Murrumbidgee Shire

Murrumbidgee Shire New South Wales
Location within New South Wales
Coordinates	34°48′S 145°53′E / 34.800°S 145.883°ECoordinates: 34°48′S 145°53′E / 34.800°S 145.883°E
Population	2,415 (2012)[1]
• Density	0.68843/km^2 (1.7830/sq mi)
Area	3,508 km^2 (1,354.4 sq mi)
Mayor	Phillip Wells (tbc)
Council seat	Darlington Point[2]
Region	Riverina
State electorate(s)	Murray
Federal Division(s)	Riverina
Website	Murrumbidgee Shire
LGAs around Murrumbidgee Shire: Carrathool Griffith Leeton Hay Murrumbidgee Shire Narrandera Conargo Jerilderie Urana

Murrumbidgee Shire is a local government area in the Riverina region of south western New South Wales, Australia. The Shire is located adjacent to the Murrumbidgee River and the Newell Highway.

The two main administrative centres for the Murrumbidgee Shire are Coleambally and Darlington Point. It also contains the small town of Waddi.

Proposed amalgamation

A 2015 review of local government boundaries by the NSW Government Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal recommended that the Murrumbidgee Shire merge with parts of the Jerilderie Shire to form a new council with an area of 4,924 square kilometres (1,901 sq mi) and support a population of approximately 3,000.^[3] The Jerilderie Shire Council submitted an alternate proposal to the Minister for Local Government that the entire Jerilderie Shire be amalgamated with the Murrumbidgee Shire.^[4] The outcome of an independent review is expected by mid–2016.

Council

Murrumbidgee Shire office and chambers, in Darlington Point.

Current composition and election method

Murrumbidgee Shire Council is composed of six councillors elected proportionally in two separate wards, each electing three councillors. 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. The most recent election was held on 8 September 2012. In East Ward, there was only three candidates, being those below, nominated for election. There being no additional candidates, the election for East Ward was uncontested.^[5] An election was held in the North Ward. The makeup of the Council is as follows:^[6][7]

Party		Councillors
	Independents and Unaligned	6
	Total	6

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

Ward	Councillor		Party	Notes
East Ward[6]		Robert Black	Independent
		Christine Chirgwin	Independent
		Austin Evans	Unaligned
West Ward[7]		Phillip Wells	Unaligned	Mayor (tbc)
		Gavin Gilbery	Unaligned
		Robert Curphey	Independent

References

1. "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2012". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2014. Estimated resident population (ERP) at 30 June 2012.
2. "Murrumbidgee Shire Council". Department of Local Government. Retrieved 9 November 2006.
3. "Merger proposal: Murrumbidgee Shire Council, Jerilderie Shire Council (part)" (PDF). Government of New South Wales. January 2016. p. 8. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
4. Jerilderie Shire Council (26 January 2016). "Merger proposal: Jerilderie Shire Council and Murrumbidgee Shire Council" (PDF). Council Boundary Review. Government of New South Wales. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
5. "No council vote in some Riverina shires". ABC News (Australia). 10 August 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
6. "Murrumbidgee Shire Council – East Ward: Summary of First Preference and Group Votes for each Candidate". Local Government Elections 2012. Electoral Commission of New South Wales. 8 September 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
7. "Murrumbidgee Shire Council – North Ward: Summary of First Preference and Group Votes for each Candidate". Local Government Elections 2012. Electoral Commission of New South Wales. 8 September 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2012.