Annual Report shows Council delivering through bushfires, floods and Covid-19

The 2019/20 annual report going to next week’s Council meeting shows that Wollondilly Council has continued to deliver significant services and projects for the community, despite a year of extreme challenges including bushfires, floods and a global pandemic.

Mayor Robert Khan said, “This has been a year unlike any other - it has demonstrated the resilience and strength of the people of Wollondilly and shows why this is such an amazing place to live and work.”

“The Councillors and I are very proud of the past year and all that we have achieved. We would like to thank the staff for their commitment to serving the community and keeping essential services running through all the adversities,” he said.

Highlights of the draft annual report include a record spend of $31million on roads and community infrastructure and the introduction of a new 6 year road improvement plan.

New community assets included planning for the Wollondilly Community, Cultural & Civic Precinct and Tahmoor Sporting Complex and the opening of Appin Skate Park and the All Abilities Playground at Warragamba.

Council’s long term Land Use Vision for each of its towns and villages came into effect from March 2020, while strong advocacy for infrastructure and services at Wilton continued.

Supporting strong investment activity in the area, a new DA tracking and lodgement system was introduced to streamline the development process, with 666 DAs, 320 construction certificates and 312 occupation certificates determined.

Council helped the community get back on its feet during bushfire recovery, included several community resilience building workshops. Communication touch points increased with the introduction of the Council e-newsletter, Café Connect Program for over 55s, Youth Mental Health Summit and online library engagement programs during and after the lockdown period.

The pandemic has meant adapting to new ways of using technology to provide service to customers, with over 5,700 Customer Requests completed during the year and a 75% Customer Satisfaction Rating. Council has improved the customer experience through online Council services including online payments, electronic lodgement of forms and online meetings.

There has been greater community access to Council Meetings and Community Forums via online zoom meetings, while engagement on the ‘Have Your Say’ website is up from 160 last year to 727 this period.

Council has also worked to protect the community with a $240,000 hazard reduction program and 929km of roadside vegetation slashing, a range of support services during the Green Wattle Creek Bushfire and advocacy at the Royal Commission into Natural Disaster Arrangements.

Local businesses impacted by bushfires, floods and Covid-19 were supported throughout this time of economic hardship with a Business Support Package and the Love the Dilly campaign.