QUICK STATS
The CHANGE Project attendance has more than doubled
since last year
visitors and locals are afforded the highest quality of park experiences .
Last year the Tree Services team planted in excess of 3,100 trees , contributing greatly to the greening and shade creation on our streets and in our parks . Over the coming years , the towns of Pittsworth and Millmerran will appreciate the benefits of increasing our urban forest .
The CHANGE project
The CHANGE Project was successful this year in taking out the Parks and Leisure Australia 2015 Awards for Excellence for Inclusive and Connected Communities . Program attendance has more than doubled since last year , from 20,000 to over 45,000 recorded participants in 2015-16 . Nearly 100 opportunities were available across the region each week , with close to 1,000 people participating weekly in low-cost or free activities including group fitness programs , walking and running groups , mum and bub exercise sessions and meditation classes . Almost 300 people attended the Project ’ s Seed to Feed workshops and FOODcents courses across the region over the year and the Project also helped grow the Toowoomba Organic Community Garden membership base from 16 to 70 members .
Conservation and Pest Management
Processes have been developed and implemented to map and treat invasive biosecurity matter on Council ’ s road network and undertake biosecurity surveillance programs across all land tenures within the region . Significant upgrades to the Wild Dog Check Fence were completed , including repair and replacement of sections of the fence , and upgrades to creek crossings and grids . Wildfire protection throughout the region was enhanced through upgrades to fire breaks at Mount Peel in Drayton and Lake Cressbrook . The Conservation and Pest Management team have also been preparing for the implementation of the new Biosecurity Act 2014 .
Library and Cultural Services
Integrated community facilities and initiatives play a vital role in creating healthy communities , building social interaction , enhancing wellbeing , and providing valuable resources for our community .
Making an on-going contribution to the Toowoomba Region ’ s cultural , social and artistic offerings , the Library and Cultural Services Branch is responsible for numerous facilities for our residents to enjoy free of charge including libraries , art galleries and community meeting spaces .
Libraries
This year saw a major milestone reached with the official opening of the new Toowoomba City Library . The building anchors the Civic Square precinct and has become a focal point for Toowoomba . The library building is a state-of-the-art facility and is a major investment in future generations providing modern technology and resources to the community . 478,596 people visited Toowoomba Regional Council libraries in 2015-16 and more than 54,678 people are members of our regional libraries with the public making 1,057,105 library loans across the year .
We continue to provide opportunity for our community members to remain digitally connected with our libraries providing 39,689 hours of free public internet across the region and 41,801 hours of free public Wi-Fi .
Art Galleries
Art galleries contribute to the artistic , creative and cultural diversity of the region . Toowoomba Region galleries continue to attract strong community involvement with 45,869 patrons visiting our Toowoomba Region art galleries during 2015-16 .
The number of events and initiatives run from our art galleries increased this year with the Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery conducting 42 exhibitions and 74 public programs and our community galleries contributing 91 exhibitions and public events to the overall program .
Community Development and Facilities
Toowoomba Regional Council strives to achieve better outcomes for the community by providing improved access to resources , increasing opportunities for community participation and encouraging collaboration and partnership development to improve service delivery .
The Community Development and Facilities Branch ensures efficient and effective performance management frameworks to provide quality service delivery to
64 CHAPTER 3 Our organisation TOOWOOMBA REGIONAL COUNCIL Annual Report 2015 - 2016