Bundaberg Regional Council
Encyclopedia
The Bundaberg Region is a Local Government Area located in the Wide Bay-Burnett
region of Queensland
, Australia
, about 360 kilometres (223.7 mi) north of Brisbane
, the state capital. It is centred on the city of Bundaberg, and also contains a significant rural area surrounding the city. It was created in 2008 from a merger of the City of Bundaberg
with the Shires of Burnett, Isis
and Kolan
.
The Bundaberg Regional Council, which administers the Region, has an estimated operating budget of A$
89 million.
and Kolan
divisions.
The first eight years saw several areas break away and become self-governing due to increases in local population. The first was Bundaberg itself, which with an area of 4.1 square kilometres (1.6 sq mi) and a population of 1,192, split from Barolin on 22 April 1881 to form the Municipality of Bundaberg
under the Local Government Act 1878. Areas to the south (Woongarra
) and north (Gooburrum
) of the Burnett River
split from Kolan on 31 December 1885, and Barolin on 30 January 1886 respectively, while on 1 January 1887, the Isis Division
further to the south split away from Burrum. Thus by 1887, the Municipality of Bundaberg and the Barolin, Gooburrum, Isis, Kolan and Woongarra Divisions covered the entire territory of what is now the Bundaberg Region.
On 31 March 1903, after the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, the Municipality became a Town while the Divisions became Shires. On 22 November 1913, Bundaberg was proclaimed a City.
On 21 December 1917, the Shire of Barolin was abolished and its area split between the City of Bundaberg and the Shire of Woongarra. Bundaberg grew to 45.2 square kilometres (17.5 sq mi) and was united with what was then its entire suburban extent.
On 21 November 1991, the Electoral and Administrative Review Commission, created two years earlier, produced its second report, and recommended that local government boundaries in the Bundaberg area be rationalised. The Local Government (Bundaberg and Burnett) Regulation 1993 was gazetted on 17 December 1993, and on 30 March 1994, the Shires of Gooburrum and Woongarra were abolished, with most transferred into a new Shire of Burnett. A portion of Woongarra was transferred to the City, more than doubling its area and increasing its population by 8,200 in 1991 census terms.
On 15 March 2008, under the Local Government (Reform Implementation) Act 2007 passed by the Parliament of Queensland
on 10 August 2007, the City of Bundaberg
merged with the Shires of Burnett, Isis
and Kolan
to form the Bundaberg Region.
Those elected on 15 March 2008 were as follows:
* The population of the 1996 area of Bundaberg in 1991 was 41,219.
Wide Bay-Burnett
Wide Bay-Burnett is a region of the Australian state of Queensland, located between 170 and 400 kilometres north of the state capital, Brisbane. The area's population growth has exceeded the state average over the past 20 years, and it is forecast to grow to more than 430,000 by 2031...
region of Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, about 360 kilometres (223.7 mi) north of Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, the state capital. It is centred on the city of Bundaberg, and also contains a significant rural area surrounding the city. It was created in 2008 from a merger of the City of Bundaberg
City of Bundaberg
The City of Bundaberg was a Local Government Area located in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, encompassing the centre and inner suburbs of the regional city of Bundaberg...
with the Shires of Burnett, Isis
Shire of Isis
The Shire of Isis was a Local Government Area located in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, to the south of Bundaberg. The Shire, administered from the town of Childers covered an area of , and existed as a local government entity from 1887 until 2008, when it was amalgamated...
and Kolan
Shire of Kolan
The Shire of Kolan was a Local Government Area located in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, to the west of Bundaberg. The Shire, administered from the town of Gin Gin, covered an area of , and existed as a local government entity from 1879 until 2008, when it was amalgamated...
.
The Bundaberg Regional Council, which administers the Region, has an estimated operating budget of A$
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
89 million.
History
Local government in the Bundaberg area began on 11 November 1879 with the creation of 74 divisions around Queensland under the Divisional Boards Act 1879. These included the Barolin, BurrumCity of Hervey Bay
The City of Hervey Bay was a Local Government Area located in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, containing the urban centre of Hervey Bay as well as the northern half of Fraser Island...
and Kolan
Shire of Kolan
The Shire of Kolan was a Local Government Area located in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, to the west of Bundaberg. The Shire, administered from the town of Gin Gin, covered an area of , and existed as a local government entity from 1879 until 2008, when it was amalgamated...
divisions.
The first eight years saw several areas break away and become self-governing due to increases in local population. The first was Bundaberg itself, which with an area of 4.1 square kilometres (1.6 sq mi) and a population of 1,192, split from Barolin on 22 April 1881 to form the Municipality of Bundaberg
City of Bundaberg
The City of Bundaberg was a Local Government Area located in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, encompassing the centre and inner suburbs of the regional city of Bundaberg...
under the Local Government Act 1878. Areas to the south (Woongarra
Shire of Woongarra
The Shire of Woongarra was a Local Government Area located to the south and east of the regional city of Bundaberg. The shire, administered from Bundaberg itself, covered an area of , and existed as a local government entity from 1885 until 1994, when it amalgamated with Gooburrum to form the Shire...
) and north (Gooburrum
Shire of Gooburrum
The Shire of Gooburrum was a Local Government Area located to the north and west of the regional city of Bundaberg, Australia. The shire, administered from Bundaberg itself, covered an area of , and existed as a local government entity from 1886 until 1994, when it amalgamated with Woongarra to...
) of the Burnett River
Burnett River
The Burnett River is a river in central Queensland, Australia that empties into the Pacific Ocean near the city of Bundaberg. The Burnett River region is largely given over to growing sugar cane....
split from Kolan on 31 December 1885, and Barolin on 30 January 1886 respectively, while on 1 January 1887, the Isis Division
Shire of Isis
The Shire of Isis was a Local Government Area located in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, to the south of Bundaberg. The Shire, administered from the town of Childers covered an area of , and existed as a local government entity from 1887 until 2008, when it was amalgamated...
further to the south split away from Burrum. Thus by 1887, the Municipality of Bundaberg and the Barolin, Gooburrum, Isis, Kolan and Woongarra Divisions covered the entire territory of what is now the Bundaberg Region.
On 31 March 1903, after the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, the Municipality became a Town while the Divisions became Shires. On 22 November 1913, Bundaberg was proclaimed a City.
On 21 December 1917, the Shire of Barolin was abolished and its area split between the City of Bundaberg and the Shire of Woongarra. Bundaberg grew to 45.2 square kilometres (17.5 sq mi) and was united with what was then its entire suburban extent.
On 21 November 1991, the Electoral and Administrative Review Commission, created two years earlier, produced its second report, and recommended that local government boundaries in the Bundaberg area be rationalised. The Local Government (Bundaberg and Burnett) Regulation 1993 was gazetted on 17 December 1993, and on 30 March 1994, the Shires of Gooburrum and Woongarra were abolished, with most transferred into a new Shire of Burnett. A portion of Woongarra was transferred to the City, more than doubling its area and increasing its population by 8,200 in 1991 census terms.
On 15 March 2008, under the Local Government (Reform Implementation) Act 2007 passed by the Parliament of Queensland
Parliament of Queensland
The Parliament of Queensland is the legislature of Queensland, Australia. According to the state's constitution, the Parliament consists of the Queen and the Legislative Assembly. It is the only unicameral state parliament in the country, the upper chamber, the Legislative Council, having been...
on 10 August 2007, the City of Bundaberg
City of Bundaberg
The City of Bundaberg was a Local Government Area located in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, encompassing the centre and inner suburbs of the regional city of Bundaberg...
merged with the Shires of Burnett, Isis
Shire of Isis
The Shire of Isis was a Local Government Area located in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, to the south of Bundaberg. The Shire, administered from the town of Childers covered an area of , and existed as a local government entity from 1887 until 2008, when it was amalgamated...
and Kolan
Shire of Kolan
The Shire of Kolan was a Local Government Area located in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, to the west of Bundaberg. The Shire, administered from the town of Gin Gin, covered an area of , and existed as a local government entity from 1879 until 2008, when it was amalgamated...
to form the Bundaberg Region.
Wards and Councillors
Although the Commission recommended the council be undivided with 10 councillors and a mayor, the gazetted form was that of 10 divisions each electing a single councillor, plus a mayor representing the whole Region.Those elected on 15 March 2008 were as follows:
- Mayor: Lorraine Pyefinch
- Division 1 Councillor: Alan Bush
- Division 2 Councillor: Tony Ricciardi
- Division 3 Councillor: Wayne Honor
- Division 4 Councillor: Mary Wilkinson
- Division 5 Councillor: Greg Barnes
- Division 6 Councillor: Danny Rowleson
- Division 7 Councillor: Ross Sommerfeld
- Division 8 Councillor: David Batt
- Division 9 Councillor: Judy Peters
- Division 10 Councillor: Lynne Forgan
Towns and localities
Bundaberg (city and suburbs)
|
North and West:
|
South:
|
Population
The populations given relate to the component entities prior to 2008. The next census, due in 2011, will be the first for the new Region.| Year | Population (Region total) |
Population (Bundaberg) |
Population (Gooburrum) |
Population (Woongarra) |
Population (Isis) |
Population (Kolan) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1921 | 20,731 | 9,276 | 2,922 | 2,513 | 3,500 | 2,520 |
| 1933 | 25,387 | 11,466 | 3,915 | 3,287 | 3,778 | 2,941 |
| 1947 | 29,237 | 15,926 | 3,825 | 3,345 | 3,639 | 2,502 |
| 1954 | 34,531 | 19,951 | 4,131 | 3,704 | 4,243 | 2,502 |
| 1961 | 37,968 | 22,839 | 4,372 | 4,149 | 3,951 | 2,657 |
| 1966 | 41,444 | 25,402 | 4,776 | 4,934 | 3,718 | 2,614 |
| 1971 | 43,332 | 27,324 | 4,519 | 5,150 | 3,666 | 2,673 |
| 1976 | 51,084 | 30,456 | 5,227 | 8,791 | 3,926 | 2,684 |
| 1981 | 52,444 | 30,937 | 5,261 | 9,865 | 4,023 | 2,358 |
| 1986 | 55,990 | 31,427 | 5,917 | 11,915 | 4,082 | 2,649 |
| 1991 | 64,188 | 32,737* | 7,117 | 16,491 | 4,825 | 3,018 |
| 1996 | 73,846 | 42,554 | 21,218 | 5,878 | 4,196 | |
| 2001 | 77,323 | 43,146 | 23,598 | 6,045 | 4,534 | |
| 2006 | 84,434 | 45,901 | 27,232 | 6,663 | 4,638 | |
* The population of the 1996 area of Bundaberg in 1991 was 41,219.