Bathurst Region

Bathurst Region New South Wales
Location in New South Wales
Coordinates	33°25′S 149°34′E / 33.417°S 149.567°ECoordinates: 33°25′S 149°34′E / 33.417°S 149.567°E
Population	41,051 (2013 est)[1]
• Density	10.746/km^2 (27.83/sq mi)
Established	2004
Area	3,820 km^2 (1,474.9 sq mi)
Mayor	Gary Rush (Independent[2])
Council seat	Bathurst
Region	Central West
State electorate(s)	Bathurst
Federal Division(s)	Calare
Website	Bathurst Region
LGAs around Bathurst Region: Cabonne Mid-Western Mid-Western Orange Bathurst Region Lithgow Blayney Upper Lachlan Oberon

The Bathurst Region 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 2011 census, the Bathurst Region had a population of 38,519.^[3]

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. Gary Rush,^[4] an independent politician.^[2]

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, and Meadow Flat.

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 8 September 2012, and the makeup of the Council is as follows:^[5]

Party		Councillors
	Independents and Unaligned	9
	Total	9

The current Council, elected in 2012, in order of election, is:^[5]

Councillor		Party	Notes
	Warren Aubin	Independent
	Greg Westman	Independent
	Bobby Bourke	Unaligned
	Ian North	Unaligned	Deputy Mayor[4]
	Jess Jennings	Independent
	Michael Coote	Unaligned
	Graeme Hanger	Unaligned
	Gary Rush	Independent	Mayor;[4] elected on Warren Aubin's ticket
	Monica Morse	Unaligned	Served as Mayor, 2012-13[4]

History

Bathurst was proclaimed a city in 1885.^[6] 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.^[7] The outcome of an independent review is expected to be completed by mid–2016.

Sister cities

Bathurst has sister city relations with the following city:^[8]

• Ōkuma, Japan, since 1991

References

1. "3218.0 Regional Population Growth, Australia. Table 1. Estimated Resident Population, Local Government Areas, New South Wales". 3 April 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
2. Eddy, Louise (20 September 2013). "Mayor is in no rush to head to state politics". Western Advocate. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
3. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Bathurst Regional (A)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
4. "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.
5. "Bathurst Regional Council". Local Government Elections 2012. New South Wales Electoral Commission. 16 September 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
6. "Bathurst". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Retrieved 23 May 2006.
7. "Merger proposal: Bathurst Regional Council, Oberon Council" (PDF). Government of New South Wales. January 2016. p. 7. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
8. "Sister Cities". Community. Bathurst Regional Council. Retrieved 15 October 2012.