Uralla Shire

Uralla Shire New South Wales
Location in New South Wales
Coordinates	30°39′S 151°30′E / 30.650°S 151.500°ECoordinates: 30°39′S 151°30′E / 30.650°S 151.500°E
Population	6,238 (2009)[1]
• Density	1.9313/km^2 (5.002/sq mi)
Area	3,230 km^2 (1,247.1 sq mi)
Mayor	Michael Pearce (Independent)
Council seat	Uralla[2]
Region	New England
State electorate(s)	Northern Tablelands
Federal Division(s)	New England
Website	Uralla Shire
LGAs around Uralla Shire: Gwydir Guyra Armidale Tamworth Uralla Shire Armidale Tamworth Walcha Walcha

Uralla Shire is a local government area located in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. The New England Highway passes through the Shire.

The Mayor of Uralla Shire Council is Cr. Michael Pearce, an independent politician.

Towns and villages

The towns and villages of Uralla Shire include Uralla, Bundarra, Yarrowyck, and Kingstown, Kentucky and Wollun.

Demographics

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics^[3] there:

• were 6,126 people as at 30 June 2006, the 122nd largest Local Government Area in New South Wales. It was equal to less than 0.1% of the New South Wales population of 6,827,694
• was an increase of 56 people over the year to 30 June 2006, the 101st largest population growth in a Local Government Area in New South Wales. It was equal to 0.1% of the 58,753 increase in the population of New South Wales
• was, in percentage terms, an increase of 0.9% in the number of people over the year to 30 June 2006, the 55th fastest growth in population of a Local Government Area in New South Wales. In New South Wales the population grew by 0.9%
• was an increase in population over the 10 years to 30 June 2006 of 78 people or 1.3% (0.1% in annual average terms), the 94th highest rate of a Local Government Area in New South Wales. In New South Wales the population grew by 622,966 or 10% (1.0% in annual average terms) over the same period.

Incomes

According to the Australian Bureau Statistics^[4] during 2003-04, there:

• were 1,865 wage and salary earners (ranked 118th in New South Wales and 381st in Australia, less than 0.1% of both New South Wales's 2,558,415 Australia's 7,831,856)
• was a total income of around $58 million (ranked 118th in New South Wales and 384th in Australia, less than 0.1% of both New South Wales's $107 billion and Australia's $304 billion)
• was an estimated average income per wage and salary earner of $31,071 (ranked 128th in New South Wales and 435th in Australia, 75% of New South Wales's $41,407 and 80% of Australia's $38,820)
• was an estimated median income per wage and salary earner of $28,396 (ranked 140th in New South Wales and 461st in Australia, 80% of New South Wales's $35,479 and 83% of Australia's $34,149).

Council

Uralla Shire Council chambers.

Current composition and election method

Uralla Shire Council is composed of nine Councillors elected proportionally as three separate wards, each electing three Councillors. All Councillors are elected for a fixed four-year term of office. The Mayor is by the Councillors at the first meeting of the Council. The most recent election was held on 8 September 2012 and the makeup of the Council is as follows:^[5][6][7]

Party		Councillors
	Independent and Unaligned	9
	Total	9

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

Ward	Councillor		Party	Notes
Ward A[5]		Bob Crouch	Independent	Deputy Mayor[8]
		Michael Pearce	Unaligned	Mayor[8]
		Mark Dusting	Independent
Ward B[6]		Kevin Ward	Unaligned
		Fred Geldof	Unaligned
		Daphne Field	Independent
Ward C[7]		Isabell Strutt	Independent
		Leanne Cooper	Independent
		Karen Dusting	Independent

At the 2012 local government elections, a referendum was held to directly elect they Mayor and reduce the number of Wards from three to two, each electing four Councillors. The referendum was passed, with 55.96% voting in favour of the resolution.^[9] The changes will take place at the next local government elections, due to be held in 2016.

Proposed amalgamation

A 2015 review of local government boundaries recommended that the Armidale Dumaresq Shire and the Guyra Shire councils merge.^[10] An alternative proposal, submitted by the Armidale Dumaresq Council on 1 March 2016, was for an amalgamation of the Armidale Dumaresq, Guyra, Uralla and Walcha councils.^[11] The outcome of the independent review is expected by mid–2016.

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (30 March 2010). "Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2008–09". Retrieved 3 June 2010.
2. "Uralla Shire Council". Department of Local Government. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
3. "Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2005-06 (catalogue no.: 3218.0)". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 12 March 2007.
4. "Regional Wage and Salary Earner Statistics, Australia (catalogue no.: 5673.055.003)". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 11 March 2007.
5. "Uralla Council - A Ward: Summary of First Preference Votes for each Candidate". Local Government Elections 2012. Electoral Commission of New South Wales. 14 September 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
6. "Uralla Council - B Ward: Summary of First Preference Votes for each Candidate". Local Government Elections 2012. Electoral Commission of New South Wales. 14 September 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
7. "Uralla Council - C Ward: Summary of First Preference Votes for each Candidate". Local Government Elections 2012. Electoral Commission of New South Wales. 15 September 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
8. Denman, Elyse (20 September 2012). "New mayor for Uralla Shire Council". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 12 October 2012.
9. "Uralla Council - Referendum". Local Government Elections 2012. Electoral Commission of New South Wales. 14 September 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
10. "Merger proposal: Armidale Dumaresq Council and Guyra Shire Council" (PDF). Government of New South Wales. January 2016. p. 7. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
11. Armidale Dumaresq Council (1 March 2016). "Merger proposal: Armidale Dumaresq Council, Guyra Shire Council, Uralla Shire Council and Walcha Council" (PDF). Government of New South Wales. Retrieved 7 March 2016.