Griffith City Council has delivered its End of Term Report 2016-21, highlighting achievements over the last five years and the delivery of services to the community.
Under the NSW Government's Integrated Planning and Reporting Legislation for Local Government, Council is required to produce a report on its progress in implementing the Community Strategic Plan during its term.
The report was presented at the last meeting of the outgoing Council, on 23 November 2021 and provides the community and the new Council with an overview of the state of the City.
Mayor, Councillor Doug Curran, said it is important to recognise the achievements of the last Council term.
"It was a very busy period for Griffith and a lot of excellent projects were realised. Despite the pandemic, Council continued to deliver core services and on top of that we had the largest expenditure I can ever recall on capital works in the City," said Councillor Curran.
"Our new Councillors will find this document helpful, in that it outlines what we are up to in terms of realising our community's aspirations for the future."
In the year in which an ordinary election of Councillors is held, Council must include its End of Term Report in its Annual Report. It also incorporates the State of the Environment Report.
Highlights of the End of Term Report 2016-2021 include:
• Partnering with St Vincent's to develop the new Community Private Hospital Griffith
• Partnering with Argyle Housing to deliver the Griffin Green Affordable Housing Project and four residential units in Wakaden Street Griffith
• Council remains in a sound financial position having recorded strong surplus results every year, with an average result of $4.5M surplus per annum
• Airport upgrades to lighting, runway, apron and taxiway resurfacing 2016
• Lake Wyangan and Catchment Management Strategy adopted 2017
• Council Cafe was implemented in 2019 to increase community engagement
• Western Riverina Country Universities Centre opened 2019
• To improve community safety 22 CCTV cameras were installed in City Park with a further 81 to be installed throughout the CBD
• Village sewer reticulation project connecting properties in Lake Wyangan, Tharbogang and Nericon completed in 2018
• New Ambulance Station in Wakaden Street officially opened 2019
• East Mirrool Regulator, Yenda - Installation of Flood Gates, Early Warning System and Breaching Protocols 2019
• Griffith Livestock Marketing Centre Truck Wash completed 2020
• Successful Glow2680 Christmas Campaign launched 2020
In addition, Council secured over $70M in grants for community projects including:
• Griffith Regional Sporting Precinct (50m outdoor pool, Westend Oval and Jubilee Oval)
• Griffith Housing Strategy
• New Griffith Community Centre
• Griffith Southern Industrial Link Road
• Yambil Street upgrade
• Griffith Regional Theatre upgrade
• Griffith City Library Multipurpose Room and Youth Space
• Memorial Park Stage and amenities upgrade
• Enticknap Park upgrade
• Henderson Oval Yoogali play equipment upgrade
• Village shared pathways project
• Cricket nets and amenities block at Jubilee Oval
• Community Stage at Community Gardens
• Amenities block at City Park
• Skate Park and Pump Track, Olympic Street
• Hanwood Cycleway
• Festive lighting Banna Avenue
• Railway Street Car Parks
• Upgrade of City entrance signs
• Boorga and Dickie Roads construction
• Jones Road causeway
• Kooyoo Street redevelopment
• Street Scapes and other festivals
• Lake Wyangan pipeline
Interested members of the community are encouraged to view the Annual Report in full, including the End of Term attachment, available on Council's website www.griffith.nsw.gov.au
