City of Geraldton-Greenough

This article is about a local government area. For the city, see Geraldton.
City of Geraldton Greenough
Western Australia

Location in Western Australia
Population 39,404 (2011)[1]
 • Density 21.9118/km2 (56.7513/sq mi)
Established 2007
Abolished 2011
Area 1,798.3 km2 (694.3 sq mi)
Council seat Geraldton
Region Mid West
LGAs around City of Geraldton Greenough:
Indian Ocean Chapman Valley Mullewa
Indian Ocean City of Geraldton Greenough Mullewa
Indian Ocean Irwin Irwin

The City of Geraldton-Greenough was a local government area in the Mid West region of Western Australia, 424 kilometres (263 mi) north of the state capital, Perth on the Indian Ocean. It covered an area of 1,798.3 square kilometres (694.3 sq mi), and its seat of government was the town of Geraldton.

In existence for exactly four years, it was established on 1 July 2007 through the amalgamation of the former City of Geraldton and Shire of Greenough, and itself amalgamated with the Shire of Mullewa into the City of Greater Geraldton on 1 July 2011.

History

City of Geraldton

Main article: City of Geraldton

Geraldton was proclaimed as a municipal district on 21 February 1871. On 1 July 1961, it became a town under the Local Government Act 1960. On 22 April 1988, Geraldton attained city status.[2]

Shire of Greenough

Main article: Shire of Greenough

The Greenough and Geraldton Road Boards – the latter not to be confused with the Geraldton Municipality – were proclaimed on 24 January 1871. Initially, Greenough included all of Murchison, which split away on 3 August 1875 and Mullewa, which formed on 11 August 1911. In 1951, Geraldton and Greenough merged, and on 1 July 1961 became the Shire of Geraldton-Greenough under the new Local Government Act 1960. On 19 March 1965, it was renamed the Shire of Greenough.[2]

Amalgamation

A recommendation was made to the Minister for Local Government by the Local Government Advisory Board in August 2006 to amalgamate the Shire of Greenough with the City of Geraldton.

The Greenough electors successfully petitioned for a referendum to determine whether amalgamation should proceed. This was held on 2 December 2006, and with a participation rate of 28.74%, a majority of 80% voted against the proposal.[3] However, under the Local Government Act 1995 (clause 10 of Schedule 2.1) as the vote did not attract 50% of registered voters, it did not meet the requirements for a valid poll.[4]

The councillors of both local government authorities resigned at the end of April 2007, and elections for the new local government took place in October 2007. The entity was managed by three commissioners in the interim, headed by Jeff Carr, who was the state member for Geraldton from 1974 until 1991.

Throughout 2010 and 2011 negotiations were held between the City of Geraldton-Greenough and the Shire of Mullewa as to whether the two entities should merge. After a long period of negotiations the entities decided to merge. A poll was requested by both communities and was held on 16 April 2011. 83.24% of voters voted against the merger in Mullewa, with 72.39% of voters against the merger in Geraldton-Greenough. However, both polls failed to reach the minimum 50% turnout required to be a valid poll. The two entities will merge on 1 July 2011 to become the City of Greater Geraldton.[5]

Abolishment

The Liberal government announced its intentions to amalgamate local governments around the state in line with reforms undertaken elsewhere in Australia. Ultimately, the plan did not succeed, but a number of local governments commenced negotiations for voluntary mergers. One such group included the City, the Shire of Chapman Valley and the Shire of Mullewa. In February 2010, Chapman Valley decided not to proceed, citing community opposition.[6][7] In December 2010, the Local Government Advisory Board approved the merger.[8] Polls were held in both municipalities, with 72.61% of voters in Geraldton-Greenough and 83.23% of voters in Mullewa voting against the merger.[9] However, both polls failed to reach the minimum 50% required to be a valid poll, and the City of Greater Geraldton came into being on 1 July 2011.

Wards

The City was divided into six wards, each with two councillors.[10] The Local Government Advisory Board recommended that the mayor be elected from amongst the councillors, as opposed to a directly elected mayor such as the former City of Geraldton.

Suburbs

Towns

Mayors

Population

The historic populations of the area which formed Geraldton-Greenough were:

Year Population Geraldton Greenough
1921 5,549 4,174 1,375
1933 6,540 4,984 1,556
1947 7,539 5,972 1,567
1954 9,680 8,309 1,371
1961 12,215 10,894 1,321
1966 13,719 12,125 1,594
1971 17,038 15,118 1,920
1976 20,642 17,663 2,979
1981 23,708 19,096 4,612
1986 25,721 19,923 5,798
1991 28,147 20,521 7,626
1996 30,061 19,724 10,337
2001 31,106 19,179 11,927
2006 32,461 18,916 13,545

References

  1. ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (30 March 2012). "Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2010–11 – Western Australia". Retrieved 10 May 2012.
  2. 1 2 WA Electoral Commission, Municipality Boundary Amendments Register (release 2.0), 31 May 2003.
  3. ↑ Western Australian Electoral Commission (2 December 2006). "Greenough – Voting in Person Referendum". Archived from the original on 30 August 2007. Retrieved 28 April 2007.
  4. ↑ Local Government Advisory Board (December 2006). "Inquiry Reports – Geraldton Greenough Inquiry Report". Retrieved 28 April 2007.
  5. ↑ http://www.cgg.wa.gov.au/news/poll-result-opens-way-new-merged-future
  6. ↑ "Local mergers 'doomed from beginning'". ABC News. 24 February 2010. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
  7. ↑ "Councils push ahead with merger deal". ABC News. 2 March 2011. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
  8. ↑ Local Government Advisory Board (December 2010). "Assessment of the Proposals for Amalgamation and Boundary Amendments involving the City of Geraldton-Greenough and the Shires of Mullewa and Chapman Valley". Retrieved 26 July 2011.
  9. ↑ Western Australian Electoral Commission (16 April 2011). Mullewa and Geraldton-Greenough results. Accessed 26 July 2011.
  10. ↑ "Local Government Act 1995 – City of Geraldton-Greenough (Creation) Order 2007" (PDF). Western Australia Government Gazette. 30 March 2007. pp. 2007:1458–1468.

Coordinates: 28°46′44″S 114°36′25″E / 28.779°S 114.607°E / -28.779; 114.607

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