Goulburn Mulwaree Council

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Goulburn Mulwaree
New South Wales
Goulburn mulwaree LGA NSW.png
Location in New South Wales
Coordinates 34°44′S149°44′E / 34.733°S 149.733°E / -34.733; 149.733 Coordinates: 34°44′S149°44′E / 34.733°S 149.733°E / -34.733; 149.733
Population32,053 (2021 census) [1]
 • Density9.954/km2 (25.78/sq mi)
Established2004
Area3,220 km2 (1,243.2 sq mi)
MayorPeter Walker
Council seat Goulburn [2]
Region Southern Tablelands
State electorate(s) Goulburn
Federal division(s) Hume
Goulburn Mulwaree Council Logo.jpg
Website Goulburn Mulwaree
LGAs around Goulburn Mulwaree:
Upper Lachlan Oberon Wingecarribee
Yass Valley Goulburn Mulwaree Shoalhaven
Queanbeyan–Palerang Queanbeyan–Palerang Shoalhaven

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 32,053 on 2021 census. [1]

Contents

The mayor of Goulburn Mulwaree Council is Peter Walker.

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:

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 more than 3000–5000 years ago. Two distinct Aboriginal language groups were identified in the region when the Europeans initiated contact. These were the Gundungurra and the Ngunnawal groups, which were connected through common beliefs and culture. These groups are the traditional owners of the Goulburn Mulwaree local government area and the area is a meeting place of the two groups, with the Gundungurra to the north and the Ngunnawal to the south. Muniwarung is "meeting place" in the Gundungurra language.

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. [3]

Municipal history

The council was formed in 2004 as the Greater Argyle Council, an amalgamation of Goulburn City and parts of the former Mulwaree Shire. It was renamed in 2005 to Goulburn Mulwaree Council.[ citation needed ]

Controversies

During 2011–2013, Goulburn Mulwaree Council has been at the centre of alleged breaches [4] 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." [5] 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. [6]

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 (The National Association for Visual Artists or NAVA), as well as an independent investigation after multiple complaints alleging the winning entry breached the stipulated entry conditions. [7] 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." [7] 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 4 September 2021, and the makeup of the council is as follows:

PartyCouncillors
  Independents 7
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party1
Labour1
Total9

The current Council, elected in 2016, in order of election, is:

CouncillorPartyNotes
 Peter WalkerIndependentMayor
 Andrew BanfieldIndependent
 Andy WoodShooters, Fishers and Farmers Party
 Bob KirkIndependent
 Carol JamesIndependent
 Daniel StricklandIndependent
 Jason ShepherdLabour
 Michael PrevedelloIndependent
 Steven RuddellIndependentDeputy mayor

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References

  1. 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Goulburn Mulwaree (A)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 19 January 2022. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  2. "Goulburn Mulwaree Shire Council". Department of Local Government. Archived from the original on 6 September 2006. Retrieved 15 November 2006.
  3. "History and Character". Goulburn Mulwaree Council.
  4. "Councillors condemn multifunction tender 'mess'". Goulburn Post. 19 July 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  5. "Epic Fail: Council's multi-use centre tender process". Goulburn Post. 8 July 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  6. "GM's contract renewal on hold". Goulburn Post. 11 September 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  7. 1 2 "Artists group demands gallery apologise". Goulburn Post. 14 April 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2013.