Bathurst Regional Council

Bathurst Regional Council is a local government area in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. The area is located adjacent to the Great Western Highway, Mid-Western Highway, Mitchell Highway and the Main Western railway line. At the 2016 census, the Bathurst Region had a population of 41,300.[1]

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

Bathurst Regional Council
New South Wales
Location in New South Wales
Coordinates33°25′S 149°34′E
Population
 • Density10.812/km2 (28.00/sq mi)
Established26 May 2004
Area3,820 km2 (1,474.9 sq mi)
MayorBobby Bourke (Unaligned) [3]
Council seatBathurst
RegionCentral West
State electorate(s)Bathurst
Federal Division(s)Calare
WebsiteBathurst Regional Council
LGAs around Bathurst Regional Council:
Cabonne Mid-Western Mid-Western
Orange Bathurst Regional Council Lithgow
Blayney Upper Lachlan Oberon

The administrative centre of the area is located in the city of Bathurst, approximately 200 kilometres (120 mi) west of Sydney central business district.

The Mayor of Bathurst is Cr. Bobby Bourke, an unaligned politician.[3]

City, towns and localities

In addition to the city of Bathurst, the area includes the suburbs of Kelso and Raglan and the villages of Eglinton, Perthville, Rockley, Georges Plains, Trunkey Creek, Brewongle, Vittoria, Peel, Wattle Flat, Sofala, Hill End, Meadow Flat, Sallys Flat and Caloola.

Demographics
Selected historical census data for Bathurst Regional local government area
Census year2011[4]2016[1]
PopulationEstimated residents on census night38,519 41,300
LGA rank in terms of size within New South Wales52nd 51st
% of New South Wales population0.56% 0.55%
% of Australian population0.18% 0.18%
Estimated ATSI population on census night1,6342,244
% of ATSI population to residents4.20% 5.40%
Cultural and language diversity
Ancestry,
top responses		Australian32.9% 31.5%
English30.1% 29.5%
Irish10.9%  11.1%
Scottish7.3% 7.5%
German2.6% 2.6%
Language,
top responses
(other than English)		Mandarin0.2% 0.3%
Arabic0.3% 0.2%
Cantonese0.2% 0.2%
Punjabin/a 0.2%
German0.2% 0.2%
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation,
top responses		Catholic34.1% 31.1%
No religion, so described16.0% 22.4%
Anglican23.2% 19.1%
Not statedn/a 11.3%
Presbyterian and Reformed4.6% 4.2%
Median weekly incomes
Personal incomeMedian weekly personal incomeA$544A$646
% of Australian median income94% 98%
Family incomeMedian weekly family incomeA$1,437A$1,632
% of Australian median income97% 94%
Household incomeMedian weekly household incomeA$1,142A$1,310
% of Australian median income93% 91%

Council

Current composition and election method

Bathurst Regional Council is composed of nine Councillors elected proportionally as a single 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, and in September annually. The most recent election of Councillors was held on 9 September 2017, and the makeup of the Council is as follows:[5]

PartyCouncillors
  Independents and Unaligned 8
  Greens 1
Total 9

The current Council, elected in 2017, in order of election, is:[5]

CouncillorPartyNotes
  Bobby Bourke Unaligned Mayor[3]
  Graeme Hanger OAM Independent Served as Mayor, 2017-19[6]
  Alex Christian Independent
  Ian North Unaligned Deputy Mayor[3]
  Warren Aubin Independent
  Jess Jennings Independent
  Jacqui Rudge Independent
  Monica Morse Unaligned Served as Mayor, 2012-13[7]
  John Fry Greens

History
See also: Bathurst, New South Wales § History

Bathurst was proclaimed a city in 1885.[8] The Bathurst Region was created on 26 May 2004 as a result of a merger of Bathurst City and Evans Shire.

A 2015 review of local government boundaries recommended that the Bathurst Region merge with the Oberon Shire to form a new council with an area of 7,443 square kilometres (2,874 sq mi) and support a population of approximately 47,000.[9] The outcome of an independent review was expected to be completed by mid–2016.

Sister cities

Bathurst has sister city relations with the following city:[10]

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Bathurst Regional (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. Nicholls, Murray (20 September 2019). "Bobby Bourke's long journey from Annesley Street to the city's top job". Western Advocate. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  4. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Bathurst Regional (A)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  5. "Bathurst Regional". Local Government Elections 2017. New South Wales Electoral Commission. 15 September 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  6. "Graeme Hanger elected the new mayor of Bathurst". Western Advocate. 2 March 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  7. "New Mayor at Bathurst and funding to be provided to city's Simplot plant". ABC News Central West. Australia. 19 September 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  8. "Bathurst". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Retrieved 23 May 2006.
  9. "Merger proposal: Bathurst Regional Council, Oberon Council" (PDF). Government of New South Wales. January 2016. p. 7. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  10. "Sister Cities". Community. Bathurst Regional Council. Archived from the original on 26 February 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
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