Toowoomba Region

Toowoomba Region
Queensland

Location within Queensland
Population 163,936 (2011)[1]
 • Density 12.6367/km2 (32.7289/sq mi)
Established 2008
Area 12,973 km2 (5,008.9 sq mi)
Mayor Paul Antonio[2]
Council seat Toowoomba
Region Darling Downs
State electorate(s)
Federal Division(s)
Website Toowoomba Region
LGAs around Toowoomba Region:
Western Downs South Burnett Somerset
Western Downs Toowoomba Region Lockyer Valley
Goondiwindi Southern Downs Lockyer Valley

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.

In 2013–2014 it has a A$261 million operational budget and A$234 million capital budget.[3]

History

Prior to the 2008 amalgamation, the Toowoomba Region existed as eights distinct local government areas:

The City had its beginning in the Toowoomba Municipality which was proclaimed on 24 November 1860 under the Municipalities Act 1858,[4] 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.[5]

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." Three of the councils, Jondaryan, Millmerran and Pittsworth, 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.[6] 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.[7] 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.

Councillor Declared political membership Term
Cr. Paul Antonio LNP 2008–present Mayor
Cr. Carol Taylor Independent 2008–present Deputy Mayor
Cr. Cr Nancy Sommerfield LNP 2012–present
Cr. Cr Geoff McDonald Independent 2012–present
Cr. Megan O’Hara Sullivan Australian Labor Party 2016–present
Cr. James O'Shea Independent2016–present
Cr. Mike Williams Independent2012–present
Cr. Bill CahillIndependent2008–present
Cr. Chris Tait Independent 2012–present
Cr. Joe Ramia Independent 2016–present
Cr. Anne Glasheen Independent 2008–present

Towns and localities

The Toowoomba Region includes the following settlements:

Inner Toowoomba suburbs:

Outer Toowoomba suburbs:

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

Regional localities:

Cambooya area:

Clifton area:

Crows Nest area:

Jondaryan area:

Millmerran area:

Pittsworth area:

Rosalie area:

Mixed-area localities:

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 Total Region Toowoomba Cambooya Clifton Crows Nest Jondaryan Millmerran Pittsworth Rosalie
1933 56,687 26,423 2,047 3,105 2,850 5,231 2,335 3,544 7,095
1947 62,548 33,290 1,780 2,760 2,361 5,346 3,012 3,599 6,716
1954 70,430 43,149 1,848 2,542 3,733 5,416 3,473 3,731 6,538
1961 77,131 50,134 1,732 2,572 3,474 5,785 3,423 3,821 6,190
1966 81,757 55,799 1,617 2,549 3,244 5,752 3,512 3,713 5,571
1971 84,295 59,524 1,558 2,378 3,111 5,704 3,435 3,795 4,790
1976 92,144 66,436 1,676 2,260 3,445 6,576 3,309 3,714 4,728
1981 94,605 66,698 1,894 2,188 4,125 7,832 3,047 3,605 5,216
1986 106,596 73,390 2,477 2,354 5,308 9,457 3,115 3,880 6,615
1991 117,500 81,043 2,860 2,301 6,644 10,308 3,014 4,035 7,295
1996 124,849 83,633 4,079 2,308 8,644 11,056 2,830 4,264 8,035
2001 132,868 86,642 4,856 2,327 10,005 12,323 3,935 4,445 8,335
2006 141,986 90,466 5,652 2,549 12,595 13,965 3,078 4,688 8,993

Toowoomba Regional Library Services

The Toowoomba Regional Council operates the following libraries:[8]

The Toowoomba Regional Libraries also provide a range of services including (but not limited to) free computer and internet access,[10] free computer classes, and a Homebound Library Service for those who are temporarily or permanently home bound.[11]

References

  1. ↑ OESR (April 2012). "Population and Dwelling Profiles – Toowoomba Regional Council" (PDF). Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  2. ↑ "Newly elected council 2012". Toowoomba Regional Council. 13 February 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  3. ↑ "Budget news". Toowoomba Regional Council. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  4. ↑ 22 Vic No. 13 (Imp), assented 27 October 1858
  5. ↑ Queensland Government Gazette, Vol. LXXXIII, 29 October 1904, p.878.
  6. ↑ Queensland Local Government Reform Commission (July 2007). Report of the Local Government Reform Commission (PDF). 2. pp. 315–322. ISBN 1-921057-11-4. Retrieved 3 June 2010.
  7. ↑ Toowoomba Regional Council. "Introducing Councillors". Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  8. ↑ "Toowoomba Regional Libraries Locations and Hours". Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  9. ↑ "Local History Library". Toowoomba Regional Council. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  10. ↑ "Toowoomba Regional Libraries Public Use PCs". Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  11. ↑ "Toowoomba Regional Libraries Homebound Services". Retrieved 24 October 2014.

Coordinates: 27°34′30.60″S 151°56′48.75″E / 27.5751667°S 151.9468750°E / -27.5751667; 151.9468750

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