Pittwater Council Annual Report - Pittwater Council - NSW ...

Section 2 - Statutory StatementsBush Fire Risk Management - cont.Fire Fighting Resources and EquipmentThere is a 5-year replacement policy for all Category One (Heavy 4WD) bushfire fighting tankers. During2008 / 2009, there were 3 category 12 vehicles, 1 pumper and 1 category 1 vehicles replaced in thebushfire fighting fleet.Public and Community RelationsThe Rural Fire Service delivered a number of Community Firewise programs designed for children andadults. These sessions are aimed at minimising the risk and damage caused by fire both within and aroundthe home environment. These were presented at a variety of venues including brigade stations, localschools and community centres.TrainingDuring the past 12 months the following formal training courses were conducted within the WarringahPittwater District:.Training CompetenciesPrevious number ofCompetent MembersTrained in 2008/09New totalBush Firefighter 906 41 947Village Firefighter 387 40 427Crew Leader 196 8 204Group Leader 77 0 77CABA 154 10 164Chainsaw 150 10 160Advanced Firefighter 445 18 4634WD Rural Fire Driver 143 0 143First Aid 430 12 442Children’s Services - Section 428 Part 2 (r)Council works cooperatively with the community and the commercial sector to ensure a range of services tofor children. Planning advice is made available to those in the private sector interested in the developmentof childcare centres. The Pittwater Council website provides web links to services for families and otherinformation.During 2008-2009 the Long Day Care Centre provided 25 places per day for children 2 to 5 years of ageand approximately 80 different children used this service. The Occasional Care Service provided 22 halfday places per day for children mostly under 3 years of age and approximately 150 children have used thisservice over the past 12 months.The Northern Beaches Family Day Care service provided up to 175 places per day for children mostlyunder 4 years of age. As many as 360 children used this service weekly. Over the year the number ofregistered carers increased from 37 to 48.Council also operated two services for school aged children. These were Elanora Heights After SchoolCare with up to 60 places per day and Narrabeen Vacation Care Service., with up to 90 children perday. In the year 2008/2009 approximately 300 children attended one or more holiday programs. Thesechildren came from more than 15 different schools.All Council childcare services in their programs focussed on providing opportunities for children to experiencedifferent cultures through music, stories and visitors to the service. Examples included African DrummingWorkshops at Vacation Care, Aboriginal story telling and music at Family Day Care and the child care centre.During the year the After School Care service focused on exploring the range of countries that children, theirparents or grandparents were born in. This led to children developing interests in different cultures.All child care services operated by Council encourage the inclusion of children with additional needs andall services have included children with significant additional needs over the past 12 months. Services workclosely with the KU Children’s Services to ensure that integration of these children by providing additionalinformation and support to staff.The Vacation Care program in particular is utilised by families of children with additional needs. Thisprogram operates for 9 weeks per year and had 10 children with high support needs. Wherever possible,one-on-one staff ratios were assigned. Referrals for the Vacation Care service for children with specialneeds have come from local special schools and autism specific schools. Additionally many of thesefamilies also access other support services eg Interchange which is located in a Council provided facility inNarrabeen.19