Snapshot of satisfaction in Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour’s new Harry Bailey Memorial Library has been a crowd favourite since the doors opened last September. 

The past financial year saw the City of Coffs Harbour library service best the State Library of NSW visitation standard for the first time – with 351,464 physical visits (achieving a target per capita of 4.46 compared to the standard of 4.03). 

Library membership has climbed to the equivalent of more than 57 per cent of the Coffs Harbour Local Government Area population. 

There were more than 91,000 physical visits to the Harry Bailey Memorial Library in the fourth quarter (April-June) of the past financial year, while there were 13,894 visits to Yarrila Arts and Museum (YAM). 

These results and more are detailed in the 2023/24 Operational Plan Quarterly Progress Report which was adopted unanimously by Council at its meeting on 22 August. 

It was reported that the economic benefit of events held at the C.ex Coffs International Stadium and Coffs Coast Leisure Park was $28,772,010 for 2023/24. 

Meanwhile the average assessment time for Coffs Harbour development applications in the past financial year was 95 days (ahead of the regional NSW average of 100 days and all of NSW average of 115 days). 

“These quarterly reports are a progress check on the City’s works and services for the community,” City of Coffs Harbour General Manager Natalia Cowley said. 

“The majority of actions for the fourth quarter were recorded as being on track, with 41 complete and just 10 impacted by major disruption which often presents as wet weather or supply chain issues.” 

Key highlights included: 

• Library services issued 90,981 items 

•  7,605 tickets sold at the Jetty Memorial Theatre  

• 21 per cent increase in online bookings for Coffs Coast Holiday Parks 

• Zero unresolved water quality complaints; and 

• 95 per cent of customer inquiries resolved at first point of contact. 

A number of capital works projects were completed during the quarter, including: 

• Adelines Way Coffs Harbour sewer main renewal 

• Archers Bridge 

• Dune reduction of foredune at Park Beach 

• Frances Street pavement renewal 

• Hogbin Drive Koala Fence 

• New 1.5m wide footpath for safer connection to Korora Public School 

• North Boambee Valley sewer infrastructure 

• Orlando Street pavement renewal 

• Gordon Street - Harbour Drive to Park Avenue watermain 

• Nana Glen Rural Fire Service station upgrade; and 

• Replace shade structures, undertake tree planting and garden bed renewal at Jetty Foreshore. 

“The City looks after 324 kilometres of walking and cycling paths and in the fourth quarter it was found that 97.5 per cent of the footpath network was free of defects,” Ms Cowley said. 

“This reports helps our community understand the City’s performance and serves as a key point of accountability – which is one of the City’s core values.” 

Photo: Games, cookie cutters and cake tins and books are some of the items which can be loaned from the Harry Bailey Memorial Library.