Goulburn Mulwaree Council
Goulburn Mulwaree New South Wales | |||||||||||||||
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![]() Location in New South Wales | |||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 34°44′S 149°44′E / 34.733°S 149.733°ECoordinates: 34°44′S 149°44′E / 34.733°S 149.733°E | ||||||||||||||
Population | |||||||||||||||
• Density | 9.195/km2 (23.82/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Established | 2004 | ||||||||||||||
Area | 3,220 km2 (1,243.2 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Mayor | Bob Kirk | ||||||||||||||
Council seat | Goulburn[3] | ||||||||||||||
Region | Southern Tablelands | ||||||||||||||
State electorate(s) | Goulburn | ||||||||||||||
Federal Division(s) | Hume | ||||||||||||||
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Website | Goulburn Mulwaree | ||||||||||||||
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Goulburn Mulwaree Council is a local government area located in the Southern Tablelands region of New South Wales, Australia. The area is located adjacent to the Hume Highway and the Southern Highlands railway line. The estimated resident population of the area stood at 29,609 on 2016 census.[1]
The Mayor of Goulburn Mulwaree Council is Bob Kirk.
Cities, towns and localities[]
The area covered under administration is 3,220 square kilometres (1,240 sq mi) and includes Goulburn and the towns and localities of:
- Baw Baw
- Boxers Creek
- Brisbane Grove
- Bungonia
- Carrick
- Currawang (part)
- Gundary
- Kingsdale
- Lake Bathurst
- Lower Boro
- Marulan
- Mummel
- Oallen
- Parkesbourne
- Pomeroy (part)
- Quialigo
- Run-O-Waters
- Tallong
- Tarago
- Tarlo (part)
- Tirrannaville
- Towrang
- Wayo (part)
- Windellama
- Wingello (part)
- Wollogorang (part)
- Yarra
Parts of the Southern Highlands, the Southern Tablelands and Morton National Park lie within the Goulburn Mulwaree Council area.
History[]
The oldest habitation sites discovered in the region date back to 3000–5000 years ago. Two distinct aboriginal language groups were identified in the region when the Europeans initiated contact. These were the Gandangara and the Ngunnawal groups which were connected through common beliefs and culture. The first Europeans to visit Goulburn Mulwaree were John Wilson and John Price. Properties were established here during 1817-1820 due to the grazing potential of the Southern Tablelands.[4]
Municipal history[]
The council was formed as the Greater Argyle Council in 2004 as an amalgamation of Goulburn City and parts of the former Mulwaree Shire. It was renamed in 2005 following objections from the community.[citation needed]
Controversies[]
During 2011 - 2013, Goulburn Mulwaree Council has been at the centre of alleged breaches[5] of NSW Council Rules and Regulations. In late 2013, a Government investigation by the New South Wales State Government found that the Goulburn Mulwaree Council's Multi-Use Centre Tendering Process breached established State Regulations, ruling that: "[Goulburn Mulwaree] Council contravened regulations, ignored tendering guidelines and offered unfair advantage to two tenderers including the successful tenderer, Bathurst firm, Hines Constructions."[6] The Investigation prompted multiple Council Internal Reform suggestions, as well as prompting the council's General Manager Performance Review Committee to suspend the automatic employment renewal of Mr Chris Berry, the then General Manager of Goulburn Mulwaree Council, in September 2013.[7]
In 2011, Goulburn Mulwaree Council partnered with Veolia Environmental Services in seed funding to make up $10,000 for an art award through the Goulburn Regional Art Gallery. The Award, known as the Veolia Environmental Services Art Award, prompted condemnation from the peak body for Australian visual and media arts ( or NAVA), as well as an independent investigation after multiple complaints alleging the winning entry breached the stipulated entry conditions.[8] The Investigation, completed by Planning, Environmental and Economic Consulting, resulted in a 22-page report where: "The consultant recommended that Council make a public statement to acknowledge grievances and the necessary improvements. Secondly, gallery staff should be proactive in engaging professionals, galleries and judges to develop and benchmark the entry and judging criteria."[8] Veolia Environmental Services discontinued its annual $10,000 support for the Award in 2012.
Council[]
Current composition and election method[]
Goulburn Mulwaree Council is composed of nine Councillors elected proportionally as one entire ward. All Councillors are elected for a fixed four-year term of office. The Mayor is elected by the Councillors at the first meeting of the council. The most recent election was held on 10 September 2016, and the makeup of the council is as follows:
Party | Councillors | |
---|---|---|
Independents | 7 | |
Greens | 1 | |
Unaligned | 1 | |
Total | 9 |
The current Council, elected in 2016, in order of election, is:
Councillor | Party | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Bob Kirk | Independent | Mayor | |
Carol James | Unaligned | ||
Sam Rowland | Independent | ||
Margaret O'Neill | Independent | ||
Alfie Walker | Independent | Deputy Mayor | |
Peter Walker | Independent | ||
Leah Ferrara | Greens | ||
Andrew Banfield | Independent | ||
Denzil Sturgiss | Independent |
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Goulburn Mulwaree (A)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- ^ "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017-18". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019. Estimated resident population (ERP) at 30 June 2018.
- ^ "Goulburn Mulwaree Shire Council". Department of Local Government. Archived from the original on 6 September 2006. Retrieved 15 November 2006.
- ^ "History and Character". Goulburn Mulwaree Council.
- ^ "Councillors condemn multifunction tender 'mess'". Goulburn Post. 19 July 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
- ^ "Epic Fail: Council's multi-use centre tender process". Goulburn Post. 8 July 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
- ^ "GM's contract renewal on hold". Goulburn Post. 11 September 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Artists group demands gallery apologise". Goulburn Post. 14 April 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
- Populated places established in 2004
- 2004 establishments in Australia
- Goulburn Mulwaree Council
- Local government areas of New South Wales
- Southern Tablelands