 per cent to 400 per cent.

Obligations

Council aims to ensure that it is able to maintain

its infrastructure assets at the expected levels,

while at the same time continuing to deliver the

services needed by the community.

At the end of the 2017-2018 year Council’s debt

ratio, which is measured by comparing interest

bearing loans and borrowings to rate revenue,

was 40 per cent, which was within the expected

target band of 20-60 per cent.

Council’s asset renewal ratio, which is measured

by comparing asset renewal expenditure to

depreciation, was 68 per cent, which is below

the expected target band of 90-110 per cent.

A number of road works projects had been

delayed during the year which has contributed

to the reduction of the renewal compared to

previous years.

Stability and efficiency

Council raises a wide range of revenues

including rates, user fees, fines, grants and

contributions. Despite this, Council’s rates

concentration, which compares rate revenue

to adjusted underlying revenue, was 73 per

cent for the 2017-2018 year, which is towards

the top end of the expected target band of

40-80 per cent. The average residential rate

per residential assessment was $1,647, which

compares favourably to similar councils in the

outer metropolitan area.

Economic factors

Rate capping

The Victorian Government imposed a rate cap

on all Victorian councils of 2 per cent for the

2017-2018 year. Brimbank City Council did not

seek a variation to the cap.

Financial Assistance Grants

A freeze on indexation from the Commonwealth

Government’s Financial Assistance Grants

program to local government resulted in a

reduction of $0.35 million per annum over the

period from 2013-2014 to 2017-2018.

State Government landfill levy

The State Government landfill levy increased by

2.0 per cent in 2017-2018.

Labour cost increases

Wage inflation rates for the 2017-2018 year

were as per Council Enterprise Bargaining

Agreement (EBA 7) of 2.4 per cent. EBA 8

negotiations began in August 2017 with

negotiations continuing into the 2018/2019

year. The June 2018 Consumer Price Index (CPI)

rate was 2.1 per cent.

July 2017

• Council hosted NAIDOC Week on 2-9 July,

celebrating with a community barbecue

and family-friendly craft activities and

entertainment, followed by a flag raising

ceremony.

• The Brimbank Community and Civic Centre

won a Victorian Architecture Award 2017 in

the Public Architecture category. The award

recognises the excellent urban design of

the building and maintaining the industrial

heritage of the site.

• Council adopted a planning scheme

amendment C187, that includes a Municipal

Development Contributions Plan to ensure

a fair and equitable mechanism to collect

and direct funding towards the ongoing

development of infrastructure for the

growing Brimbank community.

• Council continues its campaign to stop

the expansion of the Ravenhall tip. On

behalf of the community and the west,

Council appealed to the Victorian Civil and

Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) to review

the expansion of the Melbourne Regional

Landfill at Ravenhall, arguing the need

for the Victorian Government to invest in

modern, low impact ways to dispose of

metropolitan waste.

• The newly upgraded Delbridge Drive Reserve

in Sydenham opened to the public with

more playground equipment, outdoor gym

equipment, new park furniture, outdoor

shelter, a large junior sports field and about

400 semi-mature trees around the park.

The works cost $440,000.

• The newly upgraded Krambruk Street

Reserve in Sunshine West opened to the

public with more playground equipment,

leisure furniture, outdoor fitness equipment,

new park furniture and planting of several

trees around the park. The works cost

$100,000.

• Council supported National Tree Day with

a community planting day on 30 July at

Sydenham Park in Keilor. Volunteers planted

3,000 trees and shrubs to create habitat for

local wildlife. This is the 17th year Council has

participated in the National Tree Day event.

• Council advocated strongly with the State

Government to keep the former school

site at Calder Rise publically owned. The

State Government has removed the land

at 32A Green Gully Road Keilor, the former

Calder Rise Primary School, from public sale.

Council campaigned to have the site used for

community purposes.

• Council hosted the first GovHack event on

30 July – an open data competition and

one of the world’s biggest hackathons.

The event brought people together to use

open government data to create new and

innovative solutions for Brimbank including

unique apps, websites and artistic displays.

• Council continued to be an active member

of the Ballarat Rail Advocacy Committee,

to consider rail infrastructure and more

frequent and reliable train services of the

Melbourne-Ballarat-Ararat rail line.

August 2017

• Council adopted its Annual Budget 2017-

2018 and Council Plan 2017-2021 that lays

the foundation for service delivery and

programs for the next four years.

• The Disability Advisory Committee

was established to help support the

implementation, monitoring and review of

Brimbank’s

.

• Brimbank Libraries participated in the

state-wide 1,000 Books Before School

program, during Children’s Book Week held

on 18-25 August. The program is designed

to work with families to promote early

literacy skills and combat the scourge of

adult illiteracy in communities.

• Council implemented new tobacco reforms

on 1 August, introduced by the Victorian

Government, that ban smoking in outdoor

dining areas including restaurants, cafés,

take-away shops and licensed premises,

as well as courtyard dining areas and

footpath dining.

• Council held its first Women in Business

Lunch on 16 August as part of the Small

Business Festival ‘Celebrating Women in

Business Week’. The event celebrated the

important role women play in Brimbank’s

business community.

• Brimbank Libraries hosted a range of

activities to celebrate National Literacy and

Numeracy Week on 28 August-1 September.

The community were invited to participate

in counting and alphabet themed storytime

sessions, board game activities and games

for adults.

• Council asked the community members to

have their say on Brimbank’s draft General

Local Laws, which influences how the

community enjoys local neighbourhoods,

main streets and public places over the next

10 years.

24

I

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018 I

25

Brimbank City Council provides a

range of services and programs that

reflect the needs and expectations

of the community.

The Annual Budget 2017-2018 focused on

delivering value to the community in a rate

capped environment.

It was a financially responsible budget that

aimed at minimising the impact of the constraint

on revenue raising while continuing to deliver

quality projects and services for the Brimbank

community.

The budget struck a balance between

maintaining current levels of service,

reducing operational costs and reviewing

the way some programs are delivered.

Council’s operations are broad ranging and

include managing roads and infrastructure,

waste and environment services, public

facilities, the community’s wellbeing, and other

services and programs. Community take-up

of the services and programs shows the

importance of these Council functions.

The Council Plan 2017-2021 (adopted in August

2017) outlines Council’s Strategic Directions,

which are supported by a number of other

Council strategies, plans and policies. This

includes the Annual Budget 2017-2018, which

highlights project priorities and spending.

Council’s Strategic Objectives are monitored

by a set of service performance indicators and

measures. They offer a corporate framework

for the delivery of services, facilities, support

and advocacy, and for achieving the vision and

objectives outlined in the Brimbank Community

Plan. The Council Plan sets out Council’s key

strategic directions and actions for a four-year

period.

Council’s actions are guided by Victorian and

Australian legislation which supports good

governance and enables Council to responsibly

deliver a community first approach.

Major capital works

During 2017-2018 Council delivered a capital

works program of $42.7 million (including

$3.4 million carried forward from 2016-2017).

Major capital work projects included the

following:

Roads, footpaths and pedestrian

facilities and traffic management

Council continued to implement the Road

Management Plan through the delivery

of a $17.02 million road rehabilitation and

$1.8 million traffic management program.

Key highlights included:

• Road pavement rehabilitation projects,

including forward design ($12.587 million)

• Road pavement asphalt overlay projects

– various locations ($4.682 million)

• Traffic signals – various locations ($881,000)

• Footpath rehabilitation program

– various locations ($500,000)

• Construction of road humps

– various locations ($244,000)

• Ingress/egress treatments

– various locations ($100,000)

• Pedestrian facilities and missing links

– various locations ($245,000)

• Modified T-intersection treatments

– various locations ($103,000)

Town centre works

Council commenced a range of works to improve

amenity, connectivity and ambience in town

centres. This included work on the following

projects, which will continue in 2018-2019:

• Errington Precinct Master Plan, St Albans –

Stage 4: Princess Street upgrade ($190,422)

• Sunshine Town Centre – Hampshire Road

upgrade ($1.271 million)

• St Albans Town Centre – public realm

improvement – St Albans Square ($86,484)

Funding for the Brimbank Multi-Deck Car Park

– Stage 2 development was held over to 2018-

2019, pending community consultation on a

proposal to defer construction.

Sports facilities

Council continued to invest in upgrades at

sporting facilities across the municipality in

order to improve health and wellbeing outcomes

across the community. Council completed a

range of projects, including the following:

• Bon Thomas Reserve development – change

rooms ($767,887) and sealed car parking

($267,257)

• Arthur Beachley Reserve

– new sports pavilion ($1.083 million)

• Ardeer Reserve – soccer pavilion

refurbishment ($1.096 million)

• McKechnie Reserve and Kevin Flint Oval –

sports reserve lighting upgrade program

($511,947)

• Green Gully Pitch 4 – sportsground

reconstruction program ($667,144)

• Delahey Tennis Court 3 and 4

– reconstruction ($465,098)

Council also commenced work to upgrade the

Bon Thomas Reserve sportsground ($523,421).

Parks, playground and open space upgrades

Council spent $4.659 million on open space

projects, including the ongoing implementation

of the award-winning Creating Better Parks –

Open Space and Playground Policy and Plan. The

Creating Better Parks Policy and Plan is ensuring

Council meets the needs of existing and

future communities by creating an attractive,

integrated, accessible and comprehensive open

space network for Brimbank.

Highlights included commencement of works at

the following parks, to continue in 2018-2019:

• Sunvale Community Park, Sunshine

($3.145 million)

• H.V. McKay Gardens, Sunshine ($27,511)

Other highlights included completion of the

following park upgrades:

• Jamieson Street Reserve, St Albans

($508,450)

• Five playground upgrades ($547,710):

- Antwerp Drive Reserve, Keilor Downs

- Churchill Reserve, St Albans

- Suffolk Road, Sunshine North

- Gillespie/Main Road West Easement,

Kings Park

- Disraeli Street Reserve, St Albans

Sustainability projects

Council seeks to build a legacy, which enables an

engaged and resilient community that supports

a sustainable environment containing rich social,

economic and environmental characteristics.

Council invested $1.77 million in sustainability

projects, including greenhouse gas reduction

programs and improving water efficiencies.

Bike paths and shared paths

• Bike paths and shared paths to connect

Brimbank ($953,000), including:

- Harvester Road Sunshine – to be

completed in 2018-2019 ($730,000)

- Stradbroke Drive to Percy Street,

St Albans ($157,538)

Community facilities

Council invested $1.188 million in

improvements to community facilities, such

as neighbourhood houses, to provide suitable

spaces for community activities. This included

improvements to air conditioning, heating and

playgrounds.

Drainage rehabilitation

Council spent $481,000 on drainage

rehabilitation, including underground drainage

upgrades, installing water quality devices and

minor improvement works.

November 2017

• The newly elected Mayor, Cr Margaret Giudice,

and Deputy Mayor, Cr Daniel Allan, were

announced following the Special Mayoral

Election Council Meeting held on 8 November

2017.

• Council embarked on an exciting and

ambitious project to replace the St Albans

Leisure Centre with a multi-generational

health and wellbeing hub that includes leisure

and aquatic services. The process kicked off

with expressions of interest for co-located

tenancy opportunities. Construction is

proposed to start in 2019.

• Council supported The Giving Tree Program

to help members of the community who

might be struggling during the festive

season. Non-perishable items were collected

and distributed to the community via local

agencies, in the lead up to Christmas to help

lessen the strain.

• Brimbank Libraries participated in 1,000

Books Before School, the first state-wide

program in Australia designed to work with

families to promote early literacy skills and

combat the scourge of adult illiteracy in

communities.

• Council extended parking limits at the

Brimbank Multi-Deck Car Park in Sunshine.

The free parking time limits were increased

to the first three hours, up from the previous

two hour limit.

• The Brimbank Writers & Readers Festival

was held during 9-18 November. The

festival included 18 events ranging from

panel discussions, interview and workshops

to storytelling and poetry. The festival

celebrated a love of writing and literature,

diversity and creativity and promotes life-long

learning.

• Melbourne Food and Wine Festival returned

to Sunshine with the inaugural Sunshine

FOOD Fever held on 31 March. Participants

went on a food journey that celebrated and

reflected the successive waves of Asian,

African and Pacific Island immigration that

make Sunshine one of the most culturally

diverse places in Australia.

• Council invited community members to

share thoughts and ideas for an update of

the Reconciliation Action Plan. Community

consultation sessions were held to engage

with Brimbank’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander community, as well as non-Aboriginal

people.

• Council provided more than $453,000 to

community groups through the Community

Grants Program. The program offers one-off

financial assistance to support communities

through activities, programs and events that

help strengthen the community. Council

increased grant funding by $180,000 to

better meet demand for support from the

community.

• Council signed the first environmental

agreement with local specialist food

company, Langdon Ingredients, in Derrimut.

The agreement offered the business funding

to implement environmental upgrades such

as energy efficient lighting, solar energy,

water efficiency and waste minimisation.

Sustainable Melbourne Fund, in partnership

with Council, is the third party administrator

of the environmental agreement.

• Community members were invited to mark

International Day of People with Disability

at a film screening and celebration at the

Brimbank Community and Civic centre on

1 December.

• Council adopted the Domestic Animal

Management Plan 2017-2021 that will guide

Council’s programs, services and strategies

for the management of dogs and cats in

Brimbank.

• Council adopted a new plan to manage and

protect the 100-year-old H.V. McKay Memorial

Gardens by releasing a Management Plan to

guide the historic gardens through future

challenges such as climate change and

population growth.

• Council welcomed the Victorian Premier’s

announcement that the Melbourne Airport

rail link will proceed with a stop at Sunshine.

December 2017

• Helen Morrissey was appointed Brimbank City

Council’s Chief Executive Officer on

20 December 2017.

• Council opened two newly reconstructed

synthetic grass tennis courts at the Delahey

Tennis Club, at a cost of about $447,000.

• Council continued to advocate for improved

public transport services in Brimbank and the

planned development of a Melbourne Airport

rail link with a stop in Sunshine.

• Council hosted Carols at the Castle at the

historical Overnewton Castle in Keilor, with

all monies raised donated to the Brimbank

Community Fund.

• Council announced the opening of the new

Vietnam War Memorial at Kevin Wheelahan

Gardens in Sunshine. The memorial pays

tribute to the 521 Australians who lost their

lives in the Vietnam War. The project is in

partnership with Sunshine and Footscray

RSL, Vietnamese Veterans Association of

Victoria, Vietnam Veterans Association of

Australia and Major Bruce Davies, author

and Vietnam Veteran.

August 2017 (continued)

• Council invited community members to

have their say on the Draft Domestic Animal

Management Plan (DAMP). The plan outlines

Council’s programs, services and strategies

for the management of dogs and cats in

Brimbank.

• Council adopted a five-year economic

development plan that will guide its drive

to cement Brimbank as the economic

hub of Melbourne’s west. The Brimbank

Economic Development Strategy Five Year

Implementation Plan plays a vital role in

positioning Brimbank for further growth

and development.

• Council participated in the annual Local

Government Community Satisfaction Survey

run by the Department of Environment, Land

Water and Planning. The survey is open to

community members to rate Council across

23 service measures.

• Council installed new decorative lighting

in central Sunshine to create an attractive

and welcoming environment for the local

community, and help promote a space

where the community feel safe enjoying the

many nearby businesses and restaurants in

Sunshine.

• Council welcomed a special visit and

presentation by renowned professor Ross

Garnaut (AC). This gave Council a unique

opportunity to discuss climate change

and reducing resource use and emissions.

September 2017

• Sunshine Leisure Centre celebrated its

10th birthday on 10 September, with

outdoor activities, group fitness sessions,

competitions, special performances and

giveaways.

• Council invited the local community to have

a say on Brimbank’s child safety standards

by inviting the community to attend a Child

Safe Focus Group on 14 September, as well

as complete an online survey to inform

standards and improvements to child safety

policies and processes.

• Council invited landowners and occupiers

to get involved in preparing a plan for the

Sunshine Health, Wellbeing and Education

Precinct (SHWEP) area located around the

Sunshine Hospital. Council is working with

the Victorian Planning Authority to prepare

a strategic plan for the future growth of the

area.

• Council asked the community to have its

say on creating Brimbank’s new waste

management strategy that aims to manage

waste, litter and recycling in the community.

• Council offered local businesses access

to energy assessments, the supply and

installation of solar energy systems and

energy efficient lighting through the

EnergySmart Business Solar and Lighting

Program.

• Councils called for Expressions of Interest

for members of the community to join

the Sydenham Park Master Plan Steering

Committee, to help develop a new draft

Master Plan for community consultation.

• Council opened the In2Sport membership

subsidy program for summer sports. A priority

application period for females and first time

applicants occurred ahead of opening to all

other eligible residents on 18 September.

October 2017

• Council introduced a no-charge snake

catching service available seven days a week,

including after hours.

• Council hosted the annual Brimbank Seniors

Festival with a Seniors Festival Lunch and

Dance event as well as 24 other events,

exhibitions and performances.

• Council hosted the St Albans Festival for Families

on 19 October with low cost performances and

activities for families at the Bowery Theatre at

STACC (St Albans Community Centre).

• Council hosted the first Garage Sale Trail in

Brimbank on 21-22 October to help people

declutter their homes, fundraise, meet their

neighbours and reuse and recycle items

rather than throw them out. Council was later

awarded Best Newcomer award for exceptional

results for the first year of the program.

• Council’s Still Talking Transition Model was

named finalist in the 2017 Victorian Early

Years Awards, to recognise the contribution

that Brimbank City Council is making to

improve the learning and development

of young children and their families.

• The Brimbank Seniors Groups Grant applications

opened to support the important role seniors

groups play in the community by connecting

seniors and reducing social isolation.

• Council received the 2017 Supporting Tennis

– Local Government Recognition award at

the 2017 Victorian Tennis Awards. The award

recognises the Local Government Authority

judged to be the most engaged with, and

supportive of, tennis in their community.

• The Brimbank Disability Expo was held on

24 October 2017, offering local community

members an opportunity to learn more about

services available under the new National

Disability Insurance Scheme. This event was

hosted in partnership with The Smith Family,

Sunshine Special Development School,

MacKillop Family Services, Noah’s Ark, Yooralla,

the Victorian Department of Health and Human

Services and Brimbank Disability Network.

• Council was awarded the Parks and Leisure

Australia National Award for the Creating

Better Parks – Open Space and Playground

Policy and Plan at the Parks and Leisure

Australia Awards of Excellence.

26

I

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018 I

27

Council adopted the following strategies, policies and plans in 2017-2018.

2017

Environmental Sustainability Policy

(July 2017)

The

provides

a clear statement of Council’s intent to achieve

an environmentally sustainable community and

to demonstrate leadership and best practice

within Councils’ operations. The updated policy

sets out a strategic approach to addressing

environmental sustainability issues within

Brimbank, including biodiversity, climate

change and water.

Council Plan 2017-2021 (August 2017)

The Council Plan sets out agreed objectives,

activities and strategic indicators for Council to

achieve its strategic directions for an inclusive,

liveable, prosperous city and an innovative and

responsive ‘Community First’ Council.

Environmentally Sustainable Design

Framework (August 2017)

The

aims to ensure sound measures

are consistently incorporated into the

design, construction and management of

Council buildings and facilities to reduce their

environmental impact. (The framework is the

practical reference Council uses to implement

the Environmental Sustainability Policy).

Climate Change Adaptation Framework

(August 2017)

The

outlines ways for the community to respond

to the unavoidable impacts of climate change

and focuses on building resilient, safe and

accessible communities, long-term planning

for infrastructure and assets along with having

a clean, biodiverse and water secure city. The

framework also examines the measures needed

in order to be prepared for a range of both short

and long-term climate change scenarios.

Economic Development Strategy Five Year

Implementation Plan (August 2017)

The Brimbank Economic Development Strategy

Implementation Plan is a broad-based five-year

program to be delivered across Council. The

implementation plan supports the

, which

was built on years of sustained economic

development work by Council to position the

municipality for growth and development.

Brimbank Transport Disadvantage Policy

2017 (September 2017)

The policy aims to support better public health,

social and economic outcomes for the Brimbank

community. The strong community interest

identified throughout the consultation period

was integral in guiding Council’s responses to

the development of a sustainable transport

system which is affordable and accessible, and

addresses transport disadvantage in Brimbank.

Strategic Framework for Library Collections

2017-2020 (September 2017)

The introduction of a formal strategic

framework guides Council’s investment in library

collections and provides a roadmap for collection

development and helps prioritise service

planning and delivery across Brimbank’s library

service to meet changing community needs.

Local Historical Societies Support Policy

(October 2017)

This new policy was designed to guide the

development of a sustainable arrangement

and formalise Council’s long-standing working

relationship with local historical societies

and friends groups in Brimbank. It provides

a framework to work together in a more

productive, strategic manner and ensure these

relationships are sustainable into the future.

Place Naming Policy (October 2017)

Council’s Place Naming Policy 2017 provides

guidelines for the naming of places within

Brimbank. The major emphasis of this policy is

to preserve the City’s identity, heritage and to

recognise its rich cultural and ethnic diversity in

accordance with the

and the Naming Rules for Places in

Victoria – Statutory Requirements for Naming

Roads, Features and Localities.

Domestic Animal Management Plan

2017-2021 (November 2017)

The updated four-year plan will guide Council’s

programs, services and strategies for the

management of dogs and cats in Brimbank. The

plan seeks to balance the needs of pet owners,

the animals that share people’s lives and the

broader community. The programs and activities

outlined in the plan have been developed to

encourage people to enjoy their pets, within a

framework of responsible ownership.

Brimbank City Council – General Local Law

(November 2017)

Council’s previous General Local Law (2008)

sunset on 1 January 2018 and after conducting

community consultation and statutory

notification process under section 223 of

the Act was replaced with the new

.

H.V. McKay Memorial Gardens Management

Plan (November 2017)

The H.V. McKay Memorial Gardens have been

an important part of people’s lives in Brimbank

for over 100 years. The H.V. McKay Memorial

Gardens Management Plan was developed

in close partnership with the Friends of H.V.

McKay Memorial Gardens and will guide the

gardens through future challenges such as

climate change and increased pressure from

urban densification and ensure their history

and splendour will remain for many generations

to come.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

In July 2017, Helen Morrissey, Director

Corporate and Community Relations,

was appointed Interim Chief Executive

Officer (CEO). This was to replace former

CEO Paul Younis who left the Council’s

senior position on 7 July. Following

a rigorous recruitment campaign

facilitated by an independent agency

and with a number of quality candidates,

on 12 December 2017 Helen Morrissey

was appointed by Council to the role of

Brimbank CEO.

2018

Age Friendly City Plan 2018-2022

(March 2018)

The plan articulates Council’s role and direction

for supporting Brimbank’s ageing community. It

provides a view of the social, physical, cultural

and economic environment experienced by

older people living in our community and guides

Council’s work to create opportunities for older

people in the community to live active and

fulfilling lives, and to remove barriers to social

participation in Brimbank.

Brimbank Habitat Connectivity Plan

2018-2023 (April 2018)

The plan aims to increase resilience within

Brimbank’s landscape and provide strategic

direction to assist the long-term survival of local

species and to prevent local species extinction.

It prioritises actions for conservation land

management and habitat improvement where it

will most benefit indigenous flora and fauna.

Brimbank Volunteer Strategy 2018-2022

(May 2018)

The strategy recognises the value of

volunteering for the Brimbank community

and provides a guide for Council to find future

opportunities in the volunteering space to

recruit, retain, recognise and keep abreast of

current emerging trends and ensure the right

systems and processes are in place to respond

to community needs.

Waste, Recycling and Litter Strategy

2018-2028 (May 2018)

The new strategy will lead Council towards

creating a cleaner, greener and more

sustainable environment for Brimbank into

the future. It outlines the key drivers that

influence waste management processes and

services in Victoria, and analyses Council’s

current waste management systems, policies,

educational programs and monitoring processes.

The strategy was developed with the input

of a Council Waste Management Strategy

Development Steering Committee, industry

representatives and the community working

together to bring about change.

Sports Facility Development Plan 2018

(June 2018)

The updated plan identifies the key sporting

infrastructure challenges posed by recreation

participation trends and population change

in Brimbank and presents solutions for these

challenges. Its focuses on high-level social and

health outcomes and supports participation

in physical activity by improving access to, and

promotion of, sport and recreation facilities.

To view these documents or other Council

plans, strategies, policies or guidelines,

visit

Councillors act as members of Council and govern on behalf of the citizens

of Brimbank.

Brimbank City Council operates under the requirements of the

.

Brimbank City Council has an obligation to achieve best value for its community and stakeholders

and to ensure the community receives the most benefit from available resources.

The Council Plan is the strategic document that guides the planning, development,

allocation of resources and provision of services to the Brimbank community.

Council’s annual planning process involves:

• Engaging with and seeking input from the community

• Analysing social, political, economic and natural environment factors and influences

setting the strategic objectives of the Council

• Developing strategies to achieve the objectives

• Establishing strategic indicators for monitoring the achievement of the objectives

• Determining financial and non-financial resource requirements

• Coordinating the implementation of strategies, and

• Monitoring, reporting, evaluating and improving performance.

The Councillors are guided in their decision-making by legislation and a range of Council policies,

including, but not limited to:

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

Council plans, strategies and policies are available to view on the website,

HARVESTER

GRASSLANDS

HORSESHOE BEND

TAYLORS

34

I

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018 I

35

The new Brimbank City Council was

elected on 22 October 2016. The

Council was sworn in and took an

oath of office at a Special Council

Meeting on Tuesday 8 November

2016.

Brimbank City Council is comprised of 11

Councillors elected from one, two-councillor

ward and three, three-councillor wards.

The 11 Councillors are the elected

representatives of all residents and ratepayers

across Brimbank. They have responsibility

for setting the strategic direction for the

municipality, policy development, identifying

service standards and monitoring performance

across the organisation.

Grasslands Ward

Cr Lucinda Congreve

Date elected: 22 October 2016

Cr Congreve is an active member of the

community. As a mother of two young children,

she is passionate about ensuring that Brimbank

offers the best possible services and support

to the families who reside here. This includes

a particular interest in early years programs,

support for new families, sports and recreation

facilities and family-friendly spaces.

In addition to her commitment to families

Cr Congreve has also has background in financial

services which naturally leads to a desire to

ensure robust governance and appropriate

financial management.

Committees

• Audit and Risk Management Committee

• Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV)

State Council

Portfolio

#Brimbank Innovation

E CrCongreve@brimbank.vic.gov.au

M 0428 887 195

Cr Duyen Anh Pham

Date elected: 22 October 2016

Cr Pham was motivated to run for Council

because of her passion for the Brimbank

community.

She believes Brimbank’s greatest strength

is its multicultural diversity. Cr Pham enjoys

volunteering and wants to support local

residents and community groups. Her aims

include increasing multicultural events in

Brimbank, encouraging participation and

striving for greater community involvement

in decision-making.

Committees

• Brimbank Arts Advisory Committee (

)

• Errington Precinct Master Plan Community

Reference Group: Sport and Recreation

Projects

• St Albans Community Centre Consultative

Committee (

)

• Metropolitan Transport Forum

Portfolio

#Vibrant Brimbank

E CrPham@brimbank.vic.gov.au

M 0429 657 643

Harvester Ward

Cr Victoria Borg

Date elected: 22 October 2016

Cr Borg is proud to have grown up in Brimbank,

having lived here since emigrating from Malta

in 1972. She is committed to building trust

between Council and the community and to

representing the people of Brimbank with

fairness and integrity. Cr Borg aims to increase

community involvement with Council, to support

mental health and educational services and

increased research into youth disengagement

and acculturation.

Committees

• Brimbank Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

Reconciliation Action Plan Consultative

Committee

• Brimbank Disability Advisory Committee

• Brimbank Learning and Employment Steering

Committee (BLESC) (

)

• Chief Executive Officer Employment Matters

Committee (

)

• Chief Executive Officer Recruitment

Committee (

) • St Albans Community Centre Consultative

Committee (

) • Sunshine Health Wellbeing and Education

Precinct Strategic Plan Reference Group

• Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) State

Council (

)

Portfolio

#Brimbank People

E CrBorg@brimbank.vic.gov.au

M 0429 365 527

Cr Sam David JP

Date elected: 22 October 2016

Previous terms: March 1997 to September 2009

Cr David is a long-time resident of Brimbank,

former Councillor and Mayor, and active

member of several community groups.

He believes Brimbank’s greatest strength

is its rich diversity. Cr David is concerned

about housing availability, affordability and

employment; and is committed to assisting

senior citizens groups and supporting young

people to get involved in sport.

Committees

• Brimbank Community Fund Advisory

Committee (

) • Brooklyn Industrial Precinct Strategy

Committee (

)

• Chief Executive Officer Employment Matters

Committee (

)

• Sunshine Town Centre Partnership Group

• Brooklyn Community Representative Group

Portfolio

#Prosperous Brimbank

E CrDavid@brimbank.vic.gov.au

M 0429 355 239

Cr John Hedditch

(Mayor 1 July 2017-8 November 2017)

Date elected: 22 October 2016

Cr Hedditch believes Brimbank’s greatest

strengths are its people and the vibrant

community networks that make it such a great

place to live. As a resident of Sunshine for more

than 30 years, Cr Hedditch was driven to run

for Council by his desire to help make the world

a better place for future generations. His aims

are to foster a ‘Community First’ Council that

is collaborative, fair and in favour of a greener,

more sustainable approach to development.

Committees

• Australia Day Awards Selection Committee

(

)

• Brimbank Disability Advisory Committee

• Chief Executive Officer Employment Matters

Committee (

)

• Chief Executive Officer Recruitment Committee

(

)

• Social Justice Coalition – Strategic

Implementation Group (SIG)

• Sunshine Health Wellbeing and Education

Precinct Strategic Plan Reference Group

• Sunshine Leisure Centre Community

Consultative Committee (

)

• Brooklyn Community Representative Group

• LeadWest Ltd Board

Portfolio

#Prosperous Brimbank

E CrHedditch@brimbank.vic.gov.au

M 0428 811 580

36

I

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018 I

37

Cr Kim Thien Truong

Date elected: 22 October 2016

Cr Truong is proud to call Brimbank home

and has a history of volunteering in the local

community and fundraising to support children

in need. She believes Brimbank’s strengths lie in

the community’s diversity and ability of people

from different cultures to live harmoniously

together. Cr Truong is motivated to speak

on behalf of the community. She hopes to

raise awareness about important issues

such as the environment, family violence,

housing affordability, transport, productivity,

sustainability and liveability.

Committees

• Brooklyn Industrial Precinct Strategy

Committee (

) • Safety Roundtable

• Brooklyn Community Representative Group

• Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) State

Council (

)

• Victorian Local Governance Association

(VLGA)

Portfolio

#Sustainable Brimbank

E CrTruong@brimbank.vic.gov.au

M 0429 637 601

Harvester Ward (continued)

Horseshoe Bend Ward

Cr Virginia Tachos

Date elected: 22 October 2016

A proud history of working in the local

community and advocacy led Cr Tachos to

run for Council. She believes Brimbank is a

destination for many young families to start

their dreams and aspirations. Cr Tachos’

priorities include building strong, sustainable

communities, and listening to the needs of the

community and supporting harm minimisation

through strong advocacy for stricter gambling

controls. She hopes to achieve a focus on

people, improved services, and efficiencies, as

well as improving inclusion, reviewing planning

schemes, and promoting healthy outcomes for

the community.

Committees

• Chief Executive Officer Employment Matters

Committee (

)

• Chief Executive Officer Recruitment

Committee (

) • Errington Precinct Master Plan Community

Reference Group: Sport and Recreation

Projects (

)

• St Albans Community Centre Consultative

Committee (

)

• St Albans Town Centre Partnership Group

(

)

• Sydenham Park Master Plan Steering

Committee

• Former Keilor Library Community Consultative

Committee (

)

• Waste Management Strategy Development

Steering Committee

• Community Aviation Consultation Group

• LeadWest Ltd Board

Portfolio

#Resilient Brimbank (Advocacy)

E CrTachos@brimbank.vic.gov.au

M 0428 915 671

Cr Daniel Allan

(Deputy Mayor 8 November 2017-

30 June 2018)

Date elected: 22 October 2016

Cr Allan has lived in Kealba for 20 years. He

believes Brimbank’s greatest strength is the

community’s vibrancy and willingness to come

together. Cr Allan has been an active volunteer

and involved with community events for many

years. He was motivated to run for Council by

his passion to help make Brimbank the best

it can be. He is particularly passionate about

encouraging young people to be more active

in the community.

Committees

• Brimbank Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Reconciliation Action Plan Consultative

Committee (

)

• Brimbank Arts Advisory Committee

• Former Keilor Library Community Consultative

Committee (

)

• Keilor Interim Artefacts Committee

(

)

• Western Melbourne Tourism

Portfolio

#Vibrant Brimbank

E CrAllan@brimbank.vic.gov.au

M 0429 857 339

Taylors Ward

Cr Margaret Giudice

(Mayor 8 November 2017-30 June 2018)

Date elected: 22 October 2016

Previous terms: March 2000 to September 2009

Cr Giudice believes the fact that more than 160

different languages are spoken in Brimbank

and that the community lives harmoniously

within such cultural diversity, is an example

to the world. Cr Giudice was born in Brimbank

and has raised her family here, and maintains

strong connections. Her past experience as a

Councillor of Brimbank has given her a strong

understanding of community needs. She was

motivated to run for Council by her drive to help

people. Her aim is to pave the way for future

generations to enjoy living and working in

Brimbank, as much as she does.

Committees

• Audit and Risk Management Committee

• Australia Day Awards Selection Committee

(

)

• Brimbank Community Fund Advisory

Committee (

)

• Chief Executive Officer Employment Matters

Committee

• Municipal Emergency Management Plan

Committee (

)

• Safety Roundtable

• Social Justice Coalition – Strategic

Implementation Group (SIG) (

)

• Sydenham Park Master Plan Steering

Committee

• Waste Management Strategy Development

Steering Committee

• Melton Level Crossing Removal Project

Stakeholder Liaison Group

Portfolio

#Resilient Brimbank (Advocacy)

E CrGiudice@brimbank.vic.gov.au

M 0428 846 647

Cr Bruce Lancashire

Date elected: 22 October 2016

Cr Lancashire believes Brimbank’s rich

cultural and linguistic diversity is not just

a significant social asset but an important

economic benefit in a world that is becoming

increasingly interconnected. He has been a

long-term resident of Brimbank, having raised

his three sons here, and has a strong belief that

Brimbank’s youth will ensure our community’s

future is in good hands. He is determined to

make the most of Brimbank’s assets to benefit

residents.

Committees

• Heritage Advisory Committee

• Sydenham Park Master Plan Steering

Committee

• Waste Management Strategy Development

Steering Committee

• Ballarat Rail-Line Action Committee (BRAC)

• Calder Highway Improvement Committee

• Metropolitan Local Governments Waste

Management Forum

• Melbourne Regional Landfill Community

Reference Group

Portfolio

#Liveable Brimbank

E CrLancashire@brimbank.vic.gov.au

M 0429 637 689

Cr Georgina Papafotiou

(Deputy Mayor 1 July 2017-

8 November 2017)

Date elected: 22 October 2016

Cr Papafotiou believes Brimbank is a wonderful

city in which to live, work, study and invest.

She believes Brimbank’s strengths include

embracing cultural diversity – as well as the

area’s proximity to the Melbourne CBD, major

roads and Melbourne Airport. As a resident

of Taylors Ward for more than 36 years, Cr

Papafotiou was motivated to run for Council by

her drive to make a difference in her community

and celebrate its successes. Her aim is to

build connections across Brimbank’s diverse

community and to encourage opportunities for

growth and a sustainable future.

Committees

• Audit and Risk Management Committee

(ARMC)

• Chief Executive Officer Employment Matters

Committee (

) • Chief Executive Officer Recruitment

Committee (

) • Municipal Emergency Management Plan

Committee

• Safety Roundtable

• Sunshine Health Wellbeing and Education

Precinct Strategic Plan Reference Group

• Sydenham Park Master Plan Steering

Committee

• Former Keilor Library Community Consultative

Committee (

)

• Ravenhall Prison

Portfolio

#Brimbank People

E CrPapafotiou@brimbank.vic.gov.au

M 0429 727 192

38

I

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018 I

39

02

Kelvin Walsh

Director City Development

Kelvin is an experienced Director, who

has worked in fields including Planning,

Urban Design, Business Development and

Place Making in Australia and overseas.

He has varied experience in local and

state government and the private sector.

Kelvin commenced with Brimbank City

Council in May 2018 and his brief is to create

a great place where people want to live,

raise their families and participate in active

community life. Kelvin has a passion for the

west, particularly Brimbank and its exciting

transformation.

Kath Brackett

Director Community Wellbeing

Kath is an experienced senior manager

who has worked in a variety of roles in

local government for the past 25 years.

Prior to this, Kath worked in the not-for

profit and peak NGO sectors. She is also an

experienced non-executive board director.

Kath has a strong commitment to social

justice and a passion for local democracy

and engaging local communities.

Helen Morrissey

CEO

With over 30 years’ experience in local

government Helen joined Brimbank in November

2010 as Director Corporate and Community

Relations. Previously Helen was the General

Manager of Corporate Services at Maribyrnong

City Council. Helen has worked in a variety of

management roles in both community services

and corporate areas at Darebin City Council.

Helen took on the position of Interim Chief

Executive Officer of Brimbank City Council

on 7 July 2017 and was appointed into the

CEO role on 20 December 2017.

Neil Whiteside

Director Infrastructure and City Services

Neil has worked in local government for

over 20 years in various management roles.

In October 2015 Neil was appointed to

the position of Director Infrastructure and

Environment (now Infrastructure and City

Services). He previously held the position of

Director Community Wellbeing from June 2012,

and preceding that held the position of Group

Manager Operations at Council from January

2008. Prior to joining Brimbank, Neil held

several management positions at Whittlesea

City Council.

Shane Marr

Acting Director Corporate

and Community Relations

Shane has more than 25 years’ experience

in governance and finance roles in both local

government and the private sector.

Shane commenced with Brimbank City

Council in late 2014, and was appointed to

the role of Chief Financial Strategist. Shane

has held the role of Acting Director Corporate

and Community Relations since July 2017.

The role covers the responsibilities of

Finance, Business Support, Communications

and Technology, Customer Services,

People and Performance and Governance.

Prior to joining Brimbank, Shane held the

position of General Manager Corporate

Services at Moorabool Shire Council.

38

I

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018

Helen Morrissey

Kath Brackett

Neil Whiteside

Shane Marr

Adrian Gray

Tom Razmovski

Trent Prince

Sladjana Spasojevic

Andrew Brae

Melanie Fleer

Anthony Smith

Dominic Di Martino

Paul Tate

Kelvin Walsh

John MacDonagh

Christine McAllister

Ashley Fleming

Rachel Deans

John Petroro

Leanne Deans

Kristen Gilbert

Matthew Aquilina

Ashley Hansen

Lynley Dumble

Adrian Ashford

Tim Fullerton

Shane Buckley

40

I

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018 I

41

As at 30 June 2018, Council employed 1350 people (859 full-time equivalent), which is a slight increase from 2016-2017.

Overall workforce turnover decreased to 9.03 per cent, a 2.51 percentage point decrease on 2016-2017. Headcount increased by 25 for the year,

with full-time equivalent (FTE) figures increasing by 22 overall. The average age of Council’s workforce is 46.14 years. Over 17.62 per cent of Council

employees are in the 61-plus age group, with these staff predominantly employed as School Crossing Supervisors and within Council’s Operations Centre.

Council staff

Age groups

Age group Female Male Total 2018

< 21

31 20

51

21 - 25

50 51

101

26 - 30

54 37

91

31 - 35

65 41

106

36 - 40

79 56

135

41 - 45

72 59

131

46 - 50

113 75

188

51 - 55

96 55

151

56 - 60

101 57

158

61>

110 128

238

Total

771 579

1350

Brimbank total employment status

Status

2017- 2018

Casual

235

Full-Time

582

Part-Time

533

Total

1350

Employees by division and employment status

Division

Status

Female

Male

Total

CEO & Councillors

Full-Time

4

1

5

Part-Time

0

0

0

Casual

0

0

0

Corporate & Community Relations

Full-Time

52

35

87

Part-Time

25

2

27

Casual

2

2

4

Infrastructure & Environment

Full-Time

19

245

264

Part-Time

9

5

14

Casual

0

0

0

City Development

Full-Time

42

34

76

Part-Time

60

69

129

Casual

13

16

29

Community Wellbeing

Full-Time

108

42

150

Part-Time

296

67

363

Casual

141

61

202

Brimbank Total

771

579

1350

42

I

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018 I

43

A summary of the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) Council staff by organisational structure, employment type and gender is set out below.

Status

Gender

CEO &

Councillors

City

Development

Community

Wellbeing

Corporate &

Community

Relations

Infrastructure

& Environment

Total

Casual

Female

0

3

20

0

0

23

Male

0

3

8

1

0

12

Full-time

Female

4

42

108

50

19

223

Male

1

34

42

35

245

357

Part-time

Female

0

17

159

17

6

199

Male

0

16

24

2

3

45

Total

5

115

361

105

273

859

Note:

Casuals recorded as .14 of FTE. Council has 238 casuals that are contracted to five hours per week, which brings FTE for casuals down.

A summary of the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) staff categorised by employment classification (band) and gender is set out below.

Employment classification (Band)

Female FTE Male FTE

Total

Band 1

23

15

38

Band 2

22

105

127

Band 3

9

65

74

Band 4

68

15

83

Band 5

93

58

151

Band 6

74

40

114

Band 7

49

50

99

Band 8

20

32

52

Other

86

35

121

Total

444

415

859

Brimbank has developed an internal e-learning

Equal Opportunity (EO) training module that

focuses on staff obligations, Council policies,

procedures and legislation relating to EO.

Council has benchmarked that employees

are required to receive EO training every

two-to-three years with training on both

platforms completed in late 2014. The online

training module was released to all PC users

and completed in the second half of 2017;

field-based staff received face-to-face on-site

training from September 2017. Employees

were required to complete an assessment in

addition to signing a statement of attestation

committing to understanding their EO

obligations as Council employees.

Council promotes equity and diversity outcomes

to ensure an inclusive workplace culture and

EO, recognises the importance of equity and

diversity, and optimises our service design and

delivery to the broader community.

Enterprise Agreement 8

An enterprise agreement is a formal document

that sets out employee pay and conditions

established by employers and employees in an

individual workplace – in this case, Brimbank City

Council.

In 2017-2018 Brimbank commenced

negotiations for its eighth Enterprise

Agreement. Negotiations between Council

management and employee representatives

commenced in late August and will continue

into 2018-2019.

Our aim is to negotiate a new Agreement that

is community-focused, fiscally responsible

and financially sustainable in a rate capped

environment.

Preventing men’s violence against

women and children

Council continued to implement the

2015-2019. The Plan outlines a whole-of

Council approach to create a respectful, gender

equitable and violence-free organisation and

municipality.

Key achievements:

Establishment of an internal mentoring

program for female staff where senior female

staff members mentor junior female staff

members.

Supported staff members who were

experiencing family violence. Example of

support included family leave, safety plans,

and delivery of the Employee Assistance

Program.

Ensured a gender balance in interview panels,

which is in line with Council’s recruitment

procedures.

Organised a morning tea and a barbecue lunch

to mark the International Day for Elimination of

Violence Against Women (White Ribbon Day).

Approximately 65 staff attended the morning

tea and 100 staff attended the barbecue

lunch, where guest speaker Paul Zappa from

NIRODAH talked about the role of men in

preventing men’s violence against women.

Partnered with the Western Integrated Family

Violence Committee (WIFVC) to deliver two

family violence training sessions for staff.

The training was designed for those staff not

directly involved in family violence service

delivery, but who may encounter women

and children experiencing, or at risk of, family

violence. A total of 30 staff members attended

the training.

A three-day Child Safe Train the Trainer

Workshop (provided by Child Wise) was

delivered for staff working in early years

services. Twenty-five staff members

completed the course and became

Council’s Child Safe Champions.

Promoted the Preventing Violence Together

(PVT) 16 Days Activist Challenge internally

and across the municipality. The challenge,

led by Women’s Health West, was held during

the Challenge period from 25 November to

10 December 2017, with over 200 people

participating in the event.

Supported the International Women’s Day

campaign in March 2018 by reminding

the community to #PressforProgress by

challenging stereotypes and bias, forging

positive visibility of women, celebrating the

achievements of women, and committing

to a ‘gender parity mindset’.

Incorporated messages about gender equality

into speeches for the Mayor and Councillors at

relevant events.

Council also started reviewing the Plan to

ensure that Council’s actions to promote gender

equality, and prevent family violence and all

violence against women, align with the Victorian

Government’s current policy and legislative

requirements, as well as regional partnerships

and community aspirations.

44

I

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018 I

45

03

Learning and development

Employee development is a key focus for

Council, with a suite of programs offered

across the organisation to meet behavioural,

technical and compliance obligations as well as

enhance the knowledge, skill, experience and

competency of employees.

Development is delivered formally, self-paced

or via Brimbank’s own e-learning tool bTrain.

Modules are made available to staff to learn at

their own pace and convenience. Modules on

bTrain include Equal Opportunity, Fraud and

Corruption Awareness, Code of Conduct and

Privacy.

A total of 233 training sessions were

coordinated in 2017-2018 with a total of

3,328 participants attending the below listed

programs. In addition, 788 staff members

completed 1,865 online training modules.

This is an increase of over 15 per cent in

training attendance compared to last year.

Learning programs offered took into

consideration departmental, interpersonal and

organisational needs to help employees meet

Council’s objectives.

Some of the key programs included:

• Front Line Adaptive Communication

– Dealing with Aggressive Customers

• PRINCE2 Project Management

• Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

• Phishing Awareness

• Child Safe

• Community First & Customer Responsiveness

Training

• Futurist Workshop

• Communicating with Others

– the PEDO Model

• Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)

• Corporate Induction

• Effective Time Management

• Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)

• Emotional Intelligence

• Crucial Conversations

• Records Manager

• Business Writing Skills

• Diversity @ Work

• Team Management Profiling

• Conducting Annual Discussions

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)

Council is always committed to a positive and

safe work culture and the 2017-2018 year

has seen further improvements. Particular

improvement has been made across several

areas which include the OHS Management

System (OHSMS), training, governance and

strategic planning.

The OHS Strategic plan is now in its third year,

and Council will continue to achieve targets. The

strategic direction for OHS was organised to

deliver safe, precise and predictable outcomes

that our stakeholders and community standards.

Significant achievements have included:

• Revised quarterly and annual reporting

delivering accurate streamlined data.

Key performance indicators and workers’ compensation

Year

Lost time

injuries

WorkCover

claims

Days lost due to

workplace injury

2017 - 2018

8

13

574

2016 - 2017

13

14

1163

2015-2016

15

27

1443

2014-2015

21

34

986

2013-2014

24

37

973

2012-2013

18

30

1568

2011-2012

31

46

1346

2010-2011

21

34

1302

2009-2010

28

53

1481

2008-2009

25

36

1942

Days lost by division

City Development

23

Community Wellbeing

128

Infrastructure & City Services

423

Corporate & Community Relations

0

Total days lost

574

The total number of days lost is made up of the

following:

• New claims in the reporting period 2017-2018

• Days lost to existing claims

Days lost to injury have reduced by 50 per cent

this financial year due to a reduction in lost

time injuries. This is the result of continued

early intervention initiatives of staff training,

encouraging early reporting of injuries,

physiotherapy consultancy and, where required,

providing physiotherapy treatment. Council

continues to provide training and work closely

with managers and supervisors to facilitate

immediate rehabilitation action and return to

work programs for their staff.

• Exhaustive completion of the organisation’s

OHS Training Needs Analysis. This has served

to provide accurate training requirements,

which has included capturing all compliance

training.

• Completion of risk registers.

• Consolidation of the Executive Safety Council

as the key body providing corporate oversight

of OHS.

• On-Site Audiometric testing for Operations

Group staff.

• Completion of the Manual Handling Risk

Assessments for the Community Wellbeing

Division.

• Expanding the Manual Handling Health and

Wellbeing program.

Long-term

(10-20 years)

Medium-term

(4 years)

Short-term

(Annual)

Outcome

measures:

Community

indicators

Impact

measures:

Key Performance

Indicators

Output

measures:

Annual Report

(operations,

nancial &

performance

statements)

Community Plan 2030 Vision

Municipal Public Health & Wellbeing Plan

Long Term Financial Plan

Council Plan

Council Plan 2017-2021 Vision

Brimbank – vibrant, harmonious and welcoming,

a great place to live, work and grow

Annual Action Plan

Annual Budget

Business Plans

An Inclusive

Community

A Liveable

Community

A Prosperous

Community

An Innovative

and Responsive

‘Community

First’ Council

Council Policies, Plans & Strategies

Municipal Strategic Statement, Sustainability Policy, Social Justice Charter

Reporting &

Measurement

46

I

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018 I

47

The

requires councils to prepare the

following planning and reporting

documents:

• A Council Plan within the six months

after each general election or by 30 June,

whichever is later

• A Strategic Resource Plan for a period of at least

four years and include this in the Council Plan

• A Budget for each financial year

• An Annual Report in respect of each financial

year.

Brimbank’s integrated planning

approach

Council has an integrated planning approach

that aligns our strategic, financial and

operational policies, plans and strategies with

the community’s aspirations for Brimbank both

now and into the future. This ensures that all of

Council’s activity is generated towards putting

the ‘Community First’.

The integrated planning approach is based on

the Council Plan 2017–2021 vision and goals

and how these will be achieved according to the

timeframe: short-term (annual); medium-term

(four years); and long-term (10 to 20 years).

Brimbank Community Plan

The

(updated

2013) describes the community’s vision and

priorities for the future and establishes a

shared basis for planning, service delivery

and advocacy undertaken by Council, service

providers, community groups and community

members. Originally endorsed by Council in

2009 and updated every four years, it provides

a framework for the development of the

Council Plan and addressing community health

and wellbeing priorities in partnership with

government and health sector organisations.

Council Plan 2013-2017

The Council Plan is one of Brimbank’s primary

strategic documents. It is directly aligned to

the Community Plan and provides a four-year

medium-term outlook. The Council Plan informs

the development of Council’s Annual Plan and

Budget.

The

was adopted

in August 2017, and sets out the agreed

objectives, activities and strategic indicators for

Council to achieve its strategic directions for:

• An Inclusive Community

• A Liveable Community

• A Prosperous Community; and

• An Innovative and Responsive

‘Community First’ Council.

It is the 2017-2018 performance that is

reported in this Annual Report.

Annual Budget and Long Term

Financial Plan

The Annual Budget and Long Term Financial

Plan document the financial resources required

to achieve the goals and strategic objectives in

the

.

Strategic Resource Plan

Council has prepared an SRP for the four years

2017/2018–2020/2021 as part of its ongoing

financial planning to assist in adopting a budget

within a longer-term framework. The SRP takes

the objectives and strategies, as specified in the

Council Plan, and expresses them in financial

terms for the next four years.

The key objective, which underlines

the development of the SRP, is financial

sustainability in the medium- to long-term,

while still achieving Council’s strategic

objectives as specified in the Council Plan.

The Municipal Strategic Statement provides a

strategic vision for Brimbank’s future by setting

out objectives for prospective land use and

development in Brimbank.

The Sustainability Policy seeks to build

an engaged and resilient community that

supports a sustainable environment.

A range of policies, plans and strategies are

developed, implemented and reviewed by

Council on a regular basis. These guide Council’s

roles in planning for services and infrastructure,

partnerships and advocacy and are aligned with

the goals and strategic objectives in the Council

Plan.

Progress is communicated through annual

community report cards.

The integrated planning approach provides a

basis for reporting and measuring across all

Council activity on what has been achieved

and progress towards meeting the vision for

Brimbank.

Community engagement and

consultation

Public participation in decisions that impact

on people’s lives is critical to good governance

and community wellbeing. Council’s approach

to community engagement is to ensure that

community members affected by a Council

decision are informed and given the opportunity

to meaningfully participate in decision

making processes. Community engagement is

undertaken by Council to inform policy, planning

and delivery of services and infrastructure and

advocating on behalf of the community.

The Council Plan 2017–2021 identifies a series

of goals and strategic objectives that describe

what Council is aiming for in order to achieve

the vision for Brimbank.

Each objective contains a number of strategies

that describe what Council will do over the next

four years in order to achieve the goal.

Relevant Council policies and services are

identified in support of the goal, together

with indicators or measures of progress.

The following are the four goals:

Goal

Strategic Objective

01

An Inclusive

Community

• Our community members are safe, healthy and well

• People have opportunities to participate in community life

• Services and facilities are fit-for-purpose and well-run

• Our community belong and are proud of where they live

02

A Liveable

Community

• Public and open spaces are safe, clean and well-maintained

• People can get around easily on foot, by bike, car or public transport

• Our community lives sustainably

• The natural environment supports thriving biodiversity that is protected and well connected

• The urban environment supports a growing population in designated areas while

respecting neighbourhood character and heritage where appropriate

03

A Prosperous

Community

• People are able to access quality education and lifelong learning opportunities

• People are able to find and maintain jobs that provide income security

• The local economy is strong and provides opportunities for the community to thrive

• Housing is of good quality, well located and affordable

• Brimbank is a leading destination for business, working, learning, recreation and living

04

An Innovative

and Responsive

‘Community First’

Council

• Council is fair, honest and transparent

• Council advocates and works in the interests of our community

• Council manages its assets and finances sustainably and responsibly

• Council staff are high performing and community-focused

48

I

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018 I

49

Council’s performance for the 2017-2018 year has been reported against each goal to demonstrate how Council

is performing in achieving the

.

Performance has been measured as follows:

• Results achieved in relation to the strategic indicators in the Council Plan

• Progress in relation to the major initiatives identified in the Budget

• Services funded in the Budget and the persons or sections of the community who are provided those services

• Results against the prescribed service performance indicators and measures

Our Goal:

An Inclusive Community

• Our community are safe, healthy and well

• People have opportunities to participate in community life

• Services and facilities are fit-for-purpose and well-run

• Our community belong and are proud of where they live

Strategic indicators

The following statement reviews the performance of Council against the Council Plan including results achieved in relation to the strategic

indicators included in the Brimbank Council Plan.

Strategic indicator/measure

Result

Comments

Resident perception of performance

in providing recreational facilities

66

This is 2 points higher than the 2017 result and 3 points lower than the

state average.

Number of attendees at libraries and

neighbourhood houses to access services,

programs and activities

2,679,444

In 2017/18 there were 1,263,891 physical visits to Brimbank’s five

libraries and 781,895 visits to the Online Library; a total of 2,045,786

visits.

There were 565,651 physical visits to Brimbank’s seven Neighbourhood

House sites and 68,007 visits to the Neighbourhood House websites;

a total of 633,658.

Council’s libraries and neighbourhood houses provide the community

with a diverse range of programs, facilities, services and resources

that support lifelong learning, promote social connectedness and

increase health and wellbeing.

Resident perception of Council’s performance

in providing art centres and libraries

75

This is 3 points higher than the 2017 result and 1 point higher

than the state average.

Resident perception of Council’s performance

in delivering family support services

66

This is 4 points higher than the 2017 result and is consistent

with the state average.

Resident perception of Council’s performance

in delivering elderly support services

64

This is 1 point higher than the 2017 result and 4 points lower

than the state average.

Resident perception of Council’s performance

in delivering disadvantaged support services

63

This is 3 points higher than the 2017 result and 2 points higher

than the state average.

Resident perception of Council’s performance

in delivering community and cultural activities

67

This is 3 points higher than the 2017 result and 2 points lower

than the state average.

Number of attendees at arts and cultural activities

14,000

Approximately 14,000 residents attended a range of arts and

cultural activities that were delivered in Brimbank.

Number of applications for Neighbour Day

activities and number of people that participated

29 1,000

A total of 29 applications for Neighbour Day were supported.

The total number of Brimbank residents in that participated in

Neighbour Day was over 1,000.

Number of community grants supported

(Healthy, Equitable and Connected Communities)

50

A total of 50 grants were supported that aimed to address

the priorities connected to creating an inclusive community.

Major Initiatives

The following statement reviews the progress of Council in relation to major initiatives identified in the 2017–2018 Budget for the year.

Major Initiatives

Progress

Develop the Women's Participation in Sport and Recreation

in Melbourne's West Action Plan.

Work continues on the Women’s Participation in Sport and Recreation in

Melbourne's West Action Plan with a draft expected to be presented to

Council in October 2018.

Develop the Brimbank Age Friendly City Plan.

The

was adopted by Council at

Ordinary Council Meeting on 20 March 2018.

Develop options for the future uses of the former Keilor Library.

Scoping of this project has been included in the draft

Brimbank Community Services and Infrastructure Plan.

Undertake assessment of Glengala Community Centre to determine

maintenance and upgrade requirements.

Scoping of this project has been included in the draft

Brimbank Community Services and Infrastructure Plan.

Develop sports and recreation facility upgrades:

• Reconstruction of Green Gully Soccer Pitch 4

• Upgrade sportsground lighting at McKechnie Reserve and

Kevin Flint Oval

• New sports pavilion at Arthur Beachley Reserve

• Undertake upgrade and improvements to the Bon Thomas Reserve

• Design new sports pavilion and tennis courts at Errington Reserve

The status of sports and recreational facility upgrades is as follows:

• Green Gully Soccer Pitch 4 reconstruction complete

• McKechnie and Kevin Flint lights complete and waiting for

Powercor to commission

• Beachley Pavilion – completion expected end of August 2018

• Bon Thomas – completion expected December 2018

• Errington Design – in detailed design and tender August 2018

Undertake enhancement works to the Sunshine Leisure Centre.

A progress update on the Master Plan has been completed.

Develop a Master Plan for the Deer Park Primary School surrounds.

A Draft Master Plan for the former Deer Park Primary School Site has been

prepared and presented to Councillors for information. The development

of this site will be assessed as part of the Community Services and

Infrastructure Plan, which is currently under development.

Support and increase funding to community-based festivals including

Keilor Gift and Neighbourhood Day.

Festival grants for the Keilor Gift and Neighbour Day were included

in the allocation of 2017/18 Annual Community Grants.

Develop a Public Art Strategy that incorporates street art provision.

The draft Brimbank Public Art Policy and Strategy has been completed

for presentation to Council at the August 2018 Ordinary Council Meeting.

Consider performing arts and facility needs in the development of

the Arts and Culture Strategy.

An assessment of existing performing arts facilities has been included as

an appendix to the draft Culture Strategy to presented to Council in the

August 2018 Ordinary Council Meeting.

Assist local disability organisations develop models for improved service

including the feasibility of a Disability Hub for people with a disability.

The consultation phase of the Disability Hub Feasibility study has been

completed, with the Feasibility Report scheduled for the July 2018

Ordinary Council meeting.

In partnership with local services provide an expanded breastfeeding

support service including the introduction of a lactation consultant.

The Breastfeeding Service negotiated with Tweddle Child and Family

Health Service commenced in October 2017 and is currently still operating.

50

I

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018 I

51

Service/Description

Net Cost

Actual Budget

Favourable/

(Unfavourable) $’000

Leisure and Community Facilities

Leisure and Community Facilities

manages Sport & Recreation, Community Facilities, Leisure & Community Facilities Planning &

Policy and major leisure facilities including the Sunshine & St Albans Leisure Centres, the Keilor Basketball & Netball Stadium and

Keilor Public Golf Course.

Sports & Recreation

develops and delivers leisure, sport and recreation projects and programs to meet the diverse needs of the

community. This includes more than 180 outdoor sports areas including 46 sports pavilions, 95 playing fields, pitches and greens

and over 40 outdoor courts. The team supports clubs in capacity building, business planning and funding applications, and takes

regular bookings for the Keilor Park Synthetic Sports Fields and Synthetic Athletics Track.

Community Facilities

supports, guides and develops community groups such as Scouts, Girl Guides and Senior Citizens by

managing venue tenancy agreements and bookings at Council’s 35 halls and meeting rooms available for regular hire, casual events

and functions.

Leisure & Community Facilities

Planning & Policy manages the four major leisure facilities in Brimbank-Keilor Basketball and

Netball Stadium, St Albans Leisure Centre, Sunshine Leisure Centre and Keilor Public Golf Course. These centres provide a diverse

and affordable range of health, fitness and community activities and programs that offer the community opportunities to participate

in physical activity and a safe place for social interaction.

Research and analyses trends are undertaken to detect issues and barriers that may impact the local leisure industry in Brimbank,

and identifies Capital Works Projects that provide continuous improvements in leisure and recreation services and facilities.

3,449 3,463

14

Facilities & Major Projects

Facilities & Major Projects

manages Council’s vast fluidity portfolio, with activities that include fire services, heating and cooling,

electrical, plumbing, vandalism and graffiti removal, and security and hall keeping requirements on Council facilities; and the

Facilities Asset Management Program within Council’s Capital Works Program.

11,071 11,512

441

Building Services and Environmental Health

Building Services and Environmental Health

implements legislation through education, advice and enforcement to ensure a

safe and high standard of public health is maintained across the City of Brimbank. This includes enforcing the

, and

. It also issues and inspects

building permits and manages customer requests to ensure the safety of the built environment within Brimbank.

1,063 1,321

258

City Compliance

City Compliance

enforces local laws, which are important for residents and businesses to enjoy a safe, clean, well-functioning

living and working environment. Council provides community information and education around parking controls, fire mitigation,

litter control, event approvals, animal management and school crossing supervision. It will also prosecute individuals or businesses

where necessary.

1,686 1,682

(4)

Services

The following statement provide information in relation to the services funded in the 2017–2018 Budget and the persons or sections of the

community who are provided the service.

Service/Description

Net Cost

Actual Budget

Favourable/

(Unfavourable) $’000

Community Planning, Culture and Development

Community Planning, Culture and Development Department

work towards enhancing community health and wellbeing.

These include Arts & Cultural Development, Diversity & Inclusion, Connected Communities, Community & Council Planning,

and Policy Advocacy & Research.

Arts & Cultural Development

manages our two main arts centres – St Albans Community Centre and Bowery Theatre.

It commissions public and visual artworks, and creates arts spaces within the municipality by developing and managing exhibition

venues, studios, shop fronts, performance and rehearsal spaces. Brimbank is proud to own an art collection that has grown over the

years, and partners with the local arts community in creative projects that are accessible and enjoyable for people living in Brimbank

and beyond. This unit also develops policy positions and strategies around arts and cultural development.

Diversity & Inclusion

promotes social inclusion and access through the delivery of the Metro Access program, language services,

seniors’ development, Indigenous and cultural awareness programs, and delivery of Council’s Annual Community Grant Program.

Connected Communities

facilitates Council’s community engagement, capacity building and social inclusion through establishing

governance and consultation structures and builds community capacity through community leadership programs such as the

Community Governance Training Program.

Community & Council Planning

ensures Council is delivering on its commitment to the community by developing, reporting and

monitoring the Community Plan and Council Plan.

Policy Advocacy & Research

addresses key issues in the community including social justice, safety, inclusion, disability support,

addiction problems, men’s violence against women and gender equity. This is achieved by developing policies, strategies, projects

and partnerships that improve health and wellbeing in the community, while undertaking important evaluation, research and data

analysis in order to meet requirements under the Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan.

5,183 5,196

13

Community Care

Community Care

provides a wide range of services that support older people, people living with a disability, families and youth.

Ageing & Inclusion

supports and encourages older people, and people with a disability, to maintain and enhance their

physical, social and emotional well-being by accessing in-home and community-based services provided by Council.

Services such as domestic assistance, personal and respite care, social support and planned activity groups, delivered

meals, community transport and maintenance help older residents live a fulfilling life, independently.

Families & Early Years

provides a range of services for children and families in the community through the Early Education &

Care and Maternal & Child Health teams. Families’ health and wellbeing is well supported with playgroups, kindergartens, family

day care and other child care services operating throughout the municipality. Maternal and Child Health services are available at

eight locations, providing health and wellbeing information for parents and children aged from 0-5 years, and intensive support

for vulnerable families experiencing parenting difficulties.

Youth Services

offers a number of services to guide young people through their personal development and encourages them

to participate positively in community life through support, counselling and youth programs that strengthen and build resilience

in young people are provided by this unit, which also fosters partnerships with other local services the support young people.

16,661 17,409

748

Service Performance Indicators

The following statement provides the result of the prescribed service performance indicators and measures including explanation of

material variations.

Service indicator

2016 Actual

2017 Actual

2018 Actual Commentary

Cost of indoor aquatic facilities

$3.86

$4.11

$3.55

Brimbank City Council places a high emphasis on delivering

services in a cost-efficient manner, with this result remaining

within the range expected by Council.

Utilisation of aquatic facilities

2.85

2.80

2.85

Brimbank City Council places a high emphasis on ensuring pools

are safe, accessible and well utilised. Increasing utilisation of pool

facilities suggests an improvement in satisfaction with Brimbank's

aquatic facilities. This result remains within the range expected

by Council.

Time taken to action

food complaints

1.40

1.34

1.36

Brimbank City Council places a strong emphasis on food safety

and public health. Reports of food complaints and related

requests were promptly responded to. This result remains

within the range expected by Council.

Food safety assessments

100%

100%

100%

Brimbank City Council continues to achieve a consistent result

seeing all Class 1 and 2 food premises inspected, with some

food premises receiving additional assessments.

Cost of food safety service

$257.20 $248.56

$239.12

Brimbank City Council seeks to deliver an effective and

cost-efficient food safety service for our community.

This result remains within the range expected by Council.

Critical and major non-compliance

outcome notifications

100%

100%

100%

Brimbank City Council continues to achieve a high result,

demonstrating the urgency with which all critical and major

non-compliance notifications were followed up during the year.

Library collection usage

3.91

4.34

5.84

The Brimbank City Council library collection continues to be well

utilised by community members accessing both printed and digital

materials at our five library branches and via our home library service.

Standard of library collection

69.43% 72.32%

58.63%

Brimbank City Council’s library collection continues to be reflective

of community needs and demands with close to 60% of the

collection under five years of age. A variance in this year’s result

was due to the transition process to a new Library Management

System that saw an up-to-date and accurate record of holdings.

Cost of library service

$6.39

$5.64

$5.89

Brimbank City Council has worked to keep library operating costs

stable whilst responding to increased usage, both loans and visits.

Active library members

14.07%

15.61%

12.55%

Brimbank City Council continues to see active usage of the library

service, with an increase in membership at all branches except for

Sunshine Library which, after a successful first year of opening,

has seen memberships stabilised. This result continues to fall

within the range set by Council.

Participation in first

MCH home visit

107.06% 109.31%

107.31%

Brimbank City Council continues to demonstrate consistently

high participation rates in the Maternal and Child Health Service,

demonstrating the importance of first home visits for newborns

and families.

Infant enrolments in the MCH

service

100%

100%

100%

Brimbank City Council achieved 100% infant enrolments in the

Maternal Child Health Service, continuing the high level of results

and client engagement as per the last three years.

Cost of the MCH service

$83.69

$86.79

$80.53

Brimbank City Council continues to deliver the Maternal Child

Health Service within the expected budget and requirements,

with this result remaining within range set by Council.

Participation in the MCH service 72.90% 69.82%

71.5%

Brimbank City Council continues to achieve participation rates in the

Maternal and Child Health Service that remain within the expected

result range. Family participation in the Maternal and Child Health

Service can vary significantly between years, as every enrolled child

is not required to attend the service on an annual basis.

Participation in the MCH service

by Aboriginal children

53.76% 58.33%

62.11%

Brimbank City Council continues to see the level of participation

for Aboriginal children and their families increase compared to

previous years.

Our Goal:

A Liveable Community

• Public and open spaces are safe, clean and well-maintained

• People can get around easily on foot, by bike, car or public transport

• Our community lives sustainably

• The natural environment supports thriving biodiversity that is protected and well connected

• The urban environment supports a growing population in designated areas while respecting neighbourhood character

and heritage where appropriate

Strategic indicators

The following statement reviews the performance of Council against the Council Plan including results achieved in relation

to the strategic indicators included in the Council Plan.

Strategic indicator/measure

Result

Comments

Resident perception of Council’s performance

in enforcement of local laws

66

This is the same result as in 2017 survey and remains 4 points lower

than the state average.

Resident perception of Council’s performance

in managing the appearance of public areas

62

This is 1 point higher than the 2017 result and 9 points lower than

the state average.

Resident perception of Council’s

performance in managing the condition

of local streets and footpaths

61

This is 6 points higher than the 2017 result and 3 points higher

than the state average.

Resident perception of Council’s performance

in managing the condition of sealed local

roads

63

This is 5 points higher than the 2017 result. This measure has also

resulted significantly higher than the state-wide Council average

but lower than the Metro average.

Resident perception of importance and

Council’s performance in traffic management

61

This is 7 points higher than the 2017 result and 4 points higher

than the state average.

Resident perception of importance and Council’s

performance in providing parking facilities

59

This is 4 points higher than the 2017 result and 3 points higher

than the state average.

Resident perception of Council’s performance

in waste management

71

This is 1 point higher than the 2017 result and 1 point lower than

the state average.

Resident perception of Council’s performance

in general town planning policy

60

This is 2 points higher than the 2017 result and 6 points higher

than the state average.

Resident perception of Council’s performance

in planning and building permits

62

This is 2 points higher than the 2017 result and 10 points higher

than the state average.

Resident perception of Council’s performance

in planning for population growth

53

This is 1 point higher than the 2017 result.

Resident perception of Council’s performance

in environmental sustainability

63

This is 1 point higher than the 2017 result.

Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions

from Council operations

17,915 T

Greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced by 32% since 2011.

Reduction in Council’s potable water use, increase

in alternative water use and improvement in

water quality entering waterways in Brimbank.

Potable Water

Consumption: 389.7 ML

Alternative Water Use:

62.4 ML

Potable water consumption has increase by 10% compared to

the 2016/17 result.

Alternative water use has increased by 8.2% compared to the

2016/17 result.

Brimbank’s stormwater treatment assets are removing:

- Total suspended solids: 100,694 Kg/Yr

- Total phosphorus: 214 Kg/Yr

- Total nitrogen: 1,445 Kg/yr

Number of community grants supported (Our

Community Living Sustainably)

8

A total of 8 grants were supported that aimed to address the priorities

connected to creating a liveable community.

Major Initiatives

The following statement reviews the progress of Council in relation to major initiatives identified in the 2017–2018 Budget for the year.

Major Initiatives

Progress

Implement the St Albans Town Centre CCTV project.

The CCTV cameras have been installed and are operating.

Install public art murals in five public places to promote visual art,

prevent graffiti and improve local amenity.

Five public art murals have been completed at Sunshine Leisure Centre,

Deer Park Library, Tin Shed St Albans, Keilor Library and the Brimbank

Bicycle Centre.

Continued implementation of Street Tree Planting Programs

as part of the Urban Forest Strategy.

The Street Tree Planting Program continued throughout 2017-2018 and

the target of 3,500 street trees planted by the end of the planting season

in July 2018 was achieved.

Develop the Sunvale Community Park.

The Sunvale Community Park will be made available to the community

once planting is complete in July with the official opening scheduled for

September 2018.

Implement recommendations from the Management Plan

for the H.V. McKay Memorial Gardens.

Maintenance works for the H.V. McKay Memorial Gardens were completed

for 2017-2018 in accordance with agreed action plan timelines.

Undertake works to improve pedestrian and vehicular access

to Albion Station.

Consultation is currently occurring with stakeholders with completion

scheduled to occur within the 2018/2019 financial year.

Implement priority actions under the Brimbank Car Parking Management

Framework, including revised planning scheme provisions for car parking

in St Albans and Sunshine town centres.

The draft planning scheme provisions for St Albans and Sunshine town

centres have been prepared, and are currently placed on hold to enable

preparation of a Brimbank Car Parking Strategy. A consultant has been

engaged to prepare the Strategy and work has commenced including

community engagement through a town centre survey called Place Score.

The consultants have submitted the Background and Literature Review

which is the first project deliverable. This work will continue in 2018/19

and is included in the Brimbank Council Plan – Year Two Action Plan.

Development of the 2018-2028 Waste Management Strategy

incorporating a Clean Green Brimbank Litter Management Strategy.

The Brimbank Waste, Recycling and Litter Strategy 2018-2028 was

adopted by Council at the Ordinary Council Meeting on 15 May 2018.

First year actions within the 10-year plan are scheduled to commence

Quarter 1 of 2018/2019.

Develop and implement an Environmentally Sustainable Design Framework. The Environmentally Sustainable Design Framework was endorsed by

Council in August 2017 and is currently being rolled out on new Council

facilities and building maintenance works. This work will continue in

2018/19 as per Brimbank Council Plan – Year Two Action Plan.

Continue to project manage the delivery of the Upper Stony Creek

transformation project on behalf of all partners.

Works associated with the Upper Stony Creek transformation project

commenced in March 2018 and are expected to be completed by

September 2019.

Complete the Municipal Development Contributions Plan Overlay.

The Municipal Development Contributions Plan has been completed and

gazetted in the Brimbank Planning Scheme. An internal process has been

developed to facilitate collection of contributions at the planning and

building permit stages.

Increase proactive cleaning, maintenance and amenity in St Albans and

Sunshine town centres and other Council-owned shopping strips including

the addition of new bin wraps and stickers and new Christmas banners.

The ongoing proactive litter pick up and pressure cleaning program

occurred in the Sunshine, St Albans, Keilor, Keilor Park, Deer Park and

Kings Park activity centres.

Update the Sydenham Park Master Plan incorporating consideration of

the Robertson’s Homestead.

This action has been delayed awaiting the release of the Draft Melbourne

Airport Master Plan 2018 which was released on Monday 16 July 2018,

with the Sydenham Park Master Plan to be developed in 2018-2019.

Participate in the development of a regional Integrated Transport Strategy

and incorporate into Brimbank advocacy priorities.

The Transport Strategy for Melbourne’s west is currently in final draft and

scheduled to be considered by the Leadwest Board on 15 August 2018.

The strategy is then scheduled to be presented to Council at a subsequent

Council meeting.

Implement a snake catching service.

The snake catching service continued to progress successfully and was

well accessed by residents.

Services

The following statement provides information in relation to the services funded in the 2017–2018 Budget and the persons or sections of the

community who are provided the service.

Service/Description

Net Cost

Actual Budget

Favourable/

(Unfavourable) $’000

Engineering Services

Engineering Services

ensures that Brimbank is a safe, liveable and attractive place to live and work. This is achieved through

planning, design, construction, maintenance and renewal/disposal of local roads, drainage systems and other vital infrastructure. .

1,848 2,086

238

Environment

Environment

engages and encourages the community to value Brimbank’s natural areas and understand local environmental

impacts in an effort to becoming a more environmentally sustainable city.

This is achieved by providing leadership and education while providing direction and coordination in resource efficiency

measures including integrated water management, climate change mitigation and adaptation; and community engagement

in the conservation, management and restoration of Brimbank’s natural areas including grasslands, waterways and rocky

escarpments; and manages issues associated with former landfill sites.

2,065 1,958

(107)

Asset and Property Services

Asset and Property Services

provides a comprehensive range of services to improve the operational performance of Council’s

infrastructure assets. This includes providing information, support and strategic advice to the community; coordinating Council’s

annual Capital Works Program; and keeping up-to-date with spatial mapping, analysis and predictive modelling innovations.

717 678

(39)

Urban Design

Urban Design

undertakes tree planting in streets and main roads, along with landscaping and other amenity improvements

projects for parks, activity centres, and off-road and on-road shared user trails. This work ensures Brimbank’s community spaces

are well designed and cared for.

3,110 2,814

(296)

Operations

Operations

oversees Fleet Services, Park Services, Roads and Cleansing, Waste Services, Pedestrian Facility Services and

Emergency Management.

Parks, sportsgrounds and the outdoor spaces surrounding Council-owned facilities are maintained by Park Services.

Road and Drainage is managed by Roads and Cleansing in accordance with Council’s Road Asset Management Plan, and are

responsible for the overall cleanliness of Council land.

Waste Services organises the community’s weekly kerbside waste collection and fortnightly recycling and green waste

collections. It also manages Council’s Resource Recovery Centre and delivers an annual hard waste collection service to residents.

Pedestrian Facilities Services program and implement Council’s annual footpath and concrete works rehabilitation program.

Emergency Management coordinates the use of Council resources for emergency response and recovery in accordance with

, including coordination of a Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee;

and development and maintenance of the Municipal Emergency Management Plan.

39,608 38,961

(647)

City Planning and Planning Compliance

Planning permit applications for land use, development and subdivisions go through

City Planning

which also responds to property

information and demolition requests and provides planning services to Council, the community and the development industry.

Services include providing advice and making determinations on planning permit applications for land use, development and

subdivisions, and responding to property information and demolition requests.

Other roles include administration of the Brimbank Planning Scheme and representation at the Victorian Civil and Administrative

Tribunal on planning matters.

Planning Compliance

is responsible for enforcing planning regulations and responds to customer requests relating to

planning matters.

(1,975) (1,651)

324

Service Performance Indicators

The following statement provides the result of the prescribed service performance indicators and measures including explanation of

material variations.

Service indicator

2016 Actual

2017 Actual

2018 Actual Commentary

Time taken to action animal

management requests

1.21

1.32

1.57

Brimbank City Council places a strong emphasis on responsible

pet ownership and community safety. Reports of ‘animals at

large’ and related requests are promptly responded to.

This result remains within the range expected by Council.

Animals reclaimed

33.53%

30.27%

22.64%

Brimbank City Council received an increase in the numbers of

unregistered and un-microchipped cats which has resulted in a

decrease in reclaimed animals in the 2017-2018 financial year.

Cost of animal management

service

$58.50

$112.22

$126.82

Brimbank City Council places a high emphasis on delivering

services in a cost-efficient manner, however the cost of this

service has increased due to costs associated with external

providers.

Animal management prosecutions 7.00

8.00

5.00

Brimbank City Council investigates all infringements under the

and, where supportive evidence is

available, actively prosecutes these matters. The result remains

within the range expected by Council.

Sealed local road requests

42.62

49.70

68.89

Brimbank City Council endeavours to respond to all resident

requests for sealed local roads within the approved requirements

of the Road Asset Management Plan. The number of requests

increased slightly in the 2017-2018 financial year due to

increased community awareness of the ways in which to

report concerns to Council after hours.

Sealed local roads below

the intervention level

81.91% 83.38%

84.87%

Council has continued to fund the renewal of its road network to

ensure the overall condition of the network does not deteriorate.

This result remains within the range expected by Council.

Cost of sealed local road

reconstruction

$85.83

$87.24

$83.70

Brimbank City Council undertakes all road reconstruction via

contracts, which are awarded following a competitive public

tender process. This result remains within the range expected

by Council.

Cost of sealed local road resealing $25.29

$25.08

$27.40

Brimbank City Council undertakes all road resealing works via

contracts, which are awarded following a competitive public

tender process. The cost is indicative of continued competitive

market conditions in the road construction industry and

continues to remain lower than the result range.

Kerbside bin collection requests

202.62

194.34

169.66

Brimbank City Council endeavours to deliver an effective,

cost-efficient bin collection service for the community. The bin

collection service includes replacement of damaged bins, repair

of broken bins, and the collection and disposal of missed bins

from residential properties within the municipality. There was a

significant reduction in 'bin not emptied' requests resulting in an

improved result this financial year.

Kerbside collection bins missed

10.62

11.92

10.64

Brimbank City Council endeavours to deliver an effective,

cost-efficient bin collection service for the community with this

improved result remaining within the range expected by Council.

Service indicator

2016 Actual

2017 Actual

2018 Actual Commentary

Cost of kerbside garbage bin

collection service

$106.17 $105.89

$115.25

Brimbank City Council endeavours to deliver an effective, cost

efficient kerbside garbage collection service for our community

with this result remaining within the range expected by Council.

Cost of kerbside recyclables

collection service

$11.54

$7.97

$23.98

Brimbank City Council endeavours to deliver an effective,

cost-efficient kerbside recyclables collection service for our

community, however the changes to recycling policy within China

has impacted Australian recycling markets, increasing processing

costs for Council.

Kerbside collection waste

diverted from landfill

38.80% 40.08%

39.27%

Brimbank City Council endeavours to deliver an effective, cost

efficient kerbside collection service for our community with the

result remaining within the range expected by Council.

Time taken to decide planning

applications

112.00

125.00

123.00

Brimbank City Council places an emphasis on working with

applicants and objectors to achieve good outcomes in planning

determinations, and so additional time may be taken in

negotiating land use and development issues.

Planning applications decided

within 60 days

55.00% 45.35%

52.82%

Brimbank City Council places an emphasis on working with

applicants and objectors to achieve good outcomes in planning

determinations, and so additional time may be taken in

negotiating land use and development issues. This result

remains within the range expected by Council.

Cost of statutory planning service $2,133.94 $3399.42

$3072.92

Brimbank City Council has a strong commitment to providing an

efficient and cost-effective statutory planning service. With this

cost, calculation is based on expenses and excludes income as

per LGV guidance.

Council planning decisions

upheld at VCAT

80.95% 61.54%

66.67%

Brimbank City Council's success rate at VCAT can be attributed

in part to the effort Council makes in negotiating and consulting

with applicants and objectors to achieve good land use planning

and development outcomes. This result remains within the range

expected by Council.

Expenses per head of

municipal population

$873.87 $877.50

$918.98

This result remains within the range expected by Council.

Infrastructure per head

of municipal population

$6,639.22 $8007.72

$7411.23

This result remains within the range expected by Council.

Own-source revenue per head

of municipal population

$798.86 $848.30

$835.02

This result falls within the range expected by Council.

Recurrent grants per head

of municipal population

$100.56 $163.78

$138.53

Comment to be updated once draft financial statements

have been completed.

Our Goal:

A Prosperous Community

• People are able to access quality education and lifelong learning opportunities

• People are able to find and maintain jobs that provide income security

• The local economy is strong and provides opportunities for the community to thrive

• Housing is of good quality, well located and affordable

• Brimbank is a leading destination for business, working, learning, recreation and living

Strategic indicators

The following statement reviews the performance of Council against the Council Plan including results achieved in relation to the strategic

indicators included in the Council Plan.

Strategic indicator/measure

Result

Comments

Number of attendees at libraries and

neighbourhood houses to access services,

programs and activities.

2,679,444

In 2017-2018 there were 1,263,891 physical visits to Brimbank’s five

libraries and 781,895 visits to the Online library; a total of 2,045,786

visits.

There were 565,651 physical visits to Brimbank’s seven Neighbourhood

House sites and 68,007 visits to the Neighbourhood House websites;

a total of 633,658.

Council’s libraries and neighbourhood houses provide the community

with a diverse range of programs, facilities, services and resources that

support lifelong learning, promote social connectedness and increase

health and wellbeing.

Resident perception of Council’s performance in

providing art centres and libraries

75

This is 3 points higher than the 2017 result.

Number of community grants supported

(Lifelong Learning, Destination Brimbank)

15

A total of 15 grants were supported that aimed to address the priorities

connected to creating a prosperous community.

Major Initiatives

The following statement reviews the progress of Council in relation to major initiatives identified in the 2017–2018 Budget for the year.

Major Initiatives

Progress

Implement the proposed Education Development Centre at Visy Cares Hub. The Department of Education and Training (DET) milestone reporting

and Work Plan were completed and submitted to DET. Recruitment for

the Brimbank Learning Futures Coordinator was completed. Delays

to the refurbishment schedule of the Visy Cares Hub continue due to

unforeseen circumstances.

Work with government to deliver an employment initiative to bring

together unemployed jobseekers, employers, employment providers

and industry bodies.

This action was completed in Quarter Two when Council completed and

submitted its report about the Melbourne’s West Jobs Fair in accordance

with the funding grant.

Implement the Brimbank Economic Development Strategy.

Year One Economic Development Strategy Actions were implemented

including:

• Production and distribution of the Business Link

• Delivery of the Economic Gardening program in partnership

with the VU Hanger

• Ongoing delivery of the business development program

• A successful funding application to Launch Vic to establish a

Brimbank Co-working Hub in the Brimbank Community and

Civic Centre.

This work will continue in 2018/2019 and is included in the

Brimbank Council Plan – Year Two Action Plan.

Promote Brimbank through the development and

implementation of a Visitor and Local Participation Strategy.

The draft Experience Brimbank Strategy has been exhibited for

community feedback. A report about the feedback and finalisation

of the Strategy has been prepared for presentation to the August

Ordinary Council Meeting. Other work continues with Destination

Melbourne on the Discover Your Own Backyard campaign. This work

will continue in 2018/19 and is included in the Brimbank Council Plan –

Year Two Action Plan.

Services

The following statement provide information in relation to the services funded in the 2017–2018 Budget and the persons or sections of the

community who are provided the service.

Service/Description

Net Cost

Actual Budget

Favourable/

(Unfavourable) $’000

Lifelong Learning & Community Participation

Lifelong Learning & Community Participation

delivers a diverse range of library services delivered through Brimbank’s five

libraries. The online library and home library service ensure lifelong learning is accessible to all age groups and abilities.

Library services include quality collections, computers and wireless Internet. It supports customers with research, study and

information, and provides places for study, reading and socialising. Library programs support lifelong learning and help foster

a culture of reading and literacy.

Council’s five

neighbourhood houses

provides community meeting spaces, capacity building activities and programs for

the community such as volunteering opportunities and community lunches, delivers programs that include short courses

and workshops, coordinates the Brimbank Neighbourhood Houses Strategic Partnership Agreement and enters into

Collaborative Partnership Agreements with community groups and organisations.

9,565 9,405

(160)

City Strategy

City Strategy

is responsible for attracting investment into the municipality, business development, marketing and promotion,

strategic site management and place management for the Sunshine and St Albans town centres.

Strategies for preparing land use and development are undertaken, including the Municipal Strategic Statement,

and amendments to the Brimbank Planning Scheme are also prepared and processed.

It is also delivering the Sunshine Rising, St Albans Place Management and Brooklyn Evolution programs.

2,491 2,083

(408)

Service Performance Indicators

The following statement provides the result of the prescribed service performance indicators and measures including explanation of

material variations.

Service indicator

2016 Actual

2017 Actual

2018 Actual Commentary

Library collection usage

3.91

4.34

5.84

The Brimbank City Council library collection continues to be well

utilised by community members accessing both printed and

digital materials at our five library branches and via our home

library service.

Standard of library collection

69.43% 72.32%

58.63%

Brimbank City Council’s library collection continues to be reflective

of community needs and demands with close to 60% of the

collection under five years of age. A variance in this year’s result

was due to the transition process to a new Library Management

System that saw an up-to-date and accurate record of holdings.

Cost of library service

$6.39

$5.64

$5.89

Brimbank City Council has worked to keep library operating costs

stable whilst responding to increased usage, both loans and visits.

Active library members

14.07%

15.61%

12.55%

Brimbank City Council continues to see active usage of the library

service, with an increase in membership at all branches except for

Sunshine Library which, after a successful first year of opening,

has seen memberships stabilised. This result continues to fall

within the range set by Council.

Our Goal:

An Innovative and Responsive ‘Community First’ Council

• Council is fair, honest and transparent

• Council advocates and works in the interests of our community

• Council manages its assets and finances sustainably and responsibly

• Council staff are high performing and community-focused

Strategic indicators

The following statement reviews the performance of Council against the Council Plan including results achieved in relation to the strategic

indicators included in the Council Plan.

Strategic indicator/measure

Result

Comments

Resident perception of Council’s overall

performance and direction

65

This is 5 points higher than the 2017 result and represents the highest

score that Council has achieved since tracking commenced in 2012. This

rating is also significantly higher than the state-wide and Metro Council

average.

Resident perception of Council’s

performance in customer service

72

Customer Service is the core area where Council has performed most

strongly overall. This result 2 points higher than the 2017 result, with a

third of residents (33%) rating Council’s customer service as very good.

Resident perception of Council’s performance

in community consultation and engagement

56

This is 1 point higher than the 2017 result and 1 point higher than the

state average.

Resident perception of Council’s performance

in informing the community

58

This is 2 points higher than the 2017 result and 1 point lower than the

state average.

Resident perception of Council’s performance

regarding decisions made in the interest of the

community

58

This is 2 points higher than the 2017 result and 4 points higher than

the state average.

Resident perception of Council’s performance

in lobbying on behalf of the community

57

This is 3 points higher than the 2017 result and is in line with the state

average.

Major Initiatives

The following statement reviews the progress of Council in relation to major initiatives identified in the 2017–2018 Budget for the year.

Major Initiatives

Progress

Develop a Brimbank Advocacy framework to deliver more coordinated

and systematic approaches to advocacy.

Implementation of the Brimbank Advocacy Plan is underway, with a

focus on St Albans Leisure Centre redevelopment, Growing Brimbank,

Transport, Gambling and Education.

Develop a Brimbank Resilience Plan based on the Resilient Melbourne

Strategy.

The draft Resilience Strategy has been completed and scheduled

for consideration at the August Ordinary Council Meeting.

Develop a marketing strategy incorporating digital channels.

The second phase of the ‘Welcome. We Are Brimbank’ campaign is

close to being finalised, and will take the campaign through to the

remainder of 2018.

Develop a Community Engagement Policy and Toolkit.

The draft Community Engagement Policy has been completed

and scheduled for adoption at the July Ordinary Council meeting.

Develop a program for ongoing Councillor engagement with the community. Four Meet Your Councillor Sessions were delivered between

March and June across the Harvester, Taylors, Horse Shoe Bend

and Grasslands wards.

Services

The following statement provides information in relation to the services funded in the 2017–2018 Budget and the persons or sections of the

community who are provided the service.

Service/Description

Net Cost

Actual Budget

Favourable/

(Unfavourable) $’000

Governance

Governance

supports Council’s formal decision-making processes and structures, including coordination of the Council

Meeting cycle and delegations, with oversight and coordination of legislative governance for Council, including requirements

of the

, privacy, Freedom of Information and geographic place naming.

Governance provides strategic and operational risk services, in-house legal services, insurance and claims management,

and coordinates business continuity planning and reviews.

It delivers a fraud awareness program for the organisation and is responsible for protected disclosure reporting.

The department also facilitates Council’s internal audit function and supports the Audit and Risk Management Committee.

7,007 6,054

(953)

Media and Communications

Media and Communications

gathers and communicates information through a variety of channels to reach all

corners of the community.

These channels include mainstream and local media, corporate publications and posters, advice and consultation,

website and social media, advertising, speeches and events.

By promoting Brimbank through various channels the community is kept up-to-date with information relating to

where they live, work and socialise.

7,365 7,737

373

Financial Services

Financial Services

provides a fully integrated financial service and support function across Council. It is supported by two core units

– Finance and Business Support.

Finance is responsible for calculating and collecting annual rates and charges as well as valuing every property within the

municipality; and for coordinating the preparation of the annual financial statements, monitoring Council’s cash and investments

to maximise interest earnings, paying suppliers and ensuring compliance with legislation, and accounting standards.

Business Support coordinates the Annual Budget and Long Term Financial Plan. It also provides financial analysis of Council’s

business to help support decisions, maintains and supports Council’s financial systems and provides training to staff, and maintains

policies and procedures.

Management of strategic policies, procedures and guidelines for Council’s purchases of goods and services, providing a centralised

process for all public tenders, and assistance with procurement matters across all service units providing procurement advice,

governance on procurement activities and, where required, conduct procurement activities on behalf of Council.

5,490 4,974

(516)

Customer Support

Customer Support

provides professional services through a number of contact channels including over the phone, face-to-face

and written communications to best meet the needs of customers at the initial point of contact.

Seeking out, monitoring and analysing customer feedback to better understand the customer experience and to drive service

delivery improvement programs.

Information management services are also provided which include the registration, management, storage and retrieval of all

information received by Council in accordance with legislative requirements.

All service processes are designed around optimal use of digital practices and consideration of technology opportunities.

3,176 3,190

14

People and Performance

People and Performance

drives positive performance by implementing learning and development programs such as leadership

and management development, technical training while promoting positive organisational values and behaviours, change

management and human resources.

Staff health and wellbeing is managed with the implementation of occupational health and safety programs and injury

prevention and management.

Council’s recruitment, payroll and workforce planning are also key tasks for this team.

2,767 2,701

(66)

Information Communication Technology

Information Communication Technology

(ICT) provides a consistent level of support and service to all Council departments

and community centres.

It offers support with specialist systems, project manages existing software and hardware as outlined in the corporate strategic

objectives, and manages new and existing ICT hardware and infrastructure.

ICT is responsible for maintaining a consistent service across Council to ensure continuity and efficiency.

863 2,459

1,597

Representative Governance

Following a municipal general election held on

22 October 2016, 11 Councillors were sworn in

on 8 November 2016, to form the new Brimbank

City Council.

Governance framework

Brimbank City Council derives its power,

role, purpose and functions from the

(the Act).

Council’s Governance Framework sets out

the principles and structures to achieve best

practice governance, as well as ensuring

compliance with the Act.

Governance at Brimbank is defined as the

process of decision-making, and the process

by which decisions are implemented. This

translates into how Council operates as a

decision-making body, and its relationship

with the organisation (that provides advice to

Council and implements its decisions). It also

includes the ways that Council engages with

its community in this process.

Council meetings

Council makes its decisions at meetings

open to the public.

At

Ordinary Council Meetings

, Council

considered a range of matters, and aimed

to make decisions in relation to Council’s

responsibilities in the best interests of the

community.

On 21 November 2017, the schedule for Ordinary

Council Meetings for 2018, comprising monthly

meetings, was adopted. The meetings were

held on the third Tuesday of the month, at the

Brimbank Community and Civic Centre.

Special Council Meetings

are convened for a

specific purpose. Only matters advertised and

listed on the agenda for the meeting may be

dealt with (except via resolution).

Council conducted five Special Council Meetings

in 2017-2018. The first Special Council Meeting

was to consider adopting the Final Draft Council

Plan 2017-2021 and Final Draft Annual Budget

2017-2018 (including Final Draft Long Term

Financial Plan 2017-2027 and Final Draft Rating

Strategy 2017-2018), and the St Albans Items

Funding – Final Draft Annual Budget 2017-2018.

The second was to elect a Mayor and Deputy

Mayor. The third was to consider writing to the

Minister for Planning regarding a request to

withdraw an Interim Heritage Overlay on the

Grand Junction Estate Precinct Sunshine and

108 George Street, St Albans. The fourth and

fifth Special Council Meetings were to consider

legal advice in relation to legal matters.

Council agendas

The business to be considered by Council is set

out in the Council Meeting agenda. The agenda

was available on Council’s website five days

prior to a Council Meeting. Hard copy agendas

were also available at Council’s customer service

centres and libraries, on the day before the

meeting.

Hard copy agendas and electronic agendas

(using Council iPads) were available in Chamber

on the night of the Council Meeting. Members

of the gallery were also encouraged to use their

own electronic device to connect to Council’s

Wi-Fi and access the agenda electronically.

Council minutes

Council records the decisions made at each

Council Meeting. Minutes of Council meetings

were available at the Council offices and on

Council’s website for all meetings held during the

current calendar year (and preceding 12-month

period), as required by the

. Council continued

its practice of displaying live minutes to the

public gallery at Council Meetings.

Questions to Council

Community members had the opportunity to

raise questions in writing before an Ordinary

Council Meeting, which were then answered at

the meeting, or taken on notice with a written

response sent to the questioner.

Members of the public were also able to petition

Council, in accordance with the

.

In 2017-2018, a total of 12 petitions were

presented to the Council for receipt and

response. Ninety-five questions were

put to the Council and answered at the

meeting, and/or responded to in writing.

Councillors’ allowances and expenses

Section 47A(2) of the Act provides for payment

of annual allowances to the Mayor and

Councillors.

In representing and serving the community,

the Mayor and Councillors make a significant

time commitment, often after normal business

hours, in attending meetings, functions and

responding to community members. They are

also responsible for considering diverse and

complex policies and strategies, and social and

advocacy issues in Brimbank, and determining

a significant annual budget and capital works

program.

Allowance levels are determined within the

category ranges set by the State Government.

Victorian Councils are divided into three

categories, based on budget and population.

Brimbank is determined to be a Category

3 Council. Allowance levels are subject to

annual adjustments by the Minister for

Local Government.

At the Ordinary Council Meeting on 20 June

2017, Council resolved to set the Mayoral

allowance at $94,641 per annum, and

the Councillor allowance at $29,630 per

annum (plus an amount equivalent to the

superannuation guarantee contribution

(currently 9.5 per cent), for the next four

financial years, subject to any adjustments

by the Minister for Local Government.

The Minister adjusted the allowances by

2 per cent in December 2017. At the end

of 2017-2018, the Mayoral allowance was

$96,534 per annum, and the Councillor

allowance was $30,223 per annum (plus an

amount equivalent to the superannuation

guarantee contribution of 9.5 per cent).

Expenses incurred by the Councillors in

undertaking their duties for Brimbank

were reported quarterly in a Governance

Report presented at an Ordinary Council

Meeting, in accordance with their Code of

Conduct. The total expenses reported for

travel, communications and other support

expenses for 2017-2018 was $35,515.24.

Councillor Code of Conduct

Councillors are entrusted to represent, and

make decisions in the best interests of, the

entire Brimbank community. A Councillor Code

of Conduct is a commitment by Councillors on

how they agree to work together, and conduct

themselves, in all aspects of their duties.

Local Government Act 1989

The

(the Act) sets

out standards of conduct for Councillors. Section

76C of the Act requires a council to have a Code

of Conduct for Councillors. The Act also requires

a Councillor to make a written declaration they

will abide by the Councillor Code of Conduct,

witnessed by the Chief Executive Officer,

within one month of any amendments to the

Code of Conduct being adopted. Under Section

75B of the Act, a council must also adopt a

reimbursement policy for Councillors. Section

75C of the Act requires a council to make

available prescribed minimum resources for

Councillors to carry out their duties.

Review of the Code

Brimbank Councillors originally signed the

Councillor Code of Conduct Major Policy (Code

of Conduct) following their swearing in, at the

Special Council Meeting on 8 November 2016,

fulfilling the requirements of sections 63, 64

and 76C of the Act.

Council also reviewed the Code of Conduct at a

Special Council Meeting on 14 February 2017, as

it is required under Section 76C(2) of the Act for

Council to review the Councillor Code of Conduct

within four months of a municipal general

election. All Councillors made a declaration in

writing stating they will be abide by the Code

of Conduct, witnessed by the Chief Executive

Officer, within one month of the reviewed Code

of Conduct being adopted. A copy of the Code

of Conduct was given to each Councillor, and

made available on Council’s website. At this

meeting, Council resolved to receive a report in

August 2017 on a further review of the Code

of Conduct. A report was presented to Council

in August 2017 that outlined the proposed

review process, which Council resolved to

undertake. Review workshops were held with

Councillors in 2017-2018, with a view to Council

considering the reviewed Code of Conduct under

the Governance (Major Policy) Local Law 3 in

2018/2019.

Local laws

Brimbank has three local laws: the

, which came into effect on 1 January

2018; the

, which came into effect on

19 June 2015; and the

which came into

effect on 18 July 2014.

Local laws apply within the area of the City of

Brimbank and act as subordinate legislation to

State and Federal laws.

General Local Law 2008

was made on 21 November 2017, and became

operational on 1 January 2018. The objectives

of the Local Law are to provide for the:

• Administration of Council’s powers and

functions

• Protection, fair use and enjoyment of

Council property

• Safe and fair use of streets, roads and

footpaths

• Protection, maintenance and enhancement

of the amenity of the municipality to a

standard that meets the general reasonable

expectations of the community

• Keeping and control of animals on land

and on Council property, and

• Uniform and fair administration and

enforcement of the Local Law.

Council conducted the review of the Local

Law in accordance will section 119 and 223

of the Act, including preparing a community

impact statement. As part of the community

consultation, 11 submissions were received

on the draft Local Law.

Following the making of the Local Law, notice

was given in the Victoria Government Gazette

and local newspaper, and the Local Law was

available for viewing on Council’s website and

at customer service centres.

Governance (Meeting Procedure)

Local Law No. 1 2015

Brimbank’s

was gazetted on 18 June

2015, and became operational on 19 June 2015.

The primary purposes of the local law are to:

• Provide for the procedures governing the

conduct of Council Meetings and Committee

Meetings

• Set the rules of behaviour for those

participating in and attending meetings, and

• Regulate the use of Council’s common seal

The

was available for viewing on Council’s

website.

Governance (Major Policy Consultation)

Local Law No. 3 2014

Brimbank’s

was gazetted

on 17 July 2014, and became operational on

18 July 2014. It enables Council to determine

whether a policy is, or is not, a ‘major policy’,

and prescribes a public consultation process

to be followed when the Council proposes to

make, amend, modify or revoke a ‘major policy’.

The purpose of the local law is to:

• Provide for some policies of Council to be

designated as major policies

• Prescribe the procedure to be followed

before making, amending, modifying or

revoking a major policy

• Promote transparency of decision-making

• Promote best practice in governance

processes, and

• Provide for the peace, order and good

government of the municipal district.

No policies were made, amended or revoked as

major policies in 2017-2018. The

was available for viewing on Council’s website.

66

I

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018

Brimbank City Council

Annual Report 2017-2018 I

67

Attendance at Council Meetings by Councillors – 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018

1 July 2017–30 June 2018

Name

Ordinary Council Meetings Special Council Meetings

Cr Daniel Allan

10

4

Cr Victoria Borg

11

3

Cr Lucinda Congreve

10

5

Cr Sam David JP

11

4

Cr Margaret Giudice

10

5

Cr John Hedditch

11

5

Cr Bruce Lancashire

11

5

Cr Georgina Papafotiou

7

5

Cr Duyen Anh Pham

11

5

Cr Virginia Tachos

10

5

Cr Kim Thien Truong

10

5

Non-attendance at Council Meetings included formal Leave of Absences and/or apologies.

Internal Committees/External Committees

Councillor representation on Committees

At the end of each year, Councillors are nominated to represent Council on a range of Committees for the following year. Council Committees comprise

Council-formed Advisory Committees (with external representation), and External Committees (where a Councillor/Administrator acts as a delegate).

In 2017-2018, the representatives/delegates to Council Committees were:

Council Advisory

Committees

Role of Committee

Councillor

Representative

July 2017-

February 2018

Councillor

Representative

February 2018-

June 2018

Audit and Risk Management

Committee

Advisory Committee to Council established in accordance with

section 139 of the

, to provide

oversight of internal and external audit activities.

Cr Lucinda Congreve

Cr Margaret Giudice

Cr Georgina Papafotiou

(substitute)

(all Councillors

ex-officio)

Cr Lucinda Congreve

Cr Margaret Giudice

Cr Georgina Papafotiou

(substitute)

(all Councillors

ex-officio)

Australia Day Awards

Selection Committee

To select Australia Day Award recipients.

Mayor, Cr John Hedditch

(from July 2017 until

December 2017)

Mayor, Cr Margaret

Giudice (from December

2017 until June 2018)

Brimbank Aboriginal and

Torres Strait Islander

Reconciliation Action Plan

Consultative Committee

To provide Council with advice on Aboriginal and Torres

Strait Islander issues and the ongoing implementation

of the Reconciliation Action Plan.

Cr Victoria Borg

(Chair)

Cr Victoria Borg (Chair)

Cr Daniel Allan

(substitute)

Brimbank Arts Advisory

Committee

To oversee the operational aspects of the Brimbank Arts

Collection Policy Guidelines.

Cr Daniel Allan

(Chair)

Cr Daniel Allan (Chair)

Cr Duyen Anh Pham

Brimbank Community Fund

Committee

To provide guidance on the administration of the Brimbank

Charitable Fund.

Cr Sam David JP

Cr Sam David JP

Cr Margaret Giudice

(substitute)

Brimbank Disability Advisory

Committee

To oversee and guide the implementation, monitoring and

review of the Brimbank Disability Action Plan, and advise

Council on a range of matters affecting people with disability,

their families and carers.

Cr John Hedditch (Chair)

Cr Victoria Borg

Cr John Hedditch (Chair)

Cr Victoria Borg

Brimbank Learning and

Employment Steering

Committee

Strategic and collaborative partnership of organisations and

individuals to lead and advocate on learning and employment