By Bonny Burrows
Cardinia Shire Council “delivered results across the board” during the 2015-17 financial year, according to its CEO, Garry McQuillan.
In his quarterly CEO’s report, which was tabled at 21 August’s council meeting, Mr McQuillan highlighted the achievements of the council over the past financial year, including the progress of major projects during the past three months.
“Council progressed and completed a number of major projects in this quarter, delivering quality facilities for our community,” Mr McQuillan said.
Works on the highly-anticipated Deep Creek Reserve began in June, which will see the greenfield site on Cameron Way, Pakenham, transform into a community park with an all-abilities playground, walking tails and vast community gardens and wetlands.
“This development will give Pakenham residents a refreshed community space with new paths, infrastructure, car park and Melbourne Water wetlands,” Mr McQuillan said.
Also making progress, according to the CEO, was the Lang Lang Community and Recreation Precinct.
The highly anticipated project will provide sporting and recreation groups with a state-of-the-art multi-purpose community and recreation facility.
Works commenced in April and Mr McQuillan said the precinct would provide the Lang Lang and neighbouring communities with “open spaces for recreational activities”.
Children and young families had benefited from a number of upgrades to local playgrounds during the latter quarter of the financial year, the CEO reported.
He said the council’s playground upgrade programs provide improved play equipment and social areas which were suitable for children of all ages.
He pointed to the recent upgrades of Pakenham’s Melissa Way Reserve and the Rotary Park in Garfield as examples of the council’s work.
Melissa Way Reserve underwent a $50,000 upgrade to provide new play equipment while the Rotary Park recently had two new play spaces and three picnic settings installed.
“As part of the development and design process, we work with the local community to ensure the upgrades meet community need and result in increased usage,” Mr McQuillan said.
Along with council-specific works, Mr McQuillan said the shire had been working closely with other levels of government, the community and organisations on a number of partnership projects which benefited the community in “many ways”.
These included the Pakenham Health Centre, the Mr Yakkerboo Meets Blue statue on Pakenham’s Main Street and the inaugural Community Leadership Program.
Mr McQuillan said the council was proud of the successes of these projects.
Another highlight of the past financial year, Mr McQuillan said, was the adoption of the 2017-18 budget which included the “lower 2 per cent rate environment and delivers more than $44 million of capital works to the community”.
“This has been achieved by continuing to focus on organisational efficiencies and savings through effective management of contracts and other sources of expenditure,” Mr McQuillan said.
Mr McQuillan delivers a report to councillors every three months to provide an overview of the council’s services.
