Kiama Council has provided a 'half-time' report card of how our Operational Plan 2023-24 is progressing.
An Operational Plan is essentially the annual work plan for a Council, setting out specific actions and measurements.
CEO Jane Stroud said more than 80 per cent of the 237 actions in our current Operational Plan were completed or significantly progressed in its first six months (July to December 2023).
"This is a fantastic result for Council and our community and demonstrates our ability to deliver high-level of services and programs while maintaining our commitment to financial sustainability," Ms Stroud said.
"Even taking into account our financial challenges, the extent of what Council had achieved so far is something our staff and our community can be proud of."
Ms Stroud said the report was also a reminder that work that councils do affects the lives of their residents each and every day, often without them realising it.
"From events and activations, development assessment and compliance to facilities and sport and recreation it shows why councils continue to be the level of government people care the most about."
Highlights of what's been achieved or progressing include:
- Council volunteer framework
- Kiama Leisure Centre service review
- Local Government Regional NAIDOC Week Awards 2023
- Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)
- Kiama Heritage Planning Proposal
- Kiama Coastline Coastal Management Program (CMP)
- Bank Angle Creek bank stabilisation and erosion control
- Contemporary Bushfire Mapping project
- Careers at Council program with Kiama High School
- Council Work Experience Program update
- 2024 Kiama Visitor Guide
- Draft Agritourism Development Control Plan
- Road Safety Action Plan including Learner Driver training
- Hopwood Report 'review of governance arrangements'
- Asset assessment of road and associated infrastructure
- Akuna Street car park sale ($5.5 million)
- Blue Haven Bonaira sale tender
- Council Media Strategy and Social Media Policy
- Complaints Handling Policy
- Final compliance report submitted to the Office of Local Government
Ms Stroud said as well as the high number of actions that were complete or progressing, another positive of the report was the relatively small number of actions that were behind schedule (2) or hadn't started (13), including:
- Grants and Donations Policy and Programs
- Kiama Coastal Walk extension scoping study
- Gerringong Town Centre Planning Study
- Service Review of Waste Services and Operations
- Agricultural lands strategy
- Draft Kiama Traffic and Parking Study priority actions
- Asset Management Policy and Plans update
"Happily, given our progress in the first half of this Operational Plan, many of these remaining actions will soon be completed or well underway."
