Bega Valley Shire

The Bega Valley Shire is a local government area located adjacent to the south-eastern coastline of New South Wales, Australia. The Shire was formed in 1981 with the amalgamation of the Municipality of Bega, Imlay Shire and Mumbulla Shire,[4] with its name deriving from the town of Bega. The shire is also known as the Sapphire Coast for tourism and marketing purposes. During the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season, the area was devastated by fire, with 448 houses being destroyed by fire[5] and approximately 365,000 hectares burned, which is 58% of the Shire's total land mass.[6]

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

Bega Valley
New South Wales
Location in New South Wales
Coordinates36°40′S 149°50′E
Population
 • Density5.2959/km2 (13.7163/sq mi)
Established1981
Area6,279 km2 (2,424.3 sq mi)
MayorRussell Fitpatrick (Mayor)
Anthony McMahon (CEO)
Council seatBega[3]
RegionSouth Coast
State electorate(s)
Federal division(s)Eden-Monaro
WebsiteBega Valley
LGAs around Bega Valley:
Snowy Monaro Eurobodalla Tasman Sea
Snowy Monaro Bega Valley Tasman Sea
East Gippsland (Vic) East Gippsland (Vic) Tasman Sea

The estimated population as at the 2016 census was 33,253.[1]

The current Mayor is Russell Fitzpatrick, an independent who joined the Liberal Party in 2023.[7]

Area

The shire covers 6,040 square kilometres (2,330 sq mi), and includes a coastline of 225 km (140 mi), with 101 beaches and 26 estuaries. Around 78% of the area belongs to various national parks and state forests. The biggest industry is the production of timber, followed by dairy farming and other agriculture. Smaller industries include fishing, oyster harvesting, and tourism.[8] The Biamanga National Park includes important Aboriginal sites.[9]

Towns and localities

The area extends from Bermagui in the north to the Victorian border in the south and includes the towns of Bega, Tathra, Merimbula, Tura Beach, Wolumla, Cobargo, Bemboka, Pambula, Pambula Beach and the former whaling port, tourism hotspot, and major port of Eden.

Smaller localities include:

  • Angledale
  • Bald Hills
  • Barragga Bay
  • Berrambool
  • Black Range
  • Bournda
  • Boydtown
  • Broadwater
  • Brogo
  • Buckajo
  • Burragate
  • Candelo
  • Chinnock
  • Coolagolite
  • Coopers Gully
  • Cuttagee
  • Devils Hole
  • Dignams Creek
  • Doctor George Mountain
  • Edrom
  • Frogs Hollow
  • Greendale
  • Greigs Flat
  • Jellat Jellat
  • Kalaru
  • Kameruka
  • Kanoona
  • Kiah
  • Kingswood
  • Lochiel
  • Millingandi
  • Mirador
  • Mogareeka
  • Mogilla
  • Morans Crossing
  • Mount Darragh
  • Murrah
  • Myrtle Mountain
  • Narrabarba
  • Nelson
  • Nethercote
  • New Buildings
  • Nullica
  • Numbugga
  • Nungatta (part)
  • Nungatta South
  • Pericoe
  • Quaama
  • Reedy Swamp
  • Rocky Hall
  • South Pambula
  • South Wolumla
  • Stony Creek
  • Tanja
  • Tantawangalo
  • Tarraganda
  • Timbillica
  • Toothdale
  • Towamba
  • Verona
  • Wallagoot
  • Wandella
  • Wapengo
  • Wonboyn
  • Wyndham
  • Yellow Pinch
  • Yowrie

Council

Bega Valley Shire 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 December 2021, and the makeup of the Council is as follows:[10]

PartyCouncillors
Independent 6
Labor 1
Liberal 1
Greens 1
Total 9

The current Council, elected in 2021, in order of election, is:[10]

CouncillorPartyNotes
  Helen O’Neil Labor
  Karen Wright Independent
  Russel Fitzpatrick Liberal[11] Mayor[12]
  Tony Allen Independent
  Cathy Griff Greens
  Mitch Nadin Independent
  David Porter Independent
  Liz Seckold Independent Deputy Mayor[12]
  Joy Robin Independent

Demographics
Selected historical census data for Bega Valley Shire local government area
Census year2011[13]2016[1]
PopulationEstimated residents on census night31,950Increase 33,253
LGA rank in terms of size within New South Wales56thDecrease 57th
% of New South Wales population0.46%Decrease 0.44%
% of Australian population0.15%Decrease 0.14%
Cultural and language diversity
Ancestry,
top responses		English32.5%Decrease 31.9%
Australian31.3%Decrease 30.9%
Irish9.3%Decrease 9.2%
Scottish8.4%Decrease 8.2%
German3.8%Decrease 3.7%
Language,
top responses
(other than English)		German0.6%Decrease 0.5%
Dutch0.3%Decrease 0.2%
Italian0.2%Steady 0.2%
French0.2%Steady 0.2%
Thain/r0.2%
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation,
top responses		No religion, so described26.7%Increase 35.1%
Anglican27.3%Decrease 21.9%
Catholic20.0%Decrease 17.9%
Not statedn/r10.4%
Uniting Church4.6%Decrease 3.7%
Median weekly incomes
Personal incomeMedian weekly personal incomeA$454Increase A$538
% of Australian median income78.7%Increase 81.3%
Family incomeMedian weekly family incomeA$1,014Increase A$1,242
% of Australian median income68.5%Increase 71.6%
Household incomeMedian weekly household incomeA$848Increase A$986
% of Australian median income68.7%Decrease 68.6%

See also

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Bega Valley (A)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 9 July 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. "Bega Valley Shire Council". New South Wales Division of Local Government. Archived from the original on 7 September 2006. Retrieved 14 November 2006.
  4. "Holdings". Bega Valley Genealogy Society. Bega Valley Genealogy Society Inc. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  5. McKnight, Albert (18 March 2020). "Forty per cent of fire-destroyed homes haven't registered for free clean-up: Bega council". Bega District News. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  6. McKnight, Albert (29 February 2020). "As summer ends, new figures reveal how much of the South Coast has been burnt". Illawarra Mercury. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  7. "Bega Valley Mayor endorsed as Liberal candidate in next state election". 24 November 2022.
  8. "About the Bega Valley Shire". About the Shire. Bega Valley Shire Council. n.d. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  9. "Biamanga Cultural area". NSW National Parks. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  10. "Bega Valley - Councillor Election results". NSW Electoral Commission. 21 December 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  11. "Bega Valley Mayor endorsed as Liberal candidate in next state election". 24 November 2022.
  12. Council, Bega Valley Shire (12 January 2022). "Mayor and Deputy Mayor elected". Bega Valley Shire Council. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  13. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Bega Valley (A)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
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