Cobar Shire

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.

This article is about the local government area. For the regional town, see Cobar, New South Wales.

Cobar Shire
New South Wales
Location in New South Wales
Coordinates31°29′54″S 145°40′04″E
Population
 • Density0.105458/km2 (0.27313/sq mi)
Established18 March 1884 (1884-03-18)[3]
Area44,065 km2 (17,013.6 sq mi)
MayorPeter Abbott (Independent)
Council seatCobar
RegionOrana
State electorate(s)Barwon
Federal division(s)Parkes
WebsiteCobar Shire
LGAs around Cobar Shire:
Central Darling Bourke Brewarrina
Central Darling Cobar Shire Bogan
Central Darling Carrathool Lachlan

Lilliane Brady OAM was the mayor of Cobar Shire for more than 20 years, before her death in 2021.[4] At the time of her death, she was the longest-serving female mayor in New South Wales' history.

The current mayor of Cobar Shire Council is Cr. Peter Abbott, an independent politician.

Villages and localities

The shire also includes several small outback towns and localities; the twin villages of Euabalong and Euabalong West in the far south east of the shire, Mount Hope, Nymagee and Irymple.[5]

Demographics

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics during 2003–04 there:[6]

  • were 1,898 wage and salary earners (ranked 116th in New South Wales and 376th in Australia, less than 0.1% of both New South Wales's 2,558,415 and Australia's 7,831,856)
  • was a total income of $79 million (ranked 108th in New South Wales and 359th in Australia, less than 0.1% of both New South Wales's $107 billion and Australia's $304 billion)
  • was an estimated average income per wage and salary earner of $41,386 (ranked 27th in New South Wales and 85th in Australia, 100% of New South Wales's $41,407 and 107% of Australia's $38,820)
  • was an estimated median income per wage and salary earner of $36,856 (ranked 27th in New South Wales and 81st in Australia, 104% of New South Wales's $35,479 and 108% of Australia's $34,149).
Selected historical census data for Cobar Shire local government area
Census year2011[7]2016[1]
PopulationEstimated residents on census night4,710Decrease 4,647
LGA rank in terms of size within New South Wales114thIncrease 113th
% of New South Wales population
% of Australian population
Cultural and language diversity
Ancestry,
top responses		English
Australian
Italian
Chinese
Irish
Language,
top responses
(other than English)		Italian
Mandarin
Cantonese
Korean
Greek
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation,
top responses		Catholic
No religion
Anglican
Eastern Orthodox
Buddhism
Median weekly incomes
Personal incomeMedian weekly personal incomeA$
% of Australian median income
Family incomeMedian weekly family income
% of Australian median income
Household incomeMedian weekly household income
% of Australian median income

Council
Cobar Shire's administration office in 2017

Current composition and election method

Cobar Shire Council is composed of twelve 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 4 December 2021. Only eleven candidates nominated for election, and with there being no additional candidates, the election was uncontested. A by-election was held on 26 February 2022 for the remaining seat. The makeup of the council is as follows:[8]

PartyCouncillors
  Independents and Unaligned 12
Total 12

The current Council, elected in 2021, in order of election, is:[8]

CouncillorPartyNotes
Peter Abbott   Independent Mayor[9]
Tony Chaplain   Independent
Janine Lea-Barrett   Independent
Jarrod Marsden   Independent Deputy Mayor[9]
Peter Maxwell   Independent
Kain Neale   Independent
Julie Payne   Independent
Lillian Simpson   Unaligned
Bob Sinclair   Unaligned
Harley Toomey   Independent
Kate Winders   Independent
Michael Prince   Independent Elected at the 26 February 2022 by-election[10]

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Cobar (A)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  2. "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2018–19". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020. Estimated resident population (ERP) at 30 June 2019.
  3. "Government Gazette Proclamations and Legislation – New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 – 1900) – 18 Mar 1884". New South Wales Government Gazette. 18 March 1884. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  4. Wells, Jamelle (7 February 2021). "Cobar mayor Lilliane Brady, NSW's longest-serving female mayor, dies aged 90". ABC News. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  5. "Cobar Shire villages page". Retrieved 5 February 2008.
  6. "Regional Wage and Salary Earner Statistics, Australia (catalogue no.: 5673.055.003)". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 11 March 2007.
  7. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Cobar (A)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  8. "Cobar – Councillor Election results". NSW Electoral Commission. 4 December 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  9. "Mayor & Councillors". Cobar Council. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  10. "Distribution of Preferences Report – Councillor Election: Cobar". NSW Electoral Commission. 14 March 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
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