2018 A R Bluett Memorial Award - Fairfield City Council

2018

A R BLUETT MEMORIAL AWARD FAIRFIELD CITY COUNCIL

CONTENTS `

PAGE

COUNCIL DETAILS

3

FAIRFIELD CITY SNAPSHOT

4

WELCOME TO OUR CITY

5

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

6

FAIRFIELD CITY PLAN

8

YOUR RATES AT WORK

9

11

THEME 2 - PLACES AND INFRASTRUCTURE

23

THEME 3 - ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

32

THEME 4 - LOCAL ECONOMY AND EMPLOYMENT

40

THEME 5 - GOOD GOVERNANCE AND LEADERSHIP

50

AWARDS AND CITATIONS

60

LIST OF PROJECTS COMPLETED AS AT 30 JUNE 2017

61

LIST OF PROJECTS IN PROGRESS AS AT 30 JUNE 2017

101

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

112

INCOME STATEMENT

113

STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

114

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

115

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

116

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

117

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 6a 6b AND 6c

118

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 13a(i) AND 13a(ii)

120

123

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION - COUNCIL’S OTHER BUSINESS ACTIVITIES

124

SPECIAL SCHEDULE 7

125

THEME 1 - COMMUNITY WELLBEING

INCOME STATEMENT OF COUNCIL’S OTHER BUSINESS ACTIVITIES

COUNCIL DETAILS Council Name Council Address Contact Person Email Telephone Mayor of Fairfield City City Manager

Fairfield City Council 86 Avoca Road, Wakeley NSW 2176 Amanda Bray, Group Manager abray@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au (02) 9725 0303 Frank Carbone Alan Young

Council recognises the customs and traditions of Aboriginal people, their spiritual relationship with the land and the right of Aboriginal Australians to live according to their own beliefs, values and customs. The vital importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s contribution to strengthening and enriching the heritage of all Australia is acknowledged.

Council acknowledges the Cabrogal people as the traditional custodians of the Fairfield City Council local government area and pays its respect to the Elders, both past and present.

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FAIRFIELD CITY SNAPSHOT Fairfield City is one of the most multicultural cities in Australia. We have more than 209,000 residents and ratepayers from a broad range of backgrounds. There are over 120 languages spoken across our City, with 71 per cent of people speaking a language other than English at home. More than 50 per cent of our community were born overseas.

Fairfield City

The City is a residential, commercial and industrial local government area in South Western Sydney about 32km from the Sydney CBD.

Location and boundaries

Fairfield City is bounded by Blacktown and Cumberland councils in the north, Canterbury Bankstown in the east, Liverpool in the south and Penrith in the west.

Our suburbs

The City covers 27 suburbs including Abbotsbury, Bonnyrigg, Bonnyrigg Heights, Bossley Park, Cabramatta, Cabramatta West, Canley Heights, Canley Vale, Carramar, Cecil Park (part), Edensor Park, Fairfield, Fairfield East, Fairfield Heights, Fairfield West, Greenfield Park, Horsley Park, Lansvale, Mount Pritchard (part), Old Guildford, Prairiewood, Smithfield (part), St Johns Park, Villawood (part), Wakeley, Wetherill Park and Yennora (part).

Land use

Fairfield City is mostly residential however it also features one of the largest industrial estates in New South Wales which crosses through two suburbs, Wetherill Park and Smithfield.

Natural features

There are 211 hectares of original bushland in our City. Horsley Park and Cecil Park feature large expanses of rural land. There are 580 parks, including 60 major parks plus the Western Sydney Regional Parklands.

The Fairfield LGA contains about 80 kilometres of creek throughout the City which flow into the Georges River and Nepean Catchments.

209,107

71%

Estimated population in 2018

speak a language other than English at home

52%

of residents come from countries where English is not the first language

27

suburbs in Fairfield City

A R BLUETT MEMORIAL AWARD SUBMISSION 2018 FAIRFIELD CITY COUNCIL 4

WELCOME TO OUR CITY Fairfield City celebrates diversity, as one of the most multicultural cities in Australia with 71% percent of our residents speaking a language other than English at home.

We celebrate our diversity with a rich range of festivals, events and activities.

This makes Fairfield City a vibrant place to live, work and play, a community of many cultures and people with a rich history of cultural traditions.

We celebrate our unity as a Council and a community, working towards common goals - to be progressive, to build and maintain the City’s commercial, social, cultural and environmental strengths and to ensure we meet the community’s vision that:

“

“

We are a welcoming, safe and diverse community where we are proud to belong, invest and prosper.

Fairfield City is the most socio-ecomomically disadvantaged community in the Sydney metropolitan area. The LGA has a high migrant intake, including 9,000 refugees in the past three years. To support the needs of residents, Council maintains one of the lowest residential rates in NSW while still offering affordable services to ratepayers. Council achieves this while continuing to meet all Fit For The Future indicators.

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Fairfield City Council recognises the rich culture, diversity and heritage of its residents. Residents come from all over the globe, some are newly arrived, many have been here for generations.

This report outlines the key improvements made under the following themes:

Residents tell us that the rich multiculturalism of the City is one of the reasons they are proud to call Fairfield City home.

2. Places and infrastructure

71% of the Fairfield community speak a language other than English at home. Many do not speak English well or at all. We have a high rate of unemployment, the highest in Western Sydney. We have the highest mortgage and rental stress in Western Sydney, and the lowest median weekly gross incomes.

4. Local economy and employment

Fairfield welcomed more than 9,000 refugees into Fairfield over the past three years, almost 50% of NSW’s intake of humanitarian refugees at that time. This vulnerable community has specific needs in addition to other newly arrived migrants.

While Fairfield is recognised as one of the most socially disadvantaged areas of NSW, we are investing more in infrastructure, services and celebrations to improve the liveability of the City, and make the community proud.

We want to build on the pride that already exists in our community through the provision of services, open spaces for quality of life, libraries for learning and a sense of community and belonging for all.

The Council consulted with the community in 2016, in the development of the Fairfield City Plan, which identified the community’s key priorities for the next ten years. From that plan, comes the Council’s operational plan and delivery program – all based on delivering what the community has identified as their key priorities. During the year we have also consulted with the community on the development of the Disability Inclusion Action Plan, the Youth Strategy 2018-2022, the Settlement Action Plan, and the Fairfield Showground Plan of Management.

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1. Community wellbeing 3. Environmental sustainability

5. Good governance and leadership Major achievements for 2017/2018 With a constant focus on the Fairfield City community’s demographic and meeting their specific needs, the Council has delivered major improvements for the community, featured in this report including: • Western Sydney City Deal signed in March 2018 by Federal, State and 8 Western Sydney local governments including Fairfield. The City Deal is a 20 year agreement between the three levels of government to transform Western Sydney – with a focus on improvements in transport, employment, education, housing and liveability.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (CONTINUED) • Construction of a commercial retail centre and parking lot at Cabramatta – yielding $3million per year to go back into providing services to the community.

• Planning and construction commenced on the transformation of Fairfield Showground into a Regional Multicultural and Sporting Centre of Excellence.

• The transformation of Council’s libraries – resulting in a 51% increase in Whitlam Library visitors over a five year period.

• Recycled and sold back 500,000 tonnes of construction and demolition waste, generating a profit of $2.3 million – to go back into Council’s services to the community • Construction of the ‘Wave Rider” (first in Australia) a new ride at Aquatopia – further improving the affordable service provided to the community.

• Made use of Aquatopia water park during winter, with the installation of an ice skating rink, providing a local, fun and affordable activity that attracted more than 6,000 people during the winter school holidays.

can’t afford structured activity programs.

Fairfield City Council delivers a wide range of services for the community, while charging the lowest rates in the region, with the least amount of financial borrowings, and managed a budget surplus of $9 million in 2017/2018.

Our regional role includes being part of the Greater Sydney Commission’s South West region, Western Sydney City Deals program, Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils and the South West Sydney Tourism Taskforce.

The construction of Western Sydney Airport will be one of the key drivers in the region’s economy growth. We want to capitalise on this opportunity to provide a better future for our City – with more job opportunities, training and education, and a boost to the local economy that this will bring.

The Council has met all Fit for the Future benchmarks.

• Provision of free gym equipment in 16 parks throughout the City – to provide a healthy activity option for our community.

Council is committed to holding fees and charges to an affordable level and providing services and facilities to meet the specific and identified needs of our community. Council also has a commitment to commercial revenue opportunities to reduce reliance on rates and raise more funds to deliver more services.

• The largest Youth event in NSW – the Bring It On! Run by young people for young people, the festival featured music, sport and arts, with the inaugural Fairfield Warrior obstacle course competition.

The Property Development Fund provides an opportunity to extract value from Council’s commercial assets. This has included:

• Upgrade of town centres in Fairfield, Bonnyrigg, Fairfield Heights and Cabramatta – winning the LNA Master Landscapers Association Awards for use of urban space.

• The State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) rated Fairfield City Council as ‘exemplary’.

• Development of new park for residents of Villawood and Carramar, using six house blocks purchased by Council. This followed a study identifying that more green space was needed in the area and a commitment to providing healthy activity space for residents who live in small spaces and those who

The Sustainable Resource Centre is an environmentally and financially sustainable local government owned business. The resource recovery facility accepts construction and demolition waste such as concrete, bricks and asphalt for recycling, and also to reduce Council’s growing expenditure on disposal fees.

In 2017/2018, the centre generated a net profit of $2.3 million.

Our guiding principles remain: to listen to the community and our workforce, maintain financial sustainability, give best possible value for money and achieve the vision outlined in the community plan by working closely with our community, other levels of government and other stakeholders.

FAIRFIELD CITY PLAN PRIORITIES FOR THE FUTURE

FINANCIAL HEALTH CHECK

During extensive community engagement in 2016, the community was asked where they want to be in 10 years’ time and how this can be achieved. As a result, the community was able to reaffirm its vision, identify a number of goals under each of the Theme areas and a list of their top ten priorities.

Fairfield City Council is in a strong position in comparison to other Councils.

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CANTERBURY BANKSTOWN

1115

0.8m

0.9m

PARRAMATTA

PENRITH

33.3m

LIVERPOOL

PENRITH

LIVERPOOL

BANKSTOWN*

1012

BLACKTOWN

835

900

59.3m 54.4m

FAIRFIELD

1042

PARRAMATTA

Council’s surplus of $9 million allows for investment in new opportunities and ensures unforeseen issues are covered.

6.5m

2.4m

3.6m

STORMWATER

5m

ROADS

10.8m

27.3m

PLANT & EQUIPMENT

$9m

OTHER ASSETS

Fairfield City Council spend on assets in 2017/2018 in $m

OPEN SPACE

The budgeted surplus 2017/2018

FOOTPATHS

Fairfield City Council has one of the lowest borrowings in comparison to other councils while providing a high level of service to the community.

BUILDINGS

Comparable rates excluding waste collection and stormwater charges. *Figures are based on pre-merger.

SURPLUS

Our community’s top 10 priorities are: 1. Local traffic flow and road safety 2. Community safety 3. Inviting and well used community Theme 2 PLACES AND INFRASTRUCTURE places and parks 4. Attractive and lively town centres Theme 3 ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY 5. Connected transport systems 6. Job opportunities Theme 4 LOCAL ECONOMY AND EMPLOYMENT 7. Cleaner streets Theme 5 8. Affordable housing GOOD GOVERNANCE AND 9. Car parking spaces LEADERSHIP 10. Access to schools, universities, colleges and TAFE

Financial borrowings as at 30 June 2017 in $m 1288

FAIRFIELD

Our 5 themes are: Theme 1 COMMUNITY WELLBEING

Average residential rates 2017/2018 in $

3.1m

Council’s budgeted infrastructure expenditure for 2017/2018 totalled more than $58 million.

YOUR RATES AT WORK - Council’s expenditure 2017-2018 4.92%

0.89%

6.69%

Leisure centres

Play equipment maintenance

1.78% Sportsfield

A snapshot of the top areas where our rates and charges are spent.

Infrastructure construction & maintenance

0.3%

CCTV camera program

maintenance

4.12% Open Libraries

LIBRARY

10.3% Waste management

0.83%

2.93%

Tree preservation & maintenance

Community facilities

1.63% Street lighting

E CENTRE

2.38%

Street & public amenities cleaning

4.88%

1.28%

Children & family services

Social & cultural development

14.35% Roads maintenance 17.11% and renewal

Road maintenance & renewal

INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS 2017/2018

Road upgrades

New and upgraded footpaths

$13.6 million

$2.9 million

Public building upgrades and maintenance

$5.9 million

Open space

$3.2 million

Residential and business street cleaning

$2.5 million

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THEME 1 COMMUNITY WELLBEING

Highlights: Refugee settlement and advocacy Excellent and affordable children’s services 24/7 open libraries

This theme is about the quality of life for our community, opportunities for residents to connect with our services and each other, stay active and enjoy the diversity of culture and heritage the City has to offer.

Keeping locals active Bring It On! Supporting our young people Fairfield City Museum and Gallery Healthy partnerships A R BLUETT MEMORIAL AWARD SUBMISSION 2018 FAIRFIELD CITY COUNCIL 11

COMMUNITY WELLBEING A snapshot of our highlights in 2017/2018

LEISURE CENTRES

1,216,700 visitors to

Council’s leisure centres.

Total Number of participants enrolled into Learn to Swim

17,052

MUSEUM AND GALLERY

32,416 visitors, including 3,528 students visited the Museum’s Living the Past program Over 3,690 objects in the social history collection

FAIRFIELD SHOWGROUND

939,142 24

visitors attended the showground which hosted major events and the weekly markets

YOUTH AND COMMUNITY CENTRE

1,200

over young people accessed the Youth Hours Program, which provides various drop in activities

OPEN LIBRARIES

897,725 visitors to Council libraries

105 community library programs

CHILDCARE

1,929

children access education and care places each week

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REFUGEE SETTLEMENT AND ADVOCACY Fairfield City has settled more than 9,000 refugees in the past three years. This was approximately 50% of the total number of arrivals in NSW and 20% of arrivals nationally.

The refugees arriving in this period alone now make up 4.5% of the population of the Fairfield LGA. These recent arrivals come with complex needs. Successive State and Federal governments have not provided the requisite support for infrastructure development, housing, education, health, and social services. This is having a significant impact on community organisations, host families and the broader community.

ADVOCACY Council’s advocacy included a number of print, TV and radio interviews encouraging State and Federal Ministers to visit Fairfield City and see for themselves the need for better job creation, housing, health, youth and community services as well as adequate public facilities such as libraries and open space areas.

FAIRFIELD CITY SETTLEMENT ACTION PLAN Fairfield City Council facilitated and led the development of the Fairfield City Settlement Action Plan to help deal with the challenges for new arrivals including language, unrecognised work skills, and possible trauma and health issues, especially if they have arrived from war zones.

The Action Plan was developed by Council and about 50 service providers, government agencies and non-government organisations. It brings improvement to both the coordination of refugee services and closer collaboration between the many agencies providing these services within Fairfield City.

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SERVICES The Fairfield City Council Refugee Work Experience Pilot Program is a unique initiative which assists Fairfield City residents from a refugee background to undertake work experience at Fairfield City Council.

Fairfield City Council has partnered with Navitas English to provide 20 participants with relevant work experiences across Council’s 40 distinct services. To date we have had nine completed placements.

The Program provides refugees with valuable work experience to boost their confidence and enhances their resumes with local government work experience to overcome significant barriers to obtain meaningful employment.

The Program has also increased the cultural awareness of staff by providing opportunities for Council employees to work directly with refugees who live in Fairfield City It is currently the only refugee work experience program in operation within Local Government in NSW. Fairfield City Council also supports new arrivals by providing affordable services through its leisure and aquatic centres, children and family services and libraries - with free entry to seniors and people with a disability, affordable childcare - and activities such as Icetopia and the free Gyms in Parks program.

Today Show interview: Impact of immigration

more than refugees have moved into Fairfield City in the past 3 years

9,000

EXCELLENT AND AFFORDABLE CHILDREN’S SERVICES For the first time Council has operated children’s services at a break-even cost in 2017-2018.

Fairfield Council is the largest not-for-profit provider of early education services in Fairfield City, with 1,929 children attending each week. The success of our services lies in quality, affordability and the diversity of the services we provide.

Our services include long day care, pre-school, Family Day Care, Early Intervention and Supported Playgroups.

Services start from just $10 a day. Even with such low fees, Council operates these centres at a break-even cost.

Council’s services rate “meeting” or “exceeding” the National Quality Standards in key areas such as education programs, health and safety, staffing arrangements, relationships with children and community, and leadership.

Janice Crosio Early Learning Centre received a $70,000 facelift to transform the outdoor area from an old brick path to a concrete bike circuit. The sandpit was also renewed, garden beds upgraded and synthetic grass renewed.

Fairfield City Council is one of 28 councils who are accredited National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) providers.

In 2017/2018 Council provided NDIS support to more than 150 clients who required specialist services through our dedicated Fairstart program for children aged 0 to 8 years old. This can include services such as occupational therapy and speech pathology.

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For the first time Council has operated Children’s Services at a

break-even cost in 2017/2018

24/7 OPEN LIBRARIES Annual visitor numbers to our libraries have increased by more than 140,000 in 2017/2018 (897,725 visits). Visitor numbers have increased at Council’s main Whitlam Library by 51% since 2013.

Council has completely transformed the way it delivers its services to residents, with a focus on providing a comfortable and welcoming environment. Residents can access information and services they need to assist with school or other studies.

Improvements have included:

51% increase

in visitors to the Whitlam Library

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• Change of operating hours across all five branches to suit the needs of our community.

• Free Wi-Fi and the free use of computers, tablets and wireless printing, • Cloud Library implemented for eBooks, exponentially increasing the availability of borrowing material.

• Press Reader implemented to allow customers to read thousands of newspapers and magazines in their own language from around the world.

• An alcove space created for exhibitions and performances.

• Partnership with Sydney University to provide homework help and other educational support services to students.

• More customer friendly policies, including allowing customers to eat and drink within libraries.

A diverse range of new and improved services and facilities, budget savings and improved productivity were also key outcomes of the program.

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KEEPING LOCALS ACTIVE

The redevelopment of Fairfield Showground will provide even more opportunities for the community to get out and get active

Fairfield is recognised as one of the most socially and financially disadvantaged areas of NSW. Council is committed to providing free or affordable opportunities for residents to be healthier and active in their City. Council has installed outdoor gym equipment at 16 parks in the City with more to come.

The Gyms in Parks outdoor exercise program partners with our leisure centres to encourage residents to get fit for free. Trained fitness instructors show participants how to use Council’s outdoor fitness equipment at parks throughout the City.

PATHS AND PARKS - $2.89 million invested in building new and upgrading 13km of footpaths and walking paths. In 2018/2019, that figure will be $2.7 million.

- $1.23 million invested in open space improvements, including renewal and upgrade of play equipment, seating, landscaping and sport courts. In 2018/2019, Council will spend $1 million.

Council provided

$400,000

of free entry at leisure centres to seniors and people with a disability

LEISURE CENTRES Three leisure centres are operated by Council at Cabravale, Fairfield and Prairiewood. In 2017/2018 the centres had more than 1.2 million visitors. More than 17,000 participants enrolled in Austswim accredited Learn To Swim lessons.

Each Centre offers a modern gymnasium, expansive range of group fitness aerobic classes and heated pool with either sauna or steam room.

In 2017/2018, seniors and people with a disability were given free entry to leisure centres at a cost of $398,844.

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BRING IT ON! Bring It On! is the largest Youth Week event in NSW and attracts thousands of people to Fairfield Showground for a day of music, sporting and arts events.

More than 4,000 people attended the 2017 Bring It On! event.

The centrepiece of Fairfield City Council’s Youth Week program, the award-winning annual Bring It On! Festival continued to deliver an exciting, engaging and educational Youth Week program for the young people of Fairfield City.

The event is run by young people for young people, with 138 volunteers joining Council staff, 40 community organisations and Council’s Youth Advisory Committee to deliver a program of education, entertainment and fun.

The Festival is also an opportunity to provide training through Council’s Bring It On! Volunteer Generations: Leadership and Development Program, which gives local young people a direction and experience in establishing their careers. All youth volunteers aged 14-24 received leadership training.

Fairfield Warrior, our local take on the Australian Ninja Warrior obstacle course phenomenon, was also a central drawcard.

58 competitors took part in the inaugural competition.

Bring It On! Festival

A R BLUETT MEMORIAL AWARD SUBMISSION 2018 FAIRFIELD CITY COUNCIL 17

138

youth volunteered at the Bring It On! Festival

SUPPORTING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE Council understands the important role the City’s young people will play as future leaders and is committed to giving them the support, resources and platforms to achieve their goals. A significant proportion of Fairfield City’s population - 18.9% - are young people aged 12 to 24, which is higher than NSW overall where only 16.1% of people are in this age bracket.

The Fairfield Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) focuses on raising awareness of local youth issues, advocating on behalf of young people and creates opportunities to contribute to the planning of Council’s Youth initiatives and major events, including Bring It On! Festival and Youth Week, each April.

1,200

more than young people attended the drop-in services Youth Hours Program at the City’s Youth Centres every month

The YAC is a Council Advisory Committee and comprises of people aged 14 to 24 who are consulted on all of Council’s initiatives for young people, giving them a voice at the local government level.

Members represent Fairfield City’s youth community at forums, conferences and consult with peak bodies, government agencies and community groups.

Up to 20 new young people are selected each year to become YAC members, representing one of NSW’s largest local youth communities.

Council also supports local young people through the Fairfield Community Youth Centre. This large multipurpose venue offers a range of indoor activities and programs. Four clubs and community groups operate from the centre for such sports as basketball, soccer, dodgeball, volleyball, futsal and badminton.

In 2017/18, 2,500 hours of bookings were made by community and commercial organisations.

The first Sunday of each month is dedicated to providing free activities such as rock climbing, trampolining and basketball. Each of these days attracted more than 120 people.

Youth Leadership and Mentoring Day A R BLUETT MEMORIAL AWARD SUBMISSION 2018 FAIRFIELD CITY COUNCIL 18

FAIRFIELD CITY MUSEUM & GALLERY More than 32,400 people visited the Fairfield City Museum and Gallery, taking in 12 exhibitions, 5 major events, 273 other activities and workshops, 47 education-focused workshops for school children and 96 art programs tailored to children.

The diverse cultural and creative identity of Fairfield City’s communities is reflected and celebrated through the Gallery’s curated program, which includes visual arts and social history exhibitions, workshops, education programs and events.

Staff work closely with emerging and established local artists to promote their work through dedicated exhibitions, as well as through the Artist in Residence program.

Fairfield City Museum and Gallery’s 2017 Artist in Residence, Loribelle Spirovski (artwork pictured), was named a finalist in the prestigious Archibald Prize for 2017 and 2018.

Living Cultures is an annual multicultural event held at the Fairfield City Museum and Gallery as part of Harmony Day celebrations.

Living Cultures Festival

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32,400 people visited Fairfield City Museum and Gallery through the year

HEALTHY PARTNERSHIPS Fairfield City Council recognises the important role a healthy and active lifestyle has on the overall wellbeing of its residents including the ability to learn, work and earn.

Statistically, Fairfield residents have higher levels of a wide range of chronic diseases, cancer, disability and mental health as well as a lower average life span than most other areas of Sydney.

Fairfield City Council developed a new Fairfield City Health Alliance which builds on the long-term success of Council’s 21 year partnership with NSW Health to improve the health of residents.

FAIRFIELD CITY HEALTH ALLIANCE The Alliance is a two year partnership with South Western Sydney Primary Health Network and the South Western Sydney Local Health District and brings together federal, state and local government agencies and health professionals.

The Alliance prioritises health literacy for newly arrived migrants and refugees and disadvantaged CALD groups, a focus on the health and social impacts of gambling, and General Practice Quality Improvement.

FAIRFIELD HEALTH PARTNERSHIP In October 2017, Council renewed its 21-year-long partnership with the South West Sydney Local Health District by signing a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This MOU details an integrated and strategic approach to improving health outcomes through joint projects.

The Partnership focuses on health promotion including developing healthy environments, increasing physical activity and encouraging healthy food and beverage consumption.

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SOME OF OUR ACHIEVEMENTS AND THINGS TO COME Bunker Park in Bonnyrigg opened

Fishpipe coming to Aquatopia

Council transformed its library services leading to a 51% increase in visitors at Whitlam Library

The free City Connect Bus provided 37,000 customers with hail and ride services across 29 weekly routes

Enhanced and created recreational precincts such as at Cabravale Memorial Park and St Johns Park

Fairfield Showground hosted the first Fairfield Easter Show

Wave Rider Opening

THEME 2

PLACES AND INFRASTRUCTURE This theme relates to the buildings, facilities, open space, town centres, roads, footpaths, public transport and all other built structures that the community needs to live and work.

Highlights: Aquatopia expands Transforming Fairfield Showground into a Regional Multicultural and Sporting Centre of Excellence Upgrade of Smithfield Road Award winning The Crescent Plaza City park upgrades Villawood/Carramar new park Cabravale Memorial Park

PLACES AND INFRASTRUCTURE A snapshot of our highlights in 2017/2018

ROAD IMPROVEMENTS

INFRASTRUCTURE

$58.7 million

AQUATOPIA

61,000 visitors 347 cabana bookings 4,144 school students

22km

A total of invested in local infrastructure

Over

Over of rebuilding and resurfacing roads and of new over kerb and gutter installed

10km

attended (in school) programs)

DEFIBRILLATORS

ROAD SAFETY

11

36 traffic, transport, and

Provided more defibrillators to community groups

road safety initiatives were undertaken

ROAD SAFETY

FOOTPATHS

110 traffic signs installed 11 new line markings

Over of new and renewed footpaths

13km

PLAYGROUNDS

4 upgraded and new playgrounds installed

created

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AQUATOPIA EXPANDS Council is committed to providing affordable opportunities for residents to get out, get active and get healthy. Council’s affordable family-friendly water park Aquatopia was a stunning success, drawing 60,000 visitors over the 2017/2018 season.

Aquatopia’s entry fees are cheaper than other commercially-run water parks and local Fairfield City families also receive a 20 per cent discount on entry fees.

Aquatopia features 10 metre high water slides, a toddlers’ area, a water tower with 79 different water play elements, cabanas, barbeques and grassed play areas.

It has capacity for up to 1,200 visitors.

This season was bolstered by the opening of a new attraction which is the first in Australia - the $1.73 Wave Rider. In 2018/2019, Council will build a new 20-metre tall, six-lane straight racing water slide near the existing slide tower at Aquatopia.

The new slide will be twice the height of the existing slides.

Council will also install the Fishpipe, which is a big rotating ball filled with water that visitors can jump into and get pummelled around.

ICETOPIA As Aquatopia is closed for the winter months, Council looked at a unique way to use the space.

Aquatopia was transformed into Icetopia - a 250m2 outdoor iceskating rink for the July school holidays. The rink was complimented with fairy lights, winter decorations, skating aids, light and sound display, a ‘snow machine’ and a food van.

The focus was on affordable fun, with prices kept low, $10 first skater, $15 for two skaters, $20 for three skaters, skates and skating aids not included.

More than 6,200 people attended Icetopia through the July School holidays.

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61,000 347 4,144 Over

visitors to Aquatopia cabana bookings school students attended (in school programs)

EXISTING TREES WITH MEDIUM TO HIGH RETENTION VALUE (YELLOW) EXISTING TREES TO BE REMOVED

NATIVE SHRUB/GROUNDCOVER PLANTING

TRANSFORMING FAIRFIELD SHOWGROUND INTO A REGIONAL MULTICULTURAL AND SPORTING CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE

G

NATURAL TURF

SYNTHETIC TURF

W

EXISTING MOUNDING

AFL / CRICKET FIELD

G

PROPOSED MOUNDING

MOVEABLE SCOREBOARD

3.0 m WIDE BIDIRECTIONAL SHARED FOOTPATH FEATURE PAVING

SEATING LOCATIONS

MARKET AWNINGS

HIGH DEMOUNTABLE FENCE/NETTING

W

1.8m HIGH SPEAR TYPE SECURITY FENCE

W

1.2m HIGH SPORTS FENCE

Work has begun on transforming Fairfield Showground into a Regional Multicultural and Sporting Centre of Excellence, accessible to the whole Fairfield City and wider Sydney community.

2.1m HIGH TIMBER FENCE AROUND IRRIGATION TANK/ PUMP/CONTROLS, RECYCLING STORAGE FACILITY/STORMWATER TANK

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BICYCLE PARKING BBQ - WASH BASIN + PLUGIN TO CORD STORAGE UNIT (NOT IN SCOPE)

Council identified the opportunity to make better use of the land for the benefit of the whole community.

DRINKING FOUNTAIN / BOTTLE REFILL LITTER BIN

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Stage one will include an international size football field, all-weather synthetic field, festival and events area, AFL/cricket field, lighting, awning area for festivals, open-sided stage, new amenities facility, change rooms and kiosk.

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1. NORTHERN, EASTERN AND SOUTHERN BOUNDARY LINES UTILISE THE FENCELINE SHOWN IN THE SURVEY DRAWING.

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2. WESTERN BOUNDARY LINE USES THE EASTERN PERIMETER OF THE EXISTING BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES AND THE PERIMETER OF THE PROPOSED NEW AWNING.

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3. BOUNDARY LINE EAST OF THE SYNTHETIC TURF SOCCER FIELD IS ADJUSTED TO INCLUDE THE AREA THAT EXTENDED BEYOND THE EXISTING FENCELINE. 4. EXISTING TREES TO THE EAST ARE APPROXIMATE LOCATIONS. THEY ARE BASED ON THE PDFs PRODUCED BY THE ARBORIST.

When completed, Fairfield Showground will become the epicentre of cultural and sporting events for our City and the region.

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ssue of drawing or last revision of drawing Drawn

LA LS 25.01.18 Job Project Manager Director Date

File No: C:\Users\kmclemente\Desktop\fairfield\For TB.rvt

Level 15, 133 Castlereagh Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Australia T 61 2 9239 7100 F 61 2 9239 7199 E sydmail@ghd.com.auW www.ghd.com

GHDWOODHEAD is a trading name of GHD Pty Ltd. Conditions of Use. This document may only be used by GHD's client (and any other person who GHD has agreed can use this document) for the purpose for which it was prepared and must not be used by any other person or for any other purpose.

Drawn

K. CLEMENTE

Drafting Check (Project Director) Date Scale

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Designer K. CLEMENTE Design

L. ALLEN

L. SORRELL 25.01.2018 This Drawing must not be used for Construction unless signed as Approved

FAIRFIELD CITY Project FAIRFIELD SHOWGROUND STAGE 1A Title LANDSCAPE CONCEPT PLAN (OPTION 2) Client

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UPGRADE OF SMITHFIELD ROAD Work has begun to upgrade Smithfield Road between Polding Street and Elizabeth Drive. It is a major win for the 25,000 motorists who use the road each day.

Work will include creating a four-lane, dual carriageway along Smithfield Road and realigning Richards Road to connect to the Fairfield Showground entrance with new traffic signals.

There will be additional slip lanes for left turning traffic from Smithfield Road into King Road and additional right turn lanes at Elizabeth Drive, Fitzgerald Avenue, Beavors Street and on Polding Street at Isis Street intersection.

A grant of $14.4 million has been received for the upgrades.

Council has received further grants of $3.5 million for road upgrades and spent a total of $20 million on roads including kerbs and gutters during 2017/2018.

AWARD WINNING THE CRESCENT PLAZA The Crescent Plaza in the Fairfield City Centre won first place in the prestigious LNA Master Landscapers Association Awards for its stunning design and practical use of urban space.

The gold medal went to the Crescent Plaza in the Commercial and Civil Construction ($750,000 to $1.5 million) category.

The Crescent Plaza features substantial shade tree plantings and landscaped areas, safety and ambient lighting, sitting platforms, sculptured metal seating and pavements, a children’s play-sculpture area, a heritage timeline artwork, an LED visual media screen and public Wi-Fi. A R BLUETT MEMORIAL AWARD SUBMISSION 2018 FAIRFIELD CITY COUNCIL 27

CITY PARK UPGRADES Council’s commitment to providing opportunities for residents to get fit and active for free, extends to the provision of walking paths, sports courts and play equipment.

Council spent $1.23 million on renewals and upgrades of open spaces across the City, including new and upgraded play equipment, seating, landscaping and sports courts.

Bunker Park features a challenging playground for children, a basketball court, a handball and multi purpose court, open cycleways, footpaths and grass areas.

The park was funded by the NSW Land and Housing Corporation and was built by UrbanGrowth NSW under a developer agreement with Fairfield City Council.

WALKING PATHS Council invested $2.89 million in 13km of new and renewed footpaths, walking paths and cycleways in 2017/18, including: - A 750-metre walking circuit was installed at St Johns Park.

- A 310-metre path in Benghazi Park.

- A 500-metre path in Rosford Reserve EMERSON PARK A new futsal court was opened at Emerson Park in August 2017.

The Emerson Park complex is already a recreational jewel in our City packed with tennis courts, full size soccer fields, a parkour training area, a skate park, walking and cycling tracks.

A R BLUETT MEMORIAL AWARD SUBMISSION 2018 FAIRFIELD CITY COUNCIL 28

VILLAWOOD/CARRAMAR NEW PARK

tat

Fairfield City Council will create a new park for residents of Villawood and Carramar, transforming six residential blocks the Council has purchased into 3,200m2 of green space to address a lack of open space.

A study identified the need for more open space in the area, which is essential to ensuring healthy and active communities, particularly in lower socio-economic communities.

While consultation and planning is still in its early stages, the park could include a circuit path, kick-around space, seating, natural shade, play equipment and fitness equipment.

Community feedback, including a survey, has been undertaken to determine what local residents would like to see in the new park.

Community Consultation 1-31 July 2018 NEW PARK AT

VILLAWOOD

Corner Karella and Koon

oona avenues

From your Mayor Frank Carbone

families We recognise that local want in Villawood and Carramar are more open space, and we that make to you working with happen. get out, get active and We want to help families park for Villawood and get healthy, with a new Carramar residents.

A study has identified a need for more open space for residents of Villawood and Carramar.

Five years ago, Council acquired these 6 house blocks to provide more open space for the community.

A $1 million park will be built here, which includes a $300,000 grant from the NSW Government.

We are keen to hear your ideas about what will make it a great space for everyone in the community.

Council will design and construct the park considering your suggestions and comments.

Here are some ideas that Council is considering.

We want to know what you think.

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KARELL A

your new park by filling Tell us what you want in out a survey: w.gov.au/villawoodpark • Online fairfieldcity.ns paper survey • Call 9725 0222 for a au in@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.

• Email cityassetsadm .

2018 day, 31 July The survey closes on Tues

Have your say about what you would like in your new park.

CABRAVALE MEMORIAL PARK Council invested more than $100,000 to upgrade Cabravale Memorial Park, constructing two professional-sized badminton courts and a custom built permanent table tennis table for residents and visitors to use.

Other improvements include the installation of a Sydney Water refill station that park users can use to refill water bottles easily.

It also has a bubbler and a ‘dog-bowl’ feature where dogs on leads can easily access fresh water. A self-cleaning Exeloo was also installed.

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AVENU

www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au

A R BLUETT MEMORIAL AWARD SUBMISSION 2018 FAIRFIELD CITY COUNCIL 29

SOME OF OUR ACHIEVEMENTS AND THINGS TO COME $13.6million spent to renew and upgrade roads. $2.9 million spent on installing and maintaining footpaths

Bonnyrigg, Fairfield, Fairfield Heights and Cabramatta town centres were upgraded

Council signed Western Sydney City Deal, along with Federal, State and seven other Western Sydney councils. The City Deal is designed to transform Western Sydney

$5 million spent on building projects including upgrading sportsground amenity blocks

Roundabouts were installed at key intersections to improve safety

$1.23 million invested in park and open space upgrades

Landowne Bridge Photo credit: Lachlan Hyde

Highlight: Nalawala Nursery Green gym Free ‘Spring Clean’ drop-off Extra recycling service over Christmas Catchment Management Clean and green - Self-cleaning toilets - Green globe awards - Water refill stations - Western Sydney Cycling Network Sustainable Resource Centre Workshops

THEME 3

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY Increasing awareness of environmental challenges has increased the community’s desire for better protection and management of bushland, local wildlife and waterways throughout the City, as well as improved design and operation of the built environment.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY A snapshot of our highlights in 2017/2018

SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE CENTRE

512,000 tonnes of construction and demolition waste recycled $2.3 million profit

CHEMICAL & E-WASTE COLLECTION

COMMUNITY NURSERY

89,000 native plants propagated 3,860 volunteer hours at the nursery 4 hot houses built

1,200 households participated 76 tonnes of hazardous chemicals disposed

by volunteers

SOLAR POWER

ELECTRICITY SAVINGS Total electricity consumption at Council’s facilities reduced by 457,736 kWh

ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION

15,000 hours of maintaining creeks and reserves plants planted by volunteers

10,000 120

432,267 kWh generated from Council’s buildings in the last 12 months

ASBESTOS DISPOSAL PROGRAM

CREEK CLEAN PROGRAM

100 households

300 tonnes of litter, rubbish and

participated

2

1,000m

of asbestos materials disposed

sediment removed from Gross Pollutant Traps

A R BLUETT MEMORIAL AWARD SUBMISSION 2018 FAIRFIELD CITY COUNCIL 33

NALAWALA NURSERY More than 150 volunteers worked with Fairfield City Council to plant 25,000 trees, 4,500 shrubs and 2,500 grasses in three of its reserves (as part of the Federal Government’s 20 Million Trees program). They clocked up 5,144 hours of voluntary work throughout the year.

The new trees significantly increase the habitat corridors for birds, reptiles and various mammals.

Council partnered with Local Land Services and Greening Australia.

Fairfield City Council’s Nalawala nursery volunteers also completed the construction of four new hot houses to grow healthy plants for our City.

Volunteers plant 100,000 trees, shrubs and grasses a year for Council’s natural areas, catchments and engineering projects.

GREEN GYM Council has signed up to Green Gym, a Conservation Volunteers Australia program that is funded by the NSW State Government.

Green Gym promotes mental and physical health benefits of volunteering and participating in environmental and sustainability based activities.

The launch attracted metropolitan media interest.

Green Gyms Nine NEWS

A R BLUETT MEMORIAL AWARD SUBMISSION 2018 FAIRFIELD CITY COUNCIL 34

Volunteers plant trees, shrubs and grasses a year for natural areas, catchment and engineering projects

100,000

FREE ‘SPRING CLEAN’ DROP-OFF In September 2017, Fairfield City Council held its first free ‘Spring Clean’ drop-off event, collecting 150 tonnes of material.

The ‘Spring Clean’ drop-off event allowed residents to dispose of unwanted bulky household items such as white goods, old lounges, furniture and mattresses.

This included 90 tonnes of bulky household waste, 21 tonnes of e-waste and metals, 35 tonnes of garden waste and 4 tonnes of mattresses.

This is in addition to regular waste services, chemical waste and e-waste drop off days and the two scheduled kerbside pick-ups Fairfield City Council provides throughout the year.

EXTRA RECYCLING AT CHRISTMAS Fairfield City Council added an extra recycling pick up collection over the Christmas-New Year period.

This additional service cost approximately $40,000 to help capture more recyclable materials and help residents manage their waste bins during the festive period.

A R BLUETT MEMORIAL AWARD SUBMISSION 2018 FAIRFIELD CITY COUNCIL 35

CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT Fairfield City Council strengthened its efforts in keeping the City’s waterways clean by participating in a crackdown on sediment and erosion control measures at building sites across the City.

Council partnered with several organisations as part of the Parramatta River Catchment Group’s fourth Get the Site Right compliance and education campaign in May 2018.

Council officers inspected construction sites across the City and distributed flyers with details about how to comply with environmental standards.

NEW PARKLANDS OPENED Council opened a $1.5 million upgraded Wilson Road Reserve at Bonnyrigg Heights.

The six-hectare parkland has new exciting recreational facilities including a playground featuring a flying fox, seating areas, a fenced off-leash area with separate areas for small and large dogs, a grass futsal court, a walking circuit, outdoor fitness equipment and a 36-space car park.

Rehabilitation works along Wilson Creek in Wilson Road Reserve also occurred as part of the upgrade. These works stabilised the creek bed and bank to reduce erosion.

A R BLUETT MEMORIAL AWARD SUBMISSION 2018 FAIRFIELD CITY COUNCIL 36

CLEAN AND GREEN GREEN GLOBE AWARD

WESTERN SYDNEY CYCLING NETWORK

Fairfield City Council, along with eight other Western Sydney councils, became a joint winner in the 2017 Green Globe Awards.

Fairfield City Council supports the Western Sydney Cycle Network by providing them with a clubhouse and bicycle recycling facility at Fairfield Showground. Residents have the chance to borrow or purchase recycled bikes for their own use.

Fairfield joined the other Western Sydney councils to roll out ‘Light Years Ahead’ - an energy-efficient street lighting program.

In Fairfield, this involved the replacement of 1,241 street lights with Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).

This saves Council about $2.15 million a year and about 6,400 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

The program was jointly funded by the participating councils and the Federal Government.

WATER REFILL STATIONS Council has installed easy to use drinking water refill stations at four of the City’s busiest parks.

The water refill stations are part of the “Make Healthy Normal” campaign and have been installed in partnership with Sydney Water.

SELF-CLEANING TOILETS Fairfield City Council installed numerous automated self-cleaning public toilets at 10 locations over the past two years.

A R BLUETT MEMORIAL AWARD SUBMISSION 2018 FAIRFIELD CITY COUNCIL 37

The Council is committed to helping to provide affordable and healthy forms of transport for locals, while focusing on sustainability for the environment.

Volunteers gave up 1,095 hours of their time over the past year. 437 bikes were donated, 185 bikes recycled, 221 loaned, with more than 2,900 community riders attending 186 community rides.

Since the partnership began in 2007, more than 3,000 bikes have been recycled, preventing further landfill and providing opportunities for them to be re-used by the community.

CLEAN AND GREEN

Sustainability workshops reached over people

1,000

SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE CENTRE The Sustainable Resource Centre (SRC) has led the way as an environmentally and financially sustainable local government-owned business for more than 25 years.

In 2017/2018, the SRC generated a net profit of $2.3 million. The Centre received 481,905 tonnes of waste and we sold back out 511,900 tonnes to public and private customers.

The centre opened in 1991 as a resource recovery facility that accepts construction and demolition waste such as concrete, bricks and asphalt for recycling. It also sought to reduce Fairfield City Council’s own growing expenditure on disposal fees.

The recycled materials are transformed into road base, sand and drainage aggregates for use in civil construction, landscaping and domestic building applications.

WORKSHOPS In 2017/18, Council ran 29 weekday workshops for 804 participants from early learning centres, English schools, and community groups on topics including waste and recycling, worm farming, and composting.

We ran 13 weekend workshops for 284 residents on topics such as sustainability, natural cleaning, and natural pest control.

Council also ran Enviro Bootcamp, which is a series of environmentallyfocused workshops and activities for 200 primary school kids in the September school holidays. Additionally, we provided in-school workshops through Keep Australia Beautiful for 2,880 children from 11 schools in February/March 2018.

A R BLUETT MEMORIAL AWARD SUBMISSION 2018 FAIRFIELD CITY COUNCIL 38

The Sustainable Resource Centre made

$2.3 million 2017/2018

THEME 4

LOCAL ECONOMY AND EMPLOYMENT Highlights: Destination Fairfield Town Centre improvements Award winning retail hub plus parking Major events - Cabramatta Moon Festival - Culinary Carnivale - FLAME - Illuminate - Year round fun Place management model Urban design studies to revitalise Fairfield City Centre

Council is constantly seeking new opportunities for residents and businesses to prosper, though town centre improvements, major events and tourism marketing.

LOCAL ECONOMY AND EMPLOYMENT A snapshot of our highlights in 2017/18

CABRAMATTA MOON FESTIVAL More than 90,000 people attended Cabramatta Moon Festival. More than 200 people volunteered

DUTTON PLAZA

3.4 million gross income since December 2016 100% retail occupancy rate

LOCAL BUSINESS PROGRAMS

45 local businesses attended Council workshops to support local business growth

LUNAR NEW YEAR Up to 12,000 attended Lunar New Year Festival 2018

BRING IT ON! FESTIVAL Up to 4,000 people attended Bring It On! Youth Festival 2018

WESTERN SYDNEY CITY DEAL Fairfield signed the City Deal to work with local, state and federal government to transform Western Sydney

CULINARY CARNIVALE EVENT More than 10,000 people attended Culinary Carnivale in Fairfield town centre

ILLUMINATE NYE EVENT

More than 3,800 people attended Illuminate at Calmsley Hill City Farm

A R BLUETT MEMORIAL AWARD SUBMISSION 2018 FAIRFIELD CITY COUNCIL 41

DESTINATION FAIRFIELD Destination Fairfield is a tourism marketing campaign to highlight the attractions of Fairfield City to locals and visitors.

Council has developed: • Branding and marketing of Destination Fairfield • Website pages promoting family fun, food and festivals in the area (www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/destinationfairfield) • A video that highlights the City’s key attractions • Bus advertising promoting Fairfield City In the coming year we will produce a series of brochures highlighting themes of food, festivals, fun and events and further boost social media and the website.

Destination Fairfield

A R BLUETT MEMORIAL AWARD SUBMISSION 2018 FAIRFIELD CITY COUNCIL 42

TOWN CENTRE IMPROVEMENTS In 2017/18, Council upgraded its town centre streetscapes and public domain areas to further encourage shoppers, visitors and business investors.

Work included new seating, renewed landscaping, efficient lighting, self-cleaning smart technology toilets, upgrading public plaza meeting spaces, safer pedestrian access and night time lighting.

In Fairfield City centre, Council allocated $800,000 to improve footpaths, including 960 metres of footpath renewal, renewed kerb and gutters, and installation of pram/wheelchair ramps to improve accessibility.

In Bonnyrigg, Council planted crepe myrtle trees along the Bonnyrigg Avenue median strip and installed planter boxes near the intersection with Edensor Road to hold a variety of colourful flowers, and erected new signage.

In Canley Heights, 29 colour-changing lights were installed on Canley Vale Road to illuminate the tree canopies along the road.

Works, including footpath and kerb and guttering renewal, were also completed in the Fairfield Heights and Carramar town centres.

A R BLUETT MEMORIAL AWARD SUBMISSION 2018 FAIRFIELD CITY COUNCIL 43

AWARD WINNING RETAIL HUB PLUS PARKING Fairfield City Council-owned Dutton Plaza earned $3 million in gross rental income in 2017/2018.

The $19 million project features about 30 retail spaces, community rooms and 275 car parking spaces which can cater for an extra 460,000 visitors annually.

Council paid for this project through its self-funded Property Development Fund which supports entrepreneurial real estate activities enabling Council to reinvest the funds back into the community. The Fund started with smaller developments such as residential subdivisions and buildings. Profits then went into bigger developments, culminating with the Dutton Plaza retail project.

The centre was winner of the Excellence in leadership category at the Urban Design Institute of Australia NSW awards. We were also placed runner-up in the urban design category at the 2017 NSW Architecture Awards.

The UDIA judges said of Dutton Plaza: “Council has captured the spirit and feel for the character of Cabramatta through the urban design, architecture, construction and tenant selection for Dutton Plaza.”

After making the shortlist, Dutton Plaza was recognised by the NSW Architectural Award judges for “work most worthy of recognition in NSW from those projects meeting the conditions of the Australian Institute of Architects”.

A R BLUETT MEMORIAL AWARD SUBMISSION 2018 FAIRFIELD CITY COUNCIL 44

“Council has captured the spirit and feel of the character of Cabramatta” UDIA judges

MAJOR EVENTS Fairfield City Council hosts major community events that reflect the diversity of Fairfield City.

CABRAMATTA MOON FESTIVAL In 2017, more than 90,000 visitors attended the Cabramatta Moon Festival – one of Sydney’s largest, brightest and authentic South East Asian cultural celebrations.

The Cabramatta Moon Festival supports the Cabramatta business community with the opportunity to showcase the array of restaurant destinations, local produce stores, bustling marketing atmosphere and the general business district, in turn promoting the area to a wider audience and attracting a potential new customer base.

CULINARY CARNIVALE Council’s annual Spanish and Latin American food festival, Culinary Carnivale, returned to the streets of Fairfield Town Centre in celebration of Good Food Month. The popular 10m long asado returned, cooking up pork choripan and pork and beef spare ribs, along with tantalising treats such as seafood paella, empanadas, dulce de leche and churros.

Thousands of people enjoyed a first-class entertainment line-up that included iconic Australian singer Christine Anu, Brazilian dancers, drummers, Mexican singers, amusement rides and more.

Cabramatta Moon Festival

A R BLUETT MEMORIAL AWARD SUBMISSION 2018 FAIRFIELD CITY COUNCIL 45

90,000

people attended Cabramatta Moon Festival

MAJOR EVENTS ILLUMINATE Illuminate is Fairfield City’s New Year’s Eve celebration with the biggest collective fireworks display in South West Sydney.

In 2017, simultaneous fireworks lit up the night sky from seven locations across the Fairfield local government area at 9pm.

A New Year’s Eve family event was also held at the City’s local Calmsley Hill City Farm. The event was attended by more than 3,800 people who enjoyed plenty of free entertainment including amusement rides, stock whip demonstrations, and live performances from a variety of entertainers.

FLAME FESTIVAL Fairfield City’s Fairfield Live Art, Music and Eats (FLAME) Festival is a free event showcasing the sounds and creations of talented musicians and artists from Western Sydney across mutliple venues in Fairfield.

Council partnered with Create NSW and local businesses to deliver an exciting festival that showcased Western Sydney’s talented musician community.

YEAR-ROUND FUN These major festivals are complimented by Council’s year-round schedule of events which also include Lunar New Year, Fairfield Easter Show, Living Cultures Festival, Grandparent’s Day and exhibitions at the Fairfield City Museum & Gallery.

Flame Festival

A R BLUETT MEMORIAL AWARD SUBMISSION 2018 FAIRFIELD CITY COUNCIL 46

PLACE MANAGEMENT MODEL Fairfield City Council’s Place Management model originated from a strategic vision to revitalise the Cabramatta Town Centre in partnership with the NSW State Government back in 1994.

The success of this Place Management program led to an expansion and continued review of the service.

The model currently involves three Place Managers leading place based teams – Fairfield, Cabravale and Parks - that are focused on the economic sustainability, social vitality and general amenity of business centres and industrial lands across the Local Government Area.

Fairfield City Council adopted Place Management approach in

1994

Specifically the three Place Management Teams manage and coordinate projects, activities, policies, plans, partnerships and project opportunities in consultation with key stakeholders to ensure the effective functioning of the City’s business centres, industrial land and residential neighbourhoods.

The focus is on public domain improvements, visual quality, general amenity and activation, economic development and sustainability, stakeholder engagement, place based major events, processing minor activity applications and reviewing development applications.

A R BLUETT MEMORIAL AWARD SUBMISSION 2018 FAIRFIELD CITY COUNCIL 47

URBAN DESIGN STUDIES TO REVITALISE FAIRFIELD CITY Fairfield City Council consulted with landowners in the City to listen to ideas on revitalising the area. As a result, the Council has prepared town centre urban design studies for Fairfield City Centre (sites over 2,500m2), Fairfield Heights Town Centre and Villawood Town Centre.

The studies recommend new height of building and/or floor space ratios for subject land, along with opportunities to deliver improvements to pedestrian/vehicular connections, including new civic and open space opportunities.

The three urban design studies were prepared to ensure that Fairfield City Council met State Government housing target requirements under recent Sydney metropolitan and district plans. The documents seek an increase in the number of apartments, balanced with ensuring resident amenity and increased vitality within the centres.

These studies are the first of a number of town centre urban design studies for key centres in the City, which will ultimately be implemented through amendments to the Fairfield Local Environmental Plan 2013.

Council has already initiated planning proposals for Fairfield Heights Town Centre and Villawood Town Centre with the Department of Planning and Environment to implement the recommendation of the urban design studies.

A R BLUETT MEMORIAL AWARD SUBMISSION 2018 FAIRFIELD CITY COUNCIL 48

THEME 5

GOOD GOVERNANCE AND LEADERSHIP Good governance and leadership ensures the community has access to information and participates in the development of policies and decisions that affect them

Highlights: A financially sustainable Council Western Sydney City Deal Property Development Fund Keeping Fit for the Future Local Government Week Pride in Fairfield City - Citizenship - Australia Day celebrations - Suburb banners - Advisory committees - Civic education program Staff health and wellbeing 3 year internal audit plan

GOOD GOVERNANCE AND LEADERSHIP A snapshot of our highlights in 2017/18

OUR STAFF

CITIZENSHIP RECIPIENTS

772 full-time equivalent

628 residents of Fairfield

staff work at Council as at 30 June 2018

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

70 employees enrolled in

City became new citizens of Australia

external accredited professional development courses

RATED EXEMPLARY

WHS AUDIT RESULTS

The State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) rated Council as

99% for Case Management Practice 95% for Data Quality Component 496 WHS Online Modules

“exemplary”

were completed as at 30 June 2018

WORK EXPERIENCE FOR REFUGEES

20 participants to be provided with valuable work experience

GRANTS AND DONATIONS

TRAINING PROGRAMS

Council handed out almost $30,000 to community groups and residents

1,755 employees attended internal face to face training programs. 1,070 online compliance training components completed

A FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE COUNCIL Council is committed to ensuring it can deliver the infrastructure and services that ratepayers depend on and make Fairfield City a great place to live and raise a family, while keeping rates low.

Fairfield City Council is largely self-sufficient, managing many aspects of the business in-house.

These include:

Council prides itself on being able to keep its rates one of the lowest in NSW and has worked hard to manage its finances, resulting in a forcast operating surplus of $9 million in the 2017/18 financial year.

• Asset management maintenance and replacement evaluation is done continuously by employed engineering staff, wherever possible.

The 2018-2019 Operational Plan highlights include transforming the Fairfield Showground into a Regional Multicultural and Sporting Complex.

• Fairfield City Council is self-insured for Work, Health and Safety related insurance.

There will be further expansion of the Aquatopia Water Park in Prairiewood, widening of Smithfield Road into four lanes, construction of the Hughes Street Car Park in Cabramatta and a new community park in Villawood.

• Fairfield City Council is part of a pool of nine other councils for all other non-WHS insurance.

Council will spend almost $63 million renewing and building new infrastructure including almost $14 million on improving local roads, $2.1 million on new and upgraded footpaths and $1 million for town centre upgrades.

Council had taken a number of measures over many years to strengthen its financial position, including reducing our asset backlog. This has put Council in a better operational position to continue to run a balanced budget with a surplus in the vast majority of reporting years.

• Council runs its own waste services, trucks and waste centre.

• We have an entrepreneurial Property Development Fund to raise income that funds other Council services (see page 55).

$9 million forcast surplus in 2017/2018

spent $63 million renewing and building new infrastructure

$14 million spent on roads A R BLUETT MEMORIAL AWARD SUBMISSION 2018 FAIRFIELD CITY COUNCIL 52

WESTERN SYDNEY CITY DEALS The Western Sydney City Deal was signed in March 2018 by Federal, State and 8 Western Sydney local governments – Fairfield, Blue Mountains, Camden, Campbelltown, Fairfield, Hawkesbury, Liverpool, Penrith and Wollondilly. Fairfield City Council’s City Manager Alan Young is Chair of the General Managers’ group working on the City Deal.

The City Deal is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver a 20 year agreement to the communities of the Western City. It is a 20 year agreement between the three levels of government to transform Western Sydney – with a focus on improvements in transport, employment, education, housing, liveability and governance.

What makes the City Deal different to routine grant programs, is the integrated and enduring governance arrangements that will focus on delivering the Western Parkland City. This includes clear involvement of all tiers of government as equal and contributing partners. The City Deal represents an opportunity to reform the relationships between Commonwealth, State and local government as well as between the eight Western Sydney Councils.

Fairfield City Council is fostering this new way of working and has been integrally involved through membership of the City Deal Implementation Board and chair of the General Managers’ Group.

This improved level of working with the State Government has also resulted in a combined State/Council Steering Committee for the Horsley Park Urban Investigation Area and input to State Steering Committees for major transport infrastructure including the proposed western freight line.

The City Deal sees the Western Sydney Airport and Aerotropolis as a catalyst for strong economic growth in the whole region.

Fairfield City Council is committed to ensuring that the Fairfield community is instrumental in receiving as many of the economic, access and liveability A R BLUETT MEMORIAL AWARD SUBMISSION 2018 FAIRFIELD CITY COUNCIL 53

advantages as possible as part of the Western Sydney City Deal. Specific initiatives in the City Deal that will directly benefit Fairfield residents include: • Western Parkland City Liveability Program - $15million for each council to deliver projects to achieve improved community facilities, urban amenity, and enhance liveability • $2.5million to undertake the necessary planning studies to fast-track local housing strategies and accelerate adoption of new LEPs • Working together on a rural lands study to provide direction and recommendations for future development and planning framework for rural lands within Fairfield City.

PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT FUND In an effort to keep rates low while still allowing Council to provide essential services and develop new infrastructure projects for the benefit of ratepayers, Council finds new and innovative ways to generate extra revenue streams.

The Property Development Fund provides opportunity to extract value from Council’s commercial assets.

Examples of the value of this Fund include: • The development of a commercial retail Centre of Dutton Plaza in Cabramatta with projected gross retail incomes of $3 million.

• $14 million net return from a 41 lot sub-division in 2015/2016.

• Council purchased a 7-11 store and service station in 1991. This yields almost $240,000 per year in rent.

• $18 million for a mixed use commercial development is expected to commence in 2018/2019 and projected to deliver a commercial yield.

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Dutton Plaza to earn $3 million per year in gross rental revenue

KEEPING FIT FOR THE FUTURE Fairfield City Council met all the Fit for the Future benchmarks.

Rates are maintained at an affordable level, and discounted accommodation is provided for a range of Non-Government Organisations to serve the community. Facilities are provided for youth including the Aquatopia Water Park, Fairfield Adventure Park, Fairfield Youth and Community Centre, community facilities and study spaces in libraries.

Council also has a commitment to commercial revenue opportunities to reduce reliance on rates. This includes the Sustainable Resource Centre (raising $2.3 million in profit in 2017/2018) and the Property Development Fund.

As part of ensuring the Council remained Fit For The Future, Council identified a series of interventions and cost containment actions that are continuing to deliver efficiencies. Significant structural reform has been undertaken in recent years which has achieved a reduction of 4.5% in employee costs and 7.6% in improved revenues.

The impact of this structural reform has reduced the pressure to find significant financial savings in the short to medium term. Continuous improvement in financial results remains a goal for Council.

Additionally, Council has benefited from: • The Special Rate Variation granted by IPART for Council commencing July 2014 included a recognition that Asset Management Plans addressing Asset backlog was a priority for Fairfield Council. This results in an additional $40 million over 10 years to be spent on asset upgrades.

• The Property Development Fund provides opportunity to extract value from Council’s commercial assets yielding at least $5.5 million each year, with more expected in coming years.

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT WEEK Council celebrates Local Government Week with two primary initiatives.

#CAPTUREFAIRFIELD Council held its inaugural photography competition, called #CaptureFairfield, to celebrate Local Government Week 2017. The competition attracted 133 entries from across four age groups: Primary School students, Secondary School students, Amateur Photographers and Professional Photographers.

Photos needed to fit into one of three themes: Discovery, Diversity and Democracy.

The winning photographs were displayed during Local Government Week at Council’s mobile offices, Wetherill Park Library, Whitlam Library, and on the outdoor screen at The Crescent Plaza in Fairfield.

MOBILE OFFICES During Local Government Week 2017, Council staff, Mayor Frank Carbone and Councillors set up a number of mobile office locations across the City.

The goal was to provide another connection point between Council and ratepayers to allow concerns to be raised, questions to be answered and the discussion and presentation of information around key community projects.

Four mobile offices were held across the week.

In 2018, the mobile offices will be again held, this time expanded to six locations across the week.

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PRIDE IN FAIRFIELD CITY CITIZENSHIP

ADVISORY COMMITTEES

Council welcomed 628 citizens at nine citizenship ceremonies in 2017/18.

Council has a variety of committees that draw upon the expertise, diversity and perspectives of the community on a range of issues.

The first citizenship ceremony for the Fairfield municipality was on 16 July 1954 with eight new Australians. In 64 years, an estimated 92,000 people in Fairfield City have taken the pledge to become Australians.

Since then, Council has held 924 citizenship ceremonies, at 30 June, 2018.

AUSTRALIA DAY CELEBRATIONS Council holds its annual Australia Day Community Awards ceremony to recognise and pay tribute to those members of the community who dedicate time and effort to make Fairfield City a great community for all.

There are 11 advisory committees and networks including the Youth Advisory, Arts Advisory and the Multicultural Advisory Committees.

CIVIC EDUCATION PROGRAM Local school students have the opportunity to get up close and personal with the Mayor as part of Fairfield City Council’s free School Education program.

Nominations are invited from locals, and awards are presented for Fairfield Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and Sports Achiever of the Year.

The ultimate goal is to show children how they can contribute and participate in all aspects of public life, hopefully inspiring future leaders.

Students learn about the many services and facilities offered by local councils and how a Mayor and Councillors are elected.

A ceremony is held the evening before Australia Day, along with a citizenship ceremony to welcome new Australians.

They also take part in a mock Council meeting in the Chambers and a Q&A with the Mayor.

As part of the celebrations Council provides free entry to the pool area of Fairfield and Prairiewood leisure centres and the Fairfield Youth and Community Centre, and a firework display at Canley Heights Town Centre.

SUBURB BANNERS Council has completed a program of installing suburb banners in each of the 27 suburbs of the City. The banners celebrate the heritage of each suburb, highlighting the year they were established, and are designed to provide colour and movement on the City’s streets, while promoting a sense of pride and heritage among residents and visitors.

The banners will be replaced from time to time to promote events and activities in the City.

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STAFF HEALTH AND WELLBEING Fairfield City Council holds annual staff Health and Wellbeing expos, featuring a mixture of fun and informative activities.

The events included health seminars, cooking demonstration, massages, blood bank, a visit by medical staff and the ‘Bike N Blend Smoothie Bike’.

Other initiatives include: The State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) rated Fairfield City Council as “exemplary”

• Council teams are also encouraged throughout the year to hold a team building exercise focused on outdoor physical activity • Council offers staff discounts for memberships at its leisure centres • Free counselling services are offered and provided • Health and wellbeing focus groups • Provision of healthy living guides on the staff intranet, including healthy nutrition, quitting smoking, managing mental health, and exercise.

The State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) rated Fairfield City Council as “exemplary”.

The Council is top-tier, and was granted an eight year licence. Standards measured include conduct, claims management and financial ability.

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THREE YEAR INTERNAL AUDIT PLAN Council developed a new three year Internal Audit Plan.

The Internal Audit Plan is designed to support Council in the achievement of its strategic objectives and priorities, in an efficient, economical and effective manner.

Audit projects are designed to: Fairfield City Council commenced its internal audit function in November 2002

• Create value through reviewing the effectiveness of project/service execution and provide independent insight into how project/services and plans are materialising • Review how effectively Council is striving to clarify accountabilities and support the achievement of business objectives • Identify key inefficiencies/weaknesses and/or better practices and communicate improvement opportunities across Council.

As part of the Plan, we adopted a Fraud and Corruption Control Policy.

This Policy is applicable to Council and all of its services, operations, systems and people. It aims to educate and inform elected representatives, Council staff, contractors and volunteers about their responsibilities and obligations in preventing and reporting instances of fraud and corruption within Council, create awareness about what constitutes unethical conduct and reduce and prevent the risk of internal and external fraud and corruption.

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AWARDS AND CITATIONS CIVICRISK MUTUAL AWARD

Aquatopia won the CivicRisk Mutual Award for Safe Fun in the Sun. This demonstrates a strong commitment to due diligence, risk management and public safety.

URBAN DESIGN INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA

Fairfield City Council - owned Dutton Plaza won the Excellence in Government Leadership category.

LNA MASTER LANDSCAPERS ASSOCIATION AWARDS

The Crescent Plaza won first place in the prestigious LNA Master Landscapers Association Awards for its stunning design and practical use of urban space.

IMAGINE AWARDS

Council’s Fairfield City Museum & Gallery won an IMAGINE exhibition award for A Home Away from Home: Exploring Fairfield City’s Multicultural Clubs.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT YOUTH WEEK AWARD

Council’s Bring It On! Festival won a Local Government Youth Week Award for best on-going commitment to Youth Week.

GREEN GLOBE AWARDS – RESOURCE EFFICIENCY AWARD

Council was joint winner in the 2017 Green Globe Awards for its Light Years Ahead project, installing energy efficient lighting and saving $2.15 million a year in energy costs.

INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC WORKS ENGINEERING AUSTRALASIA

Aquatopia received a highly commended award from the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia.

NSW SPORTS AWARDS

Council’s Community sports programs were a finalist in the NSW Sports Awards for providing fitness and sporting programs and sporting infrastructure.

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