Dear Ratepayer,
The financial year 2014-15 has been a very productive one for the City. Exciting new projects were
started and other projects completed.
Despite the distractions of local government reform, now thankfully abandoned by the state
government, the past year has seen us continuing to deliver on our Strategic Community Plan. We
continue to review our services to ensure our organisation is operated as efficiently and effectively as
possible.
To this end, we have reduced the cost of the City’s operations despite continuing our extensive capital
works program.
More capital works projects are planned for the coming year which will enhance and improve your City.
In January, we started work on the Collegians Amateur Football Club clubrooms at David Cruikshank
Reserve. When complete, redevelopment will provide a first class facility for the Western Suburbs – the
building can be used not only as a sporting venue but as a multi-purpose facility, benefitting the whole
community. The project is on schedule to be completed in October 2015.
The coming year will see work start on stage 1 of the All Abilities Play Space, an exciting project the City
is developing in partnership with Rotary. Rotary has previously raised considerable funds and
Lotterywest has provided a grant towards building the play space. The vision is to create a dream
playground where there’s fun for everyone – no matter what their age or ability.
Other projects planned for this financial year include improvements to the Dalkeith and Hollywood
Bowling Clubs, road and footpath upgrades, and improvements to drainage.
Nedlands’ unique character and identity is due in part to our beautiful parks, gardens and tree-lined
streets. Residents’ rates will go towards planting new areas of greenway, renewing natural area paths
and planting more trees.
We have recently run a campaign asking residents if they would like a tree planted on their verge –
remember that this is available to you all year round. The winter months are the best time for planting
as the summer months are very dry and hot. Trees provide shade during our hot summer and studies
have shown that they add real value to your property.
The City will plant, and maintain these, for free – but please don’t prune them yourself. We do ask that
you water them, but the City will carry out regular assessments and pruning throughout the tree’s
lifetime.
New waste contracts have led to significant savings in the costs of waste services, and subsequent
reductions in your annual waste service charges. The City continues to look at smart and efficient
contracting strategies in order to minimise your waste charges.
For 2015–16 waste charges have been maintained at the same rate as last year despite significant
ongoing increases in the state government’s landfill levies. The City is now focusing on improving our
diversion rate by increasing recycling rates. This focus will continue to keep the waste service charges as
low as possible.
You can help by ensuring that you recycle as much as possible, while also ensuring that recycling and
green waste bins are not contaminated with non-recyclables. Proactive recycling will minimise
contamination and save on disposal costs. We maintain our commitment to achieving a 65 per cent
diversion of waste from landfill by 2020 while sustaining competitive waste charges for our residents.
The City has been able to keep our rate increases to an average of 2.5 per cent this year. In line with our
commitment in the Corporate Business Plan and Strategic Community Plan, rates increases will go
towards addressing the City’s ageing infrastructure.
In October this year, council elections will be held. Of course, it will be business as usual for all council
services in the lead up to these elections, and afterwards.
I have decided to renominate for the position of Mayor for a further four years. Whatever happens at
the elections, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for granting me the honour to serve as
your Mayor over the last four years. We have made much progress together towards our vision of
making the City of Nedlands an even better place to live. I would like that to continue.
The year ahead will present many challenges and rewards. Your council will provide the best possible
services and facilities for ratepayers.
Max Hipkins
Mayor
What will you see from your rates this financial year?
As identified in the City’s Strategic Community Plan, renewing community infrastructure is a major
component of this year’s budget.
3.12 km of roads will be resurfaced including:
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Circe Circle North – Adelma Rd to Curlew Rd
Circe Circle South – Curlew Rd to Carroll St
Greenville Street – entire length, including footpath upgrades
Clement Street – Walpole Street to Kirkwood Road
Kinninmont Avenue – entire length
Barcoo Avenue – City boundary to Doonan Road
Bulimba Road - Entire Length
Jenkins Avenue – Taylor Road to Waroonga Road
20 new stormwater drainage pits
800m of existing footpath renewed
Two bus shelters replaced
400 square metres of natural area paths renewed
940 square metres of greenway planted
700 trees planted
Four playgrounds upgraded (Zamia Park, Beatrice Road Reserve, Masons Gardens, Campsie Park).
Your rates will also see:
Local sporting club facilities will also see improvements and upgrades this financial year. Cricket and
junior football at Allen Park will benefit from upgrades to the toilet facilities and change rooms, and the
Hollywood Subiaco Bowling Club on Smyth Road will also get a facelift. Dalkeith Bowling Club is getting a
new roof, toilet facilities, floodlights and expanded greens.
Along with the City’s infrastructure projects, your rates will be used for many other City and
community services, including:
Providing planning approval and compliance services to ensure lawful development is enforced within
the City
Ensuring better traffic and parking management
Ranger services
Waste management services
Environment health services
Recreational facilities
Aged care services and facilities
Libraries
Projects for youth and children
Volunteering services
Art, disability access and business services
Community events
Parks services
Bushcare.
WARNING – Don’t contaminate household waste bins!
Remember – contamination costs you money and dealing with contamination is directly transferred to
your annual waste charges!
Recently contamination of recycling and greenwaste bins has increased.
Please remember:
•
Contaminated collections are sent to landfill, attracting the increased landfill disposal levy.
•
Gas bottles are hazardous and are not suitable for disposal in kerbside collections.
•
One plastic bag in a greenwaste contaminates the whole truck load – it will go to landfill.
•
Do not place non-recyclables in the recycling bin – larger waste bins are available on request.
Please drop your unwanted gas bottles at the Brockway Transfer Station on Lemnos Street, Shenton
Park, to be decommissioned and recycled properly. This costs just $12 per bottle.
Household dry-cell batteries, light bulbs and tubes, printer cartridges and old mobiles can be dropped
off at the City’s Recycling Stations at the Administration Centre and Libraries.
Sources of revenue and areas of expenditure
2015/16 Revenue
Rates
Operating Grants
Fees & Charges
Interest Revenue
Other Revenue
Proceeds from Asset Sales
Net transfer from reserves
Capital Grants & Contributions
Loans
Budget
21,277,000
1,962,400
7,199,900
697,500
259,000
250,900
412,700
2,896,300
2,122,000
37,077,700
%
57.38%
5.29%
19.42%
1.88%
0.70%
0.68%
1.11%
7.81%
5.72%
100.00%
2015/16 Expenditure
Roads, Footpaths & Drains
Parks & Sporting Grounds
Community Facilities & Support
Sanitation
Planning, Building & Health
Governance
Libraries
Aged Care
Ranger Services
Environmental Health
Debt Repayment & Disbursements
Budget
5,351,000
11,951,200
4,574,600
1,851,700
5,936,000
1,575,300
1,871,700
1,420,200
980,500
708,600
856,900
%
37,077,700
14.43%
32.23%
12.34%
4.99%
16.01%
4.25%
5.05%
3.83%
2.64%
1.91%
2.31%
100%
Back page
The City of Nedlands is dedicated to providing value for money and quality services to our community.
We are committed to maintaining the unique character of Nedlands – our beautiful parks and gardens,
tree-lined streets and bushland. We understand the importance of ensuring quality services to the
community including recreation, child care, aged care, events, arts and culture and we work to
continually improve our buildings, facilities and infrastructure.
To keep up to date with what’s going on in the City and its projects and services, visit the website and
register for regular updates.
Notice to all owners and occupiers of land within the City of Nedlands – Bushfires Act 1954 (S33.1)
As a measure for preventing the outbreak of a bush fire, or for preventing the spread or extension of a
bush fire which may occur, all owners and occupiers of land and verge adjacent to that land, within the
City of Nedlands’ district, are required on or before the 30th day of November in each year, or within 14
days of becoming an owner or occupier if after that date:
Residential Land - Slash all grass and clear all inflammable matter on the land and verge to a height no
greater than 5cm and to maintain all grass and all inflammable matter on the land and verge at a height
no greater than 5cm up to and including the 31st day of March in the following year.
All Other Land - Slash all grass and clear all inflammable matter on the land and verge to a height no
greater than 5cm, for a width of no less than three metres (3m), immediately inside the external
boundaries of the property. In addition, trees must be trimmed back to provide a vertical clearance of a
minimum three and a half metres (3.5m) to allow fire appliances to drive along the firebreak.
An owner or occupier of the land and verge adjacent that land who fails or neglects to comply with the
requisitions of a notice given pursuant to section 33(1) of the Bush Fires Act 1954 within the time
specified in the notice commits an offence and is liable to a penalty of $5,000 and the City of Nedlands
may direct its officers together with such servants, workmen or contractors, and with such vehicles,
machinery and appliances as the officers deem fit, to enter upon the land and verge and carry out the
requisitions of the notice which have not been complied with and the City of Nedlands may recover the
amount of any costs and expenses incurred in carrying out those requisitions in any court of competent
jurisdiction as a debt due from the owner or occupier of the land.
If it is impracticable for any reason to clear firebreaks or take measures in accordance with this notice,
you may apply to the City of Nedlands in writing before the 19th day of November of each year for
permission to provide fire breaks in alternative positions or to take alternative measures to prevent the
outbreak or spread of a bush fire. If permission is not granted in writing by the City, you shall comply
with the requirements of this Notice.
The requirements of this Notice should be carried out by means other than burning, for example,
mowing and rotary hoeing.
Burning Garden Refuse - Pursuant to the powers contained in the Bush Fires Act 1954 and the City of
Nedlands Health Local Laws 1997, the City of Nedlands prohibits the burning of all garden refuse within
its district. This prohibition applies to all persons within the City’s district. Failure to comply with this
prohibition is an offence with a maximum penalty of $3,000.