The City of Port Phillip has published its CEO Report for Q3 of 2022/23, providing a summary of their performance, project updates, and prospective plans. The council report conveys an effort to prioritise governance, community engagement, fiscal prudence, and cultural development.
In line with its approach to transparency and accountability, the council introduced Councillor Robbie Nyaguy and incorporated new requirements for the Local Government Performance Reporting Framework. In the draft yearly Council Plan and Budget, a $65.3 million capital project investment was included.
In an attempt to take into account the increasing cost of living, a 2.8% rate increase was suggested, which is below the Victorian Government's cap and inflation rate of 3.5%. The council's report highlighted highlighted the identification of $1.1 million in operational savings for the 2023/24 Budget.
The council report talked about the two digital self-help platforms - Snap, Send, Solve, and My Port Phillip, in addition to the availability of online bookings for solid and green waste as well as events or venues. Since the last quarter, the total number of requests has shown a consistent rise every month, with a significant surge seen during the quarter. They highlighted a steady influx of at least 70% of community service inquiries, complaints, and online bookings by customers, of which 20% are received through Snap, Send, Solve, and more than half via My Port Phillip and other online reservation systems.
Significant initiatives in Q3 comprised the engagement of the community on important projects such as the draft Housing Strategy and the Positive Aging Policy, among others. The council also hosted the 16th International Toy Library Conference at Bubup Womindjeka, showcasing their local work.
In April, 46 affordable apartments in Balaclava were made available to tenants, a project realised in partnership between the Council and HousingFirst. This project received partial funding from the Victorian Government and the Australian Government, marking another step in addressing homelessness.
Concurrently, the council has been working on its social and community programs. A free community football event was held at Park Towers, and a special event acknowledging the contributions of multicultural seniors’ groups took place during the Cultural Diversity Week celebrations. Social connectedness among the elderly and disabled has seen a rise in interest post-COVID, with more clients desiring to partake in Social Inclusion Programs.
However, issues with recruitment have impacted children’s services, presenting obstacles to opening additional spots. The council also noted a reduction in state government funding for Enhanced MCH Service delivery, despite an increase in service hours for vulnerable families.
Going forward, the City of Port Phillip aims to enhance services such as children's services, community programs and facilities, families and young people, and recreation. Numerous initiatives are being planned, including professional development programs for staff, increasing family engagement, staff training on domestic violence-informed practice, and community consultations for projects.
The city's Public Space Strategy for 2022-32 continues, with projects such as the TT Buckingham Flying Fox and the Dickens Street Community Pop-up Park now completed. Meanwhile, Transport and Parking Management seeks to improve Port Phillip's “liveability” with strategies such as expanding bicycle parking infrastructure and trialling e-cargo bikes.
Though it encountered some challenges, such as complex VCAT hearings, Development Approvals and Compliance, Council reported a 100% uphold rate of planning decisions at VCAT. The report indicates lower than expected planning applications decided within the required time frames (sitting at a low rate of 39%) due to high profile and complex VCAT hearings.
Among the various tasks and initiatives, the city has given attention to environmental conservation. The South Melbourne Market initiated a recycling project in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy, and named the Shuck Don’t Chuck program, with a focus on reef restoration in Port Phillip Bay.
Other significant updates included the return of the Port Phillip Mussel and Jazz Festival, which was attended by over 50,000 patrons, and the launch of the Carlisle Street Urban Art Project aimed at addressing graffiti and stimulating the local economy.
Read the full CEO Report for March 2023 here
