Annual Report showcases Council's responsiveness to COVID-19 challenges

Scenic Rim Regional Council's Annual Report 2020-2021 brings together 12 months of performance and financial data, showcasing when and how it responded to the challenges of a global pandemic and the changing needs of industry and community.

The Annual Report includes a Community Financial Report, which is a summary of audited financial statements, to openly and succinctly explain Council's fiscal performance, supported by easy-to-read chapters reporting against the Operational Plan, day-to-day service delivery results and the implementation of a range of strategies.

Scenic Rim Mayor Greg Christensen said the Annual Report captures the multiple times Council made decisions to prioritise the region's economic recovery without shying away from reporting on areas that are behind ambitious targets.  

"Council's second Economic Stimulus Package included new initiatives to support local families, businesses and community organisations, while reaffirming Council's commitment to support local spending. This resulted in $17.92 million being spent with Scenic Rim businesses last financial year (32 per cent of Council's contestable materials and services were sourced locally),” he said.

"Unprecedented success with grant funding meant Council was given unique opportunities to deliver projects from future years’ plans to kickstart projects that matched funding requirements. We've been open about the flow-on effect of leveraging this grant funding — while these are positive financially, some other projects marked for completion last financial year were delayed due to resourcing constraints, supply chain issues and competing priorities.

"The Asset Management Plans show that Council is the custodian of approximately $1 billion worth of community facilities and infrastructure assets, including 1,755 kilometres of sealed and unsealed roads with more than 1,000 points that intersect with waterways.

"Over the year, $26.6 million was allocated for roads, footpaths, bridges and drainage to maintain and renew our road infrastructure to support safer travel, improved connectivity, flood mitigation and to drive economic growth.

"During and after each significant rain event, Council worked with other emergency services to clean up fallen debris, clear landslides and repair damaged infrastructure and roads. 

"Highlights last financial year included the opening of the $3.2 million revitalised Boonah Town Centre in December, followed by preparation for the Beaudesert Town Centre Revitalisation with the ‘The Beauy Hub’ bringing community and businesses together to talk with engineers, architects and Council officers over a number of months.

"Some of the key deliverables for the year included the adoption of the first Customer Experience Strategy that will guide tangible improvements to the communities’ experience with Council, and the updated Waste Management and Resource Recovery Strategy to support the Scenic Rim’s progression towards ‘zero avoidable waste to landfill’.

"Importantly, Council sought direct input from the community several times across a range of strategies last financial year including the Growth Management Strategy, Smart Region Strategy, Adventure and Nature-based Tourism Strategy, and the Sporting, Camping and Community Facilities strategies.

"We look forward to further two-way engagement with our communities in the coming year as we deliver on these strategies," Cr Christensen said.

Chief Executive Officer Jon Gibbons said the Annual Report shows the breadth of Council's responsibilities from handling a COVID-19 related spike in building and plumbing approvals to the delivery of a comprehensive arts program in and around lockdowns.

"There were periods last year when we had up to half of our employees working from home, so the achievements of 2020-2021 are a credit to their perseverance and Council's commitment to keep essential services running.

"Our teams work hard to deliver for all our customers, including local businesses, ratepayers, residents, library members, visitors to our facilities, visitors to our region, investors and developers.

"The report includes several examples of Council working in partnership with industry on projects of regional significance, one being the Water for the Warrill Irrigation Project with seed funding for a game-changing feasibility study, and another being Council's Agribusiness and Agritourism Industry Development Program.

"Small businesses make up more than 98.5 per cent of the region’s businesses, so we were proud to be the second Council in Queensland to sign a Small Business Friendly Council Charter and to continue targeted activities like the 'World of Work' business and career expo, and a full program of activities during Small Business Month.

"I also want to call out the work done by our Environment team — from January through to March Council supported koala habitat in Tamborine Village by planting more than 4,000 native shrubs and trees over two hectares of land and restoring a further eight hectares through weed treatment.

"When it comes to the bottom line, Council is in a strong financial position, consistent with its five-year average with the ability to service existing debts and financial obligations.

"The reported operating deficit of $2.8 million doesn't take into account Council's borrowings, which were recently refinanced at lower interest rates for significant savings, and with $15 million of those borrowings currently being considered to fund a range of projects that will have lasting beneficial impacts to the communities and the region as a whole.

"Financial highlights include a 41 per cent increase in user pay revenues associated with building, plumbing, planning and subdivision fees, property search fees and caravan park fees showing the continued interest in investing and holidaying in the Scenic Rim.

"Officers have also worked hard to ensure the Scenic Rim is well represented across Queensland and Australian Government funding programs, with an increase by 32 per cent of recurrent grants to the value of $1.91 million and a strong level of capital grants and contributions of $15.56 million, reducing the financial burden on general revenue and ratepayers.

"It is a credit to our strong governance framework that this Annual Report not only meets our legislative requirements, with confirmation by the external auditors and Audit and Risk Committee, but we have also improved the document's readability and accessibility for our community.

"I encourage you to take the time to read about your Council and your region," Mr Gibbons said.

Council's 2020-2021 Annual Report is available on the website, www.scenicrim.qld.gov.au/corporate-publications

Members of the community can request printed copies through libraries and customer service centres.