Western Downs Region

Western Downs Region
Queensland

Location within Queensland
Population 32,831 (2011)[1]
 • Density 0.863088/km2 (2.23539/sq mi)
Established 2008
Area 38,039 km2 (14,686.9 sq mi)
Mayor Ray Brown
Federal Division(s) Maranoa
Website Western Downs Region
LGAs around Western Downs Region:
Central Highlands Banana South and North Burnett
Maranoa Western Downs Region Toowoomba
Balonne Goondiwindi Toowoomba
The current corporate office for the Western Downs Regional Council
The former Dalby Regional Council offices. Now the location of the Town Library and the Dalby Civic Theatre

The Western Downs Region is a local government area in Queensland, Australia. The Council covers an area 38,039 square kilometres (14,687 sq mi), which is approximately the same size as the country of Switzerland, although with a population at the last census of close to 33 000, it is over 235 times less densely populated.

The area is home to prime farming land and thus agriculture is a major industry in the area. Dalby, the biggest town in the region is home to the second largest cattle saleyards in Australia. The Dalby Saleyards process over 200 000 cattle annually in its state of the art facility which is comparable to Rockhampton and Casino.

History

Western Downs Region was created in March 2008 as a result of the report of the Local Government Reform Commission released in July 2007. The new Council, located in the Darling Downs region contains the entire area of five previous local government areas;

as well as Division 2 of Shire of Taroom.

The report recommended that the new local government area should not be divided into wards and elect ten councillors and a mayor. The report estimated that the resident population in 2006 was 30,018 and the operating budget was A$74 million.

Originally called Dalby Regional Council, a name change to Western Downs was approved in August 2009.[2] The name change was greeted positively by residents as they felt the name was more inclusive and a better representation of the area. The name "Western Downs" stems from the phrase Darling Downs, and as the name suggests; the area to the west of the downs.

Towns and localities

The Regional Council covers the towns of:

Town Population Location
Bell 544 39 km NE of Dalby
Brigalow 404 62 km NW of Dalby, 20 km SE of Chinchilla
Chinchilla 5,487 82 km NW of Dalby
Condamine 426 125 km W of Dalby, 59 km SW of Chinchilla
Dalby 12,299 210 km WNW of Brisbane, 82 km SE of Dalby
Drillham 217 148 WNW of Dalby, 66 km W of Chinchilla
Dulacca 249 170 km WNW of Dalby, 89 km W of Chinchilla
Glenmorgan 385 173 km W of Dalby, 138 km SW of Chinchilla
Jandowae 1,246 49 km NNW of Dalby, 56 km E of Chinchilla
Jimbour 185 26 km N of Dalby, 73 km ESE of Chinchilla
Kaimkillenbun 566 24 km NE of Dalby
Kogan 355 53 km WNW of Dalby, 46 km SE of Chinchilla
Miles 1854 127 km WNW of Dalby, 46 km W of Chinchilla
Moonie 253 114 km SW of Dalby, 144 km S of Chinchilla
Tara 2,211 89 km W of Dalby, 70 km S of Chinchilla
The Gums 170 117 km WSW of Dalby, 96 km SSW of Chinchilla
Wandoan 665 196 km NW of Dalby, 115 km NW of Chinchilla
Warra 318 46 km NW of Dalby, 36 km SE of Chinchilla

and the localities of:

Region Representatives

Mayors

Councilors

*was representative of a region pre-amalgamation

References

  1. ↑ Queensland Treasury and Trade (24 April 2012). "Population and Dwelling Profile" (PDF). Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  2. ↑ "Council set to launch new identity". Western Downs Regional Council. 5 August 2009. Archived from the original on 2 October 2009. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  3. ↑ "2008 Dalby Regional Council - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". Electoral Commission of Queensland. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  4. ↑ "2012 Western Downs Regional Council - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". Electoral Commission of Queensland. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  5. ↑ "Councillor Profiles". Western Downs Regional Council. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  6. ↑ "Councillors Profiles". Western Downs Regional Council. Retrieved 8 April 2016.

External links

Media related to Western Downs Region at Wikimedia Commons

Coordinates: 26°44′32″S 150°35′35″E / 26.74222°S 150.59306°E / -26.74222; 150.59306

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