The Christchurch City Council’s Annual Report 2009, signed-off today (22 October 2009), highlights some of the Council’s major achievements over the past year.

The Annual Report 2009 also shows the organisation came out ahead of its financial targets in the 2008/09 financial year, recording a cash surplus of $1.5 million for the financial year, on an annual operating expenditure budget of $430 million. The surplus will be transferred to the debt repayment reserve to reduce the Council’s planned borrowing.

As well as delivering and improving the essential services the city needs to keep running, this Council has been responsible for the development of some exciting new initiatives and major infrastructure projects.

The Annual Report also includes Council highlights over the last financial year, these include:

* The successful hosting of the first ever Ellerslie International Flower Show in Hagley Park

* The launch of the Council’s three wheelie bin kerbside waste collection service to reduce rubbish being sent to landfill

*Planning for the city’s new Transport Interchange progressed

*The Council for the first time received funding from the sale of carbon credits under the Kyoto Protocol

*Planning for new bus priority measures and bus lanes on busy city roads was progressed and the first routes will be rolled-out later this year

*Christchurch became accredited as a “Safe City” by the World Health Organisation

*Work started on the Western Interceptor sewer pipeline, which will reduce overflows into the Avon River.

Christchurch City Council Chief Executive Tony Marryatt says the Annual Report allows the Council to report back on its achievements against what we set out to do at the start of the year. In the past year we have successfully delivered a range of services to the people of Christchurch, from major capital projects to essential services such as water supply and roading improvements.

“This year’s Annual Report also shows the Council is in a good position financially, ahead of its financial targets. It outlines a number of key projects that were carried out in the financial year and shows just how diverse our work is.”

* Copies of the Annual Report 2009 and summary version will be available online and from service centres and libraries from 22 November 2009.

ENDS

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