customers in a competitive environment. The branch
provides information, guidance and oversight to the
following functional areas:
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
• Access and disability services
• Aquatic centres
• Cemeteries
• Commercial function venues (cultural centres)
• Community development services
• Community support services
• Fitness centres
• Indoor sports centres
• Multicultural services
• Older person services
community’s health and wellbeing. The branch provides
an effective Environmental and Public Health Service that
promotes a culture of compliance and meets Council’s
legislative obligations.
Animal management
We continue to look for homes for abandoned animals
where appropriate, with Council working closely with
the RSPCA this year in successfully re-homing more
than 30 per cent of lost and abandoned pets. Council’s
companion animal management strategy has been held
as an example of best practice in Queensland.
Foundations were laid this year for the introduction
of the Life-time Registration Tag system for 2016-17.
Lifetime tags will make the dog registration process more
environmentally friendly and easier for dog owners.
• Volunteer management services
• Youth services.
In the 2015-16 financial year, the Community
Development and Facilities Branch achieved the
following key outcomes:
• Up to 40 volunteer programs run with the support of
600 volunteers
• 18 Regional Advisory Committee recommendations
completed
• 3,131 people attended 46 for older person programs
• 71 organisations were approved funding under the
Core Support Funding Program
• 201 youth programs were delivered with a total
attendance of 12,729 young people
• 143 multicultural programs were delivered with a total
attendance of 32,611 people
• 2015-16 Community Support Grants program funded
33 organisations worth $48,904
• 2015-16 Core Community Program provided regional
organisations, hall committees and endorsed
programs worth $256,241.
Facility Management
Delivering quality maintenance services of our facilities
remains a priority for Council. During 2015-16 the facilities
service area of the Community Development and
Facilities Branch continued to provide valuable services
to our community:
Immunisation Clinic
Council’s immunisation clinic runs a Wednesday
childhood clinic from 9am-1.30pm and a monthly evening
clinic on the first Thursday of the month from 5.30-7.00pm.
During 2015-16, 881 babies were immunised against 14
diseases using six different vaccine combinations. A total
of 1,989 doses of vaccine were administered.
The School-Based Vaccination Program was successfully
completed in 26 schools over three scheduled visits.
During the 2015-16 period 1,074 Year 8 and Year
10 students presented for vaccination across the
Toowoomba Regional Council area. A total of 1,918
vaccines were provided.
Food licencing
The Environmental Health Services Branch are also
responsible for administering the approval of food licencing.
During the 2015-16 financial year, 870 licensed premises
were registered with Council, with 139 new approvals.
Property Services Branch
The Property Services Branch provides the Toowoomba
Regional Council with a central function responsible for
all of Council’s building and property management which
ensures these assets are managed in the most effective
and efficient way. Property Services manages the
following functions:
• Maintenance of Council civic buildings
• Acquisition and disposal of land
• Our pools hosted 342,661 visitors during the 2015-16
financial year. Milne Bay Aquatic Centre accounted for
58 per cent of total visitations to Council pools
• Leasing of Council properties
• TRC Cemetery Services oversaw 354 internments at
Council operated cemeteries
• Provision of trade services within Council
• Highfields Cultural Centre managed a total of 805
events in the 2015-16 financial year with a total venue
attendance of 48,429
• Disaster management
• Maintenance of all traffic signals
• Production of Council signs
• Pest control
• Monitoring of various service contracts.
• The Community Rooms in the City Library opened in
February 2016 and hosted 694 events in the first five
months of operation.
In the 2015-16 financial year
Environmental Health Services
• 38 acquisitions were undertaken for roads, parks and
easements for services
The Toowoomba Regional Council’s Environmental
Health Services Branch aims to mitigate health and
environmental related hazards and risks and protect the
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• 39 commercial and community leases were
completed
• 79.24 hectares of parkland was purchased.
TOOWOOMBA REGIONAL COUNCIL Annual Report 2015 - 2016
Our organisation CHAPTER 3
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