Blue Mountains City Council - a great place to work
City Profile
The Blue Mountains Local Government Area covers 143, 000 hectares of land on the Great Dividing Range in the west of the Greater Sydney Region. About 70% of the area is incorporated in the Blue Mountains National Park. The area is home to around 74,000 people who live in or in the vicinity of the 27 towns and villages.
The area includes urbanised development and townships as well as isolated settlements and extensive areas of rugged bushland. A place of great natural beauty and rich cultural resources, the Blue Mountains attracts over three million visitors from throughout the world making it one of the top three tourist destinations in Australia.
The Greater Blue Mountains was selected for inscription on the World Heritage List in the year 2000 for its representation of Australia's unique eucalypt vegetation and globally outstanding biodiversity.
A More Sustainable Blue Mountains
In July 2003, Council adopted the community endorsed 25-year Strategy for the City. The 25-year Strategy Outcomes, 15-year Objectives and 5-10 year Priority Action Areas for moving towards a more sustainable future are presented in "Towards a More Sustainable Blue Mountains - A Map for Action 2000-2025". This Map provides a common guide for all Blue Mountains stakeholders - community, Council and external agencies for translating the 25-year City Vision into action.
Please see www.sustainablebluemountains.net.au for copies of the Map for Action and the 25 year City Vision.
Our Mission - Working Towards Sustainability
The Principles that Guide Us :
- People are valued
- Outcome driven / policy led
- Policy / purchaser / provider separation
- Service delivery activities to be carried out in a business like way
- Specialisation not duplication
- Seamless customer service
- Common approach to cost management
Key Directions
Council has used the City Vision's five Key Directions for the Principal Activities in its 2004-2008 Management Plan. These are:
Looking after Environment: We value our surrounding bushland and the World Heritage National Park. Recognising that the Blue Mountains natural environment is dynamic and changing, we look after and enjoy the healthy creeks and waterways, diverse flora and fauna and clean air. Living in harmony with the environment, we care for the ecosystems and habitats that support life in the bush and in our backyards. We conserve energy and the natural resources we use and reduce environmental impacts by living sustainably. (25 year City Vision Key Direction Statement for Looking After Environment)
Looking after People: We value our strong connected communities that support people throughout their lives from childhood to old age. We have safe, healthy environments in which people can live, work and play. Blue Mountains people have access to an appropriate range of services and facilities. Housing that is relevant to our population is available. Young people in the Blue Mountains have hope for the future. We nurture our sense of community through interacting and helping each other. (25 Year City Vision Key Direction Statement for Looking After People)
Using Land for Living: We use our land to live in harmony with the environment. We have created vibrant liveable places and spaces for people of all ages and abilities to meet and play. We value the distinct identities of our villages and towns and the bushland between them. Our cultural and built heritage is important. Within the capacity of our natural and built environments, we have encouraged development in larger town centres where there is access to public transport. Through innovative urban design and planning, the Blue Mountains has become a place renowned for its liveable and beautiful spaces. (25 Year City Vision Key Direction Statement for Using Land for Living)Moving Around: We value safe and accessible pathways of travel that improve our connections with our destinations and each other. We have choices for safe and environmentally friendly transport, including networks of walkways and cycleways integrated with reliable and accessible public transport. Through better management and creative urban design, the Great Western Highway is a safe and beautiful space that adds to our amenity and World Heritage identity. (25 Year City Vision Key Direction Statement for Moving Around)
Working and Learning: We value our business and industries that are in harmony with our World Heritage environment. We are recognised as a centre of excellence for sustainability that creates significant employment and educational opportunities. Through responsible economic development, we have strengthened our local economy. We are a leader in sustainable tourism practises. Young people are attracted to work, live and study in the Blue Mountains. Building on our rich cultural landscape and inspirational natural environment, we are an exciting centre of culture and creativity. (25 Year City Vision Key Direction Statement for Working and Learning)
Why work for Blue Mountains City Council or Why not?
Blue Mountains City Council offer a diverse range of employment opportunities from team member through to senior management level.
We offer flexible employment options such as permanent, temporary and casual in full-time, part-time and job-share positions.
Our work sites are located across the Blue Mountains from Glenbrook (approximately 1 hour drive west from Sydney) through to Blackheath (approximately 1.5 hours drive west from Sydney and 30 mins drive east from Lithgow) and most of our sites are located close to public transport.
Career Development and Performance Management
We are committed to fostering the performance and development of our staff. Performance reviews are jointly conducted with staff yearly and are reviewed every 6 months. Staff are eligible to obtain salary increases or a performance bonus over and above award salary increases under the performance review system.
Agreed training is paid for and Council offers an Education Assistance Program (for eligible staff) providing a range of benefits making study easier and reducing the financial burden.
Hours of Work
Hours of work vary depending on the position. Generally outdoor staff work a 38 hour week from 7.10am to 4.00pm (40min lunch break) and indoor staff work a 35 hour week from 8.30am to 5.00pm (1hr lunch break).
Staff Benefits
Work Life Balance
- Job share
- Paid parental leave
- Phased retirement
- Flexible return from parental leave
- Part-time arrangements
- Remote access to IT systems
- Telecommuting
- Rostered Days Off
Healthy Living
- Health and Wellbeing Program
- Health Assessments
- Health Information Seminars
- Gym Membership Discounts
- Annual Swim Off
- Employee Assistance Program
Training and Development
- Career planning
- Coaching services
- Core skills training programs
- Education assistance
- External seminars
- Internal seminars
- IT training
- Aspiring leaders forums
- LGMA Management Challenge
Social Activities
- Charity days
- Staff Social Club*
- Discounted Holiday Accommodation*
- Midyear Events
- Global Corporate Challenge (Please note that the Global Corporate Challenge and City to Surf teams are not council funded.)
- Staff Social functions *
- City to Surf Team
* Social Club initiatives
Women's Action Plan (WAP)
- Quarterly Guest Speaker Program
- Australian Women and Leadership monthly E-Newsletters
- Quarterly Staff Updates on initiatives undertaken
- Informal "Networking" events
- Website links, articles of interest and useful tools and tips
- WAP Steering Committee
Recognition and Remuneration
- General Manager's Innovation Awards
- Service Recognition awards
- Performance and bonus system
- Superannuation seminars
- Salary packaging
- Long Service Leave - 5 years
- Pay Weekly
- 20 Days annual leave per year
- Weekly deduction of Rates from pay option
- Staff Discounts at Tourism Visitor Centres (Echo Point and Glenbrook)
For further information, contact Human Resources on (02) 4780 5700.