Central Darling Shire
New South Wales
Shire Office Complex, Wilcannia
Location in New South Wales
Coordinates31°34′S 143°22′E / 31.567°S 143.367°E / -31.567; 143.367
Population
 • Density0.034255/km2 (0.088719/sq mi)
Established20 March 1959 (1959-03-20)[3][4]
Area53,511 km2 (20,660.7 sq mi)
MayorRaymond Longfellow (Unaligned)
Council seatWilcannia
RegionFar West
State electorate(s)Barwon
Federal division(s)Parkes[5]
WebsiteCentral Darling Shire
LGAs around Central Darling Shire:
Unincorporated Far West Unincorporated Far West Bourke
Unincorporated Far West Central Darling Shire Cobar
Wentworth Balranald Carrathool

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 Central Darling Shire Council has been under administration since 2014 with an Administrator taking the place of the mayor and councillors.

Main towns/villages

The Shire includes the towns of Ivanhoe, Menindee, Wilcannia and White Cliffs.

Demographics

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

  • were 509 wage and salary earners (ranked 162nd in New South Wales and 525th 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 $18 million (ranked 159th in New South Wales and 522nd 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 $34,391 (ranked 82nd in New South Wales and 268th in Australia, 83% of New South Wales's $41,407 and 89% of Australia's $38,820)
  • was an estimated median income per wage and salary earner of $31,477 (ranked 84th in New South Wales and 284th in Australia, 89% of New South Wales's $35,479 and 92% of Australia's $34,149).
Selected historical census data for Central Darling Shire local government area
Census year2011[7]2016[1]
PopulationEstimated residents on census night1,991Decrease 1,833
LGA rank in terms of size within New South Wales128thIncrease 127th
% of New South Wales population0.03%
% of Australian population0.01%
Cultural and language diversity
Ancestry,
top responses		Australian32.5%Decrease 27.5%
English20.7%Decrease 19.6%
Australian Aboriginal19.1%Increase 20.7%
Irish5.9%Decrease 4.7%
Scottish5.3%Increase 5.4%
Language,
top responses
(other than English)		Paakantyi (Darling language)0.9%
Italian0.3%
Tongan0.3%Increase 0.6%
German0.2%Increase 0.4%
French0.2%
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation,
top responses		Catholic37.9%Decrease 29.5%
Anglican18.8%Decrease 14.1%
No religion16.8%Increase 22.3%
Uniting Church6.2%Decrease 4.5%
Presbyterian and Reformed3.6%
Not Stated23.3%
Median weekly incomes
Personal incomeMedian weekly personal incomeA$387A$460
% of Australian median income67.1%Increase 69.3%
Family incomeMedian weekly family incomeA$889A$1075
% of Australian median income60.0%Increase 62.0%
Household incomeMedian weekly household incomeA$787A$901
% of Australian median income63.8%Decrease 62.7%

Council

Current composition and election method

In 2014 the council placed under administration for a period of three months. Following a public inquiry, councillors were removed from office and an administrator originally appointed for three months had his term extended and at September 2018 was still acting in this capacity. The council is expected to be removed from administration in September 2020.

Central Darling Shire Council is composed of nine councillors elected proportionally as three separate wards, each electing three councillors. 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 8 September 2012, and the makeup of the council at the time of moving to Administration was as follows:[8][9][10]

PartyCouncillors
  Independents and Unaligned 9
Total 9

The previous Council, elected in 2012, in order of election by ward, is:

WardCouncillorPartyNotes
A Ward[8]   Honor Liversidge Independent
  Eamon Sammon Unaligned
  Peter Sullivan Unaligned Deputy Mayor
B Ward[9]   Dennis Standley Independent
  Clive Linnett OAM AFSM Unaligned
  Ray Longfellow Unaligned Mayor
C Ward[10]   Lorraine Looney Unaligned
  Garry Astill Unaligned
  Ron Page Unaligned

Economic activity

The principal economic activities within the Shire include pastoral, horticultural, agricultural, mining and tourism. Rural grazing properties represent the largest land use within the Shire, accounting for 97% of the entire area. Major horticultural and agricultural production is centred on Menindee. The relative ease of access to water from the Darling River and Menindee Lakes Storage Scheme enables producers to grow a large variety of crops and fruits.

Opal mining has been the predominant mining industry within the Shire. Opal was discovered in White Cliffs in 1884 and the first commercial opal field commenced operation in 1890, reaching its peak in 1899.[11]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Central Darling (A)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 7 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. ↑ "LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1919.—PROCLAMATION – Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 – 2001) – 20 Mar 1959". nla.gov.au. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  4. ↑ "Government Gazette Proclamations and Legislation – New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 – 1900) – 6 Feb 1883". nla.gov.au. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  5. ↑ "Profile of the electoral division of Parkes (NSW)". Australian Electoral Commission. 25 February 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  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). "Central Darling (A)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  8. 1 2 "Central Darling Shire Council – A Ward: Summary of First Preference Votes for each Candidate". Local Government Elections 2012. Electoral Commission of New South Wales. 15 September 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  9. 1 2 "Central Darling Shire Council – B Ward: Summary of First Preference Votes for each Candidate". Local Government Elections 2012. Electoral Commission of New South Wales. 15 September 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  10. 1 2 "Central Darling Shire Council – C Ward: Summary of First Preference Votes for each Candidate". Local Government Elections 2012. Electoral Commission of New South Wales. 15 September 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  11. ↑ "White Cliffs Opal Field". Central Darling Shire Council. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
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