Victoria’s local government sector is made up of 79 councils, 10 regional library corporations and 16 associated entities.
This report outlines the results of, and observations arising from, our financial audits of the entities within the sector, and our observations, for the year ended 30 June 2017. We also comment on the outcomes of our audits of the 79 council performance reports.
Victoria’s water entities provide a range of water services, including supplying water and sewerage services, managing bulk water storage and looking after specific recreational areas, such as caravan parks.
This report outlines the results of our financial audits of the water entities, and our observations, for the year ended 30 June 2017. We also discuss our audits of entities’ performance reports.
We assess the water sector’s financial performance during the 2016–17 reporting period and assess its sustainability as at 30 June 2017.
Ordered to be printed
VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT PRINTER August 2017
PP No 256, Session 2014–17
Dear Presiding Officers
| ABS | Australian Bureau of Statistics |
| AEDC | Australian Early Development Census |
| ATSI | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander |
| CALD | Culturally and linguistically diverse |
| CBD | Central business district |
| CDIS | Child Development Information System |
We have consulted with DELWP, VPA, DET, DHHS, Hume City Council, Mitchell Shire Council, Moreland City Council, the Kilmore & District Hospital, and Northern Health, and we considered their views when reaching our audit conclusions. As required by section 16(3) of the Audit Act 1994, we gave a draft copy of this report, or relevant extracts, to those agencies and asked for their submissions and comments.
Responsibility for the accuracy, fairness and balance of those comments rests solely with the agency head.
Responses were received as follows:
Strategic service planning entails predicting future demand and need for services, and developing a range of proposals that would best meet the changing needs of communities. Supply analysis and modelling predicts the likely service system capacity and needs for related infrastructure by considering a range of variables, such as policy objectives, service delivery and network designs, access patterns and the capacity of existing facilities.
Sound strategic service planning across different agencies needs to encompass:
The aim of strategic land use planning is to design future communities that achieve the government’s high-level social, economic and environmental objectives. Effective implementation arrangements support land use plans to create communities that are attractive, inclusive and liveable.
Effective strategic land use planning systems should encompass:
Victoria’s population has grown significantly over recent years, with sustained rapid growth since 2011. Current forecasts indicate the trend will continue. The state’s current population is just over 6.1 million people and is forecast to reach 7.7 million by 2031, with 1.7 million people living in Victoria’s regions and over 6 million in Greater Melbourne.
Victoria’s population has grown rapidly in recent years, with sustained, rapid growth since 2011. The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) forecasts the state’s population to increase from just over 6.1 million to 7.7 million by 2031, with over 6 million people living in Greater Melbourne. To date, population growth has been more concentrated in the seven greenfield growth areas on Melbourne’s fringe. These previously undeveloped areas are projected to share 42 per cent of the state’s future growth.
In accordance with section 16(3) of the Audit Act 1994, a copy of this report, or part of this report, was provided to the Local Government Victoria, Sport and Recreation Victoria, Glen Eira City Council, the City of Greater Bendigo, Mansfield Shire Council, Moreland City Council, South Gippsland Shire Council and the City of Whittlesea.