Toowoomba Region

The Toowoomba Region is a local government area located in the Darling Downs part of Queensland, Australia. Established in 2008, it was preceded by several previous local government areas with histories extending back to the early 1900s and beyond.

Toowoomba Region
Queensland
Location within Queensland
Coordinates27°34′30.60″S 151°56′48.75″E
Population167,657 (2018)[1]
 • Density12.9395/km2 (33.5131/sq mi)
Established2008
Area12,957 km2 (5,002.7 sq mi)[1]
MayorGeoff McDonald
Council seatToowoomba
RegionDarling Downs
State electorate(s)
Federal division(s)
WebsiteToowoomba Region
LGAs around Toowoomba Region:
Western Downs South Burnett Somerset
Western Downs Toowoomba Region Lockyer Valley
Goondiwindi Southern Downs Lockyer Valley

In 2018–2019, it had a A$491 million budget, of which A$316 million is for service delivery and A$175.13 million capital (infrastructure) budget.[2]

History

Prior to the 2008 amalgamation, the Toowoomba Region existed as eight distinct local government areas: the City of Toowoomba and the Shires of Cambooya, Clifton, Crows Nest, Jondaryan, Millmerran, Pittsworth, and Rosalie.

The City had its beginning in the Toowoomba Municipality which was proclaimed on 24 November 1860 under the Municipalities Act 1858,[3] a piece of New South Wales legislation inherited by Queensland when it became a separate colony in 1859. William Henry Groom, sometimes described as the "father of Toowoomba", was elected its first mayor. It achieved a measure of autonomy in 1878 with the enactment of the Local Government Act. With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Toowoomba became a town council on 31 March 1903. On 29 October 1904, Toowoomba was proclaimed a City.[4]

The Toowoomba Region also encompassed four of Queensland's 74 divisions created under the Divisional Boards Act 1879 on 11 November 1879: Clifton, Highfields, Jondaryan and Rosalie. On 31 March 1903, these became Shires. Between 1913 and 1917, a number of changes occurred: the Millmerran and Pittsworth areas voted to split from Jondaryan on 24 April 1913, whilst in the same year Crows Nest became a shire, and in 1914, Cambooya followed. On 19 March 1949, Highfields and Drayton were abolished, with their land going to Crows Nest and Toowoomba respectively.

In July 2007, the Local Government Reform Commission released its report and recommended that the eight areas amalgamate. Its main reason for recommending such a large area was that the region was a growth area and a new organisation would have political advocacy capabilities on behalf of the region. Two other key factors were that Toowoomba's suburbs had expanded well beyond the City of Toowoomba and a new entity would be able to manage the entire area under one plan. Additionally, environmental and natural resource challenges could, in the Commission's view, be better met by an organisation with "a scale and capacity to undertake... management across the region in an integrated manner." Four of the councils, Jondaryan, Millmerran, Pittsworth and Rosalie were rated as financially weak by the Queensland Treasury. While no council had supported the Commission's model, most were willing to consider some form of amalgamation, and the Commission considered whether Millmerran should be united with Dalby or Toowoomba carefully. In the end, its proposal was unchanged.[5] On 15 March 2008, the City and Shires formally ceased to exist, and elections were held on the same day to elect councillors and a mayor to the Regional Council.

Council

The council remains undivided and its elected body consists of 10 councillors and a mayor.[6] Toowoomba Regional Councillors are not officially endorsed by political parties. They are required to declare memberships of political parties, bodies, associations and trade or professional organisations.

CouncillorDeclared political membershipTermNotes
Cr. Geoff McDonaldIndependent2012-presentMayor 2023-present[7]
Cr. Bill CahillIndependent2008–present[8]
Cr. Edwina Farquhar 2023-present [9]
Cr. Timothy McMahonLNP2020–present[8]
Cr. Megan O'Hara SullivanALP2016–present[8]
Cr. James O'SheaIndependent2016–present[8]
Cr. Kerry ShineALP2020–present[8]
Cr. Nancy SommerfieldLNP2012–present[8]
Cr. Carol TaylorIndependent2008–presentPreviously Mayor of Cambooya Shire 2004-08.
Cr. Melissa TaylorIndependent2020–present[8]
Cr. Rebecca VonhoffLNP2020–present[8]

Mayors
  • Peter Taylor (2008-12). Elected 2008,[10] defeated 2012.[11]
  • Paul Antonio (2012-23). Elected 2012,[12] 2016,[13] 2020.[14] Retired 2023.[15]
  • Geoff McDonald (2023-current). Elected by council 2023.[16]

Towns and localities

The Toowoomba Region includes the following settlements:

Toowoomba suburbs

Close Regional Localities

1 - split with the former Shire of Crows Nest 2 - split with the former Shire of Jondaryan 3 - split with the former Shire of Cambooya> 4 - split with Lockyer Valley Region>

Regional localities

Economy

Economic growth potential in the region has been identified through retail, construction and the development of energy resources found in the Surat Basin and in food processing. As well as the development of the newly built Wellcamp Airport and Second Range Crossing, and proposed Inland Rail the city is set to become one of the largest logistical centres in the country as well as a major inland port.[17]

Population

The total population recorded at each census before the foundation of the Toowoomba Region combines the population of its component entities prior to their amalgamation in 2008. Its population was officially recorded for the first time in the 2011 Census.

Year Total Region Toowoomba Cambooya Clifton Crows Nest Jondaryan Millmerran Pittsworth Rosalie
193356,68726,4232,0473,1052,8505,2312,3353,5447,095
194762,54833,2901,7802,7602,3615,3463,0123,5996,716
195470,43043,1491,8482,5423,7335,4163,4733,7316,538
196177,13150,1341,7322,5723,4745,7853,4233,8216,190
196681,75755,7991,6172,5493,2445,7523,5123,7135,571
197184,29559,5241,5582,3783,1115,7043,4353,7954,790
197692,14466,4361,6762,2603,4456,5763,3093,7144,728
198194,60566,6981,8942,1884,1257,8323,0473,6055,216
1986106,59673,3902,4772,3545,3089,4573,1153,8806,615
1991117,50081,0432,8602,3016,64410,3083,0144,0357,295
1996124,84983,6334,0792,3088,64411,0562,8304,2648,035
2001132,86886,6424,8562,32710,00512,3233,9354,4458,335
2006141,98690,4665,6522,54912,59513,9653,0784,6888,993
2011151,189--------
2016160,779--------
2021173,204--------

Toowoomba Regional Library Services

The Toowoomba Regional Council operates the following libraries:[18]

The Toowoomba Regional Libraries also provide a range of services including (but not limited to) free computer and internet access,[20] free computer classes, and a Homebound Library Service for those who are temporarily or permanently home bound.[21]

References
  1. "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017-18: Population Estimates by Local Government Area (ASGS 2018), 2017 to 2018". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018.
  2. "TRC adopts 2018-19 Operational Plan, Budget and Revenue Statement". Toowoomba Regional Council. 21 June 2018. Archived from the original on 15 August 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  3. 22 Vic No. 13 (Imp), assented 27 October 1858
  4. Queensland Government Gazette, Vol. LXXXIII, 29 October 1904, p.878.
  5. Queensland Local Government Reform Commission (July 2007). Report of the Local Government Reform Commission (PDF). Vol. 2. pp. 315–322. ISBN 978-1-921057-11-3. Retrieved 3 June 2010.
  6. Toowoomba Regional Council. "Introducing Councillors". Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  7. "Geoff McDonald to lead Toowoomba Region". Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  8. "2020 Local Government Elections: Saturday, 28 March 2020". Electoral Commission of Queensland. 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  9. "Mayor McDonald, Councillors welcome Edwina Farquhar as new Toowoomba Region Councillor". Toowoomba Regional Council. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  10. "2008 Toowoomba Regional Council - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". results.ecq.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  11. "2012 Toowoomba Regional Council - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". results.ecq.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  12. "2012 Toowoomba Regional Council - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". results.ecq.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  13. "2016 Toowoomba Regional Council - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". results.ecq.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  14. Queensland, Electoral Commission of (1 July 2019). "Electoral Commission of Queensland". results1.elections.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  15. "Toowoomba Region Mayor Paul Antonio resigns from elected position". Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  16. "Geoff McDonald to lead Toowoomba Region". Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  17. "About Council: Economic development". Toowoomba Regional Council. Archived from the original on 9 December 2010. Retrieved 24 September 2010.
  18. "Toowoomba Regional Libraries Locations and Hours". Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  19. "Local History Library". Toowoomba Regional Council. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  20. "Toowoomba Regional Libraries Public Use PCs". Archived from the original on 24 October 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  21. "Toowoomba Regional Libraries Homebound Services". Retrieved 24 October 2014.
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