Clarence Valley New South Wales | |||||||||||||||
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Population |
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• Density | 4.85308/km2 (12.5694/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Established | 24 February 2004 | ||||||||||||||
Area | 10,441 km2 (4,031.3 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Mayor | Peter Johnstone | ||||||||||||||
Council seat | Grafton and Maclean | ||||||||||||||
Region | Northern Rivers | ||||||||||||||
State electorate(s) | Clarence | ||||||||||||||
Federal division(s) | Page | ||||||||||||||
Website | Clarence Valley | ||||||||||||||
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Clarence Valley Council is a local government area in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia.
The council services an area of 10,441 square kilometres (4,031 sq mi) and draws its name from the Clarence River, which flows through most of the council area. The area under management is adjacent to the Pacific Highway, the Gwydir Highway and the North Coast railway line. The Clarence Valley region includes the coastal plain and lower valleys of the Clarence and Nymboida river. Most of the valley is agricultural; however, the oceanside towns of Yamba and Iluka are popular holiday resorts. [3]
The council was formed in February 2004 by the merger of the City of Grafton and Maclean Shire, and parts of Copmanhurst, Pristine Waters and Richmond Valley local government areas, and the activities of North Coast Water and Clarence River County Council. [4]
The mayor of Clarence Valley Council is Peter Johnstone. [5]
Towns and localities in the Clarence Valley Council are:
The Clarence Valley Council has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
At the 2011 census, there were 49,665 people in the Clarence Valley local government area, of these 49.4 per cent were male and 50.6 per cent were female. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 5.7 per cent of the population which is more than double the national and state averages of 2.5 per cent. The median age of people in the Clarence Valley Council area was 46 years; some 10 years higher than the national median. Children aged 0 – 14 years made up 18.6 per cent of the population and people aged 65 years and over made up 21.3 per cent of the population. Of people in the area aged 15 years and over, 49.3 per cen% were married and 14.6% were either divorced or separated. [7]
Population growth in the Clarence Valley Council area between the 2006 census and the 2011 Census was 3.15 per cent. When compared with total population growth of Australia for the same period, being 8.32 per cent, population growth in the Clarence Valley local government area was lower than the national average. The median weekly income for residents within the Clarence Valley Council area was significantly below the national average, [7] [8] being one of the factors that place the Clarence Valley Council area in an area of social disadvantage.
At the 2011 Census, the proportion of residents in the Clarence Valley local government area who stated their ancestry as Australian or Anglo-Celtic exceeded 82 per cent of all residents (national average was 65.2 per cent). In excess of 64 per cent of all residents in the Clarence Valley Council area nominated a religious affiliation with Christianity at the 2011 Census, which was above the national average of 50.2 per cent. Meanwhile, as at the Census date, compared to the national average, households in the Clarence Valley local government area had a significantly lower than average proportion (3.1 per cent) where two or more languages are spoken (national average was 20.4 per cent); and a significantly higher proportion (94.0 per cent) where English only was spoken at home (national average was 76.8 per cent). [7]
Selected historical census data for Clarence Valley local government area | |||||
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Census year | 2006 [8] | 2011 [7] | 2016 [1] | ||
Population | Estimated residents on census night | 48,146 | 49,665 | 50,671 | |
LGA rank in terms of size within New South Wales | 46th | 45th | |||
% of New South Wales population | 0.72% | 0.68% | |||
% of Australian population | 0.24% | 0.23% | 0.22% | ||
Cultural and language diversity | |||||
Ancestry, top responses | Australian | 34.6% | 33.2% | ||
English | 31.9% | 31.4% | |||
Irish | 9.0% | 9.1% | |||
Scottish | 8.3% | 8.6% | |||
German | 3.4% | 3.4% | |||
Language, top responses (other than English) | German | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | |
Cantonese | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | ||
Spanish | n/c | 0.1% | 0.1% | ||
Mandarin | n/c | n/c | 0.1% | ||
Dutch | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.1% | ||
Religious affiliation | |||||
Religious affiliation, top responses | No religion | 15.3% | 19.0% | 26.4% | |
Anglican | 32.0% | 30.6% | 25.7% | ||
Catholic | 22.5% | 22.1% | 20.0% | ||
Not stated | n/c | n/c | 10.4% | ||
Presbyterian and Reformed | 7.4% | 6.7% | 6.0% | ||
Median weekly incomes | |||||
Personal income | Median weekly personal income | A$333 | A$396 | A$477 | |
% of Australian median income | 71.5% | 68.6% | 72.1% | ||
Family income | Median weekly family income | A$631 | A$924 | A$1133 | |
% of Australian median income | 61.4% | 62.4% | 65.3% | ||
Household income | Median weekly household income | A$781 | A$768 | A$910 | |
% of Australian median income | 66.7% | 62.2% | 63.3% | ||
Clarence Valley 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 4 December 2021, and the makeup of the council is as follows: [9]
Party | Councillors | |
---|---|---|
Independents | 8 | |
Greens | 1 | |
Total | 9 |
The current Council, elected in 2021, in order of election, is: [9]
Councillor | Party | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Jeff Smith | Independent | Deputy Mayor [5] | |
Debrah Novak | Independent | ||
Ian Tiley | Independent | ||
Alison Whaites | Independent | ||
Bill Day | Independent | ||
Greg Clancy | Greens | ||
Peter Johnstone | Independent | Mayor | |
Karen Toms | Independent | ||
Steve Pickering | Independent |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Jeff Smith (elected) | 6,022 | 19.6 | ||
Independent | Debrah Novak (elected) | 3,622 | 11.8 | ||
Independent | Ian Tiley (elected) | 2,637 | 8.6 | ||
Independent National | Allison Whaites (elected) | 2,403 | 7.8 | ||
Independent | Bill Day (elected) | 2,039 | 6.7 | ||
Greens | Greg Clancy (elected) | 2,592 | 8.5 | ||
Independent National | Peter Johnstone (elected) | 2,212 | 7.2 | ||
Independent | Karen Toms (elected) | 1,658 | 5.4 | ||
Independent | Steve Pickering (elected) | 1,536 | 5.0 | ||
Independent Labor | Peter Ellem | 1,494 | 4.9 | ||
Independent | Ash Gibbons | 1,189 | 3.9 | ||
Independent | Pete Hanson | 1,189 | 3.9 | ||
Independent National | Donald Scott | 702 | 2.3 | ||
Independent | Phil Belletty | 661 | 2.2 | ||
Independent | Jeffrey Fuller | 357 | 1.2 | ||
Independent | Warren Lang | 348 | 1.1 | ||
Total formal votes | 30,661 | 92.9 | |||
Informal votes | 2,358 | 7.1 | |||
Turnout | 85.7 | ||||
Party total votes | |||||
Independent | 23,850 | 77.8 | |||
Independent National | 5,317 | 17.3 | |||
Independent Labor | 1,494 | 4.9 | |||
Party total seats | Seats | ± | |||
Independent | 7 | ||||
Independent National | 2 | 1 | |||
Independent Labor | 0 | 1 |
Northern Rivers is the most northeasterly region of the Australian state of New South Wales, located between 590 and 820 kilometres north of the state capital, Sydney, and encompasses the catchments and fertile valleys of the Clarence, Richmond, and Tweed rivers. It extends from Tweed Heads in the north to the southern extent of the Clarence river catchment which lies between Grafton and Coffs Harbour, and includes the main towns of Tweed Heads, Byron Bay, Ballina, Kyogle, Lismore, Casino and Grafton. At its most northern point, the region is 102 kilometres (63 mi) south-southeast of the Queensland capital, Brisbane.
Liverpool Plains Shire is a local government area located in the North West Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia. The Shire was formed on 17 March 2004 by the amalgamation of Quirindi Shire with parts of Parry, Murrurundi and Gunnedah shires.
Nambucca Valley Council is a local government area in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, Australia.
Richmond Valley Council (RVC) is a local government area on the Northern Rivers region of north-eastern New South Wales, Australia. RVC services an area of 3,051 square kilometres (1,178 sq mi) and draws its name from the Richmond River, which flows through most of the council area. The area under management is located adjacent to the Bruxner Highway, Pacific Highway, and the North Coast railway line.
Yamba is a town in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia located at the mouth of the Clarence River.
Gwydir Shire is a local government area located in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. The northern boundary of the Shire is located adjacent to the border between New South Wales and Queensland.
The Clarence River is a river situated in the Northern Rivers district of New South Wales, Australia. It rises on the eastern slopes of the Great Dividing Range, in the Border Ranges west of Bonalbo, near Rivertree at the junction of Koreelah Creek and Maryland River, on the watershed that marks the border between New South Wales and Queensland. It flows generally south, south east and north east, and is joined by twenty-four tributaries including Tooloom Creek and the Mann, Nymboida, Cataract, Orara, Coldstream, Timbarra, and Esk rivers. It descends 256 metres (840 ft) over the course of its 394-kilometre (245 mi) length and empties into the Coral Sea in the South Pacific Ocean, between Iluka and Yamba.
Tweed Shire is a local government area located in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia. It is adjacent to the border with Queensland, where that meets the Coral Sea. Administered from the town of Murwillumbah, Tweed Shire covers an area of 1,321 square kilometres (510 sq mi), and has existed as a local government entity since 1947. It was named for the Tweed River.
Great Lakes Council was a local government area in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. The area is situated adjacent to the shores of Port Stephens, Myall Lakes and Wallis Lake and the Pacific Highway and the Lakes Way. On 12 May 2016 the council was dissolved and the area included in the Mid-Coast Council, along with the City of Greater Taree and Gloucester Shire.
Maclean is a town in Clarence Valley local government area in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia. It is on the Clarence River and near the Pacific Highway. At the 2021 census, Maclean had a population of 2,778, total urban area including Townsend and Gulmarrad is more than 8,304.
Ulmarra is a small town on the south bank of the Clarence River in New South Wales, Australia in the Clarence Valley district. At the 2006 census, Ulmarra had a population of 446 people.
Gloucester Shire was a local government area in the Mid North Coast and Upper Hunter regions of New South Wales, Australia. The Shire was situated adjacent to the Bucketts Way and the North Coast railway line.
Kyogle Council is a local government area in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia.
Ballina Shire is a local government area in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia. The Shire was formed on 1 January 1977 by the amalgamation of the Municipality of Ballina and Tintenbar Shire. The Shire is located adjacent to the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Highway. The council seat is located in the town of Ballina. The population of the Ballina Shire area was 46,850 in 2022.
Bellingen Shire is a local government area in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. The shire is located adjacent to the Pacific Highway, Waterfall Way and the North Coast railway line.
The City of Lismore is a local government area in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia. The seat of the local government area is Lismore, a major regional centre of the state.
Singleton Council is a local government area in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. It is situated adjacent to the New England Highway and the Main North railway line.
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Dungog Shire is a local government area in the Hunter region of New South Wales, Australia. The Shire is situated adjacent to the Barrington Tops and consists predominantly of very rugged to hilly country which becomes less rugged from north to south.
Nymboida is a rural village in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia. It is about 21 kilometres south-west of Coutts Crossing, 44 kilometres south-west of Grafton and approximately 687 km north of Sydney. Nymboida is close to the challenging and popular white water rafting waters of the Nymboida River along the Armidale–Grafton Road. The village is in the Clarence Valley Council local government area.