- Moreton Bay Region
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Moreton Bay Region
Queensland
Moreton Bay in south-eastern QueenslandPopulation: 382,280(2010)[1] Established: 2008 Area: 2011 km² (776.5 sq mi) Mayor: Allan Sutherland[2] Region: South East Queensland Federal Division: Petrie, Dickson, Longman, Fisher 
LGAs around Moreton Bay Region: Somerset Sunshine Coast Somerset Moreton Bay Region Moreton Bay Somerset Brisbane The Moreton Bay Region is a Local Government Area located in South East Queensland, Australia, immediately to the north of Brisbane, the state capital. Established in 2008, it replaced three established local government areas, the City of Redcliffe and the Shires of Pine Rivers and Caboolture.
With an estimated operating revenue of A$297 million and a population of over 350,000, Moreton Bay is the third largest local government in Australia behind City of Brisbane and Gold Coast City, both of which are also amalgamated entities.
Contents
History
Moreton Bay was, at the time the Divisional Boards Act 1879 came into force on 11 November 1879, entirely contained within the Caboolture Division, which covered not only Moreton Bay but also much of the Sunshine Coast. By 1890, Caboolture Division had shrunk considerably with the separate incorporation of the Pine Division (21 January 1888), Redcliffe Division (5 April 1888) and Maroochy Division (5 July 1890).
With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Caboolture, Pine and Redcliffe (as well as Maroochy) became Shires on 31 March 1903. Redcliffe was proclaimed a Town on 28 May 1921 and a City on 13 June 1959. A few weeks earlier, on 23 May 1959, Pine was renamed the Shire of Pine Rivers.
In July 2007, the Local Government Reform Commission released its report and recommended that the three areas amalgamate.[3] It argued that the area was part of the South East Queensland Regional Plan's Urban Footprint, and would attract 11% of the region's population and housing growth to 2006. A very strong community of interest was identified through the region's links and dependencies to Brisbane. The councils disagreed with the Commission's plans although, with the exception of Redcliffe, did not oppose alternative amalgamation options. 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.
Wards and councillors
Moreton Bay Region is divided into 12 divisions, each of which elects one councillor to the Regional Council. Additionally, the entire Region elects a mayor. Allan Sutherland was elected as the Region's first mayor at the 2008 elections. The councillors elected were:
- Division 1 - Gary Parsons
- Division 2 - Chris Whiting
- Division 3 - Greg Chippendale (Deputy Mayor)
- Division 4 - Julie Greer
- Division 5 - James Houghton
- Division 6 - Rae Frawley
- Division 7 - David Dwyer
- Division 8 - Mick Gillam
- Division 9 - Mike Charlton
- Division 10 - Brian Battersby
- Division 11 - Bob Millar
- Division 12 - Adrian Raedel
Unity Water
On July 1, 2010, Moreton Bay Regional Council's Water Services (along with Sunshine Coast Regional Council), moved over to the recently created water body, Unity Water. Unity Water was created by the Queensland Government as part of the State's takeover of South East Queensland's water facilities, dams and water supply networks. Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast Regional Councils own 50% of Unity Water.
The creation of Unity Water and the movement of staff from the Council's payroll has enabled the Council's to claim reduced costs to ratepayers, whilst still falling far short of the 10% to 15% reduction in local government charges promised by the Beattie/Bligh governments as the rationale for the council amalgamations.
Suburbs
Suburbs and localities which encompass the Moreton Bay Regional Council include:
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
(Total)(Caboolture) (Pine Rivers) (Redcliffe) 1933 11,928 5,316 4,604 2,008 1947 19,402 5,716 4,815 8,871 1954 27,267 7,101 6,309 13,857 1961 39,312 8,877 8,761 21,674 1966 50,785 10,149 13,309 27,327 1971 72,955 12,207 26,187 34,561 1976 103,669 19,404 45,192 39,073 1981 133,056 32,644 58,189 42,223 1986 166,210 47,494 73,783 44,933 1991 205,743 70,052 87,892 47,799 1996 250,077 98,859 103,192 48,026 2001 280,765 112,458 119,236 49,071 2006 325,219 132,473 141,414 51,332 References
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 March 2011). "Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2009–10". http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Products/3218.0~2009-10~Main+Features~Queensland?OpenDocument. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
- ^ Election summary (ECQ)
- ^ Queensland Local Government Reform Commission (July 2007). Report of the Local Government Reform Commission. 2. pp. 234–239. ISBN 1921057114. http://www.dlgp.qld.gov.au/resources/map/reform/north-moreton-rationale.pdf. Retrieved 3 June 2010.
External links
Local Government Areas of Queensland South East Brisbane · Gold Coast · Ipswich · Lockyer Valley · Logan · Moreton Bay · Redland · Scenic Rim · Somerset · Sunshine CoastWide Bay-Burnett Darling Downs Central Central Highlands · Gladstone · Isaac · Mackay · Rockhampton · WoorabindaNorth Far North Aurukun · Cairns · Cassowary Coast · Cook · Hopevale · Kowanyama · Lockhart River · Mapoon · Napranum · Northern Peninsula Area · Pormpuraaw · Tablelands · Torres · Torres Strait Islands · Weipa · Wujal Wujal · YarrabahNorth West Central West South West Categories:- Populated places established in 2008
- 2008 establishments in Australia
- Local Government Areas of Queensland
- Local Government Areas in Brisbane
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