Benjamin Millar
Maribyrnong Council’s Annual Report 2020-21 has been adopted, reflecting on a year where Council and the community worked together demonstrating resilience and creativity to meet the ongoing challenges of COVID-19.
Mayor Michael Clarke said the document provides an assessment of the challenges Council faced in a rapidly growing municipality and records achievements in delivering community services and infrastructure while also recognising the impact of the pandemic.
Cr Clarke said the report also celebrates the way residents embraced modified programs and services to reconnect in new ways to maintain the sense of community for which the City is known.
“Looking back it’s pretty incredible to see how much we have to celebrate and how strong our community relationships are,” he said.
“COVID-19 placed many challenges on our community and I encourage you to look at the back of the Annual Report to understand how we continued to deliver programs and services to meet the needs of our community during this difficult time.”
The Annual Report includes a financial summary of investments throughout the year in infrastructure, services and programs; provides feedback on how objectives outlined in the Council’s Priority Action Plan progressed; includes performance indicators and statistical information on the use of services; and the results of the community satisfaction survey. It also highlights the advocacy and partnerships Council undertook to address the needs of the community.
Highlights include endorsement of the first Climate Emergency Strategy, creation of outdoor dining opportunities across the City and launch of the Love Your Local Campaign, as well as creation of a $1m nature-based playground at Pipemakers Park, the Henderson House Heritage renewal, Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre change room refurbishment and building improvements to RecWest Braybrook.
