Cootamundra–Gundagai Regional Council

Cootamundra–Gundagai Regional Council (CGRC) is a local government area located in the South West Slopes and Riverina regions of New South Wales, Australia. The council was formed on 12 May 2016 through a merger of the Cootamundra and Gundagai shires.[3] Originally named Gundagai Council, the name was changed to Cootamundra–Gundagai Regional Council on 7 September 2016.

Cootamundra–Gundagai Regional Council
New South Wales
Location in New South Wales
Coordinates34°48′S 148°7′E
Population
  • 11,141 (2016)[1]
  • 11,260 (2018 est.)[2]
 • Density2.7985/km2 (7.2482/sq mi)
Established12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)
Area3,981 km2 (1,537.1 sq mi)[3]
MayorCr. Charlie Sheahan
Region
State electorate(s)Cootamundra
Federal division(s)Riverina
WebsiteCootamundra–Gundagai Regional Council
LGAs around Cootamundra–Gundagai Regional Council:
Temora Hilltops Hilltops
Junee Cootamundra–Gundagai Regional Council Hilltops
Wagga Wagga Snowy Valleys Yass Valley

The council has an area of 3,981 square kilometres (1,537 sq mi) and occupies the slopes of the western side of the Great Dividing Range between Yass and Tumut and to the north the beginning of the northern part of the Riverina plains. At the time of its establishment the council had an estimated population of 11,141.[1]

The first mayor of the Cootamundra–Gundagai Regional Council was Councillor Abb McAlister, who was elected after the inaugural Cootamundra–Gundagai Regional Council election which was held on 9 September 2017.[4]

The second and current mayor of the Cootamundra–Gundagai Regional Council is Councillor Charlie Sheahan, who was elected after the NSW Local Government Election which was held on 4 December 2021.

Controversy at creation

Around the same time as the state government was announcing the mergers of shires and councils, the mayor of the Gundagai Shire, Abb McAlister, lodged papers with the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales to prevent it.[5]

Signs protesting the amalgamation were prominently displayed throughout Gundagai for several years.

Towns and localities

The following towns and localities are located within Cootamundra-Gundagai Council:

Demographics

The population for the predecessor councils was estimated in 2015 as:[6]

  • 7,705 in Cootamundra Shire and
  • 3,756 in Gundagai Shire.

Council

The CGRC consists of nine Councillors elected proportionally in a single ward.

The inaugural councillors were expected to be elected for a fixed four-year term of office by the Local Government Elections held on 9 September 2017. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the councillors served a slightly longer term as the elections were postponed to 4 December 2021.

The second council was elected on 4 December 2021, with the final results declared on 20 December 2021. These councillors was sworn in at an extraordinary meeting held on 10 January 2022 and will serve for 2 years and 3/4 to realign the election calendar to the original plan. The next election will take place in September of 2024.

The most recent election was held on 4 December 2021, and the makeup of the council is as follows:

Party Councillors
  Australian Labor Party 0
  Greens NSW 0
  Liberal Party of Australia 0
  National Party of Australia - NSW 0
  Independents and unaligned 9
Total 9
Councillor Party Notes
  Abb McAlister Independent Former mayor and returning councillor
  Charlie Sheahan Independent Mayor, returning councillor
  Gil Kelly Independent Returning councillor
  Les Boyd Independent
  Leigh Bowden Independent Deputy Mayor, returning councillor
  Penny Nicholson Independent Returning councillor
  Logan Collins Unaligned
  Trevor Glover Independent
  David Graham Independent Returning councillor

History

While the two former councils of the Cootamundra Shire & the Gundagai Shire were being amalgamated, Christine Ferguson was appointed as council administrator and Ken Tretheway was appointed as Interim General Manager at the creation of the new council.[3] Ferguson is a farmer in the Gundagai area and former state president of the National Party. She had also been a councillor of Gundagai Shire during the 1990s.[7]

The inaugural council and its first election was held on 9 September 2017, and the makeup of that council is as follows:

Party Councillors
  Australian Labor Party 0
  Greens NSW 0
  Liberal Party of Australia 0
  National Party of Australia - NSW 0
  Independents and unaligned 9
Total 9
Councillor Party Notes
  Doug Phillips Unaligned Former councillor of Cootamundra Shire
  Abb McAlister Unaligned Mayor, former councillor and Mayor of Gundagai Shire
  Dennis Palmer Independent Deputy Mayor, Former councillor of Cootamundra Shire
  Craig Stewart (Stewie) Independent Former councillor of Cootamundra Shire
  Charlie Sheahan Independent
  Gil Kelly Unaligned
  David Graham Independent Former councillor and Deputy Mayor of Gundagai Shire
  Penny Nicholson Independent
  Leigh Bowden Independent

See also

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Gundagai (A) (Local Government Area)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  2. "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017-18". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019. Estimated resident population (ERP) at 30 June 2018.
  3. "Gundagai Council". Stronger Councils. Government of New South Wales. 12 May 2016. Archived from the original on 11 June 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  4. Grey, Lachlan (21 September 2017). "Abb McAlister to lead new Cootamundra-Gundagai council". Cootamundra Herald. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  5. Morphet, Jack (13 May 2016). "COUNCIL MERGERS: Former Gundagai mayor takes on Baird government". The Daily Advertiser. Fairfax Regional Media. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  6. "Regional Population Growth, Australia. Population Estimates by Local Government Area (ASGS 2015), 2005 to 2015 Table 1. Estimated Resident Population, Local Government Areas, New South Wales". 30 March 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  7. Jennette Lees (13 May 2016). "Former Nationals president to lead new Gundagai Council". Cootamundra Herald. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
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