AR Bluett Memorial Award nomination 2011/2012
Our Future In Our Hands

2 Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
Council details
Council Name Lake Macquarie City Council
Council Address 126-138 Main Road,
Speers Point NSW 2284
Contact Person Steve Graham
Email sgraham@lakemac.nsw.gov.au
Telephone 02 4921 0186
Fax 02 4921 0351
Mayor Greg Piper
General Manager Brian Bell
Statistics
Total Population 200,849
Source: ABS – Regional Population Growth Table
Population - Urban 200,849
Population - Rural N/A
Council Area 757km2
Staff 897 Full-time equivalent staff at the
end of the reporting period
Date of most recent
organisation structure
review
1 April 2011
Quarterly Review March Review 2012
Designed and printed by Lakemac Print on 100gsm Revive Pure Silk 100% recycled paper

3Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
Index
Executive Summary 4
Environmental Initiatives 7
Culture and Heritage 17
Sport and Recreation 23
Social and Economic Development 27
Health and Community Services 31
Built and Natural Environment 35
Capital Works and Services 39
Corporate and Strategic Planning 43
Awards and Citations 49
List of Projects Completed 50
List of Projects in Progress 55
Supplementary Information 59
Printed on 100gsm Revive Pure Silk 100% recycled paper

4 Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
The City of Lake Macquarie is on the verge
of the most exuberant and exciting phase
in its history.
People who live in the 100 villages that dot
our coast, lake and bush have long known that
we are blessed with a great natural environment,
a strong sense of community, and a positive
vision for our future.
Now, it seems our secret is well and truly out.
People are flocking to Lake Macquarie in search
of a better quality of life, and figures show we’re
growing at one of the fastest rates of any local
government area in New South Wales.
Council’s challenge has been to not shy away
from this changing identity and the inevitable
growing pains it entails.
We have worked very hard in past years to
orient our city for the future and embrace
the opportunity to become a truly progressive
and thriving regional centre. Now it seems our
time has come.
In 2012, Lake Macquarie has emerged as a
confident, self-sufficient city with its future
in its own capable hands.
We are implementing the concepts, plans and
partnerships that are boosting public pride in
our own identity, reinvigorating our townships,
improving the city’s infrastructure, increasing
our amenities and facilities, realising significant
savings for ratepayers across many Council
departments, and ensuring the health and
sustainability of the region.
In a year we hope to fondly refer to as “The Year
of Lake Macquarie”, Council and our community
have founded a new suburb, Lake Macquarie,
and a new tourist route, Lake Macquarie Way.
Lake Macquarie City Council has secured
its financial sustainability for the foreseeable
future and, with that accomplishment, has
attained the means to not only deliver essential
services to our residents, but improve and
increase those services.
For children and their families, we have
constructed the best all-abilities playspace
in Australia. Lake Macquarie Variety Playground
by the lake at Speers Point Park sets a
benchmark for all that we want our facilities
to be – shining examples of award-winning
sustainable design, accessible for all, and well
loved and used by our community.
Construction commenced on a $7 million
Sustainable Resource Centre that will recycle
construction and demolition waste, significantly
decrease tipping costs, and reduce extraction
of virgin quarry products by 55,000 tonnes
per year.
Lake Macquarie saw a record number of homes
and businesses install solar power, while as
a Council we continue to lead the way with
installations on our own buildings.
Executive Summary
Lake Macquarie has
emerged as a confident,
self-sufficient city with its
future in its own
capable hands
Our future in our hands

5Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
Our capacity to create cultural programs of
national and international significance was
proven, with presentation of Lake Macquarie
City Art Gallery’s exhibition A Possum Skin Cloak
by the Lake at the Australian Museum, where it
was seen by more than 50,000 people.
Council has also reached a major long-term
goal this year that will boost employment and
provide economic stimulus for our city and our
region. The recent announcement of $7 million in
funding from the Federal Government will allow
the first stage of the Lake Macquarie Transport
Interchange to proceed, with great benefits
expected to flow for our area.
And it appears we are taking our residents on
this exciting journey with us: Council received
a glowing review in a resident survey which
found that the vast majority of participants were
pleased with Council’s services across a series
of performance indicators, in the past year.
So it is clear: the ideas that were developed
diligently by Council over recent years while we
strove for financial sustainability are now well
and truly coming to fruition.
This AR Bluett Award nomination from Lake
Macquarie City Council demonstrates how the
seeds of our achievements were sown, how they
grew and ripened, and how residents of and
visitors to our burgeoning region will savour the
taste for years to come.

6 Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
Aaron Wright from the
Office of Environment and
Heritage undertaking water
monitoring

7Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
Lake Macquarie City Council’s first
Environmental Sustainability Action Plan
2011-2018 was delivered during the past year,
providing a framework for sustainability planning,
decision-making and action to achieve improved
environmental sustainability for our city.
The plan identifies the vision and strategic
direction for the city in relation to the priority
areas of energy, waste, water, transport, resource
consumption, natural environment, land, climate
change adaptation, natural disasters, and
environmental health. It also sets performance
indicators to track our achievements.
In the past year, consultation conducted as
part of Securing our Future further confirmed
this shared vision. Our community told us they
want to see funding for environmental works
and programs continue beyond 2014 when
the existing sustainability levy will expire. The
approved seven-year rate variation bolsters
Council’s commitment to sustainability, with
funding for environmental works and programs
now incorporated in the city’s rate base.
Environmental Initiatives
Lake Macquarie City Council’s innovative environmental programs and initiatives have consistently
yielded positive results in recent years. Among our many achievements, our work to improve water quality
in the Lake has seen water clarity improve by 95%, our award-winning waste initiatives have reduced
waste to landfill by 23% per capita and increased commercial recycling by 38%, and our action to prepare
our community for future changes in our environment has seen us named national Climate Change
Adaptation Champion.
These achievements have been made possible knowing that our community is right beside us,
consistently confirming through independent surveys and ongoing consultation that sustainability is our
core business – the cornerstone to achieving our shared vision for a quality lifestyle based around a clean
and healthy environment, and balanced economic growth.
Our vision for our future landscape is now crystal clear
Sustainability achievements in 2012:
• Council is on track to deliver green waste service from 2013
• Work begun on a Sustainable Resource Centre which will save
$14 million in tipping fees and new material costs by 2016
• Lake Macquarie a leader in solar power generation
• Five million cubic metres of gaseous waste in landfill
converted into energy
• Free kerbside collections and chemical and e-waste
drop-offs diverted 5700 tonnes of waste from landfill
• Lake health monitored by new ecological response tool
Printed on 100gsm Revive Pure Silk 100% recycled paper

8 Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
Building, broadening and bins
the basis of a brilliant back-up plan
Despite considerable obstacles,
Lake Macquarie City Council is now well
on the way to having a sustainable waste
management solution.
Council embarked on a new waste strategy in
2009, after the discontinuation of a regional
project that would have diverted 70% of waste
from landfill. The complexity of the regional
solution and global financial concerns forced its
abandonment; however, Council needed to find
another waste management solution promptly
because the city’s only landfill was reaching
capacity and the State Government’s looming
waste levy, carbon tax and waste diversion policy
applied their own pressures.
In developing the strategy, Council took what we
describe as a 360-degree approach, including:
• Expansion of the city’s only landfill site
• Development of an Alternative Waste
Treatment Facility
• Introduction of a new three-bin system
• An education program encouraging residents
to avoid, reduce, re-use, and recycle
These solutions contained in our strategy will:
• Extend the life of the city’s landfill site by
20 years at the current filling rate
• Recover green and organic waste and
re-use it as quality compost
• Surpass the State Government’s target of
diverting 66% of municipal waste from landfill,
which will prolong the life of the city’s landfill
site beyond 20 years
We reached a number of key milestones this
year. We are now ready to award a contract for
the delivery of the new green bin service and
processing of green waste. This new service will
be operational by April 2013 and will provide
immediate savings compared to Council’s
current solution.
Council has also awarded a contract for the
Green Waste Community Education Campaign,
which will be an extension of the award-winning
Waste Awareness Campaign that was led by
Arrrthur the Pirate (below). The main objective
of this new program is to educate our community
about the new bin system.
Council submitted a development application
for the expansion of the city's landfill site.
Preparations also started on the development
application for the first stage of the new
Alternative Waste Treatment Facility. Once these
are complete, the city will have a sustainable,
cost-effective, and environmentally sound
waste solution.
Environmental Initiatives
We never let good opportunities go to waste
Say to waste!Avoid Reduce Reuse Recycle
For more information contact Council’s Customer Service Centre
on 4921 0333 or go to www.arrr.com.au/services
The following eWaste itemsare accepted for recyclingat the Awaba Waste
Management Facility,
Wilton Road, Awaba:
• Computers and accessories
• TVs
• Stereos
• DVD and video players
• Microwave ovens
• Hand held electric items
• Mobile phones
Opening hours 8am to 4pm every dayexcept Christmas Day.
Household quantities only.
y
Free Waste
Drop Off
Services
Cluttered?
Stressed?
Recycle Batteries, LightGlobes and Mobile Phonesin the specially marked
boxes at the following LakeMacquarie City Council
locations:
• Customer Service Centre• Toronto Library
• Morisset Library
• Charlestown Library
(batteries and light globes only)• Swansea Library
All light globes must be clean andunbroken. Only household light globesand batteries accepted. No automotivebatteries. All mobile phones andaccessories accepted.

9Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
Environmental Initiatives
What is old is new again
Lake Macquarie City Council started
construction of a $7 million Sustainable
Resource Centre this year as part of its
commitment to pursuing innovation in
sustainable resource management.
Due for completion in 2016, the Centre
will recycle construction, green and
demolition waste, saving Council and the
community in tipping fees, construction
material, and landfill waste.
The construction process itself is worth
highlighting as a unique, innovative achievement.
Waste material from other Council construction
sites is being re-used to build the centre, saving
Council over $14 million in disposal fees and
new material costs.
The Sustainable Resource Centre will:
• Reduce Council’s dependence on virgin
quarry products for road construction and
reconstruction. This potentially will save the
extraction and use of 55,000 tonnes of quarry
gravel each year
• Save Council $14 million in waste disposal
fees over the construction period
• Extend the life of Council’s only landfill site
• Create opportunities for neighbouring
councils, developers, and contractors to
dispose of construction and demolition waste
recyclables at reasonable cost
• Rehabilitate a currently degraded Council-
owned site by developing a facility with
long-term use assured
• Provide opportunities for revenue through
external sales, once Council’s needs are met

10 Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
Learning the other “Three R’s”
– recycling, reducing, recovering
Lake Macquarie City Council places a strong
emphasis on community education, the provision
of public recycling services and facilities, and
improvements to our operations.
Council delivers a range of community
educational programs and many free services
that allow residents to conveniently drop-off
unwanted goods.
Some of our sustainable waste management
initiatives in the past year included:
• Saving 5 million cubic metres of gaseous
waste from entering the atmosphere,
by extracting it from the Awaba Waste
Management Facility and converting it into
energy which entered the city’s electricity grid
• An e-waste recovery program which allowed
residents to recycle a record 120 tonnes of
unwanted electrical items
• A kerbside bulk and green waste collection
service in which much of the material is
sorted and recovered for re-use, saving
almost 5000 tonnes of landfill
• Recycling days during which residents could
drop off e-waste and hazardous household
waste at set locations around the city, saving
approximately 700 tonnes of landfill
• Our new Love Food, Hate Waste program,
encouraging a healthy habit of reducing waste
and re-using food for composting
• An extensive range of waste education
programs, the most popular being the
Sustainable Living Workshops, at which
residents and children learned to minimise
their impact on the environment by reducing
waste, using environmentally-friendly
products and recycling
Environmental Initiatives

11Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
Lake Macquarie
7.3%
Households
with PVs
Gosford
5.7%
Households
with PVs
Wyong
6.5%
Households
with PVs
Newcastle
5.5%
Households
with PVs
Port Stephens
7.0%
Households
with PVs
Maitland
6.0%
Households
with PVs
Sutherland
4.0%
Households
with PVs
Bankstown
4.0%
Households
with PVs
Warringah
4.3%
Households
with PVs
Hornsby
5.5%
Households
with PVs
quarie
%
holds
PVs
Gosford
5.7%
Households
with PVs
Wyong
6.5%
Households
with PVs
Newcastle
5.5%
Households
with PVs
Port Stephens
7.0%
Households
with PVs
Maitland
6.0%
Households
with PVs
Sutherland
4.0%
Households
with PVs
Bankstown
4.0%
Households
with PVs
Warringah
4.3%
Households
with PVs
Hornsby
5.5%
Households
with PVs
Lake Macquarie recently emerged as the
greatest solar powerhouse in the Lower Hunter,
with 5751 domestic solar photovoltaic systems
installed across the city.
In a report published in early 2012 by energy
provider Ausgrid, Lake Macquarie City Council
now sits at the top of the network’s ladder, with
an overall generating capacity of 11.8 megawatts.
Council calculates that as well as generating
renewable energy, the installed units will
also generate energy savings of around
$4.3 million each year for customers across
the city and reduce carbon emissions by
18,000 tonnes a year.
The city’s high percentage of stand-alone
houses gives it a natural advantage for solar
uptake. The excellent uptake rate is also the
result of Council’s proactive work over the past
four years to demonstrate the benefits of solar
power and make it easier for residents to access
government rebates and incentives.
Energy workshops and stalls from local solar
providers were hosted at Council’s Living
Smart Festival, which each year attracts more
than 8000 visitors. A series of Smart Energy
Workshops and information in Council’s free
Sustainable Living Guide, its website, media
releases and e-newsletters, have also generated
strong interest from the community.
Environmental Initiatives
Households with PV system (%)
Sydney inset
A city with a sunny disposition

12 Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
In encouraging our residents to take up solar
power, Lake Macquarie City Council has also
been keen to walk its own talk. Council has
installed photovoltaics capable of generating
a combined 95 kilowatts on our major buildings
including our Art Gallery, Works Depot and
SES Office.
With the installation of panels on Charlestown
Library completed in June 2012, Council now has
seven buildings fitted with solar power, a move
which presently saves the city $38,000 a year.
With electricity prices set to rise by an estimated
20% from July 2012, these savings will increase.
By converting to solar, Council has also reduced
its carbon emissions by 146 tonnes.
Environmental Initiatives
Council Sites Capacity (kW) kWh pa Total Benefit pa
Toronto MPC 7.02 10,249 $ 6150
Speers Point Pool 4.86 7,096 $ 4257
Works Depot (System 1) 6.48 9,461 $ 1892
Works Depot (System 2) 15 21,900 $ 4380
Art Gallery 30 43,800 $ 8760
Landcare Office 6.3 9,198 $ 5519
Charlestown Library 10 14,600 $ 2920
SES Office 15 21,900 $ 4380
Total 95 138,204 $ 38,258
Council’s solar sites and yearly savings
Keen to show off our own solar “flair”

13Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
Environmental Initiatives
We have acquired a powerful new tool to care for
our iconic lake and the myriad of life it supports.
The Ecosystem Response Model is designed to
help Council and other authorities understand
how changes in the catchment influence the
water quality and ecology of the lake.
Already, this new tool has helped identify parts
of the lake that are most sensitive to pollutants
and highlighted the importance of seagrass for
aquatic life in Lake Macquarie.
Work in the past year has seen the delivery of:
• Models of key ecosystem processes
in the lake
• Catchment in-flow and run-off modelling
• A bathymetric survey of the lake, and its
bays and tributaries
• A model of lake water flows, including tidal
and wind circulation
We are now drawing on this knowledge to further
develop the Ecosystem Response Model.
The data will help Council manage sustainable
development by predicting the impacts of
proposed land use changes, including major
developments and cumulative effects of new
urban developments.
The model will also help identify where pollution
from catchments is likely to lead to significant
or rapid deterioration in the lake ecosystem,
and will help predict impacts such as the
breakout of damaging algal blooms.
With this new tool in hand, Council is now
better equipped to prioritise its environmental
rehabilitation and water quality improvement
works.
Specialist health care for our very special icon

14 Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
Drawing on innovative community development
practice, the Lake Macquarie Sustainable
Neighbourhoods Program continues to empower
residents to plan and implement sustainability
projects in their own areas.
This award-winning program, pioneered by
Lake Macquarie City Council, encourages
communities to unite and create a range of
practical projects to care for their natural
environments, improve the efficiency of their use
of resources, and enhance their neighbourhoods
- all with Council's support.
Since its inception in 2009, 17 Sustainable
Neighbourhoods have been formed around
the city, each with its own Sustainable
Neighbourhood Action Plan. Every group
formed has engendered a sense of pride and
belonging. Examples of projects can be found at
www.sustainableneighbourhoods.org.au.
In the past year the program has come of age,
with establishment of an association to support
the network of 17 groups and help them perform
even more effectively in the future. Council has
developed a Community Resource Toolkit for
the groups, providing resources for members to
operate according to their Action Plans.
Program expands its horizons
The Sustainable Neighbourhoods Program
formed new community partnerships in the past
year, including one with Glendale TAFE in which
students joined Sustainable Neighbourhood
Program volunteers to complete a series of
projects according to the groups’ Action Plans.
Morisset Sustainable Neighbourhood Group
teamed up with TAFE students to implement their
Buy Local campaign, which sought to encourage
a thriving Morisset town centre by encouraging
residents to shop in town. The campaign was
also supported by Southlake Business Chamber
and Community Alliance, and local businesses.
Environmental Initiatives
Neighbourhoods developed by the people, for the people
The program encourages
communities to unite and
create a range of practical
projects to care for their
natural environments,
improve the efficiency of
their use of resources,
and enhance their
neighbourhoods

15Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
Environmental Initiatives
Lake
Macquarie
Newcastle
Speers Point
Warners
Bay
Woodrising
Eleebana
Mandalong Morisset
Cooranbong
Valentine
Wangi
Wangi
Edgeworth /
Cameron Park
Glendale
N
Dudley
Cardiff
Elermore
Vale
Swansea
LT Creek
Belmont
Catherine
Hill Bay
Redhead
Marks
Point
Caves
Beach
Watagans
National Park
Garden
Suburb
Glenrock
StateConservation
Reserve
Green Point
Foreshore
Reserve
Charlestown
Freemans
Waterhole
List of Sustainable Neighbourhood events
and projects completed in 2011/2012:
SWANSEA
• Community Days – Animals,
Marine, Rainforest and Bushfire
• Mangrove Walk and Talk with
local expert
• Film Screening, BAG IT
• Swansea Primary School Anti-Litter
Project (over 100 entries)
LT CREEK
• Landcare Working Bee
• Neighbourhood Picnic
REDHEAD
• Coastal Corridor Project
• Film Screening, BAG IT
• Youth Engagement Project
• Earth Hour Block Event
• Music Trivia Night
EDGEWORTH CAMERON PARK:
• Buy Sell Swap Day
• Park Fishing Workshop and
Landcare day
WOODRISING
• Community Garden –
initiation
COORANBONG
• Film Screening, BAG IT
at Cooranbong
MORISSET
• Morisset and Peninsula
Buy Local Day
VALENTINE
• Family Fun Day
MANDALONG
• Sustainability in Action -
Sustainable House Tour

Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/201216
Doug Archibald wearing
The Lake Cloak from A Possum Skin Cloak by the Lake 2011
ochre, waxed saddle twine,
resin on possum pelts
200 x 170cm, in the custodianship of
Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery Aboriginal Reference Group
image courtesy LMCAG ARG

17Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
This year Council continued to maintain
partnerships with the community and the
three Aboriginal Land Councils to deliver a
range of programs aimed at encouraging healthy
living, community leadership, participation in
community events, and raising public awareness.
A standout milestone in 2012 is the adoption
of Council’s Aboriginal Heritage Management
Strategy. This strategy sets out how Council
and the local Aboriginal community will work
together in using a holistic approach to protect
and nurture our Aboriginal heritage through new
strategic planning and conservation guidelines,
improved processes in regards to development
assessment, improved management of public
land, and increased support for Aboriginal
community cultural initiatives.
Over the past year, Council has also supported
and worked closely with the community to:
• Launch the inaugural Lake Macquarie
NAIDOC fund, which provides $5000 to
organisations that wish to participate in
NAIDOC Week
• Celebrate NAIDOC Week and
Reconciliation Week
• Donate a further $4000 through the
Community, Cultural and Sporting Assistance
Grant to organisations and groups that
support the Aboriginal community
• Continue funds to employ a full-time
Aboriginal Community Development Officer
• Start the process of employing an Aboriginal
graduate on a 12-week work placement to
assist with delivering community programs
• Host the Lower Hunter Cultural Forum 2012,
aimed at raising cultural awareness in field
staff, focusing on how to identify Aboriginal
sites when working on planning projects or
Council land
Culture and Heritage
Lake Macquarie City has the second largest Aboriginal population in NSW. This year Council dedicated
additional funding to deliver programs that celebrate our Indigenous heritage by bringing the Aboriginal
and broader community together. Key messages communicated through these programs encouraged
healthy living, community leadership, and participation.
Working with our Aboriginal community
Culture and Heritage achievements in 2012:
• 70-80% of gallery exhibitions celebrated Indigenous content
• Adopted a city Aboriginal Heritage Management Strategy after
several years of development
• Local exhibition, A Possum Skin Cloak by the Lake, went national
• Adopted new delivery model to transform city libraries
• Rich city culture digitally preserved

18
Our gallery of gems by the lake
Located on the foreshore of the lake, Lake
Macquarie City Art Gallery is an exceptional
cultural and tourist destination. The gallery is
widely recognised for its relevant community
projects and finely curated exhibitions featuring
nationally significant contemporary artists, many
of whom share a link with the Hunter region.
Respectful Aboriginal projects are also a strong
and important component of the program, as is
the strategic selection of outstanding
touring shows and educational programs.
The gallery has won many local, state and
national awards in the tourism and local
government sectors, for excellence in education,
cultural development and programming, in
particular, Aboriginal programming.
In 2012 the gallery produced Beyond the
Dot: 12 years of Indigenous programming, an
exhibition and publication documenting the
gallery’s ongoing commitment to local and
national Aboriginal art, artists and education.
Beyond the Dot demonstrates how this long-
term partnership has been expressed through
mutual participation and truth telling; looking
beyond the dot – beyond a commercially viable
and audience-guaranteed view of Indigenous
exhibition content, to one that is about
community and integrity.
In the national spotlight
The capacity of the gallery to generate
nationally significant programs was
demonstrated this year when A Possum
Skin Cloak by the Lake was presented at the
Australian Museum, where it was seen by
more than 50,000 people.
This significant cultural revival project,
developed in partnership with the Aboriginal
Reference Group and local Aboriginal
community members during 2009-2011,
received further recognition this year when
it won the Aboriginal Cultural Development
(Division C) of the Local Government Cultural
Awards presented by the Local Government
and Shires Associations of NSW.
Culture and Heritage
Home is where the art is

19Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
Culture and Heritage
Pushing the right buttons
Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery publications
are regularly acknowledged by the industry with
the presentation of many awards. At the 2011
Museums Australia Multimedia and Publication
Design Awards (MAPDA) in Perth last November,
the gallery’s Carnival exhibition catalogue took
top honours with Best in Show. This is the
gallery’s 12th
MAPDA in six years.
In the past year, the gallery has put the
same strengths to work on digital publishing,
with excellent results. A beautiful and
engaging new website (below) offering online
access to the gallery’s exhibitions, education
programs and resources, residencies and
collection was launched in June 2012 at
www.artgallery.lakemac.com.au.

Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/201220
Culture and Heritage
Turning a new leaf
Precious content preserved for all time
Lake Macquarie City Library understands the
need to digitally preserve the contents of rare,
fragile collections of historical items. Through
our Digital History Project, developed in the past
year, Council has started digitising precious
content and has purchased software that
enables residents to easily access some of our
most important cultural history.
One way in which this technology will benefit our
society for decades to come is the preservation
of the lives of the residents who came before us.
Lake Macquarie has a long, rich history of mining
and lead smelting, but the city does not have
a museum to celebrate the people and culture
of those industries. Through our Digital History
Project, which was supported by a $42,000 grant
from the State Library and Library Board of NSW,
such valuable historical data about our city’s past
will be preserved and promoted.
Proud of our city, our people,
our communities
Lake Macquarie City Council encourages a sense
of community pride, belonging and wellbeing by
bringing residents together at events throughout
the year. Holding meaningful, high-quality events
promotes a positive image of Council and allows
us to communicate with our community.
New special events held during the year
included:
• Regal by the Lake
• Shakespeare in the Park
• Lower Hunter Cultural Forum to aid
consultation with our Indigenous residents
• Nourish Your Soul film series, with local
nutritionist Jen Parker
• $0 Marketing Strategies delivered to business
managers and community groups
• Openings of new facilities such as Lake
Macquarie Variety Playground, Wyee Point
Recreation Facility, Cameron Park BMX Track,
and Cardiff Sporting Amenities Building
We also continued with our popular annual
events such as:
• Living Smart Festival
• Carols by Candlelight
• Lake Macquarie Festival (Australia Day)
• Children’s Week
• Seniors’ Week
• Harmony Day (new in 2012)
• NAIDOC Week
• International Day of Disability
• Youth Week
• Earth Hour
• Volunteers’ Week
Community consultation
used to develop Council’s
City Cultural Plan suggested
the heritage of Lake
Macquarie was often
unknown, even to
some locals

21Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
Culture and Heritage
Writing the book on libraries of the future
The Library Service Delivery Model approved
by Council in November 2011 will help Lake
Macquarie transform its traditional library
service into one reflective of the needs and
wants of the community moving forward.
The model was developed to address challenges
confronting local libraries in recent years.
Lake Macquarie City Library has 10 branches
and a mobile library service. With a patronage
of 26% of the city’s population, our membership
falls below the NSW average of 45%; although,
our library loans statistics meet the state
average, which indicates that residents who
use our libraries do so frequently and very well.
Council enlisted consultancy group Libraries
Alive! in 2010 to help revitalise the city’s library
service. Community consultation involved a
library users’ survey of 3000 respondents,
10 public forums and a phone survey of
non-library users conducted by Hunter Valley
Research Foundation.
The completed Model developed in the past year
ventures beyond the concept of a library as a
municipal building, to a model that embraces
technology and contemporary approaches to
community involvement. It outlines access to
e-books and digital downloads, and focuses on
improving access and promotion of Council’s
award-winning early literacy and engagement
programs such as BaRK, Read & Rhyme Time,
and Seniors Programs and services.
The Model paved the way for two new libraries
to be built in the fast-growing suburbs of
Glendale and Morisset, and work is under way
to relocate Cardiff Library to a busy area of the
retail precinct.

Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/201222
The aim of the playground
was to create networks
of play experiences to
challenge and interest
children of all ages and
abilities, and contribute
strongly to the health of
our community

23Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
It’s official: we have the
Best Play Space in the country
Lake Macquarie Variety Playground at
Speers Point Park was awarded Best Play
Space in Australia by Parks and Leisure Australia
in September 2011. The honour rewards
innovation in design, response to community
needs, project management, play value and
community satisfaction.
The aim of the playground was to create
networks of play experiences to challenge
and interest children of all ages and abilities,
and contribute strongly to the health of our
community by encouraging children, families
and carers to be more active.
The playground was officially opened last
October, following the completion of the final
stages of its construction – a new lake-front
café and restroom facilities.
Landscape architects from Council’s City
Projects Team designed the playground and
most of the building work was undertaken by
Council’s engineering and construction arm,
CiviLake. Council used recycled materials –
including wonderful reclaimed radio dishes –
and durable, low-maintenance components
that discourage vandalism.
Lake Macquarie Variety Playground was also
awarded the Australian Institute of Landscape
Architects (NSW Chapter) Design Award.
Sport and Recreation
Fun and games for all
Lake Macquarie City Council recognises the significant role quality sport and recreation facilities play in
building happy, safe and healthy communities. In the past year, we have also demonstrated the positive
contribution of sustainable design in providing better services while saving ratepayers’ money.
• Opened the Lake Macquarie Variety Playground
– awarded best play space in Australia
• Commenced roll out of the Cameron Park
Sport and Recreation Masterplan, with
BMX track now complete
• Opened the Wallsend to Glendale shared
pathway
• Delivered better, more sustainable pools
and sports fields
Sport and Recreation
achievements in 2012:

Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/201224
Proud to have our head in the clouds
In March, Lake Macquarie City Council kicked off
an exciting new sport and recreational facilities
masterplan with the opening of the first of many
projects, a freestyle BMX track in Cameron Park.
The track is built in an area with a strong BMX
heritage and provides a safe yet challenging
facility for riders of all skill levels. The track
was built to blend in with its surrounds and was
jointly funded with the NSW Department of Sport
and Recreation.
Also featuring a sheltered area, lawns, a bubbler
and seating, the track was designed in close
collaboration with the local BMX community.
Council’s Cameron Park Masterplan will also see
the construction of multipurpose sports fields,
a skate park, tennis and netball facilities,
a children’s playground, an off-leash dog exercise
area, and pedestrian pathways and bridges.
A cycleway built for two
The $1.5 million Wallsend-to-Glendale shared
pathway opened in June and completed a
3.65km route that serves as both an attractive
recreational feature in the west of Lake
Macquarie and Newcastle cities, and a crucial
link in the region’s cycling network.
The pathway connects Lake Macquarie residents
to bike routes that go to John Hunter Hospital,
the University of Newcastle and Tighes Hill TAFE.
It is a good example of councils and the State
Government working together to produce
good quality infrastructure - the NSW state
government contributed $750,000 to the
project, while Lake Macquarie and Newcastle
councils contributed $375,000.
Sport and Recreation
The project is a great
example of local and
state governments
working together to
produce a quality piece
of infrastructure that
will benefit the region
as a whole

25Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
Sport and Recreation
The grass is greener
A 2012 collaboration between Lake Macquarie
City Council departments, Kahibah Football Club
and Charlestown District Cricket Club has led
to the installation of a new irrigation system at
Kahibah Sports Ground.
The system means that water is now applied
evenly across the whole ground and is scheduled
to activate at night, to minimise water loss.
The result is a better quality surface, healthier
grass, and a safer playing environment at
Kahibah Sports Ground (while club volunteers
tell us they are delighted that they no longer
have to manually water two hectares of ground).
The project is a first step in a potential
stormwater harvesting and re-use project.
Meanwhile, a 35,000-litre rainwater tank is
used for the irrigation.
Winter swimming possible thanks
to a nice, warming “pool-over”
A more sustainable 12-month swimming season
is on offer at Lake Macquarie City Council pools,
after the installation of new pool covers and heat
banks at Charlestown Swim Centre saw it close
in on its goal of staying open all year without
wasting energy unnecessarily.
The new covers trap warmth and reduce
evaporation, and will work in conjunction
with the new heat banks to keep the water
temperature in the mid-20s, even in winter.
The project, a collaboration between Council’s
sustainability department and pool services
team, saves $127,500 a year in energy and water
costs that would not have been realised had the
pool stayed open all year round without it.
The project will also see the replacement of old
pool covers at Morisset, Swansea, Toronto, and
West Wallsend pools this year.

Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/201226
A suburb named Lake
Macquarie is a powerful idea
that over time will benefit
the area through improved
business opportunities and
greater recognition from
state and Commonwealth
governments
Mayor, Greg Piper MP

27Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
Putting Lake Macquarie City on the map
Plans to rename a section of Speers Point to
Lake Macquarie will help Council strengthen
the identity of our city. In May 2012, Council
made a submission to the Geographic Names
Board to create a new suburb that has lake
frontage, and incorporates Speers Point Park and
the site of Council’s administrative centre.
Council is also in the process of renaming Main
Road 217 to Lake Macquarie Way, in a bid to
enhance the identity of the city for tourism and
mapping purposes.
A suburb named Lake Macquarie provides
opportunities beyond a name – it creates a
sense of identity and pride. It will add strength to
the city’s brand and be communicated through
Council’s economic development and tourism
campaigns. There are many practical flow-on
benefits that over time will make Lake Macquarie
a distinguishable place to live, work, and visit.
These include:
• The city being allowed to install new signage
on the F3 freeway
• Lake Macquarie being identifiable in GPS
mapping systems
• Being identifiable in online searches
Social and Economic
Development
Lake Macquarie’s days as a sleepy shire with a population of a few thousand people have long gone.
However, perceptions of the city as being an outer suburb or Newcastle – or even worse – being confused
with Port Macquarie still remain. Over the past year, Lake Macquarie City Council has been promoting the
city as a the ultimate place to visit, live, work, and invest in.
What’s in a name?
• Set to create a new suburb, Lake Macquarie
and new tourist route, Lake Macquarie Way
• Launched a new tourism campaign
• Launched the Town Centre Personality Program
linking each of the nine town centres
• Installed town centre signage for beautification
and to strengthen the city brand
Social and Economic Development
achievements in 2012:

Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/201228

29Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
Lots to love, see and do
A new tourism campaign launched in March
2012 aims to put Lake Macquarie City in the
minds of holidaymakers from the Hunter,
Sydney, and further afield.
As well as increasing brand awareness of
the city itself, the new campaign focuses on
the many attractions visitors can enjoy.
It builds on the award-winning Love the Lake
brand and showcases the area as providing,
“Lots to love, see and do”.
To communicate these messages, Lake
Macquarie City Council produced a range of
new integrated marketing materials for
distribution via print, TV, online, and mobile
phone applications, including:
• A new suite of visitor publications, featuring
visitor guide, map, and walking trails
• Print advertising, display materials, and
updated website design
• A new catalogue of promotional photographs
of the city
• Video footage, produced with funding from
Destination NSW, and used to create a
two-and-a-half minute online video and a
30-second television commercial
• Two mobile phone applications for walking
trails and kayaking routes
One lake, 100 villages, one proud city
The geographical size of our city - and the fact
there is a large lake right in the middle of it - can
sometimes pose challenges for Lake Macquarie
City Council and our many communities.
To create a stronger sense of identity and
connection between communities spread far and
wide, we launched the Town Centre Personality
Project. The aim of this project is to identify the
unique selling points of each town centre, while
forming clear links with one city brand.
In the past year, Council produced marketing
material, town centre signage, and streetscape
designs with consistent messages and imagery,
which will all help us achieve our objective
of increasing employment opportunities and
investment in our city.
Social and Economic
Development
Lake Macquarie City
will become better known
as a city with excellent
work/life opportunities,
attracting business
investment to the region

Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/201230

31Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
We have gone one step further in
understanding and meeting the
needs of our growing ageing population this
year, with development of a Draft Seniors’
Housing Strategy.
Currently on public exhibition, the Strategy aims
to establish the current supply of housing for
residents aged 55 years and over and to identify
models of housing available to seniors locally,
nationally and internationally. It includes home
ownership, rental and share arrangements,
independent living units, residential parks, and
residential aged care facilities.
The Strategy will be valuable in helping Council
understand the social and financial implications
of the various models of accommodation used
by seniors, and identifying the restrictions
planning and regulatory controls can have on the
development of seniors’ housing. Importantly, it
will enable Council to identify the best and most
appropriate options for the future development
of housing for seniors in Lake Macquarie.
Health and Community
Services
Lake Macquarie City Council is committed to ensuring that the community service needs of our residents
are met through the provision of affordable and accessible services, and programs that make our city a
better and safer place to live.
Health and Community Services
achievements in 2012:
• Developed Seniors’ Housing Strategy identifying
accommodation options for over 55s in our city.
• Helped Lake Macquarie Youth Advisory Council
produce a video for presentation to Councillors
about youth service needs
• Worked with NSW Juvenile Justice to deliver
graffiti removal programs
• Collaborated with Lake Macquarie Police
to reduce car theft
Seniors’ Housing Strategy

Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/201232
Giving young people
a direct voice to Council
Councils have a lot to do with their local
youth but traditionally have not been all that
good at understanding their needs. Nearly
three and a half years ago, Council established
the Lake Macquarie Youth Advisory Council to
help us understand the needs of this important
demographic and to allow them to contribute to
the decision-making process.
The advisory council, with support from
Council staff, has this year produced a video
for presentation to Councillors. The video
highlights what Lake Macquarie young people
like and their concerns about living in the local
area, including areas where services could be
improved or increased.
Operation bounce back
Lake Macquarie had great success in
implementing Operation Bounce Back last
year, with the National Motor Vehicle Theft
Reduction Council (NMVTRC) applauding
Council’s campaign to prevent vehicle theft
and immobilise older vehicles.
The NMVTRC’s Executive Director, Ray
Carroll said, “Operation Bounce Back is now
in its eighth year and has achieved considerable
success through its duration. The project is
a great example of how local government
and police can work together to tackle a
major crime issue”.
Importantly, the project really confronts the
key issue that drives local statistics – the
high number of older, unsecured cars that are
vulnerable to theft.
Lake Macquarie’s Operation Bounce Back
campaign this year gave away 100 Australian
Standards-approved engine immobilisers, fully-
installed, to owners of older vehicles and those
who have been a victim of vehicle theft.
The surrounding education campaign saw vehicle
theft prevention tips promoted at shopping
centres as well as via comprehensive radio and
local print media advertising.
Graffiti hotspots program
Council’s Graffiti Hotspots program has
successfully targeted Newcastle's five most
prominent graffiti hot spots.
Suburbs including Warners Bay, Windale,
Edgeworth, Cardiff and Charlestown were
targeted in the program, which seeks to include
the involvement of young offenders to remove
graffiti from roads, parks and other public
property around the city.
Other proactive approaches, such as the planting
of semi-mature trees, native shrubs and grasses,
and engaging youth in installing and maintaining
public beautification projects, were incorporated
in the program.
The program, initiated in 2010 as part of the NSW
Graffiti Action Plan, has left the Department of
Attorney General and Justice impressed and
forged an ongoing partnership between Council
and Juvenile Justice NSW. An inspection of the
sites by department officials on completion of
the program in April 2012 confirmed that the
hotspots had been transformed. To build on this
success Council has now committed a further
$25,000 per year to ongoing clean up of graffiti
sites around the city.
Health and Community
Services

33Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
Empowering communities
Council has introduced a volunteer management
model for our sporting facilities traditionally
managed by Council – including ovals, tennis and
netball courts, and equestrian grounds. Across
the city, Community Operating Committees,
incorporated clubs or associations have been
granted delegated authority from Council to
undertake the care, control and operation of
their local facility.
The volunteer model is unique among councils
in the local area, fostering co-operation
between local user groups and building
partnerships between sharing sports groups,
residents and Council.
The model builds community capacity by
devolving management responsibilities to
community sporting groups, and thereby
increases the sense of ownership and control
in local communities.
Fees are raised and managed by the Community
Operating Committees and are put towards
day-to-day facility operation costs, as well as
improvements and capital works.
Health and Community
Services

Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/201234

35Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
Over the past two years Council has
developed its comprehensive Asset
Management Framework that identifies the
levels of maintenance and renewal required to
keep the city’s infrastructure functioning safely.
Council restructured the department responsible
for managing the city’s assets, aligning its
operations with the Framework. An Asset
Management Steering Group was also developed
to maximise synergies between departments.
This year Council's Asset Management Steering
Group developed a strategy implementation
plan that sets out how we move forward and
get the work done. We also revised the Asset
Management Framework following an audit that
provided valuable information on the current
standard of all city infrastructure.
Primed with these foundations in place, Council
was in a strong position to apply for a general rate
variation that would provide the essential funds to
bring city assets up to a satisfactory standard.
Announced in June this year, Council was
successful in gaining, with significant community
support, IPART approval for a rate variation that
will allow us to address the city’s $67 million
maintenance backlog.
The ideas that were developed diligently by
Council staff over the past years, while we strove
for financial sustainability, are now well and truly
coming to fruition.
Built and Natural
Environment
Securing our Future
• Secured funds to address our $67 million
infrastructure backlog and revitalise
city assets
• Adopted our first-ever Cycleway Strategy
to make cycling an attractive and practical
transport choice
• Secured $7 million for Glendale Transport
Interchange to proceed
• Reviewed the Local Environment Plan to align
with our growth needs
• Rezoned the Pasminco smelter site for
residential and commercial uses
Built and Natural Environment
achievements in 2012:

Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/201236
The year ahead
With funding secured in the past year,
we will now begin to make our roads safer
and better to drive on. Stormwater will be better
managed around the city, with a $3.8 million
investment in improving and replacing drainage.
Our community will also benefit from
improvements to our footways and cycleways,
with $1.6 million allocated for new footpaths,
on and off-street cycleways and extension of
the shared pathway from Glendale to Marmong
Point, and planning for an extension of the
coastal cycleway from Belmont to Blacksmiths.
An additional $2 million has been allocated for
upgrades and replacement works for sport and
recreation facilities, including improvements
to the playing field and car park at Liles Oval in
Redhead, and better lighting at New Tredinnick
Field in Speers Point and Ulinga Oval in Cardiff.
These are just some of the great projects that
will revitalise our city over the next few years.
Intelligent preparation for an
increasing population
Lake Macquarie City must accommodate an
additional 12,200 jobs and 7800 dwellings by
2031, according to the NSW Department of
Planning’s Lower Hunter Regional Strategy.
To satisfy this, Council is working to promote
and develop our nine town centres to help them
attract more housing opportunities, jobs and
services to provide for the expected arrival of
more residents in the future.
In the past year, Council has achieved significant
goals to ensure controlled and sustainable
growth, including:
• Completing the former Pasminco lead smelter
rezoning, which will now accommodate for a
mix of residential and commercial uses.
• Amending the Town Centres Development
Control Plan
• Refining the Local Environmental Plan to
align with current and future needs
• Launching the Town Centre Personality project
Built and Natural
Environment

37Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
Built and Natural
Environment
We feel a real connection
The recent announcement of $7 million from
the Federal Government’s Regional Development
Australia Fund allows the go-ahead for the Lake
Macquarie Transport Interchange.
The Interchange will provide an integrated
system of transport modes that will connect
people with the residential, retail and
industrial areas at Glendale. It will deliver
immediate economic stimulus to the region,
which will encourage significant investment
in the Glendale and Cardiff areas, create an
additional 550 direct jobs and 1260 indirect
jobs, and generate an anticipated economic
flow on of over $300 million.
Allocated in June 2012, the funds will allow
the project to start in stages with the first
being the construction of road extending
between two major roadways. This is an
important part of the final project, but in itself
will be hugely beneficial in improving immediate
traffic flows around this area.
Strategy in gear
Lake Macquarie City’s first ever Cycleway
Strategy was adopted by Council in June, with
recognition that cycling can help address the
problems of traffic congestion and provide great
health, social, financial, and environmental
benefits to the community.
The Strategy aims to make cycling an easy, safe,
and attractive transport choice for the people of
Lake Macquarie. It contains a suite of initiatives,
including establishing a network of on-road and
off-road cycling paths to link the city together,
and training sessions to help children and new
cyclists ride safely and confidently.
Hunter Councils unanimously
supported this as being the
highest priority infrastructure
project for the region
General Manager, Brian Bell

Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/201238

39Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
Capital Works and Services
Lake Macquarie City Council places great
importance in making the city comfortable to
live in, with convenient access for everyone.
In the past 12 months, Council has made
great progress in achieving both of these
goals, particularly for people with a disability.
Council has been implementing the strategies
included in its Disability Action Plan, which
uses a holistic approach to improving accessible
services and facilities.
The strategy includes improving development
controls pertaining to disabled access, capital
works for on-ground improvements, construction
of improved pedestrian infrastructure, and more
opportunities for people with a disability to
participate in community and cultural activities.
Council has completed the following Disability
Action Plan projects in the past year:
• A lift at Caves Beach and Redhead Beach
surf clubs
• Wheelchair accessible toilet at Caves Beach
and Redhead Beach surf clubs
• Wheelchair accessible toilet at the Teralba
Petanque Centre
• Equipment for vision-impaired residents at
Toronto, Swansea, and Belmont libraries
• Wheelchair accessible amenities at
Speers Point Park
• Upgrade of 15 bus stops to meet the
Commonwealth Disability Standard for
Public Transport
Access all areas
Becoming an ideal place to work, rest and play
Capital Works achievements in 2012:
• Completed $31 million worth of new and
improved infrastructure works
• Stabilised and rehabilitated creek banks, lake
foreshore, and wetlands
• Constructed and upgraded sporting and
recreational facilities
• Improved roads including sealing, kerb and
guttering, and re-surfacing
• Constructed stormwater treatment devices
• Installed traffic facilities
• Constructed and re-constructed salt
marsh and jetties
• Constructed new cycleways and footpaths

Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/201240

41Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
Capital Works and Services
Our water strategy is crystal clear
Work to improve water quality in priority
catchments in the city has long been a goal
for Lake Macquarie City Council.
In the past year we have seen 17 projects
completed, including the installation of litter and
sediment traps, construction of wetlands and
swales, and stabilisation of eroding stream banks
and foreshore areas.
A constructed wetland in Macquarie Hills was
completed by Council’s business unit, CiviLake,
on time and $50,000 under budget in late 2011.
The wetland treats stormwater runoff from most
of the residential streets in the Macquarie Hills
area, removing nutrients, sediment, and litter
from the water before it flows into Winding Creek
and eventually into the lake.
Council is now focusing further upstream into
the lake’s catchments to address potential
pollutants closer to their source.
fast facts
• In the past year Council completed
17 works projects to improve lake
water quality
• Since 1999, lake water clarity has
improved by 95%
• Seagrass coverage in the lake has
increased by 24%

Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/201242
In July 2011, our operating
deficit of $2.8 million was
set to dramatically increase
over following years. In June
2012, our future now looks
bright and our financial
position is secure
General Manager, Brian Bell

43Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
In June 2011, Council reported an operating
deficit of over $2.8 million. Without
intervention, this deficit would continue to
compound with a projected cumulative operating
deficit of $167 million by 2018/2019. In June
2012, Council’s financial position is now secure
thanks to community support and IPART
approval for a residential rate increase of
7.7%, and a business rate increase of 9.9%,
per year over 7 years.
Through a concerted effort, Council:
• Conducted the Securing our Future
consultation, directly engaging with thousands
of residents and business owners about the
future of Council's rates and services
• Conducted a vast needs analysis, particularly
into infrastructure maintenance to determine
the funds needed to bring our $2 billion worth
of assets up to a satisfactory standard
• Produced a comprehensive application to
IPART for a seven-year rate increase
The approved rate increase will allow Council
to continue operating at current levels, and
allow for improvements to the city’s assets and
infrastructure. Transforming our community’s
aspirations into reality is now within our reach.
Corporate and
Strategic Planning
Council has reached financial sustainability while continuing to provide all the services our community
expects and relies on. By implementing some smart planning which took our staff and our community with
us every step of the way, our residents will see their vision for the city come to life over the next seven years.
Council secures financial future
• Secured community and IPART support for rate variation
• Productivity improvements saved Council $5 million
dollars in the year
• Entrepreneurial activities brought in $10 million
• New project management framework implemented to
drive new efficiencies
Corporate and Strategic Planning
achievements in 2012:
We commend Lake
Macquarie City Council
for its commitment to
addressing its financial
sustainability
IPART determination 2012

Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/201244
Productivity improvements and cost
containment strategies
Lake Macquarie City Council has a long-
standing culture of continuous improvement;
always identifying and pursuing ways to contain
costs and remain efficient. In the past year,
Council made cost savings in excess of $4
million as a result of a comprehensive Service
Review. Although the review concluded in July
2011, the process of identifying and pursuing
improvements is ongoing.
We have identified and implemented new cost
saving measures including:
• Making changes to internal cleaning
services from evening to day – saving
$60,000 per year
• Centralising corporate catering and
purchasing in bulk – making a 10%
overall saving
• Re-using construction waste from Council
operations to construct the Sustainable
Resource Centre – saving $14 million in
tipping fees and new material costs
• Installing solar systems on Council
buildings – saving $38,000 per year
• Implementing an improved project
management framework
• Using excavated material as cover material
at Awaba tip – one job saved $680,000
• Renewing our Councils Online system –
renegotiating the conditions saved us
$1.2 million over four years
Council has also developed a comprehensive
program of specific productivity improvement
initiatives to be implemented over the next seven
years. These initiatives were listed in Council’s
application to IPART for a general rate variation.
An expansive view from the top
Delivering a diverse range of services to a city
of 200,000 people is a challenge, but Lake
Macquarie City Council has adopted new
software to make planning and reporting simpler.
Identifying a need to integrate its existing
business frameworks, Council selected a
Corporate Management System that provides an
integrated system for project planning, budget
processes, corporate performance monitoring
and reporting, and risk management.
The System includes a thorough Project
Management Framework that allows Council
staff to easily update their progress on specific
projects as it happens, while managers can
access accurate business intelligence from
a single point.
As a result of the new Corporate Management
System and key aspects of it such as the Project
Management Framework, Council has identified
greater consistency and transparency in our
project delivery, we have compiled an accurate
portfolio of all Council programs and projects,
and we are able to make more intelligent
business decisions, in line with our strategic
corporate plans.
Framework to make planning perfect
Council's newly implemented Project
Management Framework creates synergies
between departments, eliminates duplication
of work across Council, and ensures a
consistent approach is used through the
lifecycle of all projects.
Corporate and
Strategic Planning

45Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
Corporate and
Strategic Planning
The Framework comprises an internal policy
and procedure, system tools and templates,
and capability development and support.
It provides many practical benefits, but most
importantly, it directly aligns projects with
Council’s strategic plans.
Council’s leadership has a complete view of
what is happening across the organisation,
making it easier to allocate resources, make
decisions and re-prioritise work.
Getting the framework implemented involved:
• Conducting an audit of departmental
project management systems, processes
and documentation
• Training staff in the fundamentals of project
management and in the new framework
• Introducing directorate portfolio reporting
• Establishing a project management support
team to maintain the framework
• Procuring an integrated software system for
project management, risk management and
corporate planning
The right level of service
Council's role is to deliver the best possible
services to meet our community's needs,
efficiently and with finite resources.
This means finding the right balance between the
aspirations and priorities identified through our
ongoing consultation with the community, and
what we can afford to fund in any given year.
In the past year we have taken a major step up
in our capacity to get that balance right, with
completion of a major project to understand our
community's preferred levels of service.
The result is the comprehensive report,
Providing Enduring Value.
More than just a report, Providing Enduring
Value gives Council a solid framework for
understanding our service needs and shortfalls.
The analysis is drawn from extensive consultation
with our community undertaken as part of
Securing our Future, and feedback collected
through our regular Community Satisfaction
Surveys and through development of our
Community Strategic Plan 2008-2018.
The framework applies a service ranking
and scoring system that gives us the ability
to clearly see any gaps in our current service
delivery, so that funding can be allocated where
it is needed most.
Developed last year, the framework is already
being used to set achievable targets and identify
the programs and initiatives that must be
undertaken to close service gaps.
As a result of this work, Council is better
equipped to direct funding to initiatives that meet
the needs and expectations of our community
and deliver the right levels of service.
The Framework applies
a service ranking and
scoring system that
gives us the ability to
clearly see any gaps
in our service delivery

Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/201246

47Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
Corporate and
Strategic Planning
Entrepreneur in the making – Council
business activities bring in $10 million
Lake Macquarie City Council employs a highly
skilled workforce across a diverse range of
professions and trades.
In a bid to reduce the rate burden on residents
and ensure the long-term financial sustainability
of the organisation, we have recognised our
workforce as an untapped potential to raise
additional income.
Following an extensive service review conducted
in 2009-2011, a bunch of talented staff turned
a few business ideas into a reality – generating
income in its first year of operating new activities.
Council’s new business ideas are already paying
off. Lakemac Enterprises Planning & Building
Services has already turned over $135,000,
achieving this before fully implementing its
marketing plan.
Lakemac Print, an existing business unit of
Council, was re-shaped and re-positioned
this year. It continued to generate income for
Council, this year bringing in $352,435 from
external works.
Lakemac Property manages an extensive
property investment portfolio worth about
$54 million. These investments are held to
generate additional income and for future
development opportunities to benefit the
community. In 2011/2012 about $2.8 million
was returned to Council’s general fund from
the Property Reserve.
CiviLake is an existing business unit of
Council. Naturally, CiviLake’s principal
focus is to deliver the $40 million worth of
quality construction and maintenance works
and services for the community each year.
Additionally, CiviLake continues its tradition
of providing infrastructure solutions to its
external clients, currently the largest of which
is the NSW Roads and Maritime Services.
This year, the total turnover from external
activity exceeded $7 million. Setting CiviLake
apart from its competitors, all profits from
external activity are returned to the community
through the provision of additional and improved
works and services.

Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/201248

49Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
Best Play Space in Australia
Parks & Leisure Australia
Awarded to Lake Macquarie City Council for
the Lake Macquarie Variety Playground
National Climate
Adaptation Champion 2011
National Climate Change
Adaptation Research Facility
Awarded to Lake Macquarie City Council
for its climate change and adaptation
policies and programs
Local Government Cultural Award –
Aboriginal Cultural Development
(Division C)
Local Government & Shires Association NSW
Awarded Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery’s
partnership with the Aboriginal Reference Group
MAPDA Museums Australia Publication
Design Award – Best Poster
Awarded to Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery
for the Carnival poster
MAPDA Museums Australia Publication
Design Award – Best in Show
Awarded to Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery
for the Carnival poster
NSW Planning Institute Awards for
Excellence Program – Public Engagement
and Community Planning
Awarded to Lake Macquarie City Council for
the “Liveable Community Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander” consultations
NSW Spatial Excellence Award for
Environmental Sustainability 2011
Spatial Industry Business Association
Awarded to Lake Macquarie City Council with
other Hunter councils for outstanding weed
management using the Weedmap Pro application
National Fleet Environment Award 2011
Australasian Fleet Management Association
Awarded to Lake Macquarie City Council for
achieving reductions in fuel consumption and
carbon dioxide emissions in Council’s fleet of
passenger vehicles
Highly Commended in the 2011 NSW
Marketing Awards
Public Libraries NSW
Awarded to Lake Macquarie City Library for
collaborating with the Art Gallery in the Wrapped
in Possum Skin Cloak program and exhibition
Commendation in the State Mutual Risk
Management Excellence Awards
WorkCover NSW
Awarded to Lake Macquarie City Council for
risk management and document management
Finalist in the LGSA Excellence in the
Environment Awards
Local Government & Shires Association
In recognition of the Lake Macquarie
10:10 Challenge and the City of Lake
Macquarie Environmental Sustainability Action
Plan 2011-2018
Finalist in the Hunter Business Chamber
Water Saver Award
In recognition of Lake Macquarie City Council’s
efforts in achieving water efficiency at city
holiday parks
Finalist in the Paragon Awards 2012
Information Services Group
In recognition for Councils Online, which is a
strategic IT partnership with Wyong, Hornsby,
and service provider Capgemini
Awards and Citations

Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/201250
List of projects completed by 30 June 2012
Environmental Inititatives
Nature of Project Date Completed Total Cost % Council
Funds
Source of
Council Funds
Living Smart Festival 2011 November 2011 $99,000 62% Sustainability levy
Installation of 44KWh solar photo voltaic
panels on three council buildings
June 2012 $115,000 100% Sustainability levy and
general fund
e-Waste Collection - collected
over 60 tonnes recovered
June 2012 $5000 100% Waste and
Sustainability
Improvement Payment
Clean Up Lake Macquarie City February 2012 $9000 100% Sustainability levy
Chemical Cleanout –residential
chemical drop-offs
May 2012 $40,000 50% Sustainability levy
Showerhead Exchange Program –
saving the city 14.1 mega-litres of water
and around $70,000 on water and
energy bills annually
June 2012 $50,000 40% General fund
Thermal Pool Covers – Charestown Pool November 2011 $65,000 100% Waste and
Sustainability
Improvement Payment
Love Food Hate Waste – A series of
3 workshops aimed to raise awareness
of food waste issues and sustainable
food practices in the community
June 2012 $10,000 50% General fund
Sustainable Neighbourhoods Program Ongoing program $54,000 75% Council
Approx 25%
community and
partner in-kind
contributions
Grant funding,
sustainability levy,
general fund
Action Learning Partnership -
Collaboration between TAFE,
Sustainable Neighbourhood Groups,
Council, and other community
partners to implement community-led
sustainability projects
June 2012 $4000 50%
50% community
and partner
in-kind
contributions
General fund
Emergency Ready Lake Macquarie
website
February 2012 $30,000 33% General fund
Early Warning Network Alerts for
Natural Disaster Risks - providing free,
subsidised emergency alert messages
to vulnerable residents via email, SMS
and landline
July 2011 $10,000 100% General fund
List of Projects

51Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
Cultural & Heritage
Nature of Project Date Completed Total Cost % Council
Funds
Source of
Council Funds
Library Service Delivery Model November 2011 $80,000 100% General fund
Artist in Residence program:
Bridging Cultures with Whitebridge High
School
Street Art in the Park
Leslie Rice: tattoo artist during (re)vision
Bruce Rowland: portrait artist during
(re)vision
GhostNets Australia with
Life in Your Hands
April – September
2011
August – September
2011
September 2011
September 2011
March – April 2012
$45,024
$5000
$1000
$100
$8500
$6,737
$2,500
$500
$500
$4,250
Arts NSW matching
(General)
Arts NSW matching
(General)
Arts NSW matching
(General)
Arts NSW matching
(General)
Arts NSW matching
(General)
Lake Macquarie Aboriginal Cultural
Heritage Management Strategy
December 2011 $98,275 100% General fund
Arts classes and education program June 2012 $26,000 100% Operational offset by
income
The Art Gallery opened 13 exhibitions
throughout the year
June 2012 $136,000 $75,400 Arts NSW matching
(General)
+ operational $14,000
Development of an Aboriginal
Community Plan
June 2012 $20,139 100% General fund
Annual Seniors Program June 2012 $25,612 20% General fund
NAIDOC Week events July 2011 $1387 100% General fund

Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/201252
Sport & Recreation
Nature of Project Date Completed Total Cost % Council
Funds
Source of
Council Funds
Irrigation upgrade on Kahibah Oval June 2012 $95,000 100% Waste and
Sustainability
Improvement
Payment
New playground and facilities,
Wyee Point Reserve
March 2012 $1,695,315 47% S94
New Sports Amenities Building,
Gregory Park, West Wallsend
May 2012 $665,287 100% Loans, asset reserve
New BMX track, Cameron Park
Recreation Area
March 2012 $262,321 85% S94
Wallsend to Glendale cycleway in
association with Newcastle Council
June 2012 $375,000 100% Loans
Shared pathway (stage 2) along
Croudace Bay Road Park from the
skate park
August 2011 $343,239 100% Loans,S94
Shared pathway along Lakeside Drive,
in association with western foreshore
masterplan
June 2012 $5000 100% Loans,S94
Shared pathway (stage 2) Lakeside
Drive Western Foreshore
June 2012 $254,724 100% Loans,S94
Social & Economic Development
Nature of Project Date Completed Total Cost % Council
Funds
Source of
Council Funds
Town Centre Personality Project August 2011 $47,000 50% General fund
Google Business Listing Project – assist
businesses in Lake Macquarie to
enhance their Google Business Listing
June 2012 $8000 50% General fund
Town entry signs June 2012 $248,258 100% Loans

53Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
Health & Community Services
Nature of Project Date Completed Total Cost % Council
Funds
Source of
Council Funds
Unregistered animal mailout – to remind
pet owners about their responsibilities
October 2011 $68,000
cost offset
by an
increase
in revenue
from the
project of
$208,000
resulting
in net
additional
revenue of
$140,000
100% General fund
National Youth Week April 2012 $6360 52% General fund
Operation Bounce Back June 2012 $4545 0% N/A
Graffiti Hotspot Program June 2012 $68,107 0% N/A
Volunteer Recognition Event May 2012 $4122 100% General fund
Harmony Day Event March 2012 $2600 100% General fund
International Day for People
with a Disability
December 2011 $5309 100% General fund
Carer’s Week Pampering Day October 2011 $1916 100% General fund
Seniors' Concert March 2012 $1126 0% N/A
International Children’s Week October 2011 $1695 100% General fund
Seniors' Funding Program June 2012 $13,928 100% General fund
Capital Works
Nature of Project Date Completed Total Cost % Council
Funds
Source of
Council Funds
Lake Macquarie Variety Playground &
Multiuse Pavilion
September 2012 $5,059,032 $1,650,417 General fund,
sponsorship, grants
Cameron Park Community Centre October 2011 $3,490,838 100% S94
Jack Neave Oval & The Grange -
Drainage improvements
October 2011 $112,000 100% Loans
Redhead Surf Life Saving Club –
installation of a lift
January 2012 $150,000 100% S94
Masonic Hall refurbishment September 2011 $52,000 100% Asset replacement
Toronto Library refurbishment February 2012 $30,000 100% Asset replacement
Caves Beach Surf Life Saving Club
lift installation
March 2012 $18,000 100% Asset replacement
Lakeview Street - administration
car park solar lighting
March 2012 $20,000 100% Loans
Bike Racks – Belmont, Warners Bay
and Toronto
November 2011 $60,000 50% Loans, state grants

Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/201254
Built & Natural Environment
Nature of Project Date Completed Total Cost % Council
Funds
Source of
Council Funds
Former Pasminco Lead Smelter Rezoning December 2011 $49,434 0% Landowner
Stormwater Asset Management Plan –
third version
February 2012 $100,000 100% General fund
Development of a Seniors'
Housing Strategy
June 2012 $24,035 100% General fund
Installation of Stormwater Quality
Improvement Devices
June 2012 $755,000 45% Sustainability levy
Streambank stabilisation and riparian
Vegetation Improvement Projects
June 2012 $290,000 60% Sustainability levy
Foreshore stabilisation works June 2012 $170,000 65% Sustainability levy
Wetland and Saltmarsh
Rehabilitation Works
June 2012 $40,000 50% Sustainability levy
Lake Macquarie Waterway Flood Study
and Flood Risk Management Study/Plan
June 2012 $124,710 33% General fund
Lake Macquarie Waterway Flood Study
and Plan community engagement
November 2011 $40,500 100% General fund and
sustainability levy
Flood Catchment Studies and Plans for
Stony Creek and South Creek
December 2011 $86,000 33% General fund
Corporate & Strategic Planning
Nature of Project Date Completed Total Cost % Council
Funds
Source of
Council Funds
Development assessment
timeframes reduced by 20%
June 2012 staff time 100% General fund
Introduction of online
booking process for
development inspections
May 2012 staff time 100% General fund
New business activity –
Lakemac Enterprises planning
and building consultancy
service government areas
July 2012 staff time 100% General fund
Corporate Management System
implementation and upgrade
June 2012 TBA 100% New capital
(IT Reserve)
Councils Online datacentre
migration
March 2012 $200,000 100% General fund
Enterprise search tool June 2012 $130,000 100% New capital
(IT Reserve)
Photograph management
system (Pictures-in-TRIM)
December 2011 TBA 100% New capital
(IT Reserve)
Art Gallery website June 2012 Staff costs 100% General fund
International Children's
Games 2014 website
June 2012 Staff costs 100% General fund

55Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
List of projects in progress at 30 June 2012
Environmental Inititatives
Nature of Project % Completed at
30 June 2012
Total Cost % Council
Funds
Source of
Council Funds
Environmental Upgrade Agreements –
providing a viable financial mechanism
to improve the energy efficiency of
existing business building stock
20% $40,000 25% Sustainability levy
“Grow Me the Money” small and
medium business program
15% $11,000 100% Sustainability levy
Energy efficiency and real-time energy
monitoring for Lake Macquarie businesses
5% $397,000 9% Sustainability levy
Installation of thermal pool covers –
West Wallsend, Morisset, Swansea
and Toronto Pools
70% $48,000 100% General fund
Home Composting Trial – 225
households participated in workshops
or online training in 2011
90% $50,000 100% Domestic Waste
Management
Charge
Waste as Art – Community art
competition encouraging residents
to turn waste into art
90% $18,000 17% General fund
Preparation of Ecosystem Response
Model for Lake Macquarie Estuary
90% $500,000 15% Sustainability levy
Sustainable Neighbourhoods Program
(Local community engagement)
Ongoing program $39,000 75% Council
Approx 25%
community and
partner in-kind
contributions
Sustainability levy
and general fund
Pilot Walk to School Project -
Partnership with Valentine
Sustainable Neighbourhood Group,
Valentine Public School
50% $10,000 75% Council
Approx 25%
community and
partner in-kind
contributions
Sustainability levy
Local clean up days 10% $25,000 100% Domestic Waste
Management
Charge
“Be Ready Be Safe” campaign 50% $15,000 100% Sustainability levy
Local Area Adaptation - options to
protect, adapt or retreat from areas
subject to sea level rise
10% $42,500 100% Sustainability levy
Contaminated Land Environmental
Management Plan
50% $10,000 100% General fund
Establish a Contaminated Land
Remediation Forward Works Program
10% $37,000 100% General fund
Adaptation by Design - research
identifying climate change adaptation
options for foreshore works that protect
vulnerable localities
80% $30,000 50% Sustainability levy
Adaptable buildings design standards
research
50% $27,000 100% General fund
Study on groundwater impacts of sea
level rise
10% $15,000 100% Sustainability levy

Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/201256
Cultural & Heritage
Nature of Project % Completed at
30 June 2012
Total Cost % Council
Funds
Source of
Council Funds
Aboriginal Engagement Project 75% $37,147 0% Grant from NSW
State Library
Lake Macquarie History Online 50% $42,000 10% General fund
Mini Graff with Jason Wing culminating
in Stencils Past, Stencils Last
Life in Your Hands: art from solastalgia
(LMCAG touring to 6 Australian venues)
90%
40%
$28,000
$148,000
$2,000
$11,600
Arts NSW matching
(General)
Arts NSW matching
(General)
Sport & Recreation
Nature of Project % Completed at
30 June 2012
Total Cost % Council
Funds
Source of
Council Funds
New park amenities building,
Warners Bay Foreshore
In design $401,557 100% Asset replacement
New sports amenities building and
car park, Finnan Oval, Blackalls Park
80% $428,416 100% Loans, asset
replacement
Bolton Point Tennis amenities
replacement
50% $160,000 100% Asset replacement
Irrigation upgrade – Tredinnick Oval 90% $67,000 100% Waste and
Sustainability
Improvement
Payment
Fernleigh Track - heritage signage 43% $80,000 100% Loans
New Lifeguard Tower, Caves Beach 0% $150,000 100% Loans
New amenities building, Swansea
Swim Centre
0% $500,000 100% Asset replacement
New tennis club house building,
Bolton Point
23% $200,000 100% Asset replacement

57Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
Social & Economic Development
Nature of Project % Completed at
30 June 2012
Total Cost % Council
Funds
Source of
Council Funds
Lake Macquarie Business
Relocation Project
20% $20,000 50% General fund
Tourism’s 2nd
phase of “Love the Lake”
campaign
2012 ongoing $50,000 72% Tourism marketing
City Entry signage In design $90,980 100% Loans
Implementation of streetscape
upgrades, Cardiff
In design $2,500,000 0%
Health & Community Services
Nature of Project % Completed at
30 June 2012
Total Cost % Council
Funds
Source of
Council Funds
Seniors Program - providing a range of
activities and educational opportunities
for older people
ongoing $25,000 100% General fund
Heart Foundation Walking Groups 50% $1000 0% Grant funding
Seniors programming funding –
providing community groups with
money to run activities for older people
Ongoing $11,000 100% General fund
Capital Works
Nature of Project % Completed at
30 June 2012
Total Cost % Council
Funds
Source of
Council Funds
New pontoon jetty, Swansea 0% $184,956 51% Loans, grant
matching funds
Construction of the Sustainable
Resource Centre
20% $7,000,000 100% Combination of
general funds and
loan funds
Stormwater detention basin north of
Tennent Rd, Mt Hutton
20% $2,600,000 100% Loans (approx 85%)
S94 (approx. 15%)
Redhead Colliery refurbishment 40% $170,000 50% Asset replacement
Caves Beach Lifeguard tower
replacement
20% $100,000 100% Asset replacement

Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/201258
Built & Natural Environment
Nature of Project % Completed at
30 June 2012
Total Cost % Council
Funds
Source of
Council Funds
Review of Scenic Quality Guidelines 75% $25,000 100% IP Budget
Town Centres Development Control Plan 90% $3,000 100% IP Budget
Review of Coastal Zone Management
Plan – Lake Macquarie Coastline
90% $100,000 50% Sustainability levy
Dune rehabilitation 80% $110,000 60% Environmental and
sustainability levy
Flood Catchment Study (Jewells
Wetland) and Risk Management Plan
(Winding Creek)
50% 130,000 33% General fund
Flood Catchment Study and Plan for
Swansea Channel
10% $30,000 100% Sustainability Levy
Corporate & Strategic Planning
Nature of Project % Completed at
30 June 2012
Total Cost % Council
Funds
Source of
Council Funds
Trial of electronic development
application lodgement process
75% staff time 100% General fund
Trial of electronic assessment process
(paper free)
75% staff time 100% General fund
Trial of electronic inspections 75% staff time 90% General fund
Trial of electronic provision of
documentation
50% staff time 100% General fund
GIS Re-Development Project 35% $800,000 100% Replacement capital
(IT Reserve)

59Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
Supplementary
Information

60 Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
INcome statement
for the year ended 30 June 2011
Actual Actual
2011 2010
Notes $’000 $’000
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
Revenue:
Rates and annual charges 3a 102,066 97,819
User charges and fees 3b 13,679 14,037
Interest and investment revenue 3c 10,110 5,819
Other revenues 3d 14,639 19,507
Grants and contributions provided for operating purposes 3e,f 25,541 25,391
Grants and contributions provided for capital purposes 3e,f 38,243 18,920
Other Income:
Net gain from the disposal of assets 5 1,125 2,574
Net share of interests in joint ventures and
associates using the equity method 19 27 -
Total income from continuing operations 205,430 184,067
EXPENSES FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
Employee benefits and on-costs 4a 70,152 70,129
Borrowing costs 4b 4,283 3,644
Materials and contracts 4c 27,819 30,748
Depreciation and amortisation 4d 45,956 40,464
Impairment 4d - -
Other expenses 4e 21,760 17,569
Total expenses from continuing operations 169,970 162,554
Operating result from continuing operations 35,460 21,513
Operating result from discontinued operations - -
NET OPERATING RESULT FOR THE YEAR
35,460 21,513
Attributable to:
- Council 35,460 21,513
- Minority interests - -
Net operating result for the year before grants and
contributions provided for capital purposes 2,783 2,593
Note:
(1) Original budget as approved by Council - refer to Note 16.
The Income Statement should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.
Original
Budget(1)
2011
$’000
101,646
14,351
8,123
12,017
23,196
11,466
-
-
170,799
65,464
4,036
26,286
40,675
-
20,723
157,184
13,615
-
13,615
13,615
-
2,149

61Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
balance sheet
AS AT 30 June 2011
Actual Actual
2011 2010
Notes $’000 $’000
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents 6a 24,661 39,847
Investments 6b 56,360 30,197
Receivables 7 9,965 8,819
Inventories 8 1,680 1,910
Other 8 1,066 1,063
Non-current assets classified as held for sale 22 720 590
Total current assets 94,452 82,426
Non-current assets
Investments 6b 58,235 65,107
Receivables 7 713 645
Inventories 8 1,710 -
Infrastructure, property, plant, and equipment 9 1,920,378 2,114,798
Investments accounted for using equity method 19 137 -
Investment property 14 54,186 56,950
Intangible assets 23 2,622 3,851
Other 8 - -
Total non-current assets 2,037,981 2,241,351
Total assets 2,132,433 2,323,777
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Payables 10 15,128 12,469
Borrowings 10 4,257 4,470
Provisions 10 38,035 37,559
Total current liabilities 57,420 54,498
Non-current liabilities
Payables 10 - -
Borrowings 10 49,452 49,710
Provisions 10 14,396 12,788
Total non-current liabilities 63,848 62,498
Total liabilities 121,268 116,996
Net assets 2,011,165 2,206,781
Equity
Retained earnings 20 1,013,489 1,218,863
Revaluation reserves 20 997,676 987,918
Council equity interest 2,011,165 2,206,781
Minority equity interest - -
Total equity 2,011,165 2,206,781
The Balance Sheet should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

62 Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
statementofchangesinequity
FORTHEYEARENDED30June2011
ACTUAL
2011
$’000
ACTUAL
2010
$’000
contractor
Notes
ref
retained
earnings
Asset
revaluation
reserve
other
reserves
council
equity
interest
minority
interest
total
equity
retained
earnings
Asset
revaluation
reserve
other
reserves
council
equity
Interest
minority
interest
total
equity
Openingbalance201,218,863987,918-2,206,781-2,206,7811,254,121802,052-2,056,173-2,056,173
Correctionoferrors
Changesinaccountingpolicies
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Restatedopeningbalance201,218,863987,918-2,206,781-2,206,7811,254,121802,052-2,056,173-2,056,173
Netoperatingresultfortheyear2035,460--35,460-35,46021,513--21,513-21,513
Othercomprehensiveincome20(240,834)9,758-(231,076)-(231,076)(56,771)185,866-129,095-129,095
Totalcomprehensiveincome20(205,374)9,758-(195,616)-(195,616)(35,258)185,866-150,608-150,608
Closingbalance201,013,489997,676-2,011,165-2,011,1651,218,863987,918-2,206,781-2,206,781
TheStatementofChangesinEquityshouldbereadinconjunctionwiththeaccompanyingnotes.

63Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
statement of cash flowS
FOR THE YEAR ended 30 June 2011
Actual Actual
2010 2009
Notes $’000 $’000
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Receipts:
Rates and annual charges 102,221 97,452
User charges and fees 15,239 15,597
Investment revenue and interest 7,618 5,697
Grants and contributions 44,755 38,761
Other 18,335 26,324
Payments:
Employee benefits and on-costs (69,019) (67,578)
Materials and contracts (25,554) (28,221)
Borrowing costs (3,803) (2,999)
Other (26,412) (25,318)
Net cash provided (or used) in operating activities 11(b) 63,380 59,715
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Receipts:
Sale of investments 68,779 78,918
Sale of investment properties - -
Sale of real estate assets 1,133 1,347
Sale of infrastructure, property, plant, and equipment 4,349 7,346
Payments:
Purchase of investments (86,120) (82,895)
Purchase of infrastructure, property, plant, and equipment (66,236) (71,342)
Net cash provided by (or used in) investing activities (78,095) (66,626)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Receipts:
Borrowings and advances 4,000 8,700
Payments:
Borrowings and advances (4,471) (4,632)
Net cash provided by (or used in) financing activities (471) 4,068
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (15,186) (2,843)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning
of reporting period 11(a) 39,847 42,690
Cash and cash equivalents at end of reporting period 11(a) 24,661 39,847
Note: (1) The budget as approved by Council combines cash and investments together however in the actuals
above investments are excluded.
The above Statement of Cash Flows should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.
Original
Budget(1)
2011
$’000
101,646
14,351
8,123
34,662
12,017
(65,464)
(26,286)
(4,036)
(20,723)
54,290
-
-
750
2,471
-
(51,761)
(56,008)
(48,540)
5,000
(5,223)
(223)
5,527
89,362
94,889

64 Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
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LAKE MACQUARIE CITY COUNCIL
Notes to the Financial Statements
30 June 2011
(continued)
Note 6(a) Cash and Cash Equivalents
Actual Actual
2011 2010
$'000 $'000
Cash at bank and on hand 10,170 16,170
Deposits at call 14,491 23,677
24,661 39,847
Note 6(b) Investments
The following financial assets are held as investments:
Current Non-Current Current Non-Current
$'000 $'000 $'000 $'000
Held to maturity investments 56,360 58,235 30,197 65,107
Total 56,360 58,235 30,197 65,107
Held to Maturity Investments
At beginning of year 30,197 65,107 46,573 44,685
Reversal of investment impairment 1,703 - - -
Amortisation of discounts and premiums (75) 322 (326) 395
Additions 68,000 18,120 49,915 32,980
Disposals (64,825) (3,954) (78,162) (756)
Transfer to current 21,360 (21,360) 12,197 (12,197)
At End of Year 56,360 58,235 30,197 65,107
Comprising of:
- Term Deposits 48,954 24,120 23,000 24,000
- Bank Bills 401 - 327 807
- Floating Rate Notes 5,006 17,007 3,517 21,063
- Mortgage Backed Securities - 2,947 - 3,406
- Corporate Bonds 1,999 8,987 2,014 10,980
- Zero Coupon Bonds - 5,174 - 4,851
- Credit Linked Notes - - 1,339 -
56,360 58,235 30,197 65,107
Actual Actual
2011 2010

65Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
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LAKE MACQUARIE CITY COUNCIL
Notes to the Financial Statements
30 June 2011
(continued)
Note 13 Statement of Performance Measures
Amounts 2010 2009
$'000
1. Unrestricted Current Ratio
Current assets less all external restrictions
(1)
$ 70,944 2.46 2.48 2.99
Current liabilities less specific purpose liabilities
(2),(3)
$ 28,794
2. Debt Service Ratio
Debt service cost $ 8,239 0.05 0.05 0.06
Income from continuing operations excluding capital items
and specific purpose grants/contributions $ 159,031
3. Rate Coverage Ratio
Rates and annual charges $ 102,066 0.50 0.53 0.50
Income from continuing operations $ 205,430
4. Rates and Annual Charges Outstanding Percentage
Rates and annual charges outstanding $ 3,362 3.19% 3.20% 2.88%
Rates and annual charges collectible $ 105,450
5. Building and Infrastructure Renewals Ratio
Asset renewals (buildings and infrastructure)
(4)
$ 25,035 0.73 0.81 0.93
Depreciation, amortisation and impairment (building and
infrastructure) $ 34,500
Notes:
(1) Refer to Notes 6-8 inclusive.
(2) Refer to Note 10(a).
(3) $18.8m ELE transferred out.
(4) Refer Note 9(a) - Notes: (2).
Current Year
Indicators

66 Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
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LAKE MACQUARIE CITY COUNCIL
Income Statement of Category 1 Business Activities
for the year ended 30 June 2011
2011
$'000
2010
$'000
2011
$'000
2010
$'000
Income from Continuing Operations
User charges and fees 7,159 12,044 8,051 7,635
Interest - - 524 496
Grants and contributions for non-capital purposes - - - -
Profit on sale of assets - - 896 560
Other income - - 593 548
7,159 12,044 10,064 9,239
Expenses from Continuing Operations
Employee benefits and on-costs 1,191 2,482 1,051 879
Materials and contracts 4,423 7,667 2,511 1,764
Borrowing costs - - 3 8
Depreciation and impairment - - 264 467
Calculated taxation equivalents - - 513 461
Debt guarantee fee - - - -
Other expenses 179 385 4,068 1,786
Total Expenses from Continuing Operations 5,793 10,534 8,410 5,365
1,366 1,510 1,654 3,874
Grants and contributions provided for capital purposes - - - -
1,366 1,510 1,654 3,874
1,366 1,510 1,654 3,874
Less Corporate taxation equivalent (30%) 410 453 496 1,162
Surplus/(Deficit) after Tax 956 1,057 1,158 2,712
Less Dividend payment (5%) 48 53 58 136
Surplus/(Deficit) after Dividend Payment 908 1,004 1,100 2,576
Opening Retained Profits 11,275 9,765 91,005 86,670
Surplus/(deficit) after tax and dividend 908 1,004 1,100 2,576
Adjustments for Amounts Unpaid
Taxation equivalent payments - - 513 461
Debt guarantee fees - - - -
Corporate taxation equivalent 410 453 496 1,162
Dividend paid 48 53 58 136
Closing Retained Profits 12,641 11,275 93,172 91,005
Return on Capital % n/a n/a 8.29% 9.08%
Subsidy from Council - - - -
Calculation of Dividend Payable:
Surplus/(deficit) after tax 956 1,057 1,158 2,712
Less: Capital grants and contributions - - - -
Surplus for dividend calculation purposes 956 1,057 1,158 2,712
Dividend calculated from surplus 48 53 58 136
Business Activities
Surplus/(Deficit) from Continuing Operations after
Capital Amounts
Surplus/(Deficit) from all Operations before Tax
Civilake Property Management
Total Income from Continuing Operations
Surplus/(Deficit) from Continuing Operations before
Capital Amounts

67Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
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LAKE MACQUARIE CITY COUNCIL
Income Statement of Category 1 Business Activities
for the year ended 30 June 2011
2011
$'000
2010
$'000
Income from Continuing Operations
Rates and annual charges 1,271 1,198
User charges and fees 3,406 3,526
Interest - -
Grants and contributions for non-capital purposes - -
Profit on sale of assets - -
Other income - -
4,677 4,724
Expenses from Continuing Operations
Employee benefits and on-costs 877 986
Materials and contracts 845 1,137
Borrowing costs - -
Depreciation and impairment 6 8
Calculated taxation equivalents 2 9
Debt guarantee fee - -
Other expenses 1,139 1,223
Total Expenses from Continuing Operations 2,869 3,363
1,808 1,361
Grants and contributions provided for capital purposes - -
1,808 1,361
1,808 1,361
Less Corporate taxation equivalent (30%) 543 408
Surplus/(Deficit) after Tax 1,265 953
Less Dividend payment (5%) 63 48
Surplus/(Deficit) after Dividend Payment 1,202 905
Opening Retained Profits 4,293 2,923
Surplus/(deficit) after tax and dividend 1,202 905
Adjustments for Amounts Unpaid
Taxation equivalent payments 2 9
Debt guarantee fees - -
Corporate taxation equivalent 543 408
Dividend paid 63 48
Closing Retained Profits 6,103 4,293
Return on Capital % 1508.15% 818.92%
Subsidy from Council - -
Calculation of Dividend Payable:
Surplus/(deficit) after tax 1,265 953
Less: Capital grants and contributions - -
Surplus for dividend calculation purposes 1,265 953
Dividend calculated from surplus 63 48
Surplus/(Deficit) from Continuing Operations after
Capital Amounts
Surplus/(Deficit) from all Operations before Tax
Business Activities
Non-Domestic Waste
Total Income from Continuing Operations
Surplus/(Deficit) from Continuing Operations before
Capital Amounts

68 Lake Macquarie City Council AR Bluett Memorial Award 2011/2012
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LAKE MACQUARIE CITY COUNCIL
Balance Sheet of Category 1 Business Activities
for the year ended 30 June 2011
2011
$'000
2010
$'000
2011
$'000
2010
$'000
ASSETS
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents - - 2 2
Investments 13,834 11,569 8,273 4,345
Receivables 878 1,580 111 120
Inventories - - 964 923
Other - - - -
Non-current assets classified as held for sale - - 720 -
Total Current Assets 14,712 13,149 10,070 5,390
Non-Current Assets
Investments - - - -
Receivables - - - -
Inventories - - 1,710 -
Infrastructure, property, plant and equipment - - 38,463 40,181
Investment property - - 54,186 56,950
Other - - - -
Total Non-Current Assets - - 94,359 97,131
Total Assets 14,712 13,149 104,429 102,521
LIABILITIES
Current Liabilities
Payables 637 427 170 262
Interest bearing liabilities - - - 89
Provisions 1,409 1,427 258 340
Total Current Liabilities 2,046 1,854 428 691
Non-Current Liabilities
Payables - - - -
Interest bearing liabilities - - - -
Provisions 25 20 25 21
Total Non-Current Liabilities 25 20 25 21
Total Liabilities 2,071 1,874 453 712
Net Assets 12,641 11,275 103,976 101,809
EQUITY
Retained earnings 12,641 11,275 93,172 91,005
Revaluation reserves - - 10,804 10,804
Total Equity 12,641 11,275 103,976 101,809
Civilake Property Management
Business Activities