Bass Coast Shire Council has reported on its performance over the past 12 months, with the presentation of the 2018/19 Annual Report at the October Ordinary Meeting last Wednesday.
The Annual Report highlights Council's achievements from the 2018/19 year and documents the organisation's performance against the objectives of the Council Plan 2017-2021.
The Report also highlights some of Council's other achievements, including the completion of 122 capital works projects and successful advocacy for the Shire.
Some of the Capital Works projects completed this year include the Cowes Jetty Triangle redevelopment, the development of the Dalyston Recreation Reserve pavilion and change rooms, refurbishment works at the Bass Coast Children's Centre in Wonthaggi and extensive rehabilitation works of the Bourne Creek trestle bridge at Kilcunda.
The $2.2 million Jetty Triangle redevelopment was one of the year's largest projects, which began in 2016, with construction of the transformative project carried out between February and October in 2018.
Bass Coast Mayor, Cr Brett Tessari, said the results in the Annual Report reflect a successful and productive year.
"We are proud of what we have achieved this year, which includes some fantastic results for the whole community as part of our ongoing advocacy campaign.
"Some of the great outcomes of our advocacy efforts include securing the transfer of the current Wonthaggi Secondary College McBride Campus, successfully attracting funding of up to $1.5 million from the Federal Government for erosion mitigation and planning policy changes to protect Bass Coast's unique natural environment and coastal townships as a Distinctive Area Landscape," Cr Tessari said.
Bass Coast is continuing to lead the way with its three bin waste management system, which has maintained a 75 per cent diversion rate of kerbside waste away from landfill, providing significant environment and economic benefits.
Our very low contamination rate has also been maintained, a testament to the way the community is continuing to embrace the system.
Council also delivered a pleasing financial result in 2018/19, with a $2.09 million operating surplus compared to a budgeted surplus of $2.1 million.
Council's 2018/19 financial results have been impacted by the need to provide for additional landfill aftercare costs of over $5 million and a provision for redundancy costs of $2 million, linked to the decision to cease providing home and aged care services.
These 'one off' costs have had an adverse effect of over $7 million on the income statement surplus of $2.1 million as well as Council's underlying deficit of $9.5 million. Notwithstanding this, Council remains in a strong financial position as evidenced by its key financial metrics for liquidity, internal financing and indebtedness being classified as low risk by the Victorian Auditor-General.
The 2018/19 Annual Report is now available to view online at www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/annualreport and in person at Council Customer Service Centres in Wonthaggi, Cowes, Inverloch and Grantville.
