Walgett Shire New South Wales | |||||||||||||||
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Coordinates | 30°01′S148°07′E / 30.017°S 148.117°E | ||||||||||||||
Population |
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• Density | 0.273415/km2 (0.70814/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Established | 7 March 1906 | ||||||||||||||
Area | 22,336 km2 (8,624.0 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Mayor | Jane Keir (Unaligned) | ||||||||||||||
Council seat | Walgett | ||||||||||||||
Region | Orana | ||||||||||||||
State electorate(s) | Barwon | ||||||||||||||
Federal division(s) | Parkes | ||||||||||||||
Website | Walgett Shire | ||||||||||||||
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Walgett Shire is a local government area in the Orana 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 town of Walgett is located on the Namoi River, nearby to its junction with the Barwon River and at the junction of the Kamilaroi Highway and the Castlereagh Highway.
The Shire is divided between the agricultural areas (producing wool, cattle, wheat and cotton), which are near the Barwon and Namoi rivers or south-east of the Barwon River, and the outback country north-west of the Barwon River, including the black opal mining and fossicking town of Lightning Ridge. Prior to 1957, when Lightning Ridge was established as a significant settlement, the outback country was part of the Western Division.
The mayor of Walgett Shire Council is Jane Keir who is unaligned with any political party. [3]
Walgett Shire includes Walgett, Lightning Ridge, Collarenebri, Pokataroo, Rowena, Burren Junction, Cryon, Cumborah, Glengarry and Carinda. Come By Chance was established in 1840, before all of the above towns and villages.
Walgett Shire has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics during 2003–04 there: [5]
Selected historical census data for Walgett Shire local government area | ||||||
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Census year | 2011 [6] | 2016 [1] | ||||
Population | Estimated residents on census night | 6,454 | 6,107 | |||
LGA rank in terms of size within New South Wales | 106th | 107th | ||||
% of New South Wales population | ||||||
% of Australian population | ||||||
Cultural and language diversity | ||||||
Ancestry, top responses | English | |||||
Australian | ||||||
Italian | ||||||
Chinese | ||||||
Irish | ||||||
Language, top responses (other than English) | Italian | |||||
Mandarin | ||||||
Cantonese | ||||||
Korean | ||||||
Greek | ||||||
Religious affiliation | ||||||
Religious affiliation, top responses | Catholic | |||||
No religion | ||||||
Anglican | ||||||
Eastern Orthodox | ||||||
Buddhism | ||||||
Median weekly incomes | ||||||
Personal income | Median weekly personal income | A$ | ||||
% of Australian median income | ||||||
Family income | Median weekly family income | |||||
% of Australian median income | ||||||
Household income | Median weekly household income | |||||
% of Australian median income | ||||||
Between 2004 and 2008, the council was controlled by an Administrator, Vic Smith, [7] appointed by the New South Wales Minister for Local Government. The previous Walgett Shire Council was split between factions representing Lightning Ridge and the rest of the Shire and apparently became unworkable as a result. In 2004, a public inquiry investigated the dispute, among other things, under the Local Government Act, 1993 (NSW). Other matters investigated included poor administration, failure to properly inform councillors in relation to some matters, apparently illegal walkouts by some Councilors to frustrate votes and, in particular, events surrounding a failed project to build a community centre in Lightning Ridge. [8]
Walgett Shire Council is composed of nine councillors elected proportionally as a single 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 22 December 2021, and the makeup of the council is as follows: [9]
Party | Councillors | |
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Unaligned | 9 | |
Total | 9 |
The current Council, elected in 2021, in order of election, is: [9]
Councillor | Party | Notes | |
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Jane Keir | Unaligned | ||
Ian Woodcock | Unaligned | ||
Daniel Walford | Unaligned | ||
Alf Seaton | Unaligned | ||
Jasen Ramien | Unaligned | Mayor | |
Greg Rummery | Unaligned | ||
Michael Cooke | Unaligned | ||
Sue Currey | Unaligned | ||
Colin Hundy | Unaligned | Deputy Mayor |
The Namoi River, a major perennial river that is part of the Barwon catchment of the Murray–Darling basin, is located in the Northern Tablelands and North West Slopes districts of New South Wales, Australia.
Barwon River, a perennial river that is part of the Murray–Darling basin, is located in the north-west slopes and Orana regions of New South Wales, Australia.
Walgett is a town in northern New South Wales, Australia, and the seat of Walgett Shire. It is near the junctions of the Barwon and Namoi Rivers and the Kamilaroi and Castlereagh Highways. In 2016, Walgett had a population of 2,145.
Lightning Ridge is a small outback town in north-western New South Wales, Australia. Part of Walgett Shire, Lightning Ridge is situated near the southern border of Queensland, about 6 km (4 mi) east of the Castlereagh Highway. The Lightning Ridge area is a centre of the mining of black opal and other opal gemstones.
Mungindi is a town and locality on the border of New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland, Australia. The town is within Moree Plains Shire in New South Wales. Within Queensland, the locality is split between the Shire of Balonne and the Goondiwindi Region with the town in the Shire of Balonne. It possesses a New South Wales postcode. Mungindi sits on the Carnarvon Highway and straddles the Barwon River which is the border between New South Wales and Queensland. At the 2016 census, Mungindi had a population of 601 on the New South Wales side, while the population on the Queensland side was 146.
Collarenebri is a town in north western New South Wales, Australia. The town is in the Walgett Shire Local Government Area and is situated on the Barwon River approximately 75 kilometres (47 mi) northeast of Walgett and south west of Mungindi on the Gwydir Highway. It is 16 km (9.9 mi) from Pokataroo which was the nearest railway town prior to closure of the rail service there. The town is 150 metres (490 ft) above sea level. Collarenebri is one of three towns ending in 'BRI' in Northern New South Wales.
The Shire of Balonne is a local government area in South West Queensland, Australia, over 500 kilometres (310 mi) from the state capital, Brisbane. It covers an area of 31,104 square kilometres (12,009.3 sq mi), and has existed as a local government entity since 1879. It is headquartered in its main town, St George.
Bogan Shire is a local government area in the Orana region of New South Wales, Australia. The Shire is located adjacent to the Mitchell and Barrier highways and its only significant town is Nyngan.
Central Darling Shire is a local government area in the Far West region of New South Wales, Australia. The Shire is located adjacent to the Barrier Highway. Central Darling Shire was constituted in 1959 and at 53,511 square kilometres (20,661 sq mi), it is the largest incorporated local government area in New South Wales.
The Group 15 Rugby League, now known as Barwon Darling Rugby League Cup is a rugby league competition in Far North West NSW.
Narrabri Shire is a local government area in the North West Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia. The Shire is located adjacent to the Namoi River and the Newell and Kamilaroi Highways.
Walcha Shire is a local government area located in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. The Shire is situated adjacent to the junction of the Oxley Highway and Thunderbolts Way and is 20 kilometres (12 mi) east of the Main North railway line passing through Walcha Road. The shire was formed on 1 June 1955 through the amalgamation of Apsley Shire and the Municipality of Walcha.
Uralla Shire is a local government area located in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. The New England Highway passes through the Shire.
Brewarrina Shire is a local government area in the Orana region of New South Wales, Australia. The Shire is located adjacent to the Darling River, which is known as the Barwon River upstream from Bourke; and located adjacent to the Kamilaroi Highway. The northern boundary of the Shire is located adjacent to the border between New South Wales and Queensland. The Shire is a wool and cotton growing area.
Bourke Shire is a local government area in the Orana region of New South Wales, Australia. The Shire is located adjacent to the Darling River, which is known as the Barwon River upstream from Bourke; and located adjacent to the Mitchell Highway. The northern boundary of the Shire is located adjacent to the border between New South Wales and Queensland. The shire is a wool and beef producing area.
Cobar Shire is a local government area in the Orana region of New South Wales, Australia. The Shire is located in an outback area that is centred around the mining town of Cobar. The Shire is traversed by the Barrier Highway and the Kidman Way. With a total area of 44,065 square kilometres (17,014 sq mi), about two-thirds the size of Tasmania, Cobar Shire is larger than Denmark and 99 other countries and self-governing territories, but its population is under 5000.
Gunnedah Shire is a local government area in the North West Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia. The Shire is located adjacent to the Liverpool Plains in the Namoi River valley and is traversed by the Oxley Highway and the Kamilaroi Highway.
Burren Junction is a New South Wales village 51 km west of Wee Waa, on the Kamilaroi Highway to Walgett. The name is from the local Aboriginal word for boomerang or 'big creek'. Burren Junction grew from a railway encampment which came from the extension of the north-western rail line in 1902. Burren Junction Post Office opened on 16 May 1904.
The Moonie River (Mooni River) is a river in Shire of Balonne, Queensland and Walgett Shire, New South Wales, both in Australia. It is a perennial river of the Barwon catchment within the Murray–Darling basin.
Angledool is a locality in upper western New South Wales near the southern border of Queensland, one kilometre east of the Castlereagh Highway and approximately 45 kilometres north of Lightning Ridge. At the 2016 census, Angledool had a population of 58 people.
Media related to Walgett Shire at Wikimedia Commons