what has council been doing for you? ANNUAL REPORT SUMMARY 2009/2010

Transcription

1 what has council been doing for you? ANNUAL REPORT SUMMARY 2009/2010

2 ANNUAL REPORT SUMMARY 2009/2010 E nga iwi e nga mana e nga karangaranga maha huri noa te Rawhiti, tena koutou, a tena tatau katoa. from the mayor & chief executive where did the money come from? 16% This past year 2009/10 has been a tough one for our communities. Not only has the state of the global economy affected the people and business of the district but mother nature has dealt us more than our fair share of blows. At times like this there is more pressure on the business of Council. If anything, the demand for our services increases. The cost of damage to roads and bridges from flooding was around $3 million last year. That cost adds an extra burden. Many households have been assisted with their share of the costs of running the district by the government s rates rebate scheme which is now up to $570 per property. To help at our end, the organisation was asked to make $1 million in savings on our operations last year and we commend the staff for meeting this objective. 9% 1% 24% 50% So it has been a time for Council to focus its core business of trying to build first class infrastructure as a spring board for future growth. That ultimately means jobs for you. Replacing bridges, including at Wharekahika, working with NZTA to enhance SH35 through Busby and Kemps Hills, road alignments at Tiniroto and flood control mitigation in the Waiapu River will bring community as well as economic benefits. Consultation was started on the proposal to upgrade the Waipaoa River flood protection works - the first major review since cyclone Bola in Rates Grants & Subsidies Dividends & Interest Vested Assets Other Revenue how were your rates spent? Activity $43.10 million $21.01 million $1.12 million $7.20 million $13.78 million Amount Including GST Roading $280 Rubbish Collection, Recycling & Transfer Stations $211 Wastewater, Stormwater & Water Supply $857 Recreation & Leisure Activities $337 Democratic Process & Consultation $136 Regulatory Services $78 Planning $56 Conservation $40 Rivers & Flood Control $29 Treasury & Administration $127 Tourism & Economic Development $7 Public Amenities $60 Community Development $16 Wastewater Plant Capital Contribution $102 Emergency Services $12 $2,348 Source: Average Gisborne City Residential Rateable Property Capital Value: $283,955 Land Value: $126,640 Area: 0.08Ha In and around Gisborne city we have been able to combine the development of the Wastewater Treatment Plant at Banks Street with some commercial opportunities. In addition to providing much needed revenue, this development enables large trucks to get their certificates of fitness there instead of in Childers Road. Last year we reported a likely cost of the Wastewater Treatment Plant of $45 million. The actual cost is now likely to be around $39.5 million. The project to upgrade the War Memorial Theatre is also in its investigation phase. An upgrade is probably understating the scope of the project now as the RSA s offer to incorporate their facilities provides the opportunity to enhance the entertainment, conference and events scene in Tairawhiti. The vision is to develop a multi purpose facility in conjunction with the RSA for the benefit of all. We are also working closer with the Eastland Community Trust to strategically invest in our region. Together with other funding we can leverage opportunities to improve our social and commercial infrastructure. Please take the time to read on and find out what your Council has achieved in the past year and which opportunities are emerging for the future. If you would like to know more about the Council s activities over the past year, you can pick up a copy of our full Annual Report from our Customer Service Centres in Te Puia Springs or Fitzherbert Street. Both documents are also available on our website govt.nz. Meng Foon - Mayor Lindsay McKenzie - Chief Executive

3 protecting your environment Te Wharau Drain Council helped to fix up and beautify an unsightly open drain running through Te Wharau School s Ngahere Reserve by transforming it into a stream. River boulders were used to create a sustainable space that fits with the existing native bush setting. Now the kids can use the whole reserve for outdoor learning and continue to maintain an area they have enjoyed for the last twenty years. The creek in Ngahere is looking amazing. We are very grateful for the support in keeping Ngahere the beautiful resource that it is, said Te Wharau School deputy principal Linda Savage. Rethink Centre encourages recycling More presentations than ever before were given to classes at the Council run Rethink Education Centre this year. Over one hundred presentations on how to deal with waste, litter, recycling and compost were given to enthusiastic Year 4, 5 and 6 kids from schools throughout the district. The programmes at the Rethink Centre encourage kids to think about the environment and the difference they can make through smarter waste management. The centre is located next to Allbrites Resource Recovery Centre at 69 Innes Street and is open from 8 am to 4 pm daily. Streamside Planting Guide Council and the Department of Conservation have developed a step-by-step streamside planting guide. The guide encourages people to take pride in our urban streams and advises what, where and how to plant on the banks of our city s waterways. Restoration planting has already begun. Several community groups recently planted 320 native trees and shrubs on the banks of Waikanae Stream. Free copies of the Streamside Planting Guide are available from Council offices or our website. Progress on the Wastewater Treatment Plant The building of the $39.5 million Wastewater Treatment Plant is well underway. Work began in December 2009 and has involved major construction work at the Banks Street site, and the installation of the industrial separation scheme in Awapuni industrial area. The plant will be completed on schedule, by the end of December The use of the new biological trickling filter system will ensure that Gisborne s wastewater will be treated to a far higher standard than it is currently, lessening our impact on the environment. Wainui Environmental Projects There has been a lot going on in the Wainui/Okitu area to protect its special character. Council has created two new retention ponds at Schools, removed and trimmed exotic trees along the beachfront ensuring better views, undertaken native planting, created new access stairs at The Pines and organised work shops to promote dune care. This has been done to ensure that the environmental concerns of local residents are being listened to and addressed. Reviews of Environmental Strategies and Reports Council has worked on several environmental reports and strategies to ensure we continue to focus on a more sustainable future for our district, including: The Pest Management Strategy The State of Our Environment Report The draft Rere Reserve Management Plan.03

4 ANNUAL REPORT SUMMARY 2009/2010 working with you Community Max Council obtained $325,000 of government funding to support youth from across our region to engage in community based work opportunities. Over the past year we co-ordinated twelve Community Max projects that helped nearly 40 young people benefit many of the district s communities. These projects included: cemetery cleanups, digitalisation of headstone information and district archives, vegetation clearance and town beautification work in Ruatoria, Te Araroa, Tokomaru Bay and Te Puia Springs, reserve and playground improvements in Patutahi and Te Karaka, sand dune clearance and planting along the coast and improvement work on Titirangi Reserve. Township Plans Four new Township Plans focussing on the Matawai-Motu, Manutuke, Rangitukia-Tikitiki and Te Puia Springs-Waipiro Bay communities began in 2009/10. These four plans will complement the existing six plans that are helping to achieve the aspirations of local communities. Several workshops were undertaken in each area and community members came up with an inspiring range of ideas for the future development of their township. Once these plans are completed by the end of 2010, the communities involved will work with Council to put their priorities into action. Tairawhiti Youth Voice Council agreed to appoint Tairawhiti Youth Voice as the new Gisborne District Youth Council. This group of year olds meets every two months to ensure that young people play a greater role in Council decision making processes. One of the highlights of the group s work was running the New Zealand Youth Week programme in May. This culminated in the Tairawhiti Youth Masquerade Ball held in Ruatoria. With Council s support they have secured $35,000 from the Youth Development Partnership Fund to hire a part time co-ordinator and organise youth programmes over the next year. Community Caretakers Having a community caretaker for eight of our rural townships was a new initiative by Council to give people in those areas an opportunity to look after their communities. Council will appoint community caretakers between August and October 2010 in Matawai/ Motu, Whatatutu, Te Karaka, Tolaga Bay, Tokomaru Bay, Te Puia Springs/Waipiro Bay, Ruatoria and Te Araroa. The contracts for these full-time positions will involve important tasks such as taking care of the town s transfer station, litter control, public toilets, street cleaning and reserve mowing. Building Strengthening in the CBD Throughout the course of the year there has been slow but thorough progress on the repairing and strengthening of Gisborne city buildings damaged in the December 2007 earthquake. Repairs are now well underway on almost all of the damaged buildings. The work has taken a little longer than hoped for to get underway, due in part to Council adopting higher building standards. However this level of strengthening will result in Gisborne having safer and more resilient buildings in the central business district..04

5 improving your facilities Motu Cycleway In collaboration with the Opotiki District Council and the Department of Conservation we were successful in securing $1.7M in government funding to develop the Old Motu Coach Road as a part of the New Zealand Cycle Trail project. This funding will cover infrastructural works and signals the start of a major investment in the East Cape region s tourism development. The Motu Cycle Trails will take cyclists from Matawai through the Old Motu Coach Road to Opotiki with an option of detouring through the Pakihi Track. Work is scheduled to begin in October 2010 and will create job opportunities throughout the region, from construction to tourism-related employment. Future extensions to Gisborne, possibly through Rere and along Eastwoodhill are possible. New Olympic Pool Heating System The old gas boiler at the Olympic Pool has been replaced by a new, state of the art wood chip boiler. The new technology employed in the boiler system is carbon neutral and will reduce the heating cost by approximately $40,000 a year. It is fuelled by up to 12 cubic metres of wood chips per day, which are supplied locally from timber off-cuts that might otherwise go to waste. This means that the new boiler system is not only more environmentally friendly but will also bring benefits to the local economy. New Dog Pound Work building the new dog pound in Dunstan Road industrial area was completed in September. The new pound will result in a safer, healthier place to house impounded dogs. The existing facility in Carnarvon Street was not large enough to accommodate the number of dogs impounded. As well as being able to house up to 27 dogs in separate pens, the pound will contain a vet s room and a dog ranger s office. Increase in Library Visitors This year has seen a substantial increase in the number of people visiting the HB Williams Memorial Library. Up to 5000 people per week are using the library s resources, making it the most used Council facility on a regular basis. This increase is due to the community recognising the wider range of facilities and programmes the library has to offer, such as free broadband and Wi-fi, as well as excellent literacy programmes in both Māori and English for the district s young people. New and Improved Playground Equipment Council dedication to improving the district s playground facilities over the last year has seen new play equipment and recreational facilities installed at parks throughout the district. A climbing structure and slide at London Street Reserve, six sets of swings at neighbourhood reserves including Wainui and Makorori Beaches, play equipment and picnic tables at Tolaga Bay and new nets at the Adventure Playground are all ready for play. Bilingual Signage Māori language is being incorporated into Council s new signs in our parks, reserves and facilities. Through our Ten Year Plan process we received a clear message that Council should reflect and celebrate the region s high proportion of Māori language speakers through using bilingual signage..05

6 ANNUAL REPORT SUMMARY 2009/2010 keeping you safe & connected Keeping Your Roads Safe It was a busy year for the roading team who look after 1900km of roads in the district, over 1000km of which are unsealed. Despite the difficulties posed by the region s unstable terrain and heavy rain events the team has worked hard to keep the roads open and safe. The 2009/10 programme involved sealing 52km of roads including the last section of the Gladstone Road project and digging up and fixing 15km of road. The team has also overseen the construction of 800 metres of new footpaths (including 300 metres in Ruatoria, Rangitukia and Te Araroa), as well as the replacement of a further 823 metres of worn footpaths. Stormwater Upgrades Work by the Council to upgrade stormwater systems has made the Whataupoko, Inner Kaiti and Wainui areas safer for residents by providing better protection from flooding. This has been achieved by renewing stormwater pipes, upgrading some open drains to piped drains and replacing others with grassed swales. Waiapu River Flood Protection Council has been working with the Ruatoria township to find solutions to erosion caused by the Waiapu River. This work will include constructing a groyne protection scheme to divert the course of the river, which will have the additional benefit of creating local employment. One such groyne is already in place at the foot of Kainanga Hill. Wharekahika Bridge A new one-lane bridge crossing the Wharekahika River has been built in response to requests from residents living across the river. The new bridge will allow access to the area by emergency service vehicles, which couldn t cross the old bridge. Residents will now be connected to services they have not had access to, such as the Fire Service. Work began in April 2010, and the bridge is now open and ready for traffic. CBD Patrol makes for Safer Streets Our City Watch team has been in action for nearly a year now, helping police to keep the central city safer for residents and retailers. The team members are also ambassadors for Gisborne, providing directions and advice to visitors and the local community. $ BIG TICKET ITEMS RECEIPT $ Wastewater Treatment Plant Construction $11.0M Regional Development Roading $4.4M Road Resurfacing, Pavement Rehabilitation & Minor Improvements $8.3M Bridge Maintenance $1.0M Other $8.1M TOTAL: $32.8M.06 Safe and Connected Strategies Several strategies have been adopted to ensure the district s communities remain safe and connected: Share the Road: Cyclists and motor vehicles are learning to share our roads, encouraged by the signage provided by Council. Lighting Strategy: A new long term lighting strategy aims to help make our streets in the CBD safer by providing better lit streets. Regional Public Transport Plan: Specifically focused on improving the district s public transport.

7 financial summary for the year ended 30 June 2010 has ended the 2009/10 year in a strong financial position. Borrowings at $19M were well below the planned level of $37M. The key driver for this favourable position was timing differences in Council s capital works programmes. The Council s underlying operational performance also produced a surplus, with additional income from government subsidies and vesting assets only partly off set by increased bad debt provisions and increased roading costs. Notes This summary has been prepared in accordance with FRS 43. The disclosures included in this summary have been extracted from the full financial information in the Annual Report and cannot be expected to provide as complete an understanding as the full report. The full Annual Report adopted by Council on the 30th September has received an unqualified audit opinion. The full Annual Report is available free of charge from the Councils web site ( nz). A copy of the full report is held at the Council offices, Te Puia Springs service centre and the HB Williams Memorial Library. The Council is a public benefit entity and has complied with New Zealand equivalents to International Financial Reporting Standards (NZ IFRS) as applicable for public benefit entities. These standards represent generally accepted accounting practice in New Zealand. They prescribe the way we must recognise and disclose all financial transactions in our financial accounts. A statement of compliance can be found in the full financial report on page 86. ( Council ) is a Unitary Authority governed by the Local Government Act The Group (the Group ) consists of and its subsidiaries, Gisborne Holdings Ltd (100% owned), Tauwhareparae Farms Ltd (100% owned) and Tauwhareparae Forests Ltd (100% owned). All Council subsidiaries are incorporated in New Zealand. These summary financial statements of the Group are for the year ended 30 June The summary financial statements were authorised for issue by the Chief Executive on the 30 September The financial statements are presented in New Zealand dollars and all values are rounded to the nearest thousand dollars ($ 000). reconciliation of accounting surplus Operational Financial Adjustments Financial Performance Performance $000s $000s $000s Income 86,168 (20,505) 65,663 Expenditure 70,803 (7,287) 63,516 Net Surplus/(Deficit) 15,365 (13,218) 2,147 statement of comprehensive income Group Actual Budget Actual Actual Actual 2009/ / / / /2009 Income 86,168 74,310 87,396 89,335 92,847 Operating Expenses (Excl. Finance Costs) 68,104 65,705 65,562 71,202 68,540 Finance Costs 2,699 2,454 3,594 3,007 4,124 Income Tax (200) 111 Net Surplus/(Deficit) 15,365 6,151 18,240 15,326 20,072 Other Comprehensive (3) 31,413 23,614 (3,253) 19,646 Total Comprehensive 15,362 37,564 41,854 12,073 39,718 statement of financial position Group Actual Budget Actual Actual Actual 2009/ / / / /2009 Total Current Assets 11,402 11,487 12,563 11,504 12,990 Total Non-Current Assets 1,773,395 1,758,010 1,749,807 1,791,119 1,770,710 Total Assets 1,784,797 1,769,497 1,762,370 1,802,623 1,783,700 Total Current Liabilities 21,116 14,692 14,145 21,377 14,452 Total Non-Current Liabilties 18,208 39,055 18,021 22,290 22,272 Total Liabilities 39,324 53,747 32,166 43,667 36,724 Total Equity 1,745,473 1,715,750 1,730,204 1,758,956 1,746,976 statement of changes in equity Group Actual Budget Actual Actual Actual 2009/ / / / /2009 Equity at the beginning of the year 1,730,204 1,678,186 1,687,703 1,746,976 1,706,611 Total Comprehensive Income 15,362 37,564 41,854 12,073 39,718 Transfer to Retained Earnings included in Revaluation Reserve Movement Other Movements (109) 0 0 (109) 0 Total changes in Equity 15,269 37,564 42,501 11,980 40,365 Equity at the end of the year 1,745,473 1,715,750 1,730,204 1,758,956 1,746,976 cashflow statement Group Actual Budget Actual Actual Actual 2009/ / / / /2009 Net Cash from Operating Activities 28,425 22,443 23,422 28,663 24,431 Net Cash from Investing Activities (29,665) (37,896) (22,401) (29,918) (22,717) Net Cash from Financing Activities 1,443 15,453 (5,905) 1,443 (5,905) Net Increase/(Decrease) in Cash (4,884) 188 (4,191) Cash Resources at the beginning of the year , ,465 Cash resources at the end of the year how do we compare? Nelson Tasman Marlborough Total Operating Income 86,168 87,396 86,482 86,945 86,675 Income from Rates 43,101 41,457 45,611 44,771 45,079 Total Operating Expenditure 70,803 69,156 68,442 81,147 73,564 Total Liabilities 39,324 32,166 62, ,820 19,379 Total Assets 1,784,797 1,762,370 1,131,305 1,058,153 1,201,395 External Debt 19,407 18,150 51,535 96,074 1,963

8 community outcomes Under the Local Government Act 2002, Council must facilitate a process to identify Community Outcomes at least every six years. Community Outcomes are the big things the community needs to make life better such as well-paid jobs, access to health care, affordable housing, leisure and recreational facilities and clean waterways. The outcomes identified were: Environmentally Sustainable Tairawhiti Healthy Tairawhiti Connected Tairawhiti Prosperous Tairawhiti Skilled and Educated Tairawhiti Vibrant Tairawhiti Safe Tairawhiti Empowered Tairawhiti For a report on the results of any measurement undertaken during the year of progress towards the achievement of those outcomes and any indentified effects that Council activities have had on the social, economic, environmental, or cultural wellbeing of the community, please refer to the full Annual Report adopted by Council on the 30th September 2010 which has received an unqualified audit opinion. audit report Chartered Accountants AUDIT REPORT TO THE READERS OF GISBORNE DISTRICT COUNCIL S SUMMARY ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, SERVICE PROVISION INFORMATION AND THE OTHER REQUIREMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2010 We have audited the summary financial statements, service provision information and the other requirements of Schedule 10 of the Local Government Act 2002 as set out on pages 7 to 8. Unqualified opinion In our opinion: the summary financial statements, service provision information and the other requirements represent, fairly and consistently, the information regarding the major matters dealt with in the annual report; and the information reported in the summary financial statements, service provision information and the other requirements complies with FRS-43: Summary Financial Statements and is consistent with the full financial statements, service provision information and the other requirements from which they are derived. We expressed an unqualified audit opinion, in our report dated 30 September 2010, on: the full financial statements; the service provision information; and the Council s compliance with the other requirements of Schedule 10 of the Local Government Act 2002 that are applicable to the annual report. Basis of opinion Our audit was conducted in accordance with the Auditor-General s Auditing Standards, which incorporate the New Zealand Auditing Standards. Other than the audit and in carrying out the audit of long-term council community plan, the audit of the Gisborne District Disaster Relief Trust, we have no relationship with or interests in the District Council or any of its subsidiaries. Responsibilities of the Council and the Auditor The Council is responsible for preparing the summary financial statements, service provision information and the other requirements of Schedule 10 of the Local Government Act 2002 and we are responsible for expressing an opinion on those summary financial statements, service provision information and the other requirements of Schedule 10 of the Local Government Act These responsibilities arise from the Local Government Act Grant Taylor Ernst & Young On behalf of the Auditor-General Wellington, New Zealand summary of performance measures Activity Group Achieved Not Achieved Not Measure Arts and Culture Support Services Flood Control Activity Community Housing Water Supply Stormwater Wastewater Solid Waste Management Aquatic & Recreation Facility (Olympic Pool) Reserves and Open Spaces Land Transport and Parking Governance Animal Control Environment and Planning Environmental Health Civil Defence, Emergency Management and Rural Fires Conservation Building Services Libraries Community Planning and Development Total significant performance measures Animal Control: 75% of residents are very/fairly satisfied with the Council s efforts in controlling dogs (target 70%). Aquatic and Recreation Facility: The Olympic Pool had more community users than ever before with 58% of households using the pool in the last 12 months (target 35%). Building Services: 91% of building consents were processed within target timeframes (target %). Community Housing: 99% of community housing tenants are satisfied with the standard of accommodation and services they receive (target 95%). Community Planning and Development: 101 community groups were assisted with funding advice (target 40) and 61 partnerships were maintained or established with various agencies and community groups (target 15). Conservation: 185 properties were visited in the last 12 months for environmental advocacy purposes (target 120). Environmental Health: 96% of the district s 343 registered and licensed premises were inspected (target 100%). Environment and Planning: 50% of resource consents were processed within statutory timeframes (target 100%). This was due to a lack of staff resources. A process review is underway to ensure the situation is improved. Flood Control: 79% of requests for service were resolved within target timeframes (target 79%). Governance: 65% of residents were very/fairly satisfied with the way Council involves the public in the decisions it makes (target 56%). 62% were very/fairly satisfied with how rates are spent on services and facilities provided by Council (target 68%). Land Transport and Parking: 79% of requests for service relating to road service defects were resolved within target timeframes (target 89%). There were 130,539 bus passengers in the last 12 months (target 126,090). Libraries: 66% of households used the HB Williams Memorial Library in the last 12 months (target 74%). 35 key literacy/education programmes were run in the last 12 months (target 28). Reserves and Open Spaces: 87% of residents are very/fairly satisfied with their local parks and sportsfields (target 86%). 57% of residents are very/fairly satisfied with the district s public toilets (target 62%). Solid Waste Management: 73% of residents are very/fairly satisfied with rubbish bag collection (target 67%) and 88% were very/fairly satisfied with Council s recycling collection and facilities (target 85%). Stormwater: 90% of requests for service relating to stormwater blockages were resolved within target timeframes (target 83%). Support Services: 79% of residents rate staff helpfulness as excellent/good (target 83%). Wastewater: 66% of residents are very/fairly satisfied with the district s sewerage system (target 58%). Water Supply: 11 out of 12 water samples taken in Gisborne, Whatatutu and Te Karaka complied with NZ Drinking Water Standards (target 12 out of 12). Fitzherbert Street, Gisborne PO Box 747 Gisborne PHONE: service@gdc.govt.nz This document has been produced using vegetable based inks and FSC certified paper sourced only from responsibly managed forests.