City & Community Outcomes
MODULE 4
Brief Overview of Priorities
Sustainable Asset Management: Improving the management and maintenance of Council's built assets will continue to be a major focus for the Group. This will include completing an overarching Sustainable Asset Management strategy and framework with clear reporting milestones to guide implementation of asset management work. It will also include addressing the mix of affordable asset provision and reviewing and improving Sustainable Asset Management (SAM) Plans for each asset category.
Financial Sustainability: The Community and Corporate Group are committed to managing the community's resources in a sustainable, responsible and business like way. In addressing the financial challenge before Council, the Group will continue to refine the 'Long Term Financial Strategy ' so that it drives business planning and sustainable resource allocation. Priority attention will also be given to developing and implementing a range of income generation initiatives including the Property Disposal and Investment Program.
Implementing the Human Resources (HR) Strategy: A key focus will be strategically addressing Council's escalating employment costs and ensuring retention and recruitment of a skilled, valued and effective workforce that meets the needs of the organisation. A range of Human Resources initiatives will be implemented as part of the HR strategy.
State of City Monitoring - Tracking Progress in Achieving City Vision: Work will continue on the development of State of City monitoring and reporting through a variety of tools and processes including further developing the Sustainable Blue Mountains Web Site as a key engagement, monitoring and reporting tool, expanding the Trend Database and producing the legislatively required State of Environment report as a component of State of City reporting.
Improving Council Decision Making so that it Demonstrates Achievement of a More Sustainable Organisation: Particular attention will be given to supporting staff involved in writing council reports that need to assess Triple Bottom Line (TBL) impacts through provision of training in TBL assessment and decision making.
Aligning Work on Asset Management and on Development of Service Provision Framework Addressing Who Gets What, Where, When and Why: A key Priority is "to provide accessible and fairly distributed services and facilities throughout the Local government Area". Key Outcomes to be achieved include applying the service provision framework adopted by Council in the 2007 Community Plan to Council's asset management work.
Blue Mountains Cultural Centre and Mixed Use Development Project: Work will continue on the development of the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre Mixed Land Use development project in Katoomba (including the development of a new Library, Theatrette, World Heritage Interpretive Centre, Art Gallery and Café) and on planning for the redevelopment of the Civic Centre Precinct and the construction of pedestrian links. In particular, priority attention will be given to:
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Commencement of Blue Mountains Cultural Centre site works;
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Progressing planning and design for the new Katoomba Library;
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Strategic development of public art program; and
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Design development of Civic Centre redevelopment, pedestrian linkages and civic connections.
Lawson Town Centre Project Implementation: A major priority for the Group is the implementation of the Lawson Town centre redevelopment project including construction of road and public space infrastructure works.
Springwood Town Centre: Continuing work to address strategic planning of the Springwood Town Centre in close consultation with relevant stakeholders
Preparing for the development of the four year (2008-2012) Service Level Agreements (SLAs): The SLAs are the primary mechanism by which the Council delivers its daily services to the community. The 2007-2008 financial year was the final year of the previous 3 year Agreements. New four year SLAs with a focus on outcomes will need to be developed and implemented. The outcomes of the purchaser/provider review will inform the ongoing framework for SLAs.
Major Waste Management Projects: A new Kerbside Recycling Contract will commence in 2008/09 with a change from crates to mobile bins. Project development or major physical works will continue at all 4 Waste Management sites:
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Blaxland WMF: Works at Blaxland include diversion of Cripple Creek from under the existing landfill, new site entrance and small vehicle and resource recovery areas and construction of a new 1,000,000 (plus) cubic metre landfill cell. The first stage of filling in the new cell should commence in the first quarter of 2008-2009.
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Katoomba WMF: A new Waste Transfer Station and an upgrade of existing Resource Recovery Facilities will be operational in 2008/09.
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Lawson Landfill: Tenders were received in 2006-2007 to formally close and remediate the dormant site; however they were not accepted as they all exceeded the available budget. A preferred Contractor was identified and will be required to develop an alternative submission based on modified design criteria.
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Blackheath Landfill: Remediation of the Blackheath Landfill. The proposal allows for the acceptance of approximately 50,000 cubic metres (in situ measurement) of excavated rock from the proposed Cultural Centre site to be used to cover and shape the main platform of the landfill. This stage includes temporary stabilisation of the filled areas and construction of stormwater and sediment controls.
The second stage of the remediation project, involving batter stabilisation, leachate controls, capping and revegetation will be programmed when funds are available.
