West Coast Council
Profile
Local Government Division
February 2015
D epar tme nt of Prem ier and Cabinet
West Coast Council
What is this profile?
This profile contains information and statistical data about the West Coast Council (the Council) across five key areas:
demography and population trends, council revenue, council expenditure, asset management and governance and
human resource management. The information is by no means exhaustive, but it provides a snapshot of the Council
across a number of key council functions and responsibilities.
Comparisons
The statistics include comparisons of the Council with other similar councils in Tasmania as well as similar councils from
New South Wales. New South Wales was selected due to the readily available comprehensive data in a similar format
to that presented in this profile. As it was important to compare like-for-like councils as much as possible, the
classification system used to separate councils into relevant groups was based on the Australian Classification of Local
Governments (ACLG). The ACLG is based on population size and density and is attached for reference at Appendix A.
The profile also includes graphics depicting how the Council has performed against a number of financial and asset
management indicators.
Key aspects of West Coast Council’s Profile
1. Demography
 West Coast’s population is expected to decrease at a rate of 1.23% pa. for the next 10 years.
 By 2025, West Coast is likely to have an age profile quite similar to what it has now.
2. Financial Management
 West Coast has returned an average operating surplus of approximately $255,000 over the last 7 years.
 West Coast has decreased its cash reserves by 43.68% and decreased its net financial assets by 78% to
$679,000 in 2013-14.
 In 2012-13, West Coast derived approximately 25.70% of its revenue from grants and contributions, which
is 7.30% below the average for councils in the RAL1 class.
3. Asset Management
 West Coast’s road asset consumption ratio has been on average 2.7% below the Auditor-General’s (AG)
benchmark2 over the last 7 years.
 The Council has been on average significantly exceeding the AG’s benchmark for asset sustainability ratio for
the last 7 years indicating that the council is investing appropriately in its assets.
4. Staff Efficiency
 In 2012-13, West Coast had 12.5 FTE’s3 per 1000 head of population which is well above the average of
7.61 for RAL councils.
 West Coast’s employee costs were 36% of total operating expenses, which is 3.50% above the RAL average
of 32.50%.
5. Rates Performance

1
West Coast’s average rates and charges have increased by 20.89% since 2010-11, which is 9.31% more than
the Council Cost Index of 11.58% for the same period.
Rural Agricultural Large Councils as defined by the Australian Classification of Local Governments (ACLG).
Auditor-General’s Benchmarks are those used in the Auditor-General’s Report on the Financial Statements of State Entities.
3
Full Time Equivalent staff
2
West Coast Council
Classification: Rural Agricultural Large (RAL)
DEMOGRAPHY AND MUNICIPAL STATISTICS
West Coast Council (2012-13)
9,575 km2
195
Municipal Area
Roads (council owned) (km)
Population (2012)
Population density (per km2)
Population growth per year (10 year Ave)
4,685
Unemployment rate (per cent) (2011)
3,008
Median weekly household income (2011)
Mining (29.5 %)
Rateable Properties
Rateable Residential properties
Main employment industry
4,792
0.5
-1.14 %
7.6 %
$966
Population trajectory (Med Series)
6
Population ('000)
5
4
3
2
1
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
0
Year
9%
8%
7%
6%
5%
4%
3%
2%
1%
0%
State average
85 +
80–84
75–79
70–74
65–69
60–64
55–59
50–54
45–49
40–44
35–39
30–34
25–29
20–24
15–19
10–14
5–9
West Coast
0-4
Percent of Population
2013 Age Profile
Age Groups
8%
7%
6%
5%
4%
3%
State average
2%
1%
West Coast
Age Groups
85 +
80–84
75–79
70–74
65–69
60–64
55–59
50–54
45–49
40–44
35–39
30–34
25–29
20–24
15–19
10–14
5–9
0%
0-4
Percent of Population
2025 Age Profile (medium series)
West Coast Council
REVENUE AND RATES
Indicator/Statistic (2012-13)
Total Revenue ($’000s)
Own source revenue (%)4
Grants & contributions revenue (%)
Average rates/charges per Valuation
Average residential rate
West Coast
11,425
71.5
25.7
$1344
Not Provided
RAL Ave
12,133
60.0
33.0
$1228
$835
State Ave
26,029
65.9
28.8
$1322
$1037
NSW RAL Ave
22,761
49.2
43.8
$1042
$523
Total Revenue
Total Rates and Annual
Charges
Total User Fees and
Charges
Total Grants and
Contributions
Total interest received
Other income (N.E.C)
Operating Surplus (Deficit)
Operating surplus (deficit) ($)
1500000
1000000
500000
0
-500000
-1000000
-1500000
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
Financial year
RAL
4
Benchmark
Own source revenue and grants and contributions revenue are based on total revenue
West Coast
2013-14
West Coast Council
Net financial assets (liabilities) ($)
Net Financial Assets (Liabilities)
7000000
6000000
5000000
4000000
3000000
2000000
1000000
0
-1000000
-2000000
-3000000
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10 2010-11
Financial year
RAL
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
West Coast
Cash Reserves
16
Cash reserves ($M)
14
12
10
8
West Coast
6
RAL Average
4
State Average
2
0
2011-12
2012-13
Financial Year
2013-14
West Coast Council
EXPENSES
Indicator/Statistic (2012-13)
West Coast
RAL Ave
State Ave
NSW RAL Ave
Total Expenditure ($’000s)
Operating Cost per Valuation ($)
Operating Expense per Capita ($)
10,786
2302
2250
10,707
2244
1570
25,166
2471
1756
21,865
5177
3109
Operating Expenses by Council Function
West Coast
Tasmanian RAL Average
NSW RAL Average
West Coast Council
ASSET MANAGEMENT
Indicator/Statistic (2012-13)
Non-current Assets ($’000s)
Capital Expenditure ($’000s)
Depreciation expenses ($’000s)
Cap Ex to Depreciation ratio (%)
West Coast
101,220
3,586
2,727
131.5
RAL Ave
127,717
3,950
2,782
144.0
State Ave
297,287
7,658
5,300
139.7
Asset Sustainability Ratio
Asset Sustainability Ratio (%)
350
300
250
200
RAL
150
100
Benchmark
50
West Coast
0
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
Fnancial
year Year
Financial
Road Asset Consumption ratio
Road Asset Consumption Ratio (%)
70
60
50
40
RAL
30
Benchmark
20
West Coast
10
0
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
Financil
year Year
Financial
GOVERNANCE AND HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Indicator/Statistic (2012-13)
No. Elected Members
Population Per Elected Members
FTE’s
FTE Staff per 1000 population
Employee costs to Operating Expense (%)
West Coast
9
532
60
12.5
36
RAL Ave
9
787
51
7.61
32.5
State Ave
9.69
1671
117
8.35
33.1
NSW RAL Ave
8.64
842
104.1
15.1
NA
West Coast Council
APPENDIX A
Abbreviation
Definition
Councils
Rural Agricultural
Small and Medium
RASM
population of up to 5
000 at a density of <30
per km2
Flinders Island
King Island
Central highlands
Glamorgan-Spring Bay
Tasman
Rural Agricultural
Large
RAL
population of 5 000-10
000 at a density of <30
per km2
Break O'Day
Circular Head
Dorset
Southern Midlands
Kentish
Latrobe
George Town
West Coast
Rural Agricultural
Very Large
RAV
population of 10 00020000 at a density of
<30 per km2
Derwent Valley
Huon Valley
Meander Valley
Northern midlands
Sorell
Waratah-Wynyard
Urban Small
US
population of
up to 30 000
Brighton
Burnie
Devonport
Central Coast
West Tamar
Urban
Medium
UM
population of
30 000 – 70
000
Clarence
Glenorchy
Hobart
Kingborough
Launceston