AT their regular meeting last month, Golden Plains Shire councillors received the municipality\u2019s annual report for the 2020 to 2021 year.<\/p>\n
CEO Eric Braslis said the organisation has experienced \u201can incredible journey\u201d over the last 12 months.<\/p>\n
\u201cThroughout COVID the operations and services have continued to all our residents, and the capital works program has been delivered. I\u2019m pleased to look back on the year in reflection,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had one of our most significant capital works programs ever, we\u2019ve been able to secure extremely large amounts of external funding…and most importantly we ended the year on a strong financial account, with an operating surplus of $1.8 million dollars stronger than we had anticipated.<\/p>\n
\u201cOverall, it\u2019s been a tremendous year, and it\u2019s pleasing to see that we were able to do what we did throughout the COVID environment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cr Brett Cunningham said significant 2020 to 2021 projects include Victoria Park and Inverleigh lighting, Inverleigh netball courts, and the Golden Plains Youth Hub.<\/p>\n
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Fourth quarter finances<\/strong><\/p>\n Shire director corporate services Philippa O’Sullivan has given a financial update for the final quarter of the 2020 to 2021 year.<\/p>\n \u201cAs of 30th June, 2021, the operating result for the period was $9.1 million in surplus, compared to the original budget of $6.1 million and a revised budget of $9.1 million,\u201d Ms O’Sullivan said.<\/p>\n \u201cThis was just a slight unfavourable variance of $62,000 against the revised budget, and mainly negatively impacted due to a building revaluation required every four years.<\/p>\n \u201cA number of buildings treated as council-owned… were identified not to be council-owned. We needed to write off $867,000.\u201d<\/p>\n Ms O’Sullivan said some received capital grants were lower than anticipated, but there was additional income in line with residential growth, and lower operating costs.<\/p>\n \u201cOur employee costs were $1.1 million less mainly due to vacant positions we\u2019ve managed through this year, which are currently being filled.<\/p>\n \u201cThe waste management account ended up in a more favourable position than what we\u2019d expected and as a result, that will be carried across into our landfill reserve,\u201d Ms O’Sullivan said.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce we takeaway one-off items or one-off capital revenue, our underlying result came in with a small deficit of $78,000, compared to the budget deficit of $1.9 million, and therefore was $1.78 million favourable to the budget.\u201d<\/p>\n Projects worth $14.3 million combined were delivered throughout the year.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Arts and culture draft doc accessible<\/strong><\/p>\n A draft copy of the Golden Plains Shire Arts, Culture and Heritage Strategy 2022-2026 is now available for the community to read, following council\u2019s endorsement.<\/p>\n Acting director community services Steven Sagona said the four-year framework has been developed in partnership with residents.<\/p>\n \u201cIt provides a framework for a more coordinated approach between council and the community and its cultural partners, with respect to the advancement of arts, culture and heritage in the Shire,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The areas of focus of the draft document are celebrating and sharing history and heritage, a creative economy, access and participation, and activating places and spaces.<\/p>\n Cr Gavin Gamble said he liked the document\u2019s strategic directions surrounding \u201copportunity, celebration… and the history of diverse backgrounds… activating of spaces and resources, and investing in communities.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cArts and culture have an extremely important role in mental wellbeing for most people, for individuals\u2019 resilience, for a community\u2019s wellbeing,\u201d Cr Gamble said.<\/p>\n It could be adopted at the November council meeting, following public exhibition.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n