Shire of Northam

The Shire of Northam is a local government area in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, beyond the northeastern fringe of the Perth metropolitan area centred on the town of Northam itself. The Shire covers an area of 1,431 square kilometres (553 sq mi). In 2007, it merged with the Town of Northam, almost tripling its population in the process from a previous size of 3,794 (ABS 2006).

Shire of Northam
Western Australia
Location in Western Australia
Population11,112 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density7.7625/km2 (20.1047/sq mi)
Established1871
Area1,431.5 km2 (552.7 sq mi)
PresidentChris Antonio
Council seatNortham
RegionWheatbelt
State electorate(s)Central Wheatbelt
Federal Division(s)Pearce
WebsiteShire of Northam
LGAs around Shire of Northam:
Toodyay Goomalling Cunderdin
Swan Shire of Northam Cunderdin
Mundaring York Quairading

History

On 24 January 1871, the Northam Road District was constituted under the Road Boards Act 1871. On 4 November 1879, the separate Municipality of Northam was constituted to manage the town of Northam.[2] The town expanded beyond the municipal boundaries (which were set at about 5 km2 (1.9 sq mi)) and on 6 September 1957, the municipal boundaries were adjusted to bring all of Northam under it. The Road District lost a significant part of its population in this transfer.

On 1 July 1961, the Road District became a shire under the Local Government Act 1960, which reformed all remaining road districts into shires.[2]

Amalgamation

In September 2006, the Shire received a report into the possibility of merging with the Town of Northam,[3] and on 31 October 2006, the Local Government Advisory Board received a proposal to that effect from both councils. Public meetings in December 2006 announced that the new council would be known as the Shire of Northam, and would come into existence on 1 July 2007, initially operated by a board of commissioners (two from each entity plus an independent chair).[4]

In January 2007, the Local Government Advisory Board officially recommended to the Minister for Local Government that the amalgamation proceed.[5] The Shire electors successfully petitioned for a referendum within their area, which was held on 28 April 2007. Prior to the election, the Shire of Northam itself took the unusual step of asking its electors not to vote, in order to deny the referendum the 50% of voters needed to constitute a valid poll under Clause 10 of Schedule 2.1 of the Local Government Act 1995.[6] With a participation rate of 23.59%, a majority of 93% voted against the proposal.[7] This 23.59% voter participation equates to 596 voters; less than the number that petitioned for the referendum in the first place.

The amalgamation proceeded as planned and the first elections for seats in the new council were held in October 2007.

Wards

The Shire has been divided into four wards.

  • Town Ward (five councillors)
  • Central Ward (two councillors)
  • West Ward (two councillors)
  • East Ward (one councillor)

Towns and localities

Population

The historic populations of the area which now forms the Shire of Northam are as follows. "Old Shire" relates to the pre-2007 boundaries.

Year Population
Combined Town Old Shire
19115,1463,3611,785
19215,7553,6022,153
19337,0194,8172,202
19476,9344,6522,282
195410,3075,7254,582
19619,9937,2002,793
196610,0947,4002,694
19719,5437,1172,426
19769,3856,8462,539
19819,5336,9442,589
19869,3386,8872,451
19919,4286,5492,879
19969,4856,2853,200
20019,7026,1373,565
20069,8036,0093,794

See also

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Northam (S)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  2. "Municipality Boundary Amendments Register" (PDF). Western Australian Electoral Distribution Commission. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  3. Kelly LG Services (September 2006). "Shire and Town of Northam Merger Study Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 October 2006. Retrieved 4 November 2006. - commissioned by Department of Local Government and Regional Development.
  4. Local Government Advisory Board (November 2006). "Proposal to Amalgamate the Shire of Northam and the Town of Northam - Information Paper" (PDF). Retrieved 15 November 2006.
  5. Local Government Advisory Board (March 2007). "Proposal to Amalgamate the Shire of Northam and the Town of Northam". Archived from the original on 13 June 2006. Retrieved 21 April 2007.
  6. Llewellyn, Cr A W (18 April 2007). "Please Abstain From Voting" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 1 May 2007.
  7. Western Australian Electoral Commission (28 April 2007). "Northam Shire of - Voting In Person Referendum". Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 1 May 2007.

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