Shire of Ashburton
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| Shire of Ashburton Western Australia |
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| Population: • Density: |
6,777 (2001 census) 0.067/km² |
| Area: | 101,240 km² |
| Mayor: | Leanne Corker |
| Council Seat: | Karratha |
| Region: | Pilbara Region |
| State District: | North West Coastal |
| Federal Division: | Kalgoorlie |
The Shire of Ashburton is a Local Government Area of Western Australia based in the town of Tom Price (; post code: 6751, population 3,200). The Shire covers an area of about 16,000 km² and is one of the four local governments in the Pilbara Region. It has a population of about 6,800 (ABS 2001), most of whom live in the mining towns.
Most of the land in Ashburton is taken up by pastoral leases. Other industries important to Ashburton include iron ore mining, oil, natural gas, fishing and tourism. Ashburton also contains the Karijini National Park.
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[edit] Climate
The climate of Ashburton is dry and very hot. Mean maximum daily temperatures range from 24°C (75°F) in July to 41°C (106°F) in January. Average annual rainfall is just 280mm (11 inches), but can very from less than 25 millimetres (1 inch) to almost 1000 millimetres (40 inches) in years when several cyclones hit.
[edit] History
In 1887, Ashburton Road Board was gazetted, and in 1896, Tableland Road Board followed. On 1 July 1961, both became Shire Councils following changes to the Local Government Act.
On 27 May 1972 the two merged to form West Pilbara Shire, which was renamed Ashburton Shire in December 1987.[1]
[edit] Wards
The Shire is divided into 6 wards, most with one councillor:
- Tom Price (3 councillors)
- Paraburdoo (2 councillors)
- Ashburton
- Onslow
- Pannawonica
- Tableland
[edit] Towns
- Tom Price, the administrative centre
- Paraburdoo
- Onslow
- Pannawonica
- Wittenoom
[edit] References
- ^ WA Electoral Commission, Municipality Boundary Amendments Register (release 2.0), 31 May 2003.
[edit] External links
Ashburton · East Pilbara · Port Hedland · Roebourne
