City of Maitland

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

Location in New South Wales
Coordinates 32°45′S 151°35′E / 32.750°S 151.583°E / -32.750; 151.583Coordinates: 32°45′S 151°35′E / 32.750°S 151.583°E / -32.750; 151.583
Population 67,478 (2011 census)[1]
 • Density 172.1/km2 (446/sq mi)
Area 392 km2 (151.4 sq mi)[2]
Time zone AEST (UTC+10)
 • Summer (DST) AEDT (UTC+11)
Mayor Peter Blackmore (independent)[3]
Council seat Maitland
Region Hunter[4]
State electorate(s) Maitland[5]
Federal Division(s) Hunter[6]
Website City of Maitland
LGAs around City of Maitland:
Singleton Dungog Dungog
Singleton City of Maitland Port Stephens
Cessnock Lake Macquarie Newcastle

The City of Maitland is a local government area in the lower Hunter region of New South Wales, Australia. The area is situated adjacent to the New England Highway and the Hunter railway line.

The Mayor of the City of Maitland Council is Cr. Peter Blackmore, an independent politician.[3]

Proposed amalgamation

A 2015 review of local government boundaries by the NSW Government Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal recommended the merger of a number of adjoining councils. In the initial proposal, the City of Maitland was not included in any amalgamation proposals. However, following the lodging of an alternate proposal by Gloucester Shire Council to amalgamate the Gloucester, Great Lakes and Greater Taree councils, the NSW Minister for Local Government proposed a merger between the Dungog Shire with the City of Maitland.[7] The outcome of an independent review is expected to be completed by mid2016.

Demographics

At the 2011 census, there were 67,478 people in the City of Maitland local government area, of these 48.9 per cent were male and 51.1 per cent were female. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 3.5 per cent of the population, which was higher than the national and state averages of 2.5 per cent. The median age of people in the City of Maitland was 36 years, which was marginally lower than the national median of 37 years. Children aged 0 – 14 years made up 22.0 per cent of the population and people aged 65 years and over made up 12.7 per cent of the population. Of people in the area aged 15 years and over, 50.9 per cent were married and 11.8 per cent were either divorced or separated.[1]

Population growth in the City of Maitland between the 2001 census and the 2006 census was 15.19 per cent; and in the subsequent five years to the 2011 census, population growth was 9.05 per cent. When compared with total population growth of Australia for the same periods, being 5.78 per cent and 8.32 per cent respectively, population growth in the City of Maitland local government area was significantly higher than the national average.[8][9] The median weekly income for residents within the City of Maitland was approximately equal to the national average.[1]

At the 2011 census, the proportion of residents in the City of Maitland local government area who stated their ancestry as Australian or Anglo-Saxon exceeded 82 per cent of all residents (national average was 65.2 per cent). In excess of 67% of all residents in the City of Maitland nominated a religious affiliation with Christianity at the 2011 census, which was significantly higher than the national average of 50.2 per cent. Meanwhile, as at the census date, compared to the national average, households in the City of Maitland local government area had a significantly lower than average proportion (4.7 per cent) where two or more languages are spoken (national average was 20.4 per cent); and a significantly higher proportion (93.2 per cent) where English only was spoken at home (national average was 76.8 per cent).[1]

Selected historical census data for the City of Maitland local government area
Census year 2001[8]2006[9]2011[1]
Population Estimated residents on Census night 53,718 61,880 67,478
LGA rank in terms of size within New South Wales
% of New South Wales population 0.98%
% of Australian population 0.29% Increase 0.31% Steady 0.31%
Cultural and language diversity
Ancestry,
top responses
Australian 35.0%
English 32.1%
Irish 8.2%
Scottish 7.1%
German 3.6%
Language,
top responses
(other than English)
Cantonese0.3% Decrease 0.2% Steady 0.2%
German0.2% Steady 0.2% Steady 0.2%
Polish0.3% Decrease 0.2% Steady 0.2%
Afrikaansn/c Steady n/c Increase 0.2%
Tagalog0.1% Decrease n/c Increase 0.1%
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation,
top responses
Anglican32.1% Decrease 30.2% Decrease 28.9%
Catholic30.3% Decrease 29.4% Decrease 28.9%
No Religion9.1% Increase 12.0% Increase 15.8%
Uniting Church8.3% Decrease 7.1% Decrease 6.4%
Presbyterian and Reformed4.4% Decrease 4.1% Decrease 3.7%
Median weekly incomes
Personal income Median weekly personal income A$428 A$562
% of Australian median income 91.8% Increase 97.4%
Family income Median weekly family income A$1,159 A$1,555
% of Australian median income 99.0% Increase 105.0%
Household income Median weekly household income A$1,025 A$1,292
% of Australian median income 99.8% Increase 104.7%

Council

Current composition and election method

Maitland City Council is composed of thirteen Councillors, including the Mayor, for a fixed four-year term of office. The Mayor is directly elected while the twelve other Councillors are elected proportionally as four separate wards, each electing three Councillors. The most recent election was held on 8 September 2012, and the makeup of the Council, including the Mayor, is as follows:[3][10][11][12][13]

PartyCouncillors
  Independents 9
  Country Labor 4
Total 13

The current Council, elected in 2012, in order of election by ward, is:

WardCouncillorPartyNotes
Mayor[3]   Peter Blackmore Independent
Central Ward[10]   Arch Humphery Independent Elected on Peter Blackmore's ticket
  Loretta Baker Country Labor
  Brian Burke Independent
East Ward[11]   Ben Whiting Country Labor
  Bob Geoghegan Independent
  Peter Garnham Independent
North Ward[12]   Philip Penfold Independent
  Steve Procter Independent
  Robert Aitchison Country Labor
West Ward[13]   Henry Meskauskas Country Labor
  Ken Wethered Independent
  Nic Penfold Independent

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Maitland (Local Government Area)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
  2. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "2011 Community Profiles: Maitland (Local Government Area)". 2011 Census of Population and Housing. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Mayor Tally Sheet" (PDF). Maitland City Council Election 2012. Australian Election Company. September 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  4. "Suburb Search – Local Council Boundaries – Hunter (HT) – Maitland City Council". New South Wales Division of Local Government. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  5. "Maitland". New South Wales Electoral Commission. 24 September 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  6. "Hunter". Australian Electoral Commission. 26 July 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  7. Toole, Paul (March 2016). "Dungog and Maitland councils Proposal" (PDF). Minister for Local Government. Government of New South Wales. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  8. 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (9 March 2006). "Maitland (C)". 2001 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  9. 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Muswellbrook (A)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  10. 1 2 "Final Result in Order of Standing: Central Ward" (PDF). Maitland City Council Election 2012. Australian Election Company. 16 September 2012. p. 17. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  11. 1 2 "Final Result in Order of Standing: East Ward" (PDF). Maitland City Council Election 2012. Australian Election Company. 16 September 2012. p. 5. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  12. 1 2 "Final Result in Order of Standing: North Ward" (PDF). Maitland City Council Election 2012. Australian Election Company. 16 September 2012. p. 5. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  13. 1 2 "Final Result in Order of Standing: West Ward" (PDF). Maitland City Council Election 2012. Australian Election Company. 16 September 2012. p. 18. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
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