Report a reflection of productive year


Last year council workers maintained 2476 kilometres of roads, processed 5454 tonnes of recyclables, treated 15,469 mega litres of water, pruned 5675 trees, handled 104,855 customer enquiries and spent 11,161 hours mowing.

All these statistics and more are recorded in Mackay Regional Council’s 2012-2013 Annual Report, which was ratified by council.

Cr Comerford described the past financial year as “full of challenges and opportunities”.

“We’ve funded a range of growth projects, provided a multi-million dollar infrastructure renewal program and continued to deliver levels of service that are not necessarily sustainable for the next 20 years,” she said.

“Highlights included spending $62 million on improving our road network, $11 million upgrading the Dumbleton raw water intake and $10.3 million on the South Mackay water trunk main.

“We also created 2315 new lots, reduced our council C02 emissions by 733.86 tonnes and grew our Facebook fan base by 63 per cent.

“We gained two Government Communications Australia awards for our Pound Pets initiative, a Queensland Multi-Media Award for our Council Connect promotion and a Local Government Managers Australia Collaboration Award for the Mackay-Townsville-Cairns Water Alliance’s Best Practice Pricing and Financial Sustainability Model.”

Council’s Chief Executive Officer Barry Omundson said while all these facts, figures and awards were impressive, council’s best assets was its staff.

“This year we not only celebrate our annual financial and community achievements but also the people who have made them possible; our employees – be they indoor or outdoor – many of whom work tirelessly and often unnoticed by our community, I thank you,” he said.

And the current annual report reflects this sentiment by sporting the theme – Passionate people, together we prosper.

“Our councillors and management are working together as a cohesive team, our staff are passionate about serving and engaging with our community and collaboratively we are dedicated to ensuring a vibrant and sustainable organisation that fulfils the needs of our community,” he said.

“Looking ahead we aim to operate more communicatively and sustainably than ever before.

“It’s our goal – and that of council’s – to deliver a comprehensive community engagement plan, continue to reduce council’s operating costs and focus on the Regional Sustainability Strategy.

“This critical strategy links our land-use planning with infrastructure that will cater for our substantial growth, taking into consideration the sustainable maintenance and repair of our assets both now and into the future.”

For more information visit Mackay Regional Council