annual report won the top award at the 2011 australian . institute of landscape architects (aila)...

Annual Report 2011/2012

Front cover photos: (clockwise from left) The rehabilitation of Piggabeen Road; Council and community representatives at the official opening of the expanded Pottsville Beach Community Centre; work continues of the Banora Point Waste Water Treatement Plant, members of Council’s Customer Contact Centre.Facing pageTop: The refurbished Jack Evans Boat Harbour at night.Bottom: Young members of the crowd at the Local Government Week Family Fun Day which official launched the revitalised Jack Evans Boat Harbour.

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Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................................................... 4Awards ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 5Highlights of 2011/12 » Civic Leadership ................................................................................................................................................................... 8 » Supporting Community Life ................................................................................................................................................. 9 » Strengthening the Economy .............................................................................................................................................. 14 » Caring for the Environment ................................................................................................................................................ 15

State of the Environment 2011/12 summary ............................................................................................................................ 17June 2006 Ministerial Approved Rate Variation: Year 6 Report ............................................................................................... 19Summary of Legal Proceedings ................................................................................................................................................ 21Councillor Fees and Expenses .................................................................................................................................................. 25Senior Staff Remuneration ........................................................................................................................................................ 26Details of Contracts Awarded by Council ................................................................................................................................. 27Summary of Works on Private Lands ....................................................................................................................................... 29Financial Assistance Contributions to the Community ............................................................................................................ 29External Bodies Delegated Functions by Tweed Shire Council ................................................................................................ 30Written-Off Rates and Charges ................................................................................................................................................. 30Overseas Travel .......................................................................................................................................................................... 30Statement of Companies Which Council Held a Controlling Interest ...................................................................................... 30Annual Levy For Stormwater Management Services ............................................................................................................... 30Annual Levy For Coastal Protection Services ........................................................................................................................... 30Planning Agreements ................................................................................................................................................................ 31Statement Of Partnerships, Cooperatives or Other Joint Ventures .......................................................................................... 31Equal Employment Opportunity................................................................................................................................................. 32 2011/2012 Companion Animals Act and Regulations .............................................................................................................. 33Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act (NSW) ......................................................................................................... 34Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 NSW......................................................................................................... 34

Table of contents

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These achievements are evidenced by the large number of awards bestowed upon the organisation and its staff during 2011/12.

In particular, Council was presented with the A.R. Bluett Award, the most prestigious award in NSW local government. That success indicated Tweed Shire Council is leading best practice in local government in this State.

The past 12 months were also memorable for another two reasons: the retirement of long-serving General Manager Mike Rayner in April and the final year of the existing panel of Councillors.

Mike’s contribution to the organisation over a number of years was recognised and celebrated, by his colleagues within the organisation, the wider Tweed community and many other local government and water management officials who worked with him during his career.

From the councillors’ perspective, there were many milestones achieved in

line with the Community Strategic Plan and major infrastructure projects were delivered on time and within budget.

While there is a lot to be proud of from 2011/12, Council’s duty to its community is to be firmly focused on the tasks ahead. There will be many opportunities and challenges during the next 12 months.

A new panel of seven councillors has been elected and Council will need to set its vision for the next four years, in a climate in which the reform of local government appears to be high on the agenda.

This reform presents fantastic opportunity to realign the structure of local government to best meet the needs and expectations of its communities.

A modernised local government structure can better represent the distribution of populations and maximise what councils are able to achieve with all-too-finite resources.

The new Council also assumes the reins in a climate in which the community

has growing expectations around the delivery of services and the provision of infrastructure. At the same time, Council is proactively engaging more closely with the community, to identify its highest priorities and how they can be met with the resources at hand.

I am sure Tweed Shire Council, through its Councillors and staff, will rise to these challenges and maintain its standing as one of the State’s premier local government authorities.

David Keenan General Manager

General Manager’s introductionOver the past 12 months, the councillors and staff of Tweed Shire Council have achieved significant outcomes for the broader Tweed community.

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It is presented annually to the Council that, in the opinion of the Bluett award trustees, had made the greatest relative progress in the preceding year.

Tweed Shire Council won the Shires Division of the 2011 award, while Willoughby City Council claimed the Local Government Association section for metropolitan and larger regional councils.

“Tweed Shire Council has displayed impressive community leadership while delivering major infrastructure projects and implementing a broad range of economic and environmental initiatives,” Bluett Trust Chairman, John Flannery, said.

“The Council acknowledges it has emerged from a turbulent political past and the trustees were impressed with the Council’s commitment to delivering a wide range of programs while

it balances growth with responsible strategic planning.”

An award citation from the trustees highlighted a number of Council’s achievements during 2010/11, including:

• Bray Park Water Treatment Plant construction ($76 million fully funded by Council)

• The Jack Evans Boat Harbour revitalisation project ($8 million funded by grants and S94 funds)

• The “excellent” Tweed Link weekly newspaper and Council’s staff newsletters

• Improved customer services, including SMS and smartphone applications and restructured customer service centre

• Major refurbishments of Fingal Head Boat Harbour, Arkinstall Park Complex, Cabarita Beach streetscape and completion of Bray Park cycleway.

AwardsA.R. Bluett Award

Tweed Shire Council claimed the State’s most prestigious award in local government, the A.R. Bluett Memorial Award.

TOP RIGHT: Bluett Award Trust Chairman John Flannery PSM (left), NSW Minister for Local Government the Hon Don Page, Mayor of Tweed Councillor Barry Longland, Tweed Shire Council

General Manager Mike Rayner (since retired) and a Bluett Award Trustee Councillor Bill Bott, who was representing the Local Government and Shires Association of NSW.

RIGHT: Council and community representatives at the launch of theCabarita streetscape upgrade.

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Tweed-Byron Bush FuturesThe Tweed-Byron Bush Futures project was recognised with a major Landcare award in September 2011, receiving the Local Government Landcare Partnership Award.

The Bush Futures Project undertook bushland restoration works on more than 225 hectares of urban bushland at more than 50 sites, to address threats to bushland integrity in the Tweed and Byron shires.

Council was the lead agency in the project, funded through a $1.7 million NSW Government Environmental Trust grant and run in partnership with Byron Shire Council.

It went on to win the Partnership Award at the National Landcare Awards in September 2012, ahead of seven other State Award winners.

In December, the project received the Natural Environment Protection and Enhancement: On-ground Works Award at the 2010/11 Local Government Excellence

in the Environment Awards.

It initially won Category C of the On-ground Works Award at the ceremony, based on the population size of the combined shires, and followed up by winning the overall category award from seven other finalists.

Communications

Tweed Shire Council was recognised with two major State awards for excellence in communication, during the 2011 Local Government (LG) Week awards.

Council received the 2011 RH Dougherty Award for Excellence in Communication - for councils with a population range of 30,000 to 100,000 - for the engagement campaign for the Tweed Community Strategic Plan 2011/2021.

Council’s Communications and Marketing Coordinator Tiffany Stodart received the RH Dougherty Award for Outstanding Individual Contribution. The RH Dougherty Awards are the highest accolade a NSW council can receive in the area of communications.

AwardsThe Jack Evans Boat Harbour upgrade, bush regeneration projects and Council’s community engagement were among several award recipients for the organisation in 2011/12.

Insect expert honor

Council’s long-serving entomologist, Clive Easton, was honoured with a major award at the NSW Coastal Management Awards.Mr Easton received the Ruth Readford Award for Lifetime Achievement, which honours an individual who dedicated significant energy, time and commitment to improving planning and/or management of the NSW coast.The award judges considered that Mr Easton’s work during the past 25 years played a significant role in the Australian scientific communities’ understanding of the coastal environment, development of coastal lowland protection and remediation practices, improved aquatic biodiversity, reduced degradation of potential acid sulfate soils, and improved public health.Mr Easton played a leading role in bringing to light one of Australia’s major environmental problems – acid sulfate soils.

RIGHT: Council’s Communications Officer - Community Engagement Scott Green (left) and Manager of Corporate Governance Neil Baldwin, with the RH Dougherty

Award for the Tweed Community Strategic Plan 2011/2021.

Byron Shire Council Bush Futures Project Officer Angus Underwood (left) and Tweed Shire Council

Bush Futures Project Manager John Turnbull (right), with the Natural Resources Advisory Council

Convenor, Forbes Shire Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM.

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AwardsJack Evans Boat Harbour

Jack Evans Boat Harbour at Tweed Heads won the top award at the 2011 Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) NSW Awards.

A joint submission from Council and design consultant ASPECT Studios won the AILA NSW Medal for Landscape Architecture, the top prize at the premier State award.

AILA is the peak national organisation representing the interests of the Australian landscape architecture profession, which oversees the professional recognition of Registered Landscape Architects.

The award judges said the $8 million Stage One of Jack Evans Boat Harbour was “an outstanding example of transformation in a regional coastal town”.

“It has enriched an existing park experience to create a unique civic place of waterfront leisure,” the judges said in their comments.

“It is visually compelling and beautiful; it has provided for a rich variety of recreational and aquatic activities; and it ingeniously introduces a refined solution to a complex hydrological environment subject to tidal, river and coastal climatic pressures.”

The Jack Evans Boat Harbour project also won an award for the best ‘Irrigation’ project at the 2011 Landscape Queensland Association Awards.

The irrigation system at Jack Evans Boat Harbour at Tweed Heads and a centralised

irrigation system for all of the Tweed picked up a major award for irrigation at the 28th annual Landscape Queensland Awards.

Council’s contractor Scape Shapes Irrigation Services won the award for best irrigation at a ceremony in Brisbane, celebrating the best projects in landscape construction.

The harbour’s system was primarily designed to provide an efficient, robust irrigation system that applied the correct amount of water at the right time, to keep the facility in optimum condition for the public to enjoy.

The judges also noted the central PC-based irrigation control system for all of the Tweed, using the latest communications and technology to remotely manage and monitor all parks and recreational facilities.

It conserves ‘inputs’ such as water, labour, fertilisers and chemicals to create a healthier landscape and more sustainable environment.

The system, installed at Council’s Cabarita depot to remotely control all irrigated parks and recreational facilities in Tweed Shire, is expected to save 30 per cent in water usage.

Apprentice of the Year

A sign writing apprentice with Council, Lucy Gooley, was named the NSW Apprentice of the Year for the SKILLED group.

The third-year sign writing apprentice has been working in Council’s sign shop since January 2010, designing and manufacturing signage for Council’s amenities, park facilities and buildings.

TOP: Skilled Group NSW Apprentice of the Year, Lucy Gooley.ABOVE: The Local Government Week celebrations that officially

opened the Jack Evans Boat Harbour refurbishment.

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Customer Contact Centres

Council’s Contact Centres and revamped customer service areas were launched at its Murwillumbah and Tweed Heads offices, streamlining its customer interactions to provide a ‘one-stop shop’ to service a wide range of customer interactions including telephone, face-to-face and electronic communications.

Council previously had two switchboards, three different customer counters at Murwillumbah and a single-counter branch office at Tweed Heads. Customers would at times have to go between the three counters, dealing with up to four staff for one transaction and filling out a variety of paperwork.

The Contact Centre assembled a dedicated team of customer service professionals who were recruited internally and were specialists in a wide range of areas.

Physical improvements to the service areas include the introduction of digital marketing screens at both offices, better seating, dedicated customer booths with computer and phone access to assist with detailed

and technical queries, dedicated areas for community notice boards and promotion of programs and services, improved access and display of brochures and publications and free access to Council’s website at internet-only computers.

Terranora housing release

Guidelines for a major urban land release in Terranora, expected to provide almost 1800 residential lots, were developed and widely exhibited.

A draft Urban Release Development Code for ‘Area E’ – a 296-hectare greenfield development site bounded by Mahers Lane, Terranora Road, Fraser Drive and the Terranora Broadwater - allowed for an estimated yield of 1799 homes, while protecting significant bushland, wetlands and other land of high ecological value.

It incorporated varied lot sizes and housing types, capitalising on medium density and integrated housing opportunities to meet future demand, while retaining natural amenity and providing for public open space.

AchievementsCivic Leadership

Housing code reviewA comprehensive two-stage engagement campaign invited public input to a review of the Tweed Housing Code, which sets the standards for all aspects of housing design in Tweed Shire.

The long-running campaign sought community feedback on how housing design should look, how it should respond to the Tweed climate and localities and whether current housing design trends are reflective of community values and Tweed Shire’s natural amenity.

It sought to achieve balance between flexible regulations which allowed owners to create homes which meet their needs, expectations and aesthetic desires, while protecting the Tweed’s overall amenity.

Members of the Customer Contact Centre team.

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Tyalgum water treatment plant

Work started on a new $1.6 million Tyalgum Water Treatment Plant, to provide a better quality and more reliable town water supply to Tyalgum village.

A contract was awarded to design, supply, install and commission a new membrane filtration water treatment plant in the village, replacing a system installed in the 1960s.

The upgrade will improve potable water supply quality to meet Australian Drinking Water Guideline requirements and reduce the need to transfer water by tanker to Tyalgum during periods of poor raw water quality.

Banora Point treatment plant

A $35 million upgrade of the Banora Point Waste Water Treatment Plant neared completion, to increase the quality of treated water and cater for predicted population growth in the Tweed Heads and Banora Point areas.

Murwillumbah Community Centre

Construction began on the new $3.1 million Murwillumbah Community Centre at Knox Park, following 10 years of planning.

The new building will provide more office spaces for not-for-profit and non-

government organisations involved in community work, a one-stop shop for a wide range of community services, a secure indoor/outdoor play area and a youth area for training and activities.

The centre will also provide more space to run activities for families, such as play and singing groups, as well as opportunities for people to seek support in getting together an interest or support group of their own.

Water support for biggest users

A Top 20 program was launched to help Tweed Shire’s biggest non-residential water users curb their consumption.Council liaised with all of the top 20 users to help them implement more efficient water use practices. Council’s Demand Management Strategy shows the top 20 users have traditionally consumed a combined total of 590 megalitres each year- the equivalent of 236 Olympic swimming pools every year.

Businesses participating in the program received a free water assessment, support, promotion opportunities and financial assistance of up to $5000.

AchievementsSupporting Community Life

Access and inclusionAn Access and Inclusion in Tweed Shire study examined various issues which might prevent members of the community - particularly people with disabilities and elderly residents - from accessing information, facilities and services or participating in events or discussions.

The three-month campaign led by example by including online forums and surveys to help ensure everyone had the opportunity to participate.

It looked at ways to give everyone equal and dignified access to community life, including the ability to engage in social, business, employment, educational and leisure activities.

The study included physical access to buildings, transport, streetscapes and outdoor spaces.

According to the 2006 Census, more than 19,000 people in the Tweed reported living with a disability, which represents 24 per cent of the total population. Almost 4700 of these people needed assistance with core activities.

Tweed Coolangatta Golf Club is one of the organisations participating in Council’s Top 20 program to curb consumption by the Tweed’s

biggest water users.

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Burringbar/Mooball sewerage

Construction began on the Burringbar/Mooball Sewerage scheme to provide reticulated sewerage to these villages and improve public amenity and water quality in Burringbar Creek.

An announcement of State Government funding allowed Council to proceed with the $6.5 million project, after residents in the two villages had been paying a levy for a number of years to fund the scheme.

Transport study

A Public Transport Strategy investigated options for heavy rail, light rail and bus services to determine the best options for the future of public transport in Tweed.

The strategy found bus services in the Tweed needed to be integrated into the Queensland TransLink transportation system to improve the low levels of public transport usage, cut fares and travelling time.

It recommends a rapid transit corridor bus system as the best fit for the Tweed’s relatively small population and dispersed development. It says the high cost, infrequency of service and long travel times were impeding public transport use in Tweed Shire.

Regional sports complex

Five million dollars in Federal Government funding was secured to upgrade Arkinstall Park as a regional sports centre.

The funding will cover Stage One of the proposed $42 million Arkinstall Park Regional Sports Centre project and will include upgrades to the existing tennis and netball facilities, as well as new car parking and internal access road construction.

Council is contributing $2.62 million to the project, with $100,000 from Tennis Australia and $30,000 from the Tweed Netball Association, taking the total value of Stage One to $7.75 million.

Water saving rebates

Council launched a Residential Water Rebate Program offering Tweed home owners financial assistance to install water efficient showerheads and taps in their houses, in the latest effort to curb residential water consumption.

Households connected to the town water supply could receive 50 per cent of the cost of replacing inefficient showerheads and taps, up to a maximum of $70.


An early stage of the upgrade at Arkinstall Park.

A new $1.6 milion water treatment plant was built at Tyalgum.

Kirkwood extensionWork began on Stage 1 of a Kirkwood Road extension to provide an exit and entrance from the Pacific Highway, creating a more efficient road network and greater access to the Tweed Heads South business area along Minjungbal Drive.

Council is the primary funding body for the $17 million first stage, investing $10 million, while the NSW Government’s Roads and Maritime Services is paying the balance of up to $7 million.

Stage 1 is expected to take 15 months to complete and will create a significant east-west corridor.

Planning is complete and approvals are in place for Stage 2, with $30 million in funding needed to complete the project.

The completed extension will relieve the traffic congestion in the area, making it more convenient for motorists to access local businesses and reinforcing the area’s status as the Tweed’s main commercial area.

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Kennedy Drive upgrade

Work began on Stage One of a major upgrade of Kennedy Drive, one of Tweed’s main arterial roads.

The multiple-stage project will create a dual carriageway for the full length of the road through West Tweed, while upgrading water and sewer mains and other major infrastructure beneath the road.

Pottsville Neighbourhood Centre

A $1.5 million extension to the Pottsville Beach Neighbourhood Centre was the result of a partnership between local and state governments, a non-government agency and the community.

Council provided $1.25 million to extend the centre, a community-based, not-for-profit organisation which provides social and community services. The centre runs several social enterprises such as an op shop and local markets, provides dedicated social services and hosts outreach sessions by visiting practitioners.

Affordable housing

Council and a not-for-profit organisation specialising in low-cost housing secured an $8.36 million grant for an affordable-housing project in Tweed Heads South.

The Gold Coast-based Horizon Housing

Solutions teamed with Council to gain funding through the Federal Government’s Building Better Regional Cities Program (BBRC), to subsidise infrastructure for a housing development on Fraser Drive.

The grant helped fund necessary infrastructure for at least 145 residential lots at the ‘Homestead’ project, with at least 42 serviced residential lots to be provided to Horizons Housing Solutions at no cost. At least 20 of those lots must be sold at a discount of 20 to 30 per cent off market price, with the remaining lots retained as affordable housing by an affordable housing provider and rented at no more than 80 per cent of market rent.

Jenners Corner overhaul

A road upgrade to remedy an accident black spot at Chinderah’s Jenners Corner also began the creation of a wider riverside park. The project realigned Chinderah Bay Drive, to take the Wommin Bay Drive intersection away from the river, and constructed a roundabout.

It was the first step in a multi-stage Chinderah Foreshore Upgrade which will also shift the southern end of Chinderah Bay Drive, widen the grassed area between the Tweed River and the road to create a riverside parkland, and enhance park facilities.


Tweed Valley WayWork began to construct a central wire safety barrier along Tweed Valley Way between Tumbulgum and Cudgen Road.

The $2 million project, funded by the Federal Government’s Nation Building Black Spot program, will install a wire rope barrier between lanes to prevent vehicles from crossing onto the wrong side of the road.

Road widening will also take place on the eastern side, away from the river, to allow for the creation of a median varying in width from 1.6m to 2.1m.

Black Spot funding was allocated after research showed there were 16 recorded accidents along this length of Tweed Valley Way between July 2004 and June 2008, including 13 which caused death or injury.

Banora Point Waste Water Treatment Plant.

The official opening of the extended Pottsville Beach Neighbourhood Centre.

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Sweet Harvests DVD

Tweed River Regional Museum celebrated the contribution of South Sea Islander and Indian workers and their families to the banana/sugar cane industries of the Tweed region, by creating the DVD Sweet Harvests.

Sweet Harvests uses oral history and historic images to explore the tenacity, camaraderie, humour and sheer hard work of the South Sea Islander and Indian populations who worked the banana farms and cane fields of the Tweed. The DVD includes interviews with nine men and women who give their personal accounts.

SES headquarters

State Emergency Service and Council officers engaged extensively with the community about plans to upgrade the SES’s headquarters in Banora Point.

Residents were asked to give their input about a proposal to grant the SES security of tenure at the Pioneer Parade site, so the headquarters’ expansion could go ahead.

Tumbulgum playground

An innovative new playground was opened at Tumbulgum. Junction Park brings together several levels of government to

turn the small space into a nature-based playground, with fruit trees, fragrant plants and a small scooter track alongside the play equipment.

Building better ties for men

Council provided a venue and helped create a Murwillumbah Men’s Shed, to promote men’s health by providing an informal space for men to gather, work on projects together and discuss issues they face in their lives.

International hockey pitch

Contractors completed construction of a second international-standard turf pitch at Murwillumbah’s regional hockey complex.

The second turf field at Barrie Smith Fields means Murwillumbah is now eligible to host national tournaments and international tournaments, which require two or more turf fields to be available.

The $1 million field was primarily funded by Council, with assistance from the NSW Government’s Community Building Partnership program and the Tweed Border Hockey Association.


Olley Art CentreA formal offer of $1 million was made to the Tweed River Art Gallery by the Trustees of the Margaret Olley Art Trust to establish the Margaret Olley Centre as an extension to the gallery.

The purpose-built centre will honour the express wish of the late Margaret Olley that her artist’s studio and elements of her home and collections be re-created in a suitable venue.

The Margaret Olley Art Centre at Tweed River Art Gallery will be the repository of a large number of the artist’s own works, including works in progress, ephemera and correspondence, currently in the pos-session of the Margaret Olley Estate.

The Federal Government then announced it would provide $1 million to help cre-ate the Margaret Olley Art Centre in the Tweed, where Margaret Olley spent much of her childhood years.

State Emergency Service representatives at South Tweed Heads as part of community engagement

about the SES headquarters in Banora Point.

Celebrations at the launch of the Sweet Harvests DVD.

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Budd Park redevelopment

A community poll gave residents, businesses and organisations a chance to vote on options to redevelop Budd Park in South Murwillumbah, to address erosion issues and enhance the park as a focal point of the town centre.

Respondents could vote for a minimum-cost approach, to repair existing damage and prevent further erosion, or a more expensive option to provide more amenities and re-contour the landscape to improve visibility and access to the river.

More than 85 per cent of respondents voted in favour of the more comprehensive upgrade.

United direction for Marine Parade

Council worked closely with the community to consider concept plans to create a one-way section of Marine Parade, providing additional carparking and upgrading the streetscape in Kingscliff’s central business district.

A community poll and information stall in Marine Parade indicated strong public support to make the road one way from

Turnock Street to Seaview Street.

Council liaised with the residents and ratepayers association and its business chamber to consider the proposal, to meet longstanding community demand for extra parking in the town’s central business district, while creating a safer and more attractive streetscape.

A discussion paper was released before a week of community forums and other engagement activities.


Boat Harbour openingStage One of the upgrade of Jack Evans Boat Harbour at Tweed Heads was officially opened as part of a Family Fun Day for Local Government Week.

The $8 million first stage features extensive boardwalks, modern park furniture and landscaping, with plenty of green space for picnics and passive recreation. Energy-efficient lighting around the harbour provides a spectacular night-time display, improves pedestrian safety and discourages vandalism.

A structured and enlarged swimming area was created on the northern side of the harbour, to provide a safe area for swimming and recreation, and features an ‘all abilities’ access ramp to the water and rock pools at all tidal levels.

Stage One also included rejuvenating the harbour’s other beaches, harbour revetment and improved filtration of stormwater entering the harbour. It also includes the first stage of the Goorimahbah – Place of Stories Aboriginal botanic and artwork gardens.

An artist’s impression of the reconfigured Budd Parkto address erosion.

Sand is spread through the playing surface of the new international-standard turf hockey pitch at

Murwillumbah, as the finishing touches are added to the regional hockey complex.

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NSW surf life saving titles

Kingscliff hosted the 2012 NSW Surf Lifesaving Championships, staged by Cudgen Headland Surf Lifesaving Club with assistance from Council.

The two-week carnival attracted nearly 5400 competitors, aged seven to 74, and more than 10,000 spectators.

It was the final event in a two-year contract to host the State titles, which injected an estimated $18 million into the Tweed economy during their two years at Kingscliff.

Sustainable Agriculture Strategy

Tweed farmers and the wider community were heavily consulted to help produce a

Tweed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy, to identify opportunities to create a more robust and sustainable Tweed agricultural industry.

The strategy will identify ways that agricultural producers, industry associations, Council and other government agencies and the broader community can work together to support profitable, durable and environmentally-sound local agriculture.

A discussion paper was released before a week of community forums and other engagement activities.

Archibald Prize

More than 17,000 people flocked to Tweed River Art Gallery when it hosted the Archibald Prize 2011 exhibition, one of only five galleries included in the Australia-wide tour.

The Tweed exhibition included a special appearance by Ben Quilty, who won the 2011 Archibald Prize, Australia’s most prestigious portrait award.

AchievementsStrengthening the Economy

TOP LEFT: Cudgen sweet potato and small crop farmer Matthew Prichard

was one of the growers featured

in the Sustainable Agriculture Strategy

campaign.

LEFT: Competitors at the NSW Surf

Life Saving Championships.

Museum expansionPreparations began for a $2.85 million expansion of the Tweed River Regional Museum in Murwillumbah, to create a better facility to display its valuable collections.

Museum staff and community volunteers started a major project to catalogue its collection, while a permanent storage facility was constructed at South Murwillumbah.

The storage facility will house the collection during the expansion and, in the long-term, will store collection items to allow greater flexibility with the museum displays.

The museum collection showcases the Tweed Valley’s history through memorabilia, photographs, newspapers and domestic farm equipment, geological specimens, civilian and military radio equipment, items of World War I and II and a Robey steam engine.

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Koala plan of management

A Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management was formulated and funded, to manage and protect Tweed Shire’s remaining koala population.

The plan builds upon a Tweed Coast Koala Habitat Study completed in 2011 and will help to assess development applications which impact on koala habitat.

It will encourage proper conservation and management of areas of natural vegetation that provide habitat for koalas, to ensure permanent free-living populations over their present range and to reverse a current trend of population decline.

Wasting less food

Council participated in the Love Food Hate Waste program, an initiative of the North East Waste Forum to raise awareness about the impact of food waste in NSW and reducing how much ‘good’ food goes to waste.

In NSW alone, 800,000 tonnes of food goes to landfill each year.

The Love Food Hate Waste marquee and performers showed householders in Tweed Shire and beyond how easy it is to prevent food waste and save up to $1000 a year through planning and buying food, preparing, cooking and storing food correctly.

Integrated water management

Council’s implementation of its Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy was praised by the NSW Office of Water as a role model for other Councils.

The strategy guides the integrated management of water supply, sewerage, stormwater services and catchment health in a whole-of-catchment strategic framework. The framework provides a long-term focus for integrated delivery of these services, to maximise benefits to the community and the environment.

Kingscliff Beach revetment wall

A 260m revetment wall was constructed along Kingscliff Beach to address erosion issues threatening Cudgen Headland Surf Life Saving Club and the Kingscliff Beach Holiday Park.

It took a fortnight and 6300 tonnes of rock to build the 260 metre wall, which runs from the northern end of the current rock wall to join the south end of the wall protecting Kingscliff Bowls Club.

The rock wall was urgently needed to stop serious erosion but was only part of a temporary solution. Planning and discussion between Council and the State Government is ongoing to develop a permanent solution to erosion problems along the beach’s entire length.

AchievementsCaring for the Environment

Efficient street lightsCouncil nearly halved the energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions from Tweed Shire’s streetlight network, by replacing nearly 4000 energy-hungry lights with more efficient technology.

It partnered with Essential Energy to upgrade to more energy-efficient streetlights, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 1000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year and save $270,000 in annual operating costs.

The $293,000 upgrade will pay for itself in a little over 12 months.

Tweed Shire’s streetlight network consists of more than 5000 lights. The upgrade replaced the Tweed’s 3888 mercury vapour lamps with a combination of compact fluorescent and high pressure sodium lamps. They produce a similar light output to the lights they replaced but consume far less energy.

Performer Cowgirl Chef was one of the attractions at the travelling Love Food Hate Waste promotion.

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Plastic bag-free villages

Expanded the Plastic Bag Free Villages program to include Bilambil.

Tweed Shire led the way in NSW to reducing plastic bag use, with five villages joining the Tweed’s campaign to go plastic bag free.

Uki, Tyalgum, Mooball, Burringbar and Bilambil joined Chillingham, Tumbulgum, Stokers Siding and Crabbes Creek in banning single-use plastic checkout bags from their stores.

There was only one other officially declared plastic bag free village in NSW, Kangaroo Valley, south-west of Sydney.

Council’s Plastic Bag Free Villages program supplies village retailers with a batch of reusable bags to kick-start their move away from plastic, while working with store owners and the community to kick the plastic bag habit.

Plastic bags decompose extremely slowly and are often mistaken for food by marine animals such as turtles, whales and dolphins. The UN Environment Program estimates that plastic debris causes the deaths of more than one million seabirds and more than 100,000 marine mammals every year.

Native species guide

A Native Species Planting Guide for the Tweed and Byron Local Government Areas was released, with comprehensive listings of more than 1580 species and useful information for every level of planting, from landscape-scale restoration to suburban back garden planting.

AchievementsCaring for the Environment

Environmental bridgeA new construction technique was employed to build the $1.2 million Tom Grant Bridge at Mount Burrell, creating a single-span structure to minimise the impact on fauna and flora in and around Snake Creek.

Creating a 20-metre span concrete structure avoided the need to drive a pile into the centre of the creek, which would have brought detrimental environmental effects.

An ecological assessment found a number of threatened plant and animal species - including the giant barred frog, fine-leafed tuckeroo, hairy joint grass and the little durobby - so a great deal of care was taken to ensure the bridge design and construction process did not impact on these communities.

The deck design also created a perfect habitat for the threatened large-footed myotis, so bat boxes were installed and now house a small colony.

Further details of Council’s environmental projects are featured on pages 17 - 18, in a summary of a 2012 State of the Environment report.Every four years, starting in 2012, a comprehensive Regional State of the Environment (SoE) report will be produced for the Northern Rivers. The 2012 regional SoE has been provided as an accompanying document to Council’s 2012 Annual Report, while a Tweed summary is included as part of this annual report.

Environmentalreport forNorthern Rivers

Council officer Dan Walton with some of the reusable shopping bags replacing plastic bags at several villages in Tweed.

The revetment wall constructed along Kingscliff Beach to protect infrastructure from serious coastal erosion.

17

State of the Environment summaryTweed Shire’s natural environment is as beautiful as it is diverse, combined with scenic rural landscapes and a number of attractive towns and villages. The landscape is the Tweed’s defining characteristic and one of its greatest assets.

Council’s Natural Resource Management Unit has delivered a number of strategic and on-ground actions over the past 12 months in response to the environmental objectives in the Community Strategic Plan (CSP).

Waterway health

Community Strategic Plan objective (4.3): Maintain and restore Tweed waterways and catchments.

Council’s Waterway Health actions in 2011/12 included:

• Impact of Wake on Tweed River Bank Erosion Study.

• Worked with 41 landholders to improve riparian health through the River Health Grants.

• Updated Council’s Tweed Urban Stormwater Quality Management Plan.

Managing biodiversityCommunity Strategic Plan objective (4.2): Conserve native flora, fauna and habitat.

Council’s biodiversity management projects for 2011/12 include:

• Tweed / Byron Bush Futures: A $1.7 million, three-year State funded project to improve the environmental health of publicly owned urban and peri-urban bushland through weed control, tree plantings and community engagement.

• Native Species Planting Guide: Produced a Native Species Planting Guide for the Tweed and Byron local government areas, with comprehensive listings of more than 1580 species and useful information for every level of planting, from landscape-scale restoration to suburban back garden planting.

• Koala Connections:

Murwillumbah Street residents participating in Sustainability Street.

RIGHT: Cats claw creeper and madeira

vine, both listed as ‘weeds of national

significance’, are being controlled along the

Upper and Mid Tweed River to protect native

riparian vegetation.

LEFT: Young trees becoming well

established with regular maintenance during the

past 12 months at Gerald Parker Park at Uki.

18

State of the Environment summaryCoastline management

Community Strategic Plan objective (4.4): Manage the Tweed’s coastline to ensure a balance between utilisation and conservation.

Council’s Coastline Management actions for 2011/12 included:

• Foreshore protection works at Kingcliff.

• Bitou bush control.

• Support for Dunecare and Coastcare groups.

Sustainable agriculture

Community Strategic Plan objective (4.5): Improve the environmental capacity of Tweed Shire’s agricultural lands.

Council’s Sustainable agriculture actions for 2011/12 included:

• PreparationofadraftSustainable Agriculture Strategy for the Tweed.

• Continuedsupportforfarmersto rehabilitate and manage more than 30km of cane drains.

• Broad-acrecompostingtrials.

Managing pestsCommunity Strategic Plan objective (4.2.2): Encourage and promote rehabilitation and management of native vegetation and wildlife habitat in Tweed Shire.

Council’s pest management projects for 2011/12 included:• Establishing a Pest Management Program within the NRM Unit.• More than 4000 cane toads trapped and eradicated. • More than 1500 Indian Mynas trapped and eradicated.• More than eight wild dogs trapped and eradicated. The program also includes a wild dog baiting program.

RIGHT: Show and tell at a snake identification seminar.

RIGHT: A Green Corp

group involved in tree planting at Hogans Park,

near Stotts Island.

19

June 2006 Ministerial Approved Rate Variation: Year 6 ReportOutcomesandexpenditurereportforyearsixofaseven-yearvariationtogeneralincometofundtheprojectsandactivitiesidentifiedintheSevenYearInfrastructureandServicesPlan.• Totalfundsavailablefromyearsixofthevariationwere$30,416,970• Totalexpenditureonyear-sixprojectswas$12,630,166• Surplusfundstocarryforward,total$17,786,804

Projects

Community and Natural Resources $2,847,291

Cultural Arts Seed Funding $498

Administrative assistant (Community) $49,880

Community Centre Murwillumbah $1,634,194

Youth Activities Program $1,679

Youth Transport $567

Improved Services for Shire Youth $99,249

Aboriginal Community Development $96,415

Coastline Management Plan Implementation

$234,570

Waterways Asset Replacement $21,504

Murwillumbah Auditorium refurbishment $42,754

Community Buildings Renovations $170,185

Vegetation Management Strategy $161,638

Duranbah Beach Plan of Management $38,184

Bushland Maintenance Officer $78,674

TRRM Murwillumbah $34,640

Projects

Tweed Coast Estuaries Management Plan 04-08 and River Management

$179,861

Library extension Kingscliff $2,799

Bushland maintenance officer $78,674

Library extension Kingscliff $2,799

Engineering and Operations $4,395,812

Surf Life Patrols $3,001

Surf Life Saving Strategy 2020 $2,384

Park asset maintenance $318,959

Parks Asset Renewal $363,740

Lot 500 bushland $135,971

Botanical Gardens $1,241

Jack Evans Boatharbour $775,255

Stormwater drainage rehabilitation $566,759

Gravel Resheeting of Unsealed Roads $478,824

20

ProjectsSealed road resurfacing $489,010

Sealed road rehabilitation $747,770

Kerb & gutter rehabilitation $54,771

Footpaths rehabilitation $283,187

Sportsgrounds capital works (local) $82,817

West Kingscliff Drain - Gales/Bowling Club $11,910

Sportsfield capital works Jim Devine Clubhouse

$3,912

Hastings Point Park Upgrade $64,182

St Joseph's Amenity Construction $12,119

General Manager $314,043

Economic Development - Internal $500

Tourism and Economic Development - Contracted Services

$193,166

Corporate Planning Unit $85,177

Saleyards upgrade $8,950

WHRC Redevelopment $26,250

ProjectsPlanning and Regulation Services $724,474

Environmental Health Compliance - Caravan

$66,831

Emergency Management Plan Implementation

$83,619

Building Compliance Officer $84,328

LEP Reviews $27,188

H&B Surveyor $98,048

Environmental Health Compliance - Food Inspections

$114,531

Urban Design Planner $113,462

Administrative Assistant (Building) $56,704

Extension Officers - Urban Design $79,763

Technology and Corporate Services $1,876

Internal Auditor/Corporate Planning $1,876

Projects Total $8,283,496

Loan repayments $3,904,231

Recurring costs $442,439

Grand total $12,630,166

June 2006 Ministerial Approved Rate Variation: Year 6 Report

21

Summary of Legal ProceedingsLegalcostsforthe2011/2012financialyeartotalled$400,853.

Description of Matter General Instructions Costs Comments

Class 4 Appeal – DA08/0966Refusal to determine Development Application and other issues impacting upon on- site sewerage management system at 49 Upper Crystal Creek Road Crystal Creek.

Defend the matter in the Land and Environment Court.

$24,381 In Progress – Land and Environment directions hearing held on 4 December 2009. Case heard on 4 February 2010. Case dismissed, costs awarded, Appeal dismissed by Supreme Court. Payment of $7,106.53 for security of costs received. Matter of recovering further costs in progress.

Class 4 Appeal – 7 Year Special Rate Variation.

Defend the matter in the Land and Environment Court

$49,181 In Progress – Land and Environment judgement handed down 30 December 2008, applicant's claim was unsuccessful, part costs claim awarded, Court of Appeal case heard on 5 February 2010. Applicant was unsuccessful, part costs awarded. Costs of LEC and Court of Appeal have been assessed. Application for Special Leave to Appeal refused by High Court on 12 August 2011 with costs. Recovery of costs currently being pursued.

Provide advice on new Voluntary Planning Agreement - Pottsville Employment Land.

Provide appropriate advice. $10,054 In Progress - Final draft of Voluntary Planning Agreement for 39 Kudgeree Ave, Cudgera Creek being reviewed.

Class 4 Action - Institute Court Order to remove building works and unauthorised use, 576 Cudgen Road, Cudgen.

Commence action in the Land and Environment Court.

$142,400 In Progress - Court order case heard on 30 November and 1 December 2011. Judgement handed down on 9 December 2011 in favour of council. Respondent to pay council costs. Action reported to council to enforce judgement. Orders heard on 20 April 2012. Council to file and serve any evidence. Notice of Motion listed for hearing 24 May 2012. Judgement handed down 24 May 2012 in favour of Council, including costs. Recovery of costs being investigated.

Statement of Claim - DA04/1028- 207 Farrants Hill Road - building encroachment

Defend the matter in the District Court of NSW.

$2,567 In Progress – Case has been struck out in the District Court. Costs awarded to defendants, matter of costs now to be pursued internally by council. Deed of Agreement entered into for recovery of costs. Caveat lodged against property.

22

Summary of Legal Proceedings


Appeal to Supreme Court of Appeal –M W Allen (Lizzio Subdivision – Condong)

Represent Council in the Supreme Court and engage counsel where appropriate.

$9,166 In Progress – second appeal in the Supreme Court heard 16 October 2009, Judge reserved his decision. Judge upheld the appeal, costs awarded to Council. Council instructions to pursue matter of costs and associated expenses. Judgement handed down on 10 February 2012. Case to be reviewed by an independent legal provider.

Provide advice on proposed action on activities at Hacienda Caravan Park, Chinderah Bay Road.

Provide appropriate advice. $1,320 In Progress - Interim advice provided.

Class 4 Appeal-DA09/0727Noble Lakes Monarch Drive Kingscliff Section 96 Application refused by Joint Regional Planning Panel.

Represent Council’s interest in the Land and Environment Court.

$289 Withdrawn.

Class 1 Appeal - Section 64 and 94 fees for change of use development application at 77 Tamarind Avenue, Bogangar.


$7,625 Completed - Notice of Discontinuance issued 20 October 2011.

Provide advice on Development Application for GP Super Clinic, 33 Corporation Circuit, Tweed Heads South.

Provide appropriate advice. $1,173 Completed - Advice provided.

Unauthorised clearing and earthworks – Tomewin Road Tomewin.

Provide advice in respect of ascertain-ing options for legal proceedings.

$104 Completed – Advice provided.

Class 4 appeal - Creek Street, Hastings Point - refusal of S96 applications.


$16,950 Completed - Matter heard and further amended plan consented.

Class 1 Appeal - refusal of Optus Tower, 37 Boxhill Road, Limpinwood.


$63,694 Completed - Hearing part heard 22-23 March 2012. Adjourned to 8 May 2012. Judgement handed down 16 July 2012. Court dismissed the ap-peal by Optus.

Provide advice on Leda. Challenge to Tweed Roads Contribution Plan regarding Boyd Street, Tugun.


23

Summary of legal proceedings


General advice and information. Provide general advice and information. $3,520 Completed - Advices provided to Council.

Class 1 Appeal - Refusal of Development Application, Morton Street, Chinderah.

Represent Council in the Land and Environment Court.

$3,744 Completed - S34 agreement and orders prepared to be ratified by the Land and Environment Court. Appeal upheld. Consent granted to the application to modify development consent.

Class 1 Appeal - deemed refusal of application for a construction certificate - Wooyung Road, Wooyung.


$3,492 Completed - Notice of discontinuance issued 10 October 2011.

Provide general advice and information on S96 Application.


Provide advice on proposed Class 4 action, unauthorised building works for Wharf Street, Tweed Heads.

Provide appropriate advice. $2,652 Completed - Advice provided

Provide advice on Development Application for a dwelling house SEPP1 objection, 1 Gray Street, Tweed Heads West.

Provide appropriate advice $2,000 Completed - Advice provided.

24

Summary of Legal Proceedings


Class 4 Proceedings - institute action in the Land and Environment Court for compliance of OSSM, 8 Urliup Road.

Represent council in the Land and Environment Court.

$26,490 Completed - Consent orders issued. Matter adjourned for hearing on 3 February 2012 and March 2012 for costs, which were agreed. Proceedings now finalised.

Appeal against imposition of conditions upon development consent.

Represent Council in the Land and Environment Court.

$1,808 Completed – S34 conferences held. Revised nine lot subdivision plan lodged, S34 agreement entered into.

Provide advice on proposed subdivision of property, 362 Limpinwood Valley Road, Limpinwood.


25

Councillor Fees and ExpensesPaymentsofMayoralandCouncillorsexpenseswereinaccordancewiththeTweedShireCouncilPolicy:‘Councillors–PaymentofExpensesandProvisionofFacilities for Mayor and Councillors’.

Fees ExpenseCouncillor and Mayoral fees. $152,799

Mayoral vehicle $13,870

Councillor Policy provisions and expenses. $36,626

Administration support $72,650

Insurance $33,674

Reportable Items:

• Provisions for dedicated office equipment. $3,390

• Telephone and internet. $9,436

Conferences and seminars attended.

• Intrastate Training attended. $12,424

• Interstate visits representing Council. $5,014

• Overseas visits representing Council. $0

• Spouse expenses. $0

• Child care expenses. $0

Total expenses. $339,883

Conferencesandseminarsattended:

17-18 August 2011 Destination 2036 – Local Government

17-18 October 2011 Tourism Symposium

27 October 2011 Investing in Sustainable Local Futures

8-11 November 2011 NSW Coastal Conference

29 November 2011 Review of Model Code of Conduct Workshop

29-30 November Australasian Regional Food Culture & Networks Conference

7-8 February 2012 “A” Division Conference

21-24 February 2012 Floodplain Management Conference 2012

12-13 March 2012 LGSA Tourism Conference

23-25 March 2012 Australian Local Government Women’s Association Annual Conference

4-6 June 2012 2012 Shires Association of NSW Annual Conference

Interstate conferences and seminars attended:

11-13 August 2011 Australian Institute of Landscape Architects National Conference, QLD

31/8 to 2 September Government Sustainability Conference 2011 VIC

22-23 September 2011 4th International Urban Design Conference QLD

17-20 June 2012 2012 National General Assembly of Local Government Canberra

26

Senior Staff RemunerationTweed Shire Council employed a General Manager and four Senior Staff positions to 30 June 2012.

General Manager - Mike Rayner (retired 22 June 2012)

Total package $281,735

• Salary $216,681

• Bonus payments $0

• Superannuation $51,923

• Motor vehicle (non cash) $8,146

• FBT $4,984

Senior Staff• DirectorEngineeringandOperations.• DirectorCommunityandNaturalResources.• DirectorPlanningandRegulation.• DirectorTechnologyandCorporateServices.

General Manager

General Manager – David Keenan – (began 30 April 2012)


• Salary $37,480




• FBT $0

Total Senior Staff packages


• Salary $674,358




• FBT $15,382

27

Details of Contracts Awarded by CouncilCouncilawarded25contractsexceeding$150,000during2011/2012,totalling$26,383,614.

Contract Nature of contract Supplier Name Value

EC2009-115 Tyalgum Water Treatment Plant Upgrade AquaManage $518,546.63

EC2010-062 Construction of Burringbar Mooball Village Sewerage Reticulation Scheme Ledonne Constructions Pty Ltd $3,275,635.45

EC2010-069 Burringbar and Mooball Wastewater Treatment Plant, Design, Construction, Testing and Commissioning

AJ Lucas Operations Pty Ltd $2,605,659.09

EC2011-012 Construction of Kirkwood Road Project SEE Civil Pty Ltd $11,138,264.54

EC2011-049 Management of Stotts Creek Landfill Facility Rico Enterprises Pty Ltd (t/a Solo Resource Recovery)

$1,483,900.00

EC2011-117 Hastings Point Park Upgrade Greenwood Landscape Management $224,820.90

EC2011-134 Preliminary Operations Design and Environmental Impact Statement for Tweed River Area 5 Dredging and Sand Delivery Pipeline

Kellogg Brown & Root Pty Ltd $129,400.00

EC2011-139 Alternative Landfill Cover Stotts Creek Resource Recovery Centre WasteWell Pty Ltd $215,272.72

EC2011-157 Design and Construction of Synthetic Hockey Field, Brisbane Street, Murwillumbah Sports Technology International Pty Ltd $948,809.00

EC2011-163 Supply of One (1) Tool Carrier Loader with Attachments CCF Class 4: 4,000Kg>5,000Kg CJD Equipment Pty Ltd $264,000.00

EC2011-185 Supply of One (1) Truck Mounted Elevated Work Platform (EWP) Telescopic Tower Enterprises Pty Ltd $262,756.00

EC2011-198 Supply of One(1) Motor Grader CCF Class 15: Base Operating Weight 15,000Kg>20,000Kg Komatsu Australia Pty Ltd $297,500.00

EC2011-203 Design and Construction of an Industrial Records Storage Facility at Honeyeater Circuit Murwillumbah

Tinlen Pty Ltd $934,290.00

EC2011-205 Kirkwood Road Geotechnical Monitoring Butler Partners $155,460.00

EC2011-236 Sewer Main Rehabilitation Tweed Shire 2011/2012 Insituform Pacific Pty Ltd $360,970.07

EC2011-253 Kirkwood Road Habitat Restoration Bushland Restoration Services Pty Ltd $178,294.54

28

Contract Nature of contract Supplier Name Value

EC2012-001 Wire Rope Installation Tweed Valley Way Protection Barriers Pty Ltd $315,430.90

EC2012-003 Supply and Laying of Asphaltic Concrete Overlays Fulton Hogan Construction Pty Ltd $496,780.00

EC2012-004 Construction of 250mm Diameter Sewer Rising Main (SRM 1023) Extension, Murwillumbah Demacs Constructions (Australia) Pty Ltd $233,820.72

EC2012-018 Supply of One (1) Heavy Commercial Truck Chassis and Build and Supply of One (1) Twelve Cubic Metre Aluminium Tipper Body

VCV Brisbane South (for truck chassis) : Vince McNamara Engineering (build and supply tipper body)

$242,439.00

EC2012-026 Manufacture, Supply and Delivery of DN 450mm Diameter Pressure Pipe and Fittings Tyco Water and Vinidex $234,725.72

EC2012-079 Supply of One (1) Heavy Commercial Street Sweeper Rosmech $266,804.00

EC2012-109 Supply of One (1) Padfoot Vibratory Drum Roller Conplant $167,065.00

EC2012-115 Concrete Cycleway and Composite Fibre Boardwalk, Kennedy Drive Scape Shapes Landscaping Pty Ltd $493,296.32

EC2012-165 Manufacture, Supply, Delivery and Unloading of 2250mm diameter, RRJ, CL 2, SWC, RCP Stormwater Pipes

Rocla Pty Ltd $939,674.00

Details of Contracts Awarded by Council

29

Summary of Works on Private LandsTweedShireCouncilresolvedtosubsidise,underSection67oftheLocalGovernmentAct1993(NSW),theRiverHealthGrantsprogramfortheyearending 30 June 2012.

Council subsidised $127,025 in materials and works to private landowners as part of the River Health Grants program for:

• Planting along stream banks to prevent erosion.

• Fencing materials to reduce the impact of cattle on vegetation and water quality.

Private landowners at 14 locations received subsidies to undertake riparian rehabilitation works, to manage stream banks and protect the integrity of Tweed Shire’s raw water supply. A total of 5887 trees were planted along 5580 metres of riverbank.

Tweed Shire Council also undertook $49,296 of non-subsidised works on private lands for the year ending 30 June 2012.

Financial assistance contributions to the communityTweed Shire Council provided $381,146 in financial assistance under Section 356 of the Local Government Act 1993. Financial Assistance contributions reports are tabled monthly in Council ordinary meetings.

Assistance ValueFinancial assistance $327,822

Goods and or materials $233

Provision of labour and or plant and equipment

$16,370

Rates $18,624

Tweed Link advertisements $7,303

Room hire $10,794

$381,146

30

External Bodies Delegated Functions by Tweed Shire Council

External Body FunctionFar North Coast County Council Weed control.

Lismore City Council - Richmond Tweed Regional Library Library services.

Destination Tweed Tourism and economic developmentin the Tweed.

Land care and dune care groups Land care and weed control.

Overseas travelOne staff member travelled to two principal venues; Francis Bacon Studio in Dublin and the Casa Morandi Museum in Bologna. The travel project gathered information for the research and development phase of the re-creation of Margaret Olley art studio, to be created at the Tweed River Art Gallery.The tour studied a number of re-creations of artists’ studios in preparation for the purpose-built extension, to meet the aims of the bequest of the Margaret Olley Art Trust, and honour the wish of the late artist. Cost to Council totalled $1087.20.

Statement of Companies Which Council Held a Controlling Interest

Tweed Shire Council did not hold a controlling interest in a private company for the year ending 30 June 2012.

Annual Charge for Coastal Protection Services

Annual Levy for Stormwater Management Services

Council did not introduce an annual charge for coastal protection services for the year ending June 2012.

Council did not introduce an annual levy for stormwater management for the year ending June 2012.

Written-Off Rates and Charges CouncilTweedShireCouncilhaswritten-offratesandchargestothevalueof$3,331,784for the year ending 30 June 2012.

Rate Classification Items Written Off TotalPensioner Rates Farmland $30,351

Residential $1,671,439

Water and Sewerage rates Pensioner Water Rates $549,815

Pensioner Sewerage Charges $657,365

Burringbar / $3,245

Pensioner Waste Charges Service $279,337

Administration $87,772

Landfill $52,460

Total $3,331,784

31

Planning AgreementsSeasideCityPlanningAgreementbetweenRichtechPtyLtd(‘Developer’)andTweedShireCouncil(‘Council’)executedon9January2007.

The Planning Agreement is in relation to a 32-hectare parcel of land on the Tweed Coast comprising 205 titled lots, with the developer owning approximately 85 per cent of lots and 15 per cent of lots owned by ‘other owners’.

The following particulars are reported in respect of compliance with this Planning Agreement:

• Clause 4 - Developer to carry out works. The developer has begun works in accordance with the five-year start date specified in the development consent for the purpose of amenities and services to the public. All works must be completed within seven years of the date of consent for the development.

• Clause 5 - Dedication of open space. The developer must dedicate passive open space in accordance with the Planning Agreement. The following passive open space was dedicated to Council on 28 July 2011:

- Lot 394, dp1162588 dedicated open space 6782 square metres.

- Lot 385, dp1162588 dedicated open space 2265 square metres.

- Lot 410, dp1162588 natural area creek foreshore 92,692 square metres.

- Dedicated cycle path / walking path 350 metres total.

• Clause 6 - Repayment of some cost of the works. Council must recover the repayment value of cost of works from ‘Other Owners’ and pay the developer, in accordance with this clause in the Planning Agreement. No funds were collected from ‘Other Owners’ for the year ending June 2012 for repayment to the developer.

Statement of Partnerships, Cooperative or Other Joint VentureOrganisation PurposeStatewide Mutual A self insurance pool covering public liability and professional indemnity

insurance. The scheme consists of most Councils throughout NSW and was established by the Local Government and Shire Association to reduce insurance costs to members.

State Cover Self insurance pool covering workers compensation. The scheme, established by the Local Government and Shire Association, consists of most Councils throughout NSW.

State Forests of NSW Joint venture forestry plantation located on a Byrill Creek property.

New LOG A joint venture with other North Coast Councils to control overloading of vehicles on local roads.

Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority

Council works with the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority (NRCMA) to implement natural resource management projects throughout Tweed Shire. In certain cases, Council contributes funding to the NRCMA to be allocated to the on-ground component of riparian rehabilitation projects under the authority's management. The NRCMA has funded planning components of projects subsequently delivered on-ground by Council.

World Environment Day A partnership between Council and the Caldera Environment Centre. The annual festival highlights local environmental issues and promotes community involvement in addressing these issues.

Community Development and Support Expenditure (CDSE) scheme

A partnership between the Tweed clubs to deliver funds to cultural and social organisations for the benefit of Tweed residents.

Tweed Coolangatta Crime Prevention Action Team

A partnership between Tweed Shire Council, Gold Coast City Council and other State and Non-Government Organisations (NGO) to advise on crime prevention.

Arts Northern Rivers A partnership between Tweed Shire Council, Byron Shire, Ballina Shire, Clarence Valley Council, Kyogle Shire and Lismore City Council to deliver regional cooperative ventures and cultural services.

32

Delivery Program Reference

Key Performance Measure Target Achieved

1.3.1.30.1 Feasibility study of telecommuting and job sharing

100% 90%

1.3.1.30.4 For all vacancies, review position descriptions to remove artificial employment barriers before advertising• Job vacancies reviewed• Percentage of position descriptions modified

100%4%

100%46%

1.3.1.31.1 Review of Sick Leave Protocol to accord with employment best practice and enhance risk management

100% 90%

1.3.1.31.2 Review recruitment protocols to ensure removal of artificial barriers to appointment

100% 0%

1.3.1.31.3 Apply recruitment and selection protocols consistently to all vacancies• Number of complaints received• Number of appeals upheld

40

00

1.3.1.31.4 Apply equal employment opportunities and grievance protocols consistently• Number of issues referred to external body

for determination• Number of issues upheld by external body

0

0

1

0

Delivery Program Reference

Key Performance Measure Target Achieved

1.3.1.32.4 Implement changes required under National Harmonisation Legislation in accordance with statutory timeframes

100% 65%

1.3.1.33.1 Develop and implement modular supervisor development program• Number of modules developed• Percentage of existing supervisors trained

580%

223%

1.3.1.33.6 Implement appropriate Equal Employment Opportunity training• Training packages developed• Percentage of staff trained

50100%

50100%

1.3.1.34.1 Review strategies to enhance the attraction and retention of staff• Vacancy advertising strategy reviewed• Modified exit interview process in place• Performance recognition program modified

25%100%5%

25%100%5%

Equal Employment OpportunityCouncil is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity, by developing systems and processes that eliminates all forms of discrimination, harassment, bullying and vilification in the workplace.

Council is committed to providing a supporting and inclusive workplace that enables all workers to pursue careers, regardless of gender, race, disability or other factors.

Council’s Equal Employment Opportunity Management Plan is implemented by an Equal Employment Opportunity Sub-Committee. In addition, nine elected staff work as Equal Employment Contact Officers to support the workplace to eradicate all forms of work place discrimination.

Council is addressing imbalances in a predominantly male workforce through the development of a Workforce

Diversity Strategy, in consultation with government groups, education institutions and internal policy arrangements.

The strategy will promote equal employment management for women, members of racial minorities and persons with a disability.

33

Companion Animals Act and Regulations Statement of activities:

• Council submitted all pound data returns to the Division of Local Government by the required lodgement date.

• 101 dog attacks were reported to the Division of Local Government for the year ending 30 June 2012.

• A total of $62,156 was generated from the management of companion animals. Income received was expended on;

- dog pound management,- the purchase and maintenance of resources used by the Rangers area to comply with the Companion Animals Act and- partial wages for employees under the Companion Animals Act.

Council undertook companion animal education programs at:• Local schools.• Education talks to the general public and micro chipping days.• Frequent activities and educational advertisements published in Council’s weekly free newspaper, The Tweed Link, delivered to all residents in the shire.

Strategies followed to promote and assist in the desexing of dogs and cats:• All animals sold from the Tweed Shire Council Pound are desexed before release.• When animals are released back to their owners from the Council pound, the owners are given the opportunity to have the animal desexed at reduced rates.• Council united with the RSPCA and a volunteer organisation called Friends of the Pound and implemented a desexing week when discounted desexing was offered for pensioners’ pets.

The following strategy is applied to comply with requirements under Section 64 of the Companion Animals Act and seek alternatives to euthanasia for unclaimed animals:• All animals that meet the criteria to be re-homed after behavioural assessment and veterinarian checks are offered for sale to the public from the pound or re- homed through various animal welfare organisations.

Councilprovides15off-leashexerciseareasfordogsinTweedShire:

South Kingscliff Beach.

Boyds Family Park, Tweed Heads West.

Public park, Frangella Drive, Murwillumbah.

Public park between 73-89 River Street, Murwillumbah.

South Cabarita Beach.

South Pottsville Beach.

South Fingal / Kingscliff Beach.

Turnock Park, Chinderah.

Riverbank reserve Old Ferry Road, Oxley Cove.

Reserve corner of Naponyah Road and Bilambil Road, Terranora.

Tree area Arkinstall Park, Tweed Heads South.

Reserve corner of Darlington Drive and Amaroo Drive, Banora Point.

Reserve at Bushland Drive, Banora Point.

Ducat Park, Tweed Heads.

Corowa Park, Chinderah.

34

Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act (NSW)ThePrivacyandPersonalInformationProtectionAct1998(NSW)providesfortheprotectionofpersonalinformation and privacy for individuals. The Act requires LocalGovernmenttoprepareandimplementaPrivacyManagementPlan.CouncilreviewedandadoptedareviewedPrivacyManagementPlaninAugust2011.The Act provides for the protection of personal information by adopting 12 information protection principles. These principles cover the collection, retention, access, alteration, accuracy, use and disclosure of personal information.

Application of the Act applies to Councillors, Council staff, consultants and contractors, Council-owned businesses and Council committees. Council has provided training sessions on the Act requirements. All staff are fully informed on their responsibilities in being compliant with the 12 information protection principles.

Disclosure of personal information contained in Public Registers

The Act permits personal information held in Public Registers to be disclosed only when in accordance with the intended purpose for which the information was originally collected.

The Local Government Authority Code of Practice relaxed this requirement by allowing any persons to inspect a copy of a single entry or page of a Public Register held by Council without the need to provide the purpose of the intended use of the information.

If substantial information is required from the registers, the code requires the names and addresses of all previous and current property owners to be suppressed. Council has procedures in place to support access to Public Registers.

Council has had no requests for internal review under Part 5 of the Act.

Government Information(Public Access) Act 2009 NSW1. Review of proactive release program - Clause 7(a)Under Section 7 of the GIPA Act, agencies must review their programs for the release of government information to identify the kinds of information that can be made publicly available. This review must be undertaken at least once every 12 months.

Our agency’s program for the proactive release of information involves taking the initiative by releasing as much of Council information proactively as possible, principally through the Tweed Link weekly newsletter or on Council’s corporate website.

During the reporting period, Council reviewed this program by:

• Continually reviewing the corporate website, to ensure it contains significant information that is available to the public.

• Establishing a Customer Contact Centre to assist the public in obtaining information.

Further, at a number of events staged by Council, Right to Information Officers helped the public obtain details on how to proactively access Council information.

As a result of this review, Council released the following information proactively: policy documents, general documents, guidelines, plans, reports and other documents upon adoption by Council.

2. Number of access applications received - Clause 7(b)During the reporting period, Council received six formal access applications (including withdrawn applications but not invalid applications).

3. Number of refused applications for Schedule 1 information - Clause 7(c)During the reporting period, Council refused four formal access applications because the information requested was information referred to in Schedule 1 to the GIPA Act. Of those applications, two were refused in full, and two were refused in part.

35

Table A: Number of applications by type of applicant and outcome*

Access granted in full

Access granted in part

Access refused in full

Information not held

Informationalready available

Refuse to deal with application

Refuse to confirm/deny if information held

Application withdrawn

Media 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Members of Parliament 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Private sector business 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

Not for profit organisations or community groups 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0

Members of the public (application by legal representative)

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Members of the public (other) 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

4. Statistical information about access applications - Clause 7(d) and Schedule 2

* More than one decision can be made in respect of a particular access application. If so, a recording must be made in relation to each such decision. This also applies to Table B.

Table B: Number of applications by type of application and outcome

Access granted in full

Access granted in part

Access refused in full

Information not held

Informationalready available

Refuse to deal with application

Refuse to confirm/deny if information held

Application withdrawn

Personal information applications* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Access applications (other than personal information applications)

2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0

Access applications that are partly personal information applications and partly other

0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0

*A personal information application is an access application for personal information (as defined in Clause 4 of Schedule 4 to the Act) about the applicant (the applicant being an individual). The total number of decisions in Table B should be the same as Table A.

Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 NSW

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Table C: Invalid applications

Reason for invalidity Number of applications

Application does not comply with formal requirements (section 41 of Act) 0

Application is for excluded information of the agency (section 43 of Act) 0

Application contravenes restraint order (section 110 of Act) 0

Total number of invalid applications received 0

Invalid applications that subsequently became valid applications 0

Members of the public (other) 1

Table D: Conclusive presumption of overriding public interest against disclosure: matters listed in Schedule 1 of the Act

Number of times consideration used*

Overriding secrecy laws 0

Cabinet information 0

Executive Council information 0

Contempt 0

Legal professional privilege 0

Excluded information 0

Documents affecting law enforcement and public safety 0

Transport safety 0

Adoption 0

Care and protection of children 0

Ministerial code of conduct 0

Aboriginal and environmental heritage 0

*More than one public interest consideration may apply in relation to a particular access application and, if so, each consideration is to be recorded (but only once per application). This also applies in relation to Table E.


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Table G: Number of applications reviewed under Part 5 of the Act(by type of review and outcome)

Decision varied

Decision upheld

Total

Internal review 0 0 0

Review by Information Commissioner* 0 0 0

Internal review following recommendation under section 93 of Act

1 0 1

Review by ADT 0 0 0

Total 1 0 1

*The Information Commissioner does not have the authority to vary decisions but can make recommendation to the original decision maker. The data in this case indicates that a recommendation to vary or uphold the original decision has been made.

Table H: Applications for review under Part 5 of the Act(by type of applicant)

Number of applications for review

Applications by access applicants 1

Applications by persons to whom information the subject of access application relates (see section 54 of the Act)

0

Table E: Other public interest considerations against disclosure: matters listed in table to section 14 of the Act

Number of occasions when application not successful

Responsible and effective government 0

Law enforcement and security 0

Individual rights, judicial processes and natural justice 2

Business interests of agencies and other persons 2

Environment, culture, economy and general matters 0

Secrecy provisions 0

Exempt documents under interstate Freedom of Information legislation

0

Table F: Timeliness

Number of applications

Decided within the statutory timeframe (20 days plus any extensions)

5

Decided after 35 days (by agreement with applicant) 1

Not decided within time (deemed refusal) 0

Total 6


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