In what can only be described as one of the most challenging times on record, Coffs Harbour City Council managed to navigate this period with confidence for the community.
Coffs Harbour City Council Mayor Councillor Denise Knight said “the year of 2019/20 threw everything at us – bushfire, flooding and lastly the COVID-19 pandemic. As a Council we knew we needed to navigate a steady course and try to keep the community as calm as possible.”
“The Coffs Harbour community has been outstanding this year and continues to display amazing resilience as do the Council staff in servicing community needs under tough circumstances.
“Looking back, the official opening of the $18m redevelopment of the C.ex Coffs International Stadium, the staging of the Eco Surf Festival late 2019, and two highly successful Elton John concerts in February 2020 were clear highlights.”
Coffs Harbour City Council General Manager Steve McGrath said “this Annual Report covers a period of time like no other.
“Despite the challenges presented, Council rose to the occasion and kept serving the community as best it could whilst also winning many accolades.
“Council delivered a capital works program of $60.1 million and made ratepayer money go further with a coordinated effort to strategically target grant funding with great success. In total Council received $28.4 million in grants from the NSW and Australian Governments.
“We are also heartened to see such positive results from our Customer Satisfaction Survey with 82 per cent of residents expressing satisfaction with Council.”
Significant projects and achievements of note include:
- Planning and design of the new Cultural and Civic Space, including approval for the demolition of existing site buildings;
- The Build the Best Bypass Campaign which assisted in facilitating the State Government’s commitment to constructing tunnels for the Coffs Harbour Bypass;
- The West Woolgoolga Sports Complex moved closer to reality with the announcement in June of a $10 million Federal Government grant towards the project;
- Completion of works and reopening of the $1.2 million West Coffs Reserve District Park and the $2 million City Square revitalisation;
- 6 Degrees becoming a resource for local businesses during COVID-19, providing resources, training and support activities to assist business owners;
- Significant investment in upgrading all four Coffs Coast Holiday Parks whilst managing a strict COVID-19 regime;
- The commencement of construction of the Coffs Harbour Airport Enterprise Park;
- Design progressed for the replacement of Boambee Creek Footbridge, Melaleuca Street Foot Bridge and Hoist Bridge on Weirs Road;
- The adoption by Council of the Positive Ageing Strategy 2020-2024, the Library Museum Gallery Strategy 2020-2023 and the Lifeguard Services Strategic Plan 2019-2024;
- Public consultation on the draft Coffs Harbour Local Growth Management Strategy;
- Council endorsement of the North Boambee Valley (West) Urban Investigation Area;
- Extensive water, sewer and transport asset works including water main extensions at Moonee Beach, Sandy Beach, and Woolgoolga; and
- Council winning the globally-acclaimed International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA) World Festival and Event City Award for the fifth year in a row, and was named Local Council of the Year at the NSW Champion of Sports Awards run by Sport NSW.
The Coffs Harbour City Council 2019/20 Annual Report – including Council’s statutory information and audited Annual Financial Statements – can be viewed on Council’s website.
Printed copies will be available for viewing at Council’s Customer Service Centre and local libraries.
