Council adopts draft Annual Report
Posted on Wednesday, 26 October 2011 04:02 p.m.
Environment Southland has formally adopted its draft Annual Report for its activities during the past year, with water quality featuring as a priority.
The report detailing the Council's work for the 2010-2011 financial year was presented to an extraordinary meeting of Council today (October 26).
The report says that the year could well be remembered for a heightened awareness of the water quality in Southland. Waituna Lagoon has taken precedence during the year after Council scientists identified a trend of deteriorating water quality and the likelihood that without intervention it could “flip” to a degraded state. Council response required the diversion of some staff and financial resources from intended functions into the Waituna response.
An annual perception survey also highlighted those concerns with 96 per cent of respondents suggesting water was an issue they cared for; 75 per cent saying they cared a lot and 21 per cent, a little. While 88 per cent were aware of Environment Southland’s efforts to improve water quality, 27 per cent considered the council was making progress.
However Chairman Ali Timms and Chief Executive Ciaran Keogh say in the report that everyone in the community also shared the responsibility of improving water quality in Southland and could only provide the framework for behaviour.
Council has also performed better than expected financially, operating at a $2.51 million surplus, $3.2 million above budget for the year which is largely because of increased dividends and better than forecast returns from investments.
Other points of note in the Annual Report were:
- Consent processing was completed within the statutory timeframe 92 per cent of the time.
- Council objectives in the 2010-2011 Annual Plan were all but completed however some science and policy work was delayed by the need to divert resources to Council’s Waituna response.
Council Corporate Services Director Graham Alsweiler said the auditor had stated that Annual Report complied with all aspects of accepted practice that were required.
Mr Alsweiler told the Council that subject to its adoption, the report would receive an unqualified audit from the auditor.
Environment Southland is the brand name of Southland Regional Council.