Overview - Parramatta City Council - NSW Government

Community Care Program
Purpose
Community Services Sub-program
Health & Safety Sub-program
The Community Care Program guides the provision of services and facilities to support older people, children and people with disabilities and ensures that Parramatta
is a healthy and safe place to live, work and play. The Program also leads the Council’s emergency management response and clean up after storms.
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Achievements
celebrated 10 years of Home Support services to the
community
supported 155 volunteers to help deliver essential services
provided additional $100 rebate on top of other state
government $250 rebate
provided culturally-appropriate meals on wheels to 250 people
expanded Seniors Leisure and Learning Centre activities to
Granville and Guildford residents
supported 250 members of the community who care for others
received three one-off capital grants and three recurring
grants from Department of Ageing, Disability and Homecare
replaced a community bus at cost of $109,000
Culture and Leisure Program
Purpose
provided subsidised lawn mowing and gardening services to
150 residents
ran five long day childcare centres and one occasional centre
catering to 624 families
completed Healthfit program in Council’s childcare centres to
increase physical activity levels
supported community events including Homeless Person’s
Week, Artstart, Seniors Week, Harmony Day, and NAIDOC Week
installed air conditioning and other improvements at
Granville Youth and Community Recreation Centre
ran road safety awareness campaigns
completed Council’s Disaster Recovery Plan.
Challenges
diverted feasibility study funding of Council-run
childcare centre in northwest sector to
development of childcare development control
plan for Parramatta, after increase in private
centre applications for North West sector
re-established relationships with Council’s
advisory communities following restructuring and
staff changes
childcare fees down 12.5% due to low Monday and
Friday attendance as parents cut day care usage.
The Culture and Leisure Program leads initiatives to make Parramatta an interesting, entertaining and active place. The Program contributes significantly to
informing and improving the health and wellbeing of the people of Parramatta, as well as attracting visitors to the City.
Outlook
> improve low income family access to Council’s
childcare centres
> negotiate development of out of hours care centres for
children 12 and under
> study feasibility of community hubs (multi-purpose building
providing shared community group accommodation)
> establish Aboriginal ranger position at Lake Parramatta Reserve
> expand Seniors Leisure and Learning Program to other suburbs
> establish extreme events emergencies website to support
Disaster Plan
> improve streetlighting levels for crossings, pedestrian refuges
and roundabouts.
Arts, Festivals and Events Sub-program, Recreation, Parks Sub-program
Heritage Sub-program, Libraries Sub-program
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Achievements, Challenges, Outlook at a Glance
Achievements
re-designed Riverside Theatres website and introduced
online ticketing
co-created Aunty Jack Show and Tell for 2006 Big Laugh
Comedy Festival
funded Granville’s Switch Digital Arts Access Centre
staged popular Drawn Together exhibition featuring three
famous Australian women artists
adopted award-winning Arts Facilities and Cultural Places
Framework (2005) to plan City’s Artists
developed Parramatta Artists Studios proposal to
accommodate emerging and established artists
carried out strategic review of Council’s major events
trained non-English background youth to be swim coaches
at Granville Swimming Centre
staged NSW’s only Junior Pro-Am at Woodville Golf Course
adopted Sport & Recreation Plan 2005-10 and ran Sport and
Recreation-funded preschool Healthfit program
upgraded eight playgrounds and six sportsgrounds and
expanded Parramatta Skate Facility
planted 350 semi mature trees and gave away
3599 seedlings
welcomed 1455 participants to Parramatta Heritage and
Visitor Centre’s educational tours
identified Council’s oldest records as 1840s Parramatta
Market Trust minutes
restored two cultural parks, and approved nine applications
for Local Heritage Fund
re-opened the refurbished Constitution Hill library
continued HSC studies and Homework Help programs
ran a Library Amnesty to encourage overdue loan returns.
Challenges
carried forward proposed work on Lake Parramatta
Reserve’s equal access playground to allow for
detailed site investigations and Aboriginal cultural
heritage consultation
experienced a decline in Central Library visitor
numbers coinciding with CBD parking meter
introduction
swimming centre revenue under budget by
$211,000 due to wet weather
delayed progress on Charles Street Wharf to
Gasworks Bridge cycleway, due to property
ownership.
Outlook
> establish popular and emerging bands program at
Riverside Theatres
> establish formal arts trust to oversee arts funding
> continue to implement Arts Facilities and Cultural Places
Framework Plan and fund Parramatta Artists Studios
> develop working model of Civic Place’s ‘new generation centre’
> develop uniquely Parramatta events and support
Sydney Festival events
> replace eight playgrounds, build equal access playground at
Lake Parramatta and Granville Park skateboard facility
> progress Charles Street wharf to Gasworks Bridge cycleway and
construct part of Parramatta Valley Cycleway
> improve Council’s three historic cemeteries and
Hambledon Cottage.
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Parramatta City Council 2005/06 Annual Report