Planning Group

·          Achievement of 100% success rate for issue of Planning (Section 149) Certificates. This continues an excellent success rate in excess of the objective of 95%.

·          Additions to Council’s internet site:

o         Relevant Public Exhibition material.

o         Updated information relating to the progress of the rezoning investigations for Heritage Estates.

o         Documentation relating to the Nowra/Bomaderry Structure Plan

o         Documentation relating to the Housing Strategy

o         Population Clock

Finance & Corporate Services Group

§          Partnership with Horizon Credit Union Ltd to install an “ATM” within the Nowra Administration Building to assist the Community with cash payment of Council accounts.

§          Coin operated photocopier installed on Level 3 of the Nowra Administration Building to assist customers with photocopying requirements when lodging DA’s etc.

§          Coffee machine  installed on Level 3 of the Nowra Administration Building to facilitate customers and to provide a comfortable and friendly environment when making enquiries.

§          Council recognized and supported excellence within the Community through individuals and businesses by promoting:

o         School Citizenship Awards

o         Major Arts & Cultural Awards

o         Business Excellence Awards

o         Australia Day Awards

o         Queen’s Birthday Honors Awards

o         Mayoral Civic Receptions for various achievers.

o         Community service awards

§          Council has met all of its statutory reporting requirements concerning the Management Plan and the Annual Report by the nominated deadlines.

§          Ranger Services implemented an animal registration drive across the Shoalhaven City area.  Over 4000 pet owners were contacted as being owners of unregistered dogs or cats.  This process is continuing and a substantial number of pet owners have now registered their animals in accordance with the requirement of the Companion Animals Act.

§          Education in primary schools commenced in June 2006.  Nowra, Nowra Hill, Tomerong and Ulladulla schools received information about animal management issues from Council, veterinarians, RSPCA, Delta Dog presenters, local dog clubs and the Native Animal Network Association. 

Community & Operations Group

Crematorium & Cemeteries

·              Masterplanning for the long-term (60 – 80 years) development of Shoalhaven Memorial Gardens, Worrigee undertaken in respect of burial needs.

·              New Segment 7 of Shoalhaven Memorial Gardens, Worrigee substantially completed.

·              Crypt development at Sandridge Cemetery, Mollymook completed.

·              Cremator unit renovated/rebuilt and re-commissioned in July 2005.

·              Special Community events held included Mothers Day and All Saints Day Services, Remembrance of Deceased Children Service and information tours of Council’s Worrigee facilities.

·              Significant landscaping incorporating low water use “Xenscape” landscaping undertaken at the Shoalhaven Memorial Gardens.

·              Chapel PA system upgraded.

Development & Environmental Services

Application Statistics

Construction Certificate Applications Received

Development Applications Received

The number of construction certificates and development applications received this year are still reflective of an overall downturn in the residential market.  There is some evidence that activity levels are picking up and this can be seen with the increase in DAs for the final quarter.  Even though there has been a lower level of residential applications there has been a substantial number of large, complex commercial and industrial applications processed throughout the year.  These include major shopping centre proposals in Nowra and Vincentia, industrial developments at South Nowra and major subdivisions within the Vincentia locality.

Processing Times Summary - Construction Certificates

Processing Times Summary - Development Applications

The significant rise in average turnaround times for construction certificates is due to a change in administrative procedures with the DARTS computer system.  We are no longer ‘stopping the clock’ for construction certificates following a review of the legislation.  Therefore delays with issues such as requests for additional information or payment of developer contributions will strongly influence these figures.  Median processing times are far less influenced by extreme variations and have remained relatively stable throughout the year.

In terms of DA turnaround times it is very pleasing to see the fourth straight improvement in the median time with this quarter.  Similarly, the average processing times are trending down.  Both the average and median for this quarter are the lowest they have been in the last two years.  Over the year, there has been a concerted effort to reduce the backlog of outstanding applications and get processing times down, in this respect it has been a good year with real progress being achieved and processing times down to more acceptable levels.

60 Day Report

Development and Environmental Services together with Information Technology have been working on providing Councillors with information regarding outstanding development applications (i.e. not determined after 60 days).  A report was made available through DARTS for the Councillors use in April 2006.

DA Tracking

The DA Tracking on-line system has been implemented and is proving popular with applicants and building owners.  Accessed through Council’s website, the progress of a DA and a number of associated documents can be viewed on-line.  The system is being enhanced over time.  Consents can be viewed on-line and submissions will be also available on-line in the very near future.  

MasterPlan and Regulations Reduction Incentive Fund

MasterPlan is a project that will enable on-line enquiry of Council’s Planning Controls that relate to development.  These include the Local Environmental Plan, Development Control Plans, Policies and State Policies.  An applicant will be able to access those documents on-line in a way that will be relevant to a particular land use proposed on a particular allotment.

The project team has been progressing throughout the year and have collated the residential documents into the database.  Work will then proceed in respect of the non-residential related documents.  To assist this process, Council applied for and was successful in receiving Federal grant funds through the Regulation Reduction Incentive Fund (RRIF).  It is expected the work using the grant funds will commence in the first quarter of 2006/2007.

2006 Shoalhaven Building Design Awards

Shoalhaven City Council, along with local businesses, sponsor the Awards founded in 1997, to foster the highest development standards across the City and recognise the finest examples of creative design and quality construction. 

Nominations have been invited for the following categories: Individual House; Alterations and Additions; Medium Density; Heritage Conservation; Commercial/Industrial; Subdivision Design; Environmental Innovation; and Excellent Access to Business Premises.  The Awards will be held 20^th October 2006.

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