Council's Annual Report 2021-2022 has just been released, and is now available to view on Council's website.
The Annual Report is Council's highest level reporting document to our community and stakeholders. It is a comprehensive overview of the Council's performance in the 2021-2022 financial year against the four strategic objectives set out in the Council Plan 2021-2025 and the Annual Budget 2021-2022.
Nillumbik Mayor Frances Eyre said the report was a great summary of the many achievements of Council, and acknowledged it has been another year dominated by the challenges of COVID-19, from the significant lockdowns of 2021 to the ups and downs of living with the virus and its various waves through 2022.
"I'm proud of what we've managed to achieve this year. I would like to thank our community for your passion, involvement, and constructive feedback in the different facets of civic life over the past year," Cr Eyre said.
Some of the highlights from this year's report include:
- Adoption of key strategic documents including the Council Plan 2021-2025, Community Vision – Nillumbik 2040, the Nillumbik Health and Wellbeing Plan 2021-2025 and the Financial Plan 2021-2031
- Adoption of Council's Youth Strategy, informed by a community engagement program and the inaugural Youth Summit
- Adoption of the Nillumbik Climate Action Plan 2022-2032 and declaration of a Climate Emergency
- Delivery of key capital works projects, including Diamond Creek Trail Stage 2 and the Diamond Valley Sports and Fitness Centre re-development
- Provided $560,000 in community grants to support local community groups and organisations to provide a range of services, programs and activities
- Recorded over 498,000 visitors to Council's leisure and aquatic facilities; 96,900 attendees at Council arts and cultural activities, and 60,000 participants and visitors to Edendale Community and Environment Farm.
Some challenges for the year included:
- The major challenge remains to source alternate funding streams to maintain Council's infrastructure portfolio, to meet the future needs of the community and maintain future sustainability
- Roads, traffic congestion and safety remain top issues for residents. Council will continue to actively advocate for funding for improvements in this space
- Ensuring community readiness in the face of potential for bushfires and floods over the previous and upcoming summer periods.
