A year in review
Rich Traditions Bold Ambitions - Performance Highlights
What a year it has been for the Toowoomba Region. We
have worked hard this year and delivered some important,
region-defining major projects that will see our community
preserve its strong historical foundations and evolve with
unique, contemporary facilities.
maintained, upgraded and renewed this year, we also looked
at traffic flow and how we could continue a consistent stream
of traffic across our major towns. This included the groundwork
being laid for the two-waying of Neil Street, as well as
improved traffic signalling along West Street in Toowoomba.
During our rebrand, we talked to almost 3,000 staff,
community members, local businesses, education and
tourism facilities to build a brand for the region that would
define who we are and celebrate the influences that have
shaped our communities. You shared your stories and we
listened. We couldn’t have summed up this region any
better than you did with your stories of triumph during
tough farming years, to the rich tapestries of families and
the diversity of people who call this region home. There is
a strong undercurrent of pride here and our community has
valuable insight and important information to share with
us. We’ve really focussed this year on being responsive
and listening to our community on the things that are
important to you. We’ve looked at regional growth trends
and planned the facilities that will improve liveability and
attract not only tourists, but also new residents to our
region. We can’t do it alone and we’ve been humbled by
the number of people who have had their say on major
projects and influenced the way we do business here in
the Toowoomba Region.
Construction on the TSRC has commenced
this 24%
year, with
Capital revenue
Council supporting the integration
with
local
road
networks.
Rates & levies 58%
This project
Whatwill see the Toowoomba Region well-placed to
& charges
10% with the
we an
have
support
increase in transport,Fees
logistics
and traffic
earned
diversity of prosperity in agriculture
and increase
Contract
works 2%in commercial
enterprises expected over the coming
years.
Grants, subsidies & contributions 5%
When you look around the region, you can see the investments
that have been made in our future. The completion of Stage
1 of the Highfields Sports Precinct will see our upcoming
athletes supported to reach their goals at an internationalgrade sports facility. From the sports fields to the glittering
copper façade of the brand new, state-of-the-art Toowoomba
City Library and green open space of the Civic Square. This new
facility will enhance the education value for our community by
offering not only a space for resources, but also for interacting,
learning and connecting people with the right information at
the right time on progressive, modern technology.
The investment in our region’s road networks this year
will ensure that visitors and residents are connected to
opportunities outside of the region and are safe when they
travel. It’s not just the road infrastructure that has been
revenue
1% we
A key business-as-usual functionInterest
of Council
is how
manage waste and this year saw the opening of the Greater
Toowoomba Waste Management Facility (GTWMF) to domestic
and commercial customers. The facility was designed for our
community to easily navigate and produce a greater volume of
recycling and reduce our environmental impact as a region.
The unique selling point of our region is our interstate and
Property,
plant
& equipment 96%
international connectedness and
investors,
international
What are
businesses
and the agriculturalCash
sector
all have
theirequivalents
eyes on us3%
assets
& cash
our assets
as an intermodal transport hub. The first direct airfreight service
Trade & other receivables 1%
from the Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport to Hong Kong took
flight this year, carrying frozen and chilled beef, nuts, mangoes,
organic chicken, and lettuce. This airfreight service is expected
to commence weekly in late 2016.
When you mention Toowoomba, the first thing that comes
to mind is our stunning parks, gardens and award-winning
Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers. Encouraging visitors and
residents to eat, laugh, play and stay, the Toowoomba Carnival
of Flowers once again stole the show taking out the Major
Events category at the Queensland Tourism Awards. This is the
Borrowings
55% events category
first year the Carnival was entered
in the major
and, with
112,000
people
attending
functions
across the 10
Other 1%
What do
days ofwefestivities
it’s
easy
to
see
why
the
event
is popular
owe
Trade & other payables 10%
locally and throughout Australia.
Provisions 34%
The following report shares the year’s achievements across the
region and showcases a community that is not only flourishing,
but making a name for itself across Australia. We are proud to
share our accomplishments on the pages to come.
Financial highlights
Community services 23%
Capital revenue 24%
What
we have
earned
Grants, subsidies & contributions 5%
Planning & development 4%
Employee costs 40%
Finance & business strategy 6%
Materials & services 29%
Waste management 7%
Finance costs 3%
Transport and other infrastructure 22%
Depreciation & amortisation 28%
Water services 24%
Interest revenue 1%
Wastewater services 11%
Rates & levies 58%
Fees & charges 10%
Contract works 2%
Where the
Recurrent
money is
expenses
spent
Corporate governance 3%
Road & bridge network 36%
What are
Site improvements 13%
TOOWOOMBA REGIONAL COUNCIL Annual Report 2015 - 2016
3
Water 6%
Property, plant & equipment 96%
Capital
expenditure