November 8, 2016
Toowoomba Regional Council adopted its 2015-16 Annual Report on Tuesday, with Mayor Paul Antonio describing the past financial year as a watershed time in which the region retained its sound financial rating.
Council voted to adopt the Annual Report, which details the council’s financial status and key achievements for the past year, at a Special Meeting at City Hall.
Mayor Antonio said he felt an immense sense of pride as he reflected on the past financial year.
“This year has been a coming of age for the Toowoomba Region,” Mayor Antonio said.
“We are more connected than ever with our fully functioning, jet-capable airport, certainty for the inland rail project and the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing construction making progress every day. It’s easy to be excited about what the future holds.”
Mayor Antonio said the Council had also delivered some significant projects this year, including the $16 million stage one of the Highfields Sports and Recreation Park, the new Greater Toowoomba Waste Management Facility, opening a new $27 million City Library community facility and stage 1 of the Civic Square as part of progressing the City Centre Master Plan, as well as launching a new brand identity for the region.
Other key deliverables included the start of the City Hall Theatre and Annexe refurbishment, upgrades to five regional war memorials, a region wide kerbside waste audit, installation of pay-by-bay parking, completion of Neil Street two-waying, the start of works to Boundary Street and Mort Street to connect to the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing, preparation of the Development Scheme for the Railway Parklands Priority Development Area, the completion of upgrades to Yarraman Library and the opening of the new Millmerran Visitor Information Centre.
Mayor Antonio said the Council finished the financial year in a sound financial position overall and was focussed on implementing an organisation-wide Enterprise Resource Planning application to ensure agile and modern business operations.
TRC Finance and Business Strategy Committee chair Cr Mike Williams attributed the Council’s second consecutive surplus to prudent financial management and good business planning.
“Council is in great shape to continue delivering essential projects and services in 2017 and beyond,” Cr Williams said.
“We delivered an operating result above the original budgeted surplus, which is a positive outcome.
“Our internal goal has been to ensure we continuously focus on business improvement and community service as a key strategy into the future.
“This focus allows us to conduct business using the most modern systems available, as well as looking at removing obstacles to make the organisation more agile and responsive to our community and customers,” he said.
This year the Council has also reduced print runs for the Annual Report and moved to a fully interactive, digital publication that results in cost savings to ratepayers.
Note: The South Burnett Regional Council is expected to adopt its Annual Report at a special meeting on Wednesday, November 9.
