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Toowoomba Region

(Redirected from Toowoomba Regional Council)

The Toowoomba Region is a local government area (LGA) located within the larger Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia. Established in 2008, the LGA was preceded by several other local government authorities 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 / 27.5751667°S 151.9468750°E / -27.5751667; 151.9468750
Population173,204 (2021 census)[1]
 • Density13.3676/km2 (34.6219/sq mi)
Established2008
Area12,957 km2 (5,002.7 sq mi)[2]
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
Aerial views of the Toowoomba Region.

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.[3]

In the 2021 census, the Toowoomba Region had a population of 173,204 people.[1]

History

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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,[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." 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.[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

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Toowoomba Regional Council is unsubdivided and its elected body consists of 10 councillors and a mayor.[7] Neither the Labor Party nor the Liberal National Party officially endorse candidates for council.

Current composition

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The current council, elected in 2024, is:

Position Councillor Party
Mayor   Geoff McDonald Independent
Councillor   Bill Cahill Independent
  Edwina Farquhar Independent
  Gary Gardner Independent
  Trevor Manteufel Independent Labor
  Tim McMahon Independent LNP
  James O'Shea Independent
  Kerry Shine Independent Labor
  Carol Taylor Independent
  Melissa Taylor Independent
  Rebecca Vonhoff Independent LNP

Mayors

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  • Peter Taylor (2008-12). Elected 2008,[8] defeated 2012.[9]
  • Paul Antonio (2012-23). Elected 2012,[10] 2016,[11] 2020.[12] Retired 2023.[13]
  • Geoff McDonald (2023-current). Elected by council 2023,[14] Elected 2024.[15]

Election results

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2024

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This section is an excerpt from Results of the 2024 Queensland local elections § Toowoomba.[edit]
2024 Queensland local elections: Toowoomba
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent LNP Rebecca Vonhoff (elected) 77,397 7.96
Independent James O'Shea (elected) 60,790 6.25
Independent Melissa Taylor (elected) 60,401 6.21
Independent Labor Kerry Shine (elected) 58,902 6.06
Independent Gary Gardner (elected) 57,155 5.88
Independent LNP Tim McMahon (elected) 56,265 5.79
Independent Carol Taylor (elected) 52,561 5.40
Independent Bill Cahill (elected) 50,050 5.15
Independent Edwina Farquhar (elected) 48,765 5.01
Independent Labor Trevor Manteufel (elected) 39,979 4.11
Independent Andrew Reeson 31,890 3.28
Independent Mark Orford 31,492 3.24
Independent Paul Wilson 30,086 3.09
Independent Scot McPhie 29,207 3.00
Greens Ellisa Parker 28,645 2.95
Independent Eakraj Adhikari 28,163 2.90
Say NO to WOKE Nathan Essex 27,976 2.88
Independent Chris Brameld 27,121 2.79
Independent Chelle McIntyre 24,626 2.53
Independent Robert Relvas 23,951 2.46
Independent David King 23,138 2.38
Say NO to WOKE Adam Carney 22,442 2.31
Independent Gavin Mingay 18,992 1.95
Independent Federation Martin Hartwig 18,801 1.93
Westgarths Leeanne Westgarth 18,438 1.90
Westgarths George Westgarth 13,912 1.43
Westgarths Angus Westgarth 11,315 1.16
Total formal votes 972,460 100.0
Total formal ballots 97,246 89.52
Informal ballots 11,384 10.48
Turnout 108,630 85.86
Party total votes
Independent 336,470 61.52
Independent LNP 133,662 13.75
Independent Labor 98,881 10.17
Say NO to WOKE 50,418 5.19 +5.19
Westgarths 43,665 4.49
Greens 28,645 2.95
Independent Federation 18,801 1.93
Party total seats Seats ±
Independent 6   1
Independent Labor 2  
Independent LNP 2   1

Towns and localities

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The Toowoomba Region includes the following settlements:

Toowoomba suburbs

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Close Regional Localities

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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

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Economy

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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.[16]

Demographics

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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 Notes
1933 56,687 26,423 2,047 3,105 2,850 5,231 2,335 3,544 7,095 [citation needed]
1947 62,548 33,290 1,780 2,760 2,361 5,346 3,012 3,599 6,716 [citation needed]
1954 70,430 43,149 1,848 2,542 3,733 5,416 3,473 3,731 6,538 [citation needed]
1961 77,131 50,134 1,732 2,572 3,474 5,785 3,423 3,821 6,190 [citation needed]
1966 81,757 55,799 1,617 2,549 3,244 5,752 3,512 3,713 5,571 [citation needed]
1971 84,295 59,524 1,558 2,378 3,111 5,704 3,435 3,795 4,790 [citation needed]
1976 92,144 66,436 1,676 2,260 3,445 6,576 3,309 3,714 4,728 [citation needed]
1981 94,605 66,698 1,894 2,188 4,125 7,832 3,047 3,605 5,216 [citation needed]
1986 106,596 73,390 2,477 2,354 5,308 9,457 3,115 3,880 6,615 [citation needed]
1991 117,500 81,043 2,860 2,301 6,644 10,308 3,014 4,035 7,295 [citation needed]
1996 124,849 83,633 4,079 2,308 8,644 11,056 2,830 4,264 8,035 [citation needed]
2001 132,868 86,642 4,856 2,327 10,005 12,323 3,935 4,445 8,335 [citation needed]
2006 141,986 90,466 5,652 2,549 12,595 13,965 3,078 4,688 8,993 [citation needed]
2011 census 151,189 [17]
2016 census 160,779 [18]
2021 census 173,204 [1]

Toowoomba Regional Library Services

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The Toowoomba Regional Council operates the following libraries:[19]

The Toowoomba Regional Libraries also provide a range of services including (but not limited to) free computer and internet access,[21] free computer classes, and a Homebound Library Service for those who are temporarily or permanently home bound.[22]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Toowoomba Region (LGA)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.  
  2. ^ "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 2022.
  3. ^ "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.
  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). Vol. 2. pp. 315–322. ISBN 978-1-921057-11-3. Retrieved 3 June 2010.
  7. ^ Toowoomba Regional Council. "Introducing Councillors". Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  8. ^ "2008 Toowoomba Regional Council - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". results.ecq.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  9. ^ "2012 Toowoomba Regional Council - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". results.ecq.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  10. ^ "2012 Toowoomba Regional Council - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". results.ecq.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  11. ^ "2016 Toowoomba Regional Council - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". results.ecq.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  12. ^ Queensland, Electoral Commission of (1 July 2019). "Electoral Commission of Queensland". results1.elections.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  13. ^ "Toowoomba Region Mayor Paul Antonio resigns from elected position". Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  14. ^ "Geoff McDonald to lead Toowoomba Region". Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  15. ^ "2024 Toowoomba Regional Council - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". results.elections.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  16. ^ "About Council: Economic development". Toowoomba Regional Council. Archived from the original on 9 December 2010. Retrieved 24 September 2010.
  17. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Toowoomba Region (LGA)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.  
  18. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Toowoomba Region (LGA)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.  
  19. ^ "Toowoomba Regional Libraries Locations and Hours". Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  20. ^ "Local History Library". Toowoomba Regional Council. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  21. ^ "Toowoomba Regional Libraries Public Use PCs". Archived from the original on 24 October 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  22. ^ "Toowoomba Regional Libraries Homebound Services". Retrieved 24 October 2014.
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