Wingecarribee Shire
Wingecarribee Shire New South Wales | |||||||||||||||
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Coordinates | 34°28′S150°25′E/ 34.467°S 150.417°E | ||||||||||||||
Population |
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• Density | 17.807/km2(46.119/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Established | 1 January 1981 | ||||||||||||||
Area | 2,689 km2(1,038.2 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Administrator | Viv May | ||||||||||||||
Council seat | Moss Vale[3] | ||||||||||||||
Region | Southern Highlands,Capital Country | ||||||||||||||
State electorate(s) | |||||||||||||||
Federal division(s) | |||||||||||||||
Website | Wingecarribee Shire | ||||||||||||||
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Wingecarribee Shireis thelocal government areaof theSouthern Highlandsin the state ofNew South Wales,Australia.The Wingecarribee Shire is around 110 kilometres (70 mi) southwest ofSydneyand is part of regionalCapital Countryand to some extent can be considered part of theSouthern Tablelands.
Wingecarribee Shire covers an area of 2,700 square kilometres (1,000 sq mi) that is typically referred to as theSouthern Highlands.Wingecarribee Shire is an important catchment area for water supply to Sydney,Wollongongand theNorthern Shoalhaven.
The Council seat and Chambers is inMoss Vale.However, the centre of commerce of the Shire is inBowral.
The Shire came into existence on 1 January 1981 as an amalgamation of the three previous local government areas that made up the Southern Highlands; Mittagong Shire Council (previously Nattai Shire Council), Bowral Municipality Council and the former Wingecarribee Shire (based in Moss Vale).[4]
In 2012, the Wingecarribee Shire Council won a landmarkclass actionagainstLehman BrothersAustralia in theFederal Courtafter it was found that Lehman Brothers failed to give sound financial advice to the Wingecarribee Shire and other councils through exposure to high-risk investments known ascollateralised debt obligations.Wingecarribee Council suffered A$1.5 million of losses on its investments. The Federal Court found that the council was entitled to an initial award of A$9 million. In 2016 Council announced they had recovered $9.5 million of the $11 million in total losses, recovering 85.6% of all losses. Council's total legal costs of $724,894 were also recovered.[5][6][7][8]
Before the council was suspended in 2021 and an administrator was appointed,[9]themayorof Wingecarribee Shire wasCr.Duncan Gair.[10]On 20 May 2021, Lisa Miscamble was appointed General Manager.[11]
Major towns and villages
[edit]The major towns in the Shire areMittagong,Bowral,Moss Vale,RobertsonandBundanoon.
Villages include:Alpine,Aylmerton,Avoca,Balaclava,Balmoral Village,Belanglo,Berrima,Braemar,Bullio,Burradoo,Burrawang,Canyonleigh,Colo Vale,East Kangaloon,Exeter,Fitzroy Falls,Glenquarry,High Range,Hill Top,Joadja,Kangaloon,Manchester Square,Mandemar,Medway,Meryla,Mount Murray,New Berrima,Paddys River,Penrose,Renwick,Wattle Ridge,Welby,Werai,Wildes Meadow,Willow Vale,Wingello,WoodlandsandYerrinbool.
Etymology
[edit]The current shire retains the name of the former Wingecarribee Shire because the Wingecarribee River is one of the most significant geographical features that is found in all the three previous local government areas that made up the Highlands prior to amalgamation.[4]
The wordWingecarribeeis from theDharawal language(anIndigenous Australianlanguage) which loosely translates into"a flight of birds",or"waters to rest beside".Moreover, the term "Wingecarribee" was used as the name of the area by the first settlers of the area, the Oxley Family (See,History of Bowral) andGovernor Macquariein 1816 recorded it as "Winge Karribee". In 1838, the contemporary spelling was adapted bySurveyor Mitchell.[4]
Geology and geography
[edit]The Shire is crossed by theHume Highwayand theSouthern Highlands railway line.
The pattern of development is one of small towns and villages. The eastern parts of the Shire are bounded by theIllawarra escarpmentandMorton National Park,with some remnant rainforest and heathland. The north of the Shire is characterised by ruggedeucalyptbushland, with gullies, gorges and sandy soils. This area forms part of the catchment forSydney's water supply and two major storage dams(Avon and Nepean Dams)are in this area. The dams cannot be accessed by any roads within the Wingecarribee Shire but by roads leading off south-east of theWollondilly Shire.TheWollondillyandWingecarribee Riversflow through the west of the Shire, through deep sandstone valleys and much of this area forms part of the catchment forWarragamba Dam.The south of the Shire is bounded by Uringalla Creek and is a sandstone plateaux dissected by deep gorges.
Wingecarribee Swamp is home to the remaining population of the endangeredGiant dragonflyandWingecarribee Leek Orchid.[12]
Demographics
[edit]Population
[edit]At the2016 census,the Wingecarribee Shire had an estimated population of 47,882[1]and has grown from 40,636 at the2001 census,[13]a growth rate 1.1% per annum.
The population density is 17.8 person/km2.The Shire is relatively homogenous with an Australian-born population making up 77.1% of the population.Indigenous Australiansmake up 2.0% of the population. 88.4% of the population speak English at home.[1]
Workforce
[edit]The Shire's workforce is at a current estimate of 18,919 residents, around 40% of Shire's entire population.[14]The Shire's workforce are 14.7% managers, 19.3% professionals, 16.2% technicians and trades workers, 9.2% community and personal service workers, 12.5% clerical and administrative workers, 9.5% sales workers, 6.3 machinery operators and drivers, and 10.7% labourers.[15]At the 2006 census,[14]the average median income for the workforce of the Shire was $43,052. The workforce are primarily employed in four main industries: 16% in retail trading, 12% in manufacturing, 11% in health and community services, and 9% in construction.[16]The workforce predominately works within the Shire, with 77% of the workforce working within the Shire. Moreover, 3% travel to nearbyWollongongfor employment and 20% work in Sydney.[16]Educationally, 40% of residents of the Shire are qualified with post High School certification in which 11% hold a University Degree and 28% qualified with a Diploma or Certificate.[16]
At the 2006 census[17]the Shire had an unemployment rate of 4.3%.
Housing and residential
[edit]Separate and detached housing make up the majority of the housing in the Shire at 90.7%. The rest is semi-detached/townhouse at 5.9% and apartments and units at 1.8%.[1]
Council
[edit]Composition and election method
[edit]Wingecarribee Shire is composed of ninecouncillorselectedproportionally.All councillors are elected for a fixed four-year term of office. Themayoris elected by the councillors at the first meeting of the council. The most recent election was held on 10 September 2016. The council was suspended by the Minister for Local Government and gazetted on 12 March 2021 at 12:35pm.
The composition of the council prior to it beingsuspendedby the Minister for Local Government on 12 March 2021 was as follows:[18][19]
Party | Councillors | |
---|---|---|
Independents | 7 | |
Labor | 1 | |
Total | 8 |
The council elected in 2016 and suspended in 2021, in order of election, was:[18][19]
Councillor | Party | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Duncan Gair | Independent | Mayor | |
Graham McLaughlin | Labor | ||
Grahame Andrews | Independent | Deputy Mayor | |
Larry Whipper | Independent | ||
Garry Turland | Independent | Resigned 12 March 2021 | |
Ken Halstead | Independent | Resigned 9 March 2021 | |
Ian Scandrett | Independent | ||
Peter Nelson | Independent | ||
Gordon Markwart | Greens | Resigned 4 August 2020 |
Past mayors
[edit]In 1981, the first shire president was David Wood and the shire clerk was Harold Jopling.[4]
- Duncan Gair
- Gordon Lewis 2004
- Dr Sara Murray 2012
- Philip Yeo
- Juliet Arkwright
Election results
[edit]2024
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fresh Vision Youthfully Driven | 1. Jesse Fitzpatrick (elected 1) 2. Erin Foley (elected 3) 3. Therese Duffy (elected 4) 4. James Farrell (elected 9) 5. Sharon Fitzpatrick 6. Andrew Buttfield 7. Mark Hughes 8. Andrew Phillips |
13,421 | 41.1 | +41.1 | |
Representing Our Community | 1. Rachel Russell (elected 2) 2. David Rapley 3. Joshua Sloss 4. Antony Dubber 5. Shardae Ewart 6. Ryan Elphick 7. James Salter 8. Glen Jenkins 9. Jillian Cockram |
4,217 | 12.9 | +12.9 | |
Greens | 1. Heather Champion (elected 5) 2. Erin Levee 3. Yash Mash 4. Claire Hall 5. Clive West 6. Maree Byrne 7. Gregory Olsen 8. Jenny Webster 9. Sarah Cains |
2,675 | 8.2 | −1.5 | |
Labor | 1. David Kent (elected 6) 2. Penny Newlove 3. Dean Cowgill 4. Jeffrey Lapidos 5. Linda Mclaughlin |
2,625 | 8.0 | −8.2 | |
Let's Get It Right | 1. Nicole Smith (elected 8) 2. Bronwyn Tregenza 3. Thomas Farquhar 4. Samuel Jones 5. Alison Courts 6. Kristie Phelan |
2,319 | 7.1 | +7.1 | |
Wingecarribee First | 1. Sara Moylan (elected 7) 2. Sabrina Venish 3. Ian Bollen 4. Stephen Wentworth (Ind. Nat) 5. Hamilton Becher 6. Valentine Tyson (Ind. Nat) |
2,307 | 7.1 | +7.1 | |
Duncan Gair Team | 1. Duncan Gair 2. Donna Jensen 3. Gordon Lewis 4. Peter Nelson 5. David Reid 6. Douglas Webb |
2,048 | 6.3 | −12.6 | |
Libertarian | 1. Raymond Khoury 2. Robert Thomas 3. Alan Stockman 4. Andrew Brough 5. James Brough |
2,033 | 6.3 | +6.3 | |
Independent Liberal | 1. Juliet Arkwright 2. Julia McKay 3. Sam Zilinskas 4. Ken Street 5. Colin Maslen 6. Amanda Lynch |
966 | 3.0 | +3.0 | |
Total formal votes | 32,611 | 93.9 | |||
Informal votes | 2,107 | 6.1 | |||
Turnout | 34,718 | 86.4 |
Local media
[edit]Weekly paid local newspapers,Southern Highland NewsandSouthern Highlands Express.Local online publicationThe Bowral News. Commercial radio station2ST 102.9.Community radio stationHighland FM 107.1.
Local attractions
[edit]See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^abcdAustralian Bureau of Statistics(27 June 2017)."Wingecarribee (A)".2016 Census QuickStats.Retrieved11 July2017.
- ^"3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017–18".Australian Bureau of Statistics. 27 March 2019.Retrieved27 March2019.Estimated resident population (ERP) at 30 June 2018.
- ^"Wingecarribee Shire".Division of Local Government.Archived fromthe originalon 7 September 2006.Retrieved27 November2006.
- ^abcd"History Prior to 1981"(PDF).Wingecarribee Shire History.Wingecarribee Shire Council.Retrieved24 September2012.
- ^Johnston, Eric (22 September 2012)."Councils owed millions after Lehman Brothers 'bet', court finds".The Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved24 September2012.
- ^O'Brien, Justin (24 September 2012)."Explaining Lehman's devastation Down Under".Business Spectator.Australia.Retrieved24 September2012.
- ^Hoerr, Karl (21 September 2012)."Lehman Brothers clients win compensation"(transcript).Lateline.Australia: ABC TV.Retrieved24 September2012.
- ^"COUNCIL RECOVERS $9.5 MILLION IN CDO INVESTMENTS".Media Centre Wingecarribee Shire Council.Wingecarribee Shire Council.Retrieved18 September2020.
- ^"Wingecarribee Shire Council suspended".Office of Local Government.Retrieved12 August2021.
- ^"Larry Whipper new Wingecarribee Mayor".Wingecarribee Shire Council.Australia. 17 September 2014. Archived fromthe originalon 4 April 2018.Retrieved9 October2014.
- ^"Councils new general manager announced".Wingecarribee Shire Council.Retrieved12 August2021.
- ^"DEC | NSW threatened species - Wingecarribee Leek Orchid".Archived fromthe originalon 17 August 2008.Retrieved17 August2009.
- ^Australian Bureau of Statistics(9 March 2006)."Wingecarribee (A)".2001 Census QuickStats.Retrieved11 July2017.
- ^ab"Population".2006 Census.Australian Bureau of Statistics.
- ^"Employment types".2006 Census.Australian Bureau of Statistics.
- ^abc"SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS BUSINESS | the Southern Highlands Region, Wingecarribee".Archived fromthe originalon 13 October 2009.Retrieved31 October2009.
- ^"Unemployment rate".2006 Census.Australian Bureau of Statistics.
- ^ab"Wingecarribee Shire: Summary of First Preference and Group Votes for each Candidate".Local Government Elections 2016.Electoral Commission of New South Wales. 19 September 2016.Retrieved19 October2016.
- ^ab"Mayor announces Councillor Markwart's resignation | Wingecarribee Shire Council Media Centre".media.wsc.nsw.gov.au.Retrieved22 February2021.
- ^"Wingecarribee - First Preference Group and Candidate Votes by Aggregated Vote Type".New South Wales Electoral Commission. 1 October 2024. Archived fromthe originalon 10 October 2024.Retrieved10 October2024.
- ^"STEPHEN WENTWORTH".New South Wales Electoral Commission. 16 August 2024. Archived fromthe originalon 22 August 2024.Retrieved22 August2024.
- ^"VALENTINE TYSON".New South Wales Electoral Commission. 16 August 2024. Archived fromthe originalon 22 August 2024.Retrieved22 August2024.
- ^"JESSE FITZPATRICK".jessefitzpatrick.net.Archived fromthe originalon 4 September 2024.Retrieved4 September2024.
- ^"First opportunity in 8 years to elect representatives to Council".letsgetitright.org.au.Archived fromthe originalon 4 September 2024.Retrieved4 September2024.
- ^"REPRESENTING OUR COMMUNITY".Facebook.Rachel Russell - Wingecarribee. 27 May 2024. Archived fromthe originalon 4 September 2024.Retrieved4 September2024.
External links
[edit]- Wingecarribee Shirewebsite
- Official Tourismwebsite
- Asset management information