Annual Report 08/09 - City of Whyalla - SA.Gov.au

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Parks and gardensWhyalla has several large openspace recreation and sportingareas including Wilson Park, AdaRyan Gardens, Whyalla Foreshore,Memorial Oval, Bradford StreetReserve, Civic Park, Schulz Reserve,and Jubilee Park. Parks and gardensstaff regularly maintain these areaswith mowing, spraying, and irrigationmaintenance activities.Wilson Park has struggled withwater restrictions during the pastfew years, but with imminentcompletion of approvals for the useof recycled water from SA Water viaJohnston Dam, it is expected thatimprovements will be noticeable.Ada Ryan Gardens is still maintainedto the highest standard possible,however vandalism and plant thefthas impacted on the range of plantsthat can be grown. Funding is beingsourced to upgrade animal cages,duck pond and tennis courts withinthe grounds. Ada Ryan Gardens alongwith the adjacent foreshore gardensare still the most popular of Council’srecreation areas.The foreshore is undergoingredevelopment so it has not beenlooking its best, although new shadesails have been installed over theplayground which continues to be themost popular and highly used in thecity.Memorial Oval is Council’s premieroval and is looking a little tired.Budget funds have been allocated toremove old greyhound track lightingand fence, to be replaced with moreuser friendly bollards and seating.The oval surface is also in line forsome work to improve its standardfor cricket and football.Bradford Street Reserve has hadshelters installed on the edge of thegrass to encourage its use for juniorcricket. A half-court for basketballand netball has also been installednear a playground.Civic Park and Schulz Reserve haveundergone dramatic changes inrecent times with the introductionof recycled water. Not only are waterrestrictions not applicable to theseareas, the recycled water networkpumping system gives excellentwater pressure, which has improvedirrigation coverage. The soundshell isset for a mini makeover in 2009/2010with the installation of new retainingwalls, while new cricket nets areplanned for Schulz Reserve. A newlyestablished arboretum grows slowlyand will include more plantings in2009/2010.Jubilee Park successfully hostedthe national motor home rally andstood up well to the pressure. Thepark’s two ovals continue to slowlyimprove with the smaller havingsome turf renovation work duringsummer. Funding has been sourcedfor resurfacing of the running track.A new toilet block was installed andadditional tees planted to improvethe area. The gates are now beinglocked at night in an attempt to curbconstant hoon activity and vandalism.Seventeen neighbourhood parksare maintained, providing turfareas, tree plantings, playgroundsand other recreational facilities.Council is progressively budgeting toredevelop these areas, with recentredevelopment work starting atJaycee Park (Taylor Street) NortonPark (McRitchie Crescent) and LoringStreet Reserve. Unfortunately, theseworks were put on hold temporarilydue to financial constraints, but aredue to recommence in 2009/2010.TOP: Council saves a historic Plane tree during re-developmentof a local hotel. BOTTOM: The tree shows excellent growth inits new home at a developing park just two blocks away.23
Our year in reviewOther new reserves expected toproceed in 2009/2010 include TylerCrescent, Abraham Drive, and a newdevelopment in Middleback Park.Funding will come primarily fromopen space housing developmentcontributions. A further 12 areas,which are regarded as “boutique”reserves and are generally smaller“statement” areas or appealinglawned sites, are also maintained.Council has around 26 treereserves (some quite large) that areprogressively being replanted.Twenty-four playgrounds aremaintained. To comply withAustralian standards, each facilityhas weekly checks and monthlyinspections to ensure that they aresafe from any hazards to children.There are approximately 1,200km ofnature strips within the built up areaof Whyalla that were maintained. Anattempt is made to mow each naturestrip at least three times a year, butenvironmental conditions usuallydictate the frequency and amount ofmaintenance required. Unfortunately,nature strip growth occurs rapidlyafter rains, which impacts on generalmaintenance programs.Median strips extend forapproximately 30kms throughoutthe city (including roundabouts) andrequire maintenance that rangesfrom minimal mowing activitiesto higher activity on the moredeveloped sections such as PlayfordAvenue medians. One area that iscausing maintenance issues is thelarge Westland roundabout. With theintroduction of subsurface irrigationand plantings, weeding is taking alarge amount of time. It is hopedthat as the plantings grow they willout-compete weeds so maintenanceshould be reduced. Chemicalmethods are being trialled to aid theweeding process.Council’s recycled water networkis progressing well with Stage 1 endusers all connected. This systemhas utilised approximately 140,000kilolitres of recycled water from SAWater’s treatment plant since itsinstallation and operation almost twoyears ago. With all users includingCivic Park, Schulz Reserve, hockeyassociation, OLHC School, BennettOval, Central Football Club, andCroatia Soccer Club, now connected,consumption figures are set to rise.Increased delivery pressure fromCouncil’s pumping facilities meansthat irrigation systems at each siteshould now work at their intendedoperating capacities improvingcoverage of all turf areas.Irrigation control of major reservesis now under a “Rainbird” centralcontrol system providing the abilityfor Council to manage irrigationdelivery at a level more in line withrequirements of SA Water. Thecemetery also has a new controldecoder system, which will rectifynotoriously unreliable batteryoperated systems.Manual litter collection is asignificant issue costing more than$75,000 in 2008/2009 for staff andcommunity groups to pick-up. Thethree worst impacted areas arethe foreshore ($22,600), Civic Park($16,500) and nature strips ($33,700)predominately around the Westlandshopping precinct.Public art delayedSignificant preliminary workproceeded on two major publicarts projects – the City Plaza Artsand the Foreshore Art projects. Theforeshore project was commissionedand work was well underway whenunfortunately the artist passed away.As the work could not be completed,fees paid by Council were refunded.The project has had to be redesignedwith a new artist engaged, but todate funding has not been madeavailable due to budget constraints.The City Plaza project, involvingthe installation of iconic bronzesculptures at selected locations,was subject of a grant applicationto Planning SA. Council wasunsuccessful in gaining funding in thisinstance and will pursue further grantopportunities in 2009/2010.Public libraryThe Whyalla Public Library Servicecontinued to improve servicesoffered through its two branches– Alex Ramsay and Civic.The number of borrowers – adultsand children – was the highest for atleast the past five years.Records were set for the number ofchildren participating in the manyprograms offered, and the growingpopularity of internet bookings.Bookstock numbers between thetwo branches have been reducedfrom around 49,600 in 2007 toapproximately 41,600 this year inreadiness for relocation to a singlenew central library in 2010.A drop in loans, also during the pasttwo years, is believed to be a resultof greater use of internet facilitieswhere library members are utilisingthis service for research purposes, inlieu of borrowing large numbers ofbooks for such exercises.Highlights include:• Participants in children’s programswithin the library and school visits(catering for ages from babies toprimary school) increased by 300%on the previous year.24
Page 3: From our Mayor andChief Executive O
Page 9: Our visionThe Whyalla Community Pla
Page 20 and 21: Our financial sustainabilityA state
Page 22 and 23: • Continuation of work with local
Page 29 and 30: Our year in reviewEconomic prosperi
Page 33 and 34: Our year in reviewEnvironmental car
Page 35 and 36: Our year in review• Approximately
Page 37 and 38: Our year in reviewCouncil governanc
Page 39 and 40: Our year in reviewCompliance - gene
Page 41 and 42: Our year in review• An independen
Page 43 and 44: Council governanceRecords managemen
Page 45 and 46: Council governance• Attendance at
Page 47 and 48: Council governanceServices for the
Page 49 and 50: Council governanceThe applicant and
Page 51 and 52: Council governanceLegal provisionsB
Page 53: A glimpse into 2009/2010Budget Summ

Annual Report 08/09 - City of Whyalla - SA.Gov.au

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