Fraser Coast Regional Council
Encyclopedia
The Fraser Coast Region is a Local Government Area located in the Wide Bay-Burnett
region of Queensland
, Australia
, about 250 kilometres (155.3 mi) north of Brisbane
, the state capital. It is centred on the twin cities of Hervey Bay and Maryborough
, and also contains Fraser Island. It was created in 2008 from a merger of the Cities of Maryborough
and Hervey Bay
and the Shires of Woocoo
and most of Tiaro
.
The Regional Council, which governs the Region, has an estimated operating budget of A$
110 million.
upon the separation of Queensland in 1859, was proclaimed, becoming the sixth municipal government in Queensland. Henry Palmer was appointed as its first Mayor.
On 11 November 1879, when the Divisional Boards Act 1879 came into effect, the Antigua and Burrum Divisions were created around what is now Hervey Bay, and on 15 September 1883, the Granville Division was established to serve the district surrounding Maryborough. A later division, Howard, was split away from the Division of Isis
in 1900.
With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, all four divisions became Shires on 31 March 1903, and Maryborough became a Town. On 7 January 1905 Maryborough achieved City status, and a Town Hall was built on the corner of Kent and Adelaide Streets and became the administrative centre of the City.
At around this time, the Shire of Degilbo, later renamed Biggenden
, split away on 3 June 1905. On 23 December 1905, Burrum was renamed Pialba.
On 17 February 1917, the Granville, Antigua and Pialba shires were dissolved, and split between a new Shire of Burrum
and the Shire of Woocoo
, which had been gazetted three years earlier. By the 1920s the Hervey Bay area was rapidly expanding due to continuing growth in the primary industries such as sugar cane, citrus, pineapples, beef cattle and fishing, as well as investment in transport infrastructure. In the 1950s and 1960s, population and development increased, and the coastal towns slowly merged into a single urban area.
On 20 December 1975, but effective from the 27 March 1976 local government elections, the Shire of Burrum was renamed the Shire of Hervey Bay. With the new focus on the coastal region, 1086.4 km² (419.5 sq mi) of its area, with an estimated population of 1,119, was annexed by the City of Maryborough
, while 1269 km² (490 sq mi) with an estimated population of 2,629 was annexed by the Shire of Woocoo
.
In September 1977, the Shire of Hervey Bay received Town status, and on 18 February 1984 it became a City.
The Local Government (Maryborough and Woocoo) Regulation 1993, which took effect on 31 March 1994, effected the City's annexation of about 700 km² (270.3 sq mi) of the Shire of Woocoo
. At this time, Maryborough was resubdivided into eight divisions each with one councillor, plus an elected mayor.
On 15 March 2008, under the Local Government (Reform Implementation) Act 2007 passed by the Parliament of Queensland
on 10 August 2007, the City of Hervey Bay
merged with the City of Maryborough
, Shire of Woocoo
and part of Tiaro
to form the Fraser Coast Region.
.
The councillors are:
Wide Bay-Burnett
Wide Bay-Burnett is a region of the Australian state of Queensland, located between 170 and 400 kilometres north of the state capital, Brisbane. The area's population growth has exceeded the state average over the past 20 years, and it is forecast to grow to more than 430,000 by 2031...
region of Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, about 250 kilometres (155.3 mi) north of Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, the state capital. It is centred on the twin cities of Hervey Bay and Maryborough
Maryborough, Queensland
Maryborough is a city located on the Mary River in South East Queensland, Australia, approximately north of the state capital, Brisbane. The city is serviced by the Bruce Highway, and has a population of approximately 22,000 . It is closely tied to its neighbour city Hervey Bay which is...
, and also contains Fraser Island. It was created in 2008 from a merger of the Cities of Maryborough
City of Maryborough (Queensland)
The City of Maryborough was a Local Government Area located in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, containing the urban locality of Maryborough as well as the southern half of Fraser Island...
and Hervey Bay
City of Hervey Bay
The City of Hervey Bay was a Local Government Area located in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, containing the urban centre of Hervey Bay as well as the northern half of Fraser Island...
and the Shires of Woocoo
Shire of Woocoo
The Shire of Woocoo was a Local Government Area located in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, containing the rural residential area to the west of the town of Maryborough, and surrounding countryside...
and most of Tiaro
Shire of Tiaro
The Shire of Tiaro was a Local Government Area located in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, between the regional cities of Gympie and Hervey Bay about north of the state capital, Brisbane...
.
The Regional Council, which governs the Region, has an estimated operating budget of A$
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
110 million.
History
On 10 March 1861, the Municipal Borough of Maryborough, governed under the Municipalities Act 1858 which had been inherited from New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
upon the separation of Queensland in 1859, was proclaimed, becoming the sixth municipal government in Queensland. Henry Palmer was appointed as its first Mayor.
On 11 November 1879, when the Divisional Boards Act 1879 came into effect, the Antigua and Burrum Divisions were created around what is now Hervey Bay, and on 15 September 1883, the Granville Division was established to serve the district surrounding Maryborough. A later division, Howard, was split away from the Division of Isis
Shire of Isis
The Shire of Isis was a Local Government Area located in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, to the south of Bundaberg. The Shire, administered from the town of Childers covered an area of , and existed as a local government entity from 1887 until 2008, when it was amalgamated...
in 1900.
With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, all four divisions became Shires on 31 March 1903, and Maryborough became a Town. On 7 January 1905 Maryborough achieved City status, and a Town Hall was built on the corner of Kent and Adelaide Streets and became the administrative centre of the City.
At around this time, the Shire of Degilbo, later renamed Biggenden
Shire of Biggenden
The Shire of Biggenden was a Local Government Area located in the northern catchment of the Burnett River, Queensland, Australia, south-southwest of the regional city of Bundaberg...
, split away on 3 June 1905. On 23 December 1905, Burrum was renamed Pialba.
On 17 February 1917, the Granville, Antigua and Pialba shires were dissolved, and split between a new Shire of Burrum
City of Hervey Bay
The City of Hervey Bay was a Local Government Area located in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, containing the urban centre of Hervey Bay as well as the northern half of Fraser Island...
and the Shire of Woocoo
Shire of Woocoo
The Shire of Woocoo was a Local Government Area located in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, containing the rural residential area to the west of the town of Maryborough, and surrounding countryside...
, which had been gazetted three years earlier. By the 1920s the Hervey Bay area was rapidly expanding due to continuing growth in the primary industries such as sugar cane, citrus, pineapples, beef cattle and fishing, as well as investment in transport infrastructure. In the 1950s and 1960s, population and development increased, and the coastal towns slowly merged into a single urban area.
On 20 December 1975, but effective from the 27 March 1976 local government elections, the Shire of Burrum was renamed the Shire of Hervey Bay. With the new focus on the coastal region, 1086.4 km² (419.5 sq mi) of its area, with an estimated population of 1,119, was annexed by the City of Maryborough
City of Maryborough (Queensland)
The City of Maryborough was a Local Government Area located in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, containing the urban locality of Maryborough as well as the southern half of Fraser Island...
, while 1269 km² (490 sq mi) with an estimated population of 2,629 was annexed by the Shire of Woocoo
Shire of Woocoo
The Shire of Woocoo was a Local Government Area located in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, containing the rural residential area to the west of the town of Maryborough, and surrounding countryside...
.
In September 1977, the Shire of Hervey Bay received Town status, and on 18 February 1984 it became a City.
The Local Government (Maryborough and Woocoo) Regulation 1993, which took effect on 31 March 1994, effected the City's annexation of about 700 km² (270.3 sq mi) of the Shire of Woocoo
Shire of Woocoo
The Shire of Woocoo was a Local Government Area located in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, containing the rural residential area to the west of the town of Maryborough, and surrounding countryside...
. At this time, Maryborough was resubdivided into eight divisions each with one councillor, plus an elected mayor.
On 15 March 2008, under the Local Government (Reform Implementation) Act 2007 passed by the Parliament of Queensland
Parliament of Queensland
The Parliament of Queensland is the legislature of Queensland, Australia. According to the state's constitution, the Parliament consists of the Queen and the Legislative Assembly. It is the only unicameral state parliament in the country, the upper chamber, the Legislative Council, having been...
on 10 August 2007, the City of Hervey Bay
City of Hervey Bay
The City of Hervey Bay was a Local Government Area located in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, containing the urban centre of Hervey Bay as well as the northern half of Fraser Island...
merged with the City of Maryborough
City of Maryborough (Queensland)
The City of Maryborough was a Local Government Area located in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, containing the urban locality of Maryborough as well as the southern half of Fraser Island...
, Shire of Woocoo
Shire of Woocoo
The Shire of Woocoo was a Local Government Area located in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, containing the rural residential area to the west of the town of Maryborough, and surrounding countryside...
and part of Tiaro
Shire of Tiaro
The Shire of Tiaro was a Local Government Area located in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, between the regional cities of Gympie and Hervey Bay about north of the state capital, Brisbane...
to form the Fraser Coast Region.
Wards
The council remains undivided and its elected body consists of ten councillors and a mayor, elected for a four-year term. A review (2010) indicated support for establishing a system of divisions to allow for local representation.Towns and localities
Hervey Bay:
|
Maryborough Maryborough, Queensland Maryborough is a city located on the Mary River in South East Queensland, Australia, approximately north of the state capital, Brisbane. The city is serviced by the Bruce Highway, and has a population of approximately 22,000 . It is closely tied to its neighbour city Hervey Bay which is... :
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Other areas:
|
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Population
The populations given relate to the component entities prior to 2008. The next census, due in 2011, will be the first for the new Region.| Year | Population (Region total) |
Population (Maryborough) |
Population (Hervey Bay) |
Population (Woocoo) |
Population (Tiaro) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | 22,170 | 11,415 | 6,835 | 777 | 3,143 |
| 1947 | 26,453 | 14,395 | 8,642 | 750 | 2,666 |
| 1954 | 29,587 | 17,952 | 8,408 | 660 | 2,567 |
| 1961 | 30,962 | 19,126 | 8,991 | 640 | 2,205 |
| 1966 | 31,607 | 19,659 | 9,271 | 567 | 2,110 |
| 1971 | 32,347 | 19,257 | 10,737 | 491 | 1,862 |
| 1976 | 37,118 | 21,527 | 10,304 | 3,412 | 1,875 |
| 1981 | 44,454 | 21,530 | 16,402 | 4,456 | 2,066 |
| 1986 | 48,308 | 22,430 | 20,660 | 2,700 | 2,518 |
| 1991 | 60,560 | 22,977 | 30,867 | 3,429 | 3,287 |
| 1996 | 74,210 | 24,681 | 42,391 | 2,902 | 4,236 |
| 2001 | 77,837 | 24,465 | 45,959 | 2,964 | 4,449 |
| 2006 | 90,806 | 25,705 | 56,427 | 3,351 | 5,323 |
Current Councillors/Mayor
The mayor of the Fraser Coast Regional Council is Mick Kruger, the former deputy mayor of City of Hervey BayCity of Hervey Bay
The City of Hervey Bay was a Local Government Area located in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, containing the urban centre of Hervey Bay as well as the northern half of Fraser Island...
.
The councillors are:
- Cr Julie Arthur
- Cr Sue Brooks
- Cr David Dalgleish - Deputy Mayor
- Cr Linda Harris
- Cr Debbie Hawes
- Cr Barbara Hovard
- Cr Belinda McNeven
- Cr Les MucKan
- Cr Anne Nioa
- Cr Gerard O'Connell.