It has been an eventful year for the people of Melbourne and the council that serves and represents them.

Sworn in at the beginning of December last year, the new council has diligently supervised the completion of a four-year plan implemented by the previous council. Following a rigorous development process, we have also endorsed a new four-year plan which takes a long-term view to city development while tackling a range of immediate challenges.

Climate change
The real danger of climate change was brought home to all Victorians when bushfires swept a state bone dry after too many consecutive years of drought. Almost 430,000 hectares including 70 national parks were torched; 173 people in 78 communities were lost. The City of Melbourne responded quickly, channelling funding and materials to affected areas. Building on the groundswell of community support after Black Saturday, our resolve to transform Melbourne into a carbon neutral city is ever stronger.

Sustainability
The 1200 buildings project is an ambitious initiative to support building owners in retrofitting older city buildings to 5-star green building standards, eliminating 383 kilo tonnes of emissions per year. A decade of transformation would achieve $2 billion of private sector reinvestment and generate between 3000 and 6000 new jobs. We’re leading by example, investing in the retrofit of Council House 1.

The Total Watermark strategy is targeting zero potable water use for parks and gardens, a 50 per cent reduction in potable water use per worker and a 40 per cent reduction in water use per resident by 2020. We’re collecting water from city buildings like Queen Victoria Market to save city parks and trees. At the groundbreaking CH2 building, we’re refining grey water and black water systems. It’s all based on seeing the city as a catchment: every wall, every rooftop and every street.

Investment
Faced with the global economic crisis, council developed a budget driven strategy to protect jobs and support business while shielding ratepayers from the worst of the recession. We’ve made sure community services are not affected when needed most, actually increasing help for families doing it tough and leading efforts to end homelessness in the central city.

Over $70 million has been allocated to building new and improving existing infrastructure, the largest investment in capital infrastructure council has ever undertaken. Despite the record stimulus, the City of Melbourne has retained its AAA credit rating and rates were increased by just 3 per cent, the lowest of any capital city in Australia. Underpinning economic growth is the formation of a new economic development agency, Enterprise Melbourne, which links industry and government in defining and promoting our city’s diverse offer.

City safety
City safety has received significant public attention in the year passed. Council has responded with a multilevel strategy to reduce the incidence of violent behaviour, promote responsible venue management, improve late night transport and stimulate public debate. Safe city taxi ranks are about to be implemented as well as street lighting and education programs for licensed venue staff.

Swanston Street and Docklands
Swanston Street and Docklands also received much attention this year with community consultation favouring the removal of cars from Swanston Street and the completion of the Docklands Waterways Strategic Plan which will ensure a balance of leisure activities and maritime industries.

This report outlines both the achievements of the last council and the vision and early progress of the new team. I encourage you to read its contents and respond by getting involved in the organisation’s programs and community forums.