2019/20 Annual Report received at Electors’ General Meeting

The City of South Perth’s 2019/20 Annual Report and financial statements were received at the annual Electors’ General Meeting held on Monday 22 February 2021. 

The report provides an account of the City’s performance from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020, measuring against the City’s Corporate Business Plan 2020-2024 and the Strategic Community Plan 2020-2030. 

Mayor Greg Milner said he was proud to present the report to Electors, after the meeting was rescheduled twice due to COVID-19 restrictions. 

“This Annual Report captures the opportunities, challenges and achievements of the City over the last financial year. It details the extraordinarily diverse range of services, community programs, cultural events, infrastructure works and major projects that the City has delivered during this period,” Mayor Milner said. 

“The theme of the 2019/20 Annual Report is ‘supporting our community’, to reflect the City’s responsibility and commitment to maintain its ongoing community services during the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to developing new projects to meet our vision of a city of active places and beautiful spaces.” 

The full Annual Report and financial statement is available to download from the City's website. Hard copies are also available at City’s libraries and Civic Centre. 

Below is a snapshot of the City’s achievements during 2019/20. 

Responding to the pandemic 

• Council and the City’s administration worked together to deploy a range of measures to assist the community through the COVID-19 crisis, and to put in place programs designed to aid economic recovery. 
• In April 2020, Council endorsed the City’s Community Response and Relief Package. This comprehensive and targeted package followed on from a range of initiatives that had already been implemented by the City to assist residents, businesses and community groups. The package had a particular focus on the needs of the most vulnerable and at-risk members of our community. 
• The City launched its Buy Local, Shop Local campaign, designed to support local business and local jobs. The campaign, which marked the first initiative of the City’s new Economic Development focus, helped to create awareness and stimulate the lifeblood of our local economy, local business. 

Connect South Stage One complete and Mindeerup opened 

• The City’s Connect South project was realised towards the end of 2019. 
• Prominently positioned on South Perth’s Foreshore at Mends Street Jetty, the newly developed area includes a pedestrian-friendly piazza named Mindeerup, eye-catching animal-themed canopies, striking public artworks, as well as lighting allowing visitors to enjoy the public open space into the evening.
• The completion of Stage One has achieved Council’s goal of increasing the amount of social and economic activity in this unique and iconic part of Western Australia. 
• The project has received numerous awards and recognition. 

Strategic planning projects realised 

• In December 2019, Elected Members endorsed the South Perth Activity Centre Plan (ACP) and associated scheme amendment, and referred the documents to the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) for approval and recommendation to the Minister for Planning. 
• Extensive stakeholder engagement informed a review of the Canning Bridge Activity Centre Plan, a guide for development around the Canning Bridge Train Station. The updated document was adopted by Council in February 2020 and forwarded to the WAPC for final determination. 
• Council endorsed the draft Local Planning Strategy at the July 2020 Council meeting. 

Grant funding 

• The City submitted applications for $4.88 million of funding and was successful in securing $2.42 million of grants. 
• Funding from Federal and State Government agencies supported a range of initiatives including road safety, infrastructure and environment projects. Grants from other organisations were awarded for community-building projects and events.

Waste and recycling

• Achieved a 22% increase in the number of visitors to the Recycling Centre. 
• 4,335 tonnes of kerb side, verge side and Recycling Centre collections were recycled with a 104 tonne increase in recyclable material on the previous year. 
• At the Recycling Centre there was a 40.5% increase in the amount of recyclable material deposited by residents.
• Achieved a 0.5% decrease in waste sent to landfill from kerb side collections, and a 9.2% decrease in waste sent to landfill from verge side collections. 

Leadership 

• The City’s draft Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan was endorsed by Council and public and stakeholder feedback was invited.
• Customer Service Team responded to a total of 79,159 customer enquiries. 

Community 

• Hosted three Citizenship Ceremonies to welcome 358 new citizens, including the City’s largest ever Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony that welcomed 205 conferees as new Australian citizens. 
• 167,772 visitors to South Perth and Manning libraries. 
• 577 library events held across both libraries, with an estimated 11,664 attendees. 
• Almost $100,000 in Community Development Funding granted to 24 community groups. 
• 124 KidSport vouchers worth $18,600 granted for local children aged five to 18 years.
• 21 Individual Development Program grants worth $4,000 awarded to residents selected to represent the state or country in interstate or international championships, competitions or significant cultural, academic or community service activities. 

Nursery snapshot and City wide planting 

• 42, 570 plants were produced at the City’s nursery. 
• The City planted 23,000 native plants in natural areas, as well as 983 street trees, 325 trees in park and reserve, 2,470 plants in streetscapes, and 19,988 shrubs.
• Five Ginkgo biloba trees were grown from seed that was taken from a tree that survived the 1945 nuclear bomb blast in Hiroshima, Japan. 

Completed capital works for public open spaces 

• Street and park furniture installed at Karawara, Sir James Mitchell Park, David Vincent Reserve, George Burnett Reserve and Murray/Jackson intersection. 
• Playground replacement at Olives Reserve in Como. 
• Cricket infrastructure installed at Challenger Reserve, Ernest Johnson Reserve, James Miller Reserve and George Burnett Reserve. 
• Irrigation infrastructure installed at Bill Grayden Reserve, Challenger Reserve, Ernest Johnson Reserve, Hensman Reserve, McDougall Park, George Burnett Reserve, Moresby Reserve, Olives Reserve, Redmond Reserve, Stone Street Reserve and the South Perth Tennis Club.