The City's Annual Report 2018–19 is now available.
The report provides a comprehensive account of our performance from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019, including details of services, events, activities and infrastructure delivered.
Full copies of the annual report can be accessed here and from the City's Customer Service Centres.
The year was marked by a record level of capital investment and a soaring asset base, as the City responded to current and predicted levels of population growth.
The City recorded its largest annual capital spend in history, with $124.5 million in total expenditure.
Social infrastructure was a key focus of works, as part of a program to provide residents access to high quality services and support.
This led to the official opening of a new early learning centre in Highton, stage two of the Leopold Community Hub (including a library), and a large hub in Armstrong Creek East.
The development activity across Greater Geelong increased our asset base to $2.5 billion – an increase of $180m on 2017-18.
Other highlights included:
- The opening of a garden organics processing facility in Anakie to process residential green waste;
- The introduction of a hard waste trial, which made 10,813 residential collections in the first three months;
- The launch of our Roads to Success program, which improved pothole repair response times by 80 per cent;
- The appointment of the City's first Youth Council; and
- The increased use of the City's five major cultural facilities, including record levels of visitation and overall participation at the National Wool Museum
Council will discuss the 2018–19 Annual Report at a Council Meeting at City Hall on 29 October.
The following quotes can be attributed to the City's CEO Martin Cutter:
It has been an exciting year in Greater Geelong, which continues to evolve through an influx of new residents, businesses and visitors.
We have completed or significantly progressed many key projects, which will strongly influence the region's clever and creative future.We prepared for ongoing growth, with strong investment in social infrastructure that provides quality services and support to our community.
A feature of our long-term planning is the adoption of a new Settlement Strategy, which is helping us to deliver the new Northern and Western Growth Areas.
Combined, these two areas – near Lovely Banks and Batesford – will eventually house more than 110,000 residents.
We want both areas to be fantastic places to live, with excellent transport links, community facilities and employment hubs to be backed by stunning environmental features.
Geelong's reputation on the global stage was further enhanced this year through our status as Australia's sole UNESCO City of Design.
It helped us secure a partnership with Melbourne Design Week in March 2019, with a stand-alone Geelong Design Week to follow in 2020.
2018-19 BY THE NUMBERS
- 5.2 million – annual visitors to Geelong (up two per cent)
- 2.5 billion – dollars' worth of assets (up $169m)
- 124.5 million – dollars spent on our annual capital program
- 474,000 – square metres of road resurfaced or resealed
- 400,000 – swimming lessons provided at our centres
- 15,000 – plants, shrubs and trees planted along the Green Spine
- 770 – people helped through in-home modifications and maintenance services
- 81 – kilometres of new footpaths added to our network
- 11 – new or upgraded playgrounds
- 1 – new Youth Council appointed
