EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The State of the Shire Report 2007/08, provides a snapshot of the quality of life and wellbeing for the Shire. For the first time, in this edition Council has combined two reports; formerly the State of the Shire report (SoS) and the former State of the Environment report (SoE). Previously the SOS was developed and initiated by Council while the SOE is a mandatory report required of all Councils by the NSW Department of Local Government. The reports were merged to minimise duplication and streamline reporting processes to form an integrated holistic mechanism for reporting on sustainability.

Reporting is now aligned with the principal activities of Council's recently reviewed strategic plan Our Shire Our Future - Our Guide for Shaping the Shire to 2030 (The Guide). The format has changed to achieve an integrated, cohesive report.

The SOS 2007/08 report presents trend data for each reporting period from 1997, 2000, 2004 and 2008 to show whether the Shire is Moving towards or moving away from its vision in four principal activity areas - People, Place, Nature and Governance. These areas identified through consultation with the community are the pillars of quadruple bottom line planning, activity and reporting, identified to achieve the Shire's vision.

Positive and adverse findings through analysing information provided by indicators, enable the community to be informed with factual information and to assist in determining future actions to maintain or improve the Shire's vision. The findings from the report show that we are Moving towards the Shire vision in the principal activity areas of People and Governance and away from the Shire vision in principal activity areas of Place and Nature. The following score card provides a summary of the findings.

SCORECARD

Open All Indicators | Close All Indicators

The table below compares indicators from three consecutive reports. The State of the Shire 2000: Our sustainable future report, State of the Shire 2004: A question of sustainability report and State of the Shire 2007/08 report.

 

The State of the Shire Report 2007/08 uses qualitative, factual information or indicators collated over time to show what is happening in our Shire. The analysis and comparison of data over time informs the community of improvements or movements away from the Shire's vision.

Sutherland Shire Council (SSC) continues to be one of the leading Councils in Australia to undertake this type of reporting against indicators. Collecting data now for over 10 years it is clear that changes over time can be tracked and the information used to inform key decisions to enhance or change the direction that the Shire is moving in.