information document - coorong district council · information document ... 3 ramm works management...

INFORMATION DOCUMENT

15 April 2014

Department Commencing page

Strategy & Governance CEO meetings/functions attended Road name changes – Rural Property Addressing project

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Community & Corporate Corporate Services report Regulatory Services report Community Services report

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Infrastructure & Assets Nil to report

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Information Document – April 2014

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STRATEGY & GOVERNANCE

Information items

1. CEO - MEETINGS/FUNCTIONS ATTENDED

Date Details

March 2014

19 Road inspections with Director Infrastructure & Assets, various locations

20 Monthly staff meeting, Tailem Bend

Monthly media meeting, Tailem Bend

Enterprise Bargaining Single Bargaining Unit Employee election, Tailem Bend

Rural Roads & Road Maintenance toolbox meeting, Tailem Bend

HR discussions, Tintinara

21 Meeting with Executive Assistant to the Director Infrastructure & Assets, Tailem Bend

Phone conversation with McArthur (recruitment agency), Tailem Bend

Farewell to Vicki Mayfield (maternity leave) BBQ lunch, Tailem Bend

Staffing review with Director Infrastructure & Assets and Manager Infrastructure & Capital Projects, Tailem Bend

24 Combined Managers meeting, Tailem Bend

Meeting with Sherlock Community Centre committee members, Sherlock

Meeting with Leadership Team re: long term office accommodation, Tailem Bend

25 Various phone discussions with Dr Sam Shahin (Peregrine Corporation) and Mayor

26 Presentation to Tailem Bend Visitor Information Outlet volunteers re: future strategies, Tailem Bend

Review Draft 2014/15 Annual Business Plan, Tailem Bend

27 Native Vegetation Council substitute Significant Environmental Benefit meeting, Adelaide

Discussion re: Coonalpyn pool issues, Tailem Bend

28 Murray Darling Association meeting, Murray Bridge

LGMA (SA) CEO network forum – A practical look at ICAC, Adelaide

31 Meeting with Manager Corporate Support re: Long Term Financial Plan review, Tailem Bend

April 2014

1 Audit Committee meeting, Tailem Bend

Leadership Team meeting, Tailem Bend

Phone conversation with Dr Sam Shahin (Peregrine Corporation)

2 Meeting with Cr. McKinna, Tailem Bend

3 RAMM Works Management and Mobile Solution briefing, Mount Barker

Discussion regarding internal staff movements and seating arrangements etc, Tailem Bend

Meeting with Raymond Davery re: LGA Asset Program, Tailem Bend

4 Manager Technical Services applicant interviews, Adelaide

7 Meeting re: long term office accommodation furniture requirements, Tailem Bend

Meeting with Minister Geoff Brock, Tailem Bend


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April 2014 (continued)

8 Phone conversation with Tony Renshaw (Southern Mallee District Council) re: Murraylands CEOs resource sharing initiative

Phone conversation with Brenton Lewis (RDA Murraylands and Riverland) re: development opportunities

Phone conversation with McArthur re: engineer recruitment

Elected Members workshop, Tailem Bend

9 Discussion re: local government road funding, Tailem Bend

10 – 11

Local Government Association Showcase and Ordinary General Meeting, West Lakes

14 Visit to proposed Coonalpyn rage cage site and piggery, Coonalpyn and surrounds

Internal brainstorm re: community meeting on the future of Tailem Bend Railway Station, Tailem Bend

15 Council meeting, Coonalpyn

Vincent Cammell CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

2. ROAD NAME CHANGES – RURAL PROPERTY ADDRESSING PROJECT In response to minute 302/13 (below), the following can be confimed:

Moved Cr. Dawes, Sec. Cr. Bland that Council make formal contact with residents who have undergone changes to their road name as a result of road name changes from the Rural Property Addressing project, particularly to mitigate potential risk issues.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY As part of the Rural Property Addressing project, an external company (SALMAT) was engaged to prepare and carry out a mail out to all people affected by changes to their numbering or road name as a result of the process. The second and final of these mail outs appears to have been carried out in March 2011. Enquiries were made with the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI) regarding McIntosh Way/Albert Road in Meningie. DPTI confirmed that within the township, the road effectively had two names. It is gazetted as McIntosh Way from the Dukes Highway in Coonalpyn to the Princes Highway in Meningie, however in the townships it retains its local names, being Railway Terrace in Coonalpyn and Albert Road in Meningie. The addresses of the properties along these two local roads have not changed and remain the same. The emergency services use base data from DPTI who have confirmed that in their database the local road name in Meningie is listed as Albert Road. DPTI have also provided Council with a draft Rack Plan for ‘urban’ roads within the Coorong Council area for comment and amendment prior to gazettal. A copy of this has been provided to Elected Members for input.


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COMMUNITY & CORPORATE

Information Items

1. CORPORATE SERVICES 1.1 Finance & Rating Nil to report 1.2 Debt Recovery & Maintenance

TOTAL OUTSTANDING - ALL FILES

RECEIPTED

COMPLETED FILES

STATUS TOTAL FILES

TOTAL

310

ARRANGE 180,052.98 86

106,682.15 SEC 184 42,355.20 6

1,740.00

EXTERNAL 127,803.53 55

41,153.96 ON HOLD 57,685.23 30

15,365.61

FINAL NTCE 644.40 1

- NCML ARRAN 7,727.68 2

2,300.00

REMINDER 1 - 0

- REMINDER 2 14,552.80 42

1,778.91

TOTAL $ 430,821.82 222

$ 169,020.63

Over the last month staff has improved the presentation of data from the debt recovery module within the Corporate Business System. The table above is a full overview of the various stages that are allowed for in Councils Debt Recovery Policy. There is one batch for rates open and this is at REMINDER 2 and the second batch is accounts receivable and this is at the FINAL NOTICE stage. As Council is operating in conjunction with the Debt Recovery Policy, these figures will change as they escalate through the various stages.

1.3 Information Technology Nil to report 1.4 Records Management

Nil to report

1.5 Customer Service Nil to report


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1.6 Human Resource Management 1.6.1 Human Resource Statistics

Key Performance Indicator ^ 2013/14 2012/13

Mar 2014 July 2013 – June 2014

(YTD)

Mar 2013 July 2012 – June 2013

(YTD)

Employee absenteeism (hrs) 138.75 1266.85 355.80 2817.6

Movements In 2 9 0 6

Movements Out 0 5 0 10

Employee turnover 13.2%

* Employee absenteeism comprises of sick, family and personal leave taken by Council

employees. ^ The table does not include MMCTS employees.

1.6.2 Workforce Planning

As previously reported, Coorong District Council was invited to take part in Round 3 of the Workforce Planning Project, meeting the strategies listed in the 2013-2014 Annual Business Plan is:

5.3.3 Implement Workforce Planning & succession planning principles throughout

the organisation

Council was also very aware that it lacks succession planning for the ageing workforce and when employees are affected by serious illness, Council’s ability to maintain service to the community is compromised.

Council has completed the Workforce Plan document which has been endorsed by the Leadership Team at the combined meeting held on 24 March 2014. Key actions in the Plan include:

Continuation in the engagement of trainee’s in administration and field based areas Continuation of work experience programs Transition to retirement programs Annual performance reviews on outside staff Upskilling staff

Council’s Leadership Team will receive quarterly reports on the progress of the Plan.


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1.7 Work Health & Safety

1.7.1 WHS Statistics

Key Performance Indicator Month (Mar)

2013/14 YTD

2012/13 TOTAL

2011/12 TOTAL

2010/11 TOTAL

Employee lost time injuries claim 0 2 4 0 1

Employee medical expense only claim 0 0 0 1 2

Employee minor injury/incident* 1 5 10 9 9

Employee all other accidents/injuries/incidents/hazards^

1 1 3 1 3

Total incidents 2 6 17 11 15

* Minor Injuries / Incidents – Minor injuries or incidents which do not result in any loss or work time, do not require professional medical assistance / advice or which do not cause damage to property or equipment

^ All other Accidents / Injuries / Incidents – Incidents where professional medical assistance /advice is

required, work time is lost, where property (council property or other) is damaged and any minor incidents which have a potential for serious injury.

1.8 Risk Management

Reports consist of: damage to member of public vehicle during storm, break in at waste depot’s (2), damage to Council vehicles (2).

2. REGULATORY SERVICES

2.1 Planning & Building Services

There has been a steady stream of enquiries regarding building and development opportunities within the Council area. The enquiry level has resulted in a 16% increase in the number of development applications received by Council compared to the same period in 2013. Mandatory and development approval conditioned building inspections have been undertaken by Council’s principal building consultant, Dave Vandborg during March, resulting in a few compliance issues being identified and addressed by the builders.

2.2 Building Fire Safety Committee

Nil to report

Key Performance Indicator Month (Mar)*

2013/14 YTD

2012/2013 TOTAL

2011/2012 TOTAL

2010/2011 TOTAL

Public Incident Report 0 3 6 10 2

Public Liability Claim/Damage Request

1 6 6 0 0

General Insurance Claims 4 11 14 4 12

Total Claims/Incidents 5 20 26 14 14


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2.3 Animal Management Nil to Report

2.4 Public Health 2.4.1 Regional Health Plan The Murray Mallee LGA Regional Health Plan Committee met for their inaugural meeting at Cambrai. The committee plans to meet on a quarterly basis with the minutes of the meetings being presented to the MMLGA Group meetings. The committee has chosen a chairperson, Mr Clarry Fisher from the Rural City of Murray Bridge. Mr Fisher will be the chairperson for 12 months with each member Council taking the chair on a rotating basis. 2.4.2 Mosquitoes Adult mosquito trap numbers have remained low over the last 4 months with the total recorded numbers from the UniSA trips from 12 December 2013 to 4 March 2014 being 54, 43, 3, 36 and 33 all well below the long term average. Comments from UniSA for Council information: There were 16 further detections of Arboviruses (Ross River, Barmah Forest and Stratford) from the February and March field collections. Importantly, there have been virus detections from some of the same locations as in January providing some surety in the data collected by the FTA cards. FTA® is an acronym for ‘Fast Technology for Analysis’ of nucleic acids. Biological samples, such as blood and saliva, adhere to the paper through the mechanism of entanglement, while the mixture of chemicals lyses cells and denatures proteins. Because nucleases are inactivated, the DNA is essentially stable when the sample is properly dried and stored. Detections were as follows: Goolwa - Alexandrina Council – Stratford virus, Barmah Forest, Ross River Goolwa North - Alexandrina Council – Barmah Forest virus Mypolonga - Murray Bridge Council – Stratford virus Adelaide Hills - (Mylor-Hahndorf area) – Stratford virus Renmark - Renmark Paringa Council – Ross River virus Renmark - Renmark Paringa Council – Ross River and Barmah Forest Murray Bridge - Murray Bridge Council – Ross River virus

2.5 Other Legislative Services Nil to Report.

2.6 Fire Prevention Fire prevention work scheduled for commencement in Tintinara commenced 2 April 2014 following a risk assessment and pre-work site inspection.


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3. COMMUNITY SERVICES

3.1 OPAL

The 2014 OPAL theme ‘Life looks brighter outside’ was launched in March and will encourage families and children to spend time outdoors together at local parks, reserves, playgrounds and other outdoor spaces. A VIP theme launch, joint with Rural City Murray Bridge and Mid Murray Council OPAL teams took place on Wednesday 12 March 2014 at the Murray Bridge Town Hall. The launch featured the film premier for ‘Geocaching in the Murraylands’. Meetings are taking place with local children’s settings and stakeholders to introduce the theme and exciting activities including:

Mayors Pedometer Challenge - supporting council staff, elected members and all local year 7 school students to join the challenge with free pedometers supplied. Other residents, businesses and sport clubs also invited to join and purchase pedometers for $5.50 each and pick up a log book to be in the running to win prizes.

Geocaching promotions, school holiday workshops for families, and GPS units supplied by OPAL, available for loan in local libraries. Geocaching workshops are scheduled for:

o 16 April 2014, Tailem Bend Library

o 16 April 2014, Coonalpyn Library

o 16 April 2014, Tintinara Library

o 30 April 2014, Coomandook Library

o 7 May 2014, Meningie Library

Imagination playground equipment has arrived! The equipment will be launched during

the school holidays.

March into May partnership with NRM Education to lead school excursions including

geocaching, exploring nature and a local walking trail.

Edible School Garden projects continue to offer innovative garden ideas.

One Magic Square training, a special training opportunity in partnership with NRM for

local school staff, delivered by Lolo Houbein at Tailem Bend Primary School, Thursday 22

May 2014.


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The Our Time Cooking program was as success with over a dozen local parents taking part. Parent feedback described as a result of attending, they know more about how to cook healthy foods and they are encouraging their children to try new things. Several parents had already tried the healthy recipes at home and most we’re keen to use the recipes at home soon. Favourite recipes were corn fritters and pin wheels and things enjoyed were “learning new recipes in a fun way” and “getting more confident as a cook”. Future programs are dependent on Communities for Children funding. Emily Arbon and Stacey Kemp have delivered a four week Eat a Rainbow program with Tailem Bend Kindergarten. The program saw children trying new varieties of fruits and vegetables and parents crediting the program with less fussy eating at home. In early April a new Eat a Rainbow program commenced with the Meningie Child Care Centre. A visit from the vegie man is a highlight amongst sites during the celebration event, see photo. Bianca Gazzola commenced in the OPAL Manager role in mid March and is currently involved in other strategies including, the River Trail, Coonalpyn basketball ring, Meningie playground, a Meningie Kindergym and Meningie Hill development ideas. 3.2 Healthy Murraylands 3.3 Starclub 3.5 Youth Services 3.6 Local Action Plan 3.6.1 Coomandook Sustainable Agriculture Forum

The Mallee Coorong NRM Group held a Sustainable Agriculture Forum at Coomandook on Friday 28 March 2014. This day was very well targeted at the local audience covering areas such as; the Coomandook non wetting sands trial, Yield Mapping, Herbicide Resistance in Weeds, and On Farm Biosecurity practices. The Coorong Tatiara Local Action Plan supported this day through; widespread promotion of the event, funding support for the catering, and two presentations given by Graham Gates on the current direction of LAP, and the harvest fire code of conduct and fire permits. 65 people were in attendance.

3.6.2 Tree Death and Decline Project

The Coorong District and Tatiara Local Action Plan (LAP) Committees are seeking expressions of interest in tendering for a project to investigate tree decline and death (including Mundulla Yellows) in the Coorong and Tatiara District Council areas. This item was given plenty of discussion and consideration at the last combined Coorong and Tatiara Local Acton Plan Committee Meetings. It is hoped that this project will deliver


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products that will assist land managers to identify and potentially treat a wide range of forms of native tree decline. For further background please visit www.coorong.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?u=271&t=uList&ulistId=0&c=11994

3.6.4 Karoonda Farm Fair – 4 & 5 April 2014

The LAP will have an exhibit at the Karoonda Farm Fair. We will be part of a larger NRM exhibit along with other LAPs and the SAMDB NRM Board.

3.6.4 Pathways to Productivity.

The LAP is a co-sponsor for the Expo being held at the Bordertown Civic Centre on 7 April 2014. Pathways to productivity expo is free, and is set to provide a insight into the various fields of Sustainable Agriculture in the Upper South East.

Speaker line up:

Michelle Lally - the 'Savannah Lamb' story

Cindy Cross - Her story of innovation & her determination to not open a box of pre-

made anything.

Felicity Turner - Innovative irrigation

Graham Gates - Water security

Tim McLaren - Understanding the fate of P in your pasture

Lachie Seears - His Nuffield studies and his experience of family farming

Michael Richards & Lisette Mill - Agriculture on film

Fraser Mulvaney - Improving livestock performance

Charlie Goode & Matt Rowett - Succession planning

Brian Hughes & Mel Fraser - What's happening with SE soils research

Brendan Torpy - Precision ag for livestock

Chris Preston - Herbicide resistance

Lisette Mill - The economic benefits of shade and shelter

3.6.5 Kangaroo Harvesting

Council has received a new licence from the Department for Environment Water and Natural Resourced to harvest 1,000 grey kangaroos under the Commercial Harvesting Consortium Program. The licence runs until 31/12/2014. Given the late timing of the licence last year, no kangaroos were harvested. The program is strictly regulated and harvesting can only be carried out by licensed shooters with accredited chillers. The meat is processed by Macro Meat in Adelaide.

http://www.coorong.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?u=271&t=uList&ulistId=0&c=11994


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3.7 Community Funding & Support

3.7.1 Border Downs Football Club - Thankyou letter


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3.7.2 Section 7 – Completion Records


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3.8 Communication & Media 3.8.1 Social Media - Facebook

Since reported in March, Council’s Facebook page now has over 625 followers and reaching an average of 1,907 people. Daily feeds include information on lost dogs, council news and events, local events, BOM updates, media releases, grant funding opportunities and photos taken promoting the council area. The following analytics provide an insight to who Council is engaging. Cleary females aged 25 – 44 are facebook’s prime users


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3.9 Home & Community Care (HACC)

HACC Social support and counselling

January 15.75 hours

February 7 hours

March 11 hours

HACC funded classes: Tai Chi, Fit and Fabulous, Woodwork, Leadlight/Mosaic, Sewing, Computing, Folk Art, Coonalpyn Tai Chi, Tai Chi at Meningie and Coonalpyn

A&LG meal, 15 attended Golden Oldies luncheon, 50 attended

The following table represents the total number of services currently provided under the Home Maintenance and Modification scheme in the period Jan - April.

Locality Maintenance

Coonalpyn 12

Tintinara 16

Meningie 29

Tailem Bend 23

Other 2

82

We are trialling a new database which will enable coordinated staging of work per town allowing more clients to benefit from the service in all towns. 14 Clients have indicated they want their work done at a later stage (fruit tree pruning). We also have one home modification waiting (depending on funding).


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3.10 Home & Community Care (HACC)

Present: Claudia Ait -Toutati – HACC Co-ordinator TBCC, Liz Warnes – Coorong Health Service, Meredith Baker – Commonwealth Respite & Carelink, Gary Sawyer – MMAT Rural City of Murray Bridge, Bernadette Boag – MMACG & Helen Luke – MMCTS.

1. Welcome

Gary Sawyer opened the meeting at 2.10pm and welcomed everyone here.

2. Apologies

Tammy Shepherd, Kay Cox & Bronwyn Macey.

3. Minutes from the Previous Meeting

Moved: Helen. Seconded: Bernie. That the minutes of the meeting held 21st November be accepted as a true and correct record with one change. Liz to be recorded as an apology.

CARRIED 4. Business Arising from Minutes

Terms of Reference Gary suggested that we leave the deliberation on chair until the Terms of Reference agenda item. Gary will chair until then.

5. Reports from Organisations

MEREDITH CRCC now funded to July 2014 not 2015 as last reported. Change of staff with Sharon Tentye leaving for the NT and Jennie replaced with new program manager Pam Donnelly. CRCC is going through a mini restructure with the staff changes. Currently have $ for respite and in particular to support employed carers. HELEN The CPN is a quiet at the moment although the medical bus is well booked. Preparing for the flu season and include masks on the bus for people who are unwell. CPN funding is also to 30/06/2014. Updating the client database at the moment which has resulted in a number of calls. Dr is back in Meningie from next month. Fee for service was introduced from September. The CPN cannot refuse a service and can waive fees. CLAUDIA Updated HACC Brochure with input from stakeholders. Stretching the funding at the moment to get through the year and have had to cap services. High demand for home help. Claudia will discuss with Liz as the health service may be able to help. Using a contractor for window cleaning services and they do the work in batches.


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BERNIE Filling the CDCs at the moment. Problem filling level 1 as the cost is significant compared to level of service. Getting lots of bookings in the training room. IPad classes going well and applying for more ACE funding. Will have a stall at the Karoonda Farm Fair with the RDA who is promoting “Forward IT”. Walking group commenced under the heart foundation called the “spring chickens”. LIZ Changes in community health from the 1st of July. All will be under Murray Bridge. The HACC programs, day care, transport, outreach nursing & home help will come under Murray Bridge. HACC social program at the hub and at Tintinara - a weekly program and a twice a month program. GARY Gary gave an update on aged care reforms. Not much happening with NACA at the moment. All of the consultations occurring around the new HSP have been completed. The National Aged Care Allowance released a position paper on assessment which recommends that all comprehensive assessments are completed face to face. The paper considers a number of approaches to facilitate face to face assessments including GP’s but leans towards a regional assessment agency that can be an existing service provider (or providers) brokered by and acting on behalf of the Gateway. Gary advised that there were consultations in relation to the Gateway planned in the next couple of months. Gary advised that we were planning another Expo at Tailem Bend this year. We are tentatively looking at Friday the 31st of October. We are looking at the Expo as a potential community/consumer engagement opportunity. Council has just completed a quality review which ended successfully but only after a lot of work to get up to speed.

6. General Discussion

Terms of Reference There was a general discussion around the terms of reference. Helen drew attention to the aim in the current TOR and noted that this aim is no longer relevant to this group. Helen also noted that we are not really an advisory group. Gary indicated that the objectives were still relevant except point 4 but that the remaining points were not really reflected in the aim. There was a discussion around the purpose and need for this group. Considerations included whether the MMAT could fulfil the objectives 1, 2, 3 & 5 or whether the regional voice would be represented in the MMAT. Given the meeting did not get to this item until late & that not all current members were present it was decided that we needed to dedicate the next meeting to the purpose and objectives of the group. This discussion would form the basis of drafting a new TOR if indicated.

7. Next Meeting Date

If we continue with the pattern of last year would be June the 12th at 2 pm. Liz indicated that we could use the training room upstairs at the Meningie Health Service at 2 PM.

8. Closure

Meeting closed 4.00pm


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3.11 Event Management & Support

Council has received a request from the Tintinara Pony Club to provide sponsorship for a combined training fundraising event to be held in Coonalpyn on 8 June 2014. In discussion with the Mayor, an amount of $100 has been provided from the discretionary community promotions budget allocation.

Nat Traeger DIRECTOR COMMUNITY & CORPORATE

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INFRASTRUCTURE & ASSETS

Information Items

Nil to report

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