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Highlights 2022-2023

Highlights of our service to the Darebin community.

Strategic direction 1: Vibrant, Respectful and Connected

Highlights

Results

Looking forward

49 Equity Impact Assessments of Council policies, programs, facilities and services were undertaken to ensure planning and implementation included human rights considerations.
A Memorandum of Understanding between Aboriginal Housing Victoria and Council was signed in November 2022. Rates concessions for the 84 properties in Darebin were confirmed under the 2022/23 Revenue and Rating Plan.
The new Darebin Intercultural Centre was officially opened on Sunday 19 March 2023.

Female participation has increased from 24% in 2021-22 to 42% in 2022-23, or 157,764 female participants out of 376,417 total participants from Darebin sports clubs and at leisure venues (On track)
Council has commenced collecting evidence to assist with the Welcoming Cities accreditation across 60 standards (On track)
The number of Aboriginal owned businesses registered with Kinaway Aboriginal Chamber of Commerce has continued to increase and is now at 19 (On track)

Develop several inclusion-based action plans to enhance Council’s work, including an Aboriginal Action Plan, Cultural Diversity Action Plan and a Sexuality, Sex and Gender Diverse Action Plan.
Launch Truth Telling permanent history display at the Bundoora Homestead Art Centre in partnership with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation.
Work with the Darebin Aboriginal Advisory Committee, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, and local Aboriginal organisations to respond to the six key requests of DAAC’s Our Black Lives Matter statement to Council.

Highlights

Results

Looking forward

Opened the Reservoir East Family Centre in February 2023 delivering increased access to kindergarten, maternal and child health and other early years services for families in the area.
Continued construction of Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre with 90% of the project now complete. The facility is on track to open to the community in late 2023.
The Reservoir Revitalisation program suite of projects was delivered in partnership with the State Government to improve the look and feel of Reservoir while improving connections within the local community and strengthening their sense of pride in the suburb.

The opening of the Reservoir East Family Centre in February 2023 delivered an additional 66 licensed community-managed kindergarten places (On track)
The participation rate in Council’s shower access program this year (67%) has increased compared to last year (57%) due to increased promotion of the program by referral agencies and community organisations, as well as expansion of the program to Narrandjeri Stadium as a second location (On track)
The High Street tree planting project saw an additional 100 trees planted throughout retail activity centres. This was further enhanced by additional trees delivered via the infill tree planting program (On track)

Develop a Community Infrastructure Plan to inform Council’s decision-making on the future of our assets, based on service needs across our city for the next 10 years.
Develop an Integrated Families, Youth and Children strategy to support a coordinated and strategic approach to improving outcomes for children, young people and their families.
Deliver key design and construction projects within the kindergarten expansion program to meet the demand for three year-old kindergarten in the city.

Highlights

Results

Looking forward

Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) collection service expanded to all kerbside collection recipients, which resulted in diverting 2,000 tonnes of FOGO from landfill.
The Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre was awarded a 6 Star - Green Star - design rating by the Green Building Council of Australia.
Rewilding Darebin continues to enhance plant biodiversity with 50,000 indigenous tubestock planted during 2022/2023.

This financial year, 70,000 individual Indigenous plants have been planted, plus a further 30,000 planted via direct seeding, in line with the budget allocation (On track)
100% Renewable energy is provided to Council buildings through the Victorian Energy Collaboration (VECO) contract. (On track)

Install a sustainability trail at Bundoora Park Farm featuring educational displays aimed at fostering awareness, knowledge, and better practices in the community with regard to land, water and waste management, climate change and agriculture.
Complete the construction of the Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre and achieve a 6 Star – Green Star – as built rating which will result in an industry leading facility.
Undertake community engagement to inform future kerbside waste services for residents.

Highlights

Results

Looking forward

Reviewed Council’s 10-Year Financial Plan to ensure a level of revenue and expenditure that maintains a balance between service delivery, asset maintenance and renewal, and provides a strong, sustainable base for the future.
Council advocated to protect the Preston Market through a strong public campaign and submission to the Standing Advisory Committee.
Council adopted the Place and Road Naming Policy during the 2022/2023 financial year to better reflect Darebin’s Aboriginal cultural heritage, migrant and cultural diversities and gender diversity in our community.

Council has continued to invest in precincts informed by documented design, including the High Street tree planting program and the Thornbury Telstra mural and civic improvement (On track)
There were four active planning scheme amendment projects in 2022-23 which change and update planning controls for private land: Thornbury Park Estate; Heidelberg Road Heritage controls; Higher Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESD) standards; and the Planning Policy Framework Review (On track)

Utilise a continuous improvement plan and aim to improve Council performance against current funded targets and enhance our customer experience to provide quality services to the community.
Undertake community consultation as part of developing a Leasing and Licensing Policy.
Continue to find new and dynamic ways to make community engagement more interactive and inclusive, to ensure that as many people as possible participate in our community engagement processes.