Alexandrina Council

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Alexandrina Council
South Australia

Location of Alexandrina Council in Australia
Population: 20,715 (2006 census)[1]
Established: 1997
Area: 1826.8 km² (705.3 sq mi)
Mayor: Kym McHugh
Council Seat: Goolwa
Region: Fleurieu Peninsula
State District: Finniss, Hammond
Federal Division: Barker, Mayo
Website: http://www.alexandrina.sa.gov.au/
LGAs around Alexandrina Council:
City of Onkaparinga District Council of Mount Barker Rural City of Murray Bridge
District Council of Yankalilla Alexandrina Council Rural City of Murray Bridge
City of Victor Harbor The Coorong District Council

Alexandrina Council is a local government area covering the north east portion of Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia. The Alexandrina Council was formed in 1997 by the amalgamation of the former District Council of Strathalbyn, the District Council of Port Elliot and Goolwa, and a portion of the District Council of Willunga.[2] For this reason, the district is split into five wards, which represent smaller subdivisions of the district.

The district relies on a diverse range of industries including agriculture, fishing, forestry, viticulture and tourism to supply its economy. Many of the towns encompassed in the council are popular tourist towns not far from Adelaide.

Contents

[edit] Economy

The economy of the Alexandrina Council is very diverse, which may be attributed to the great diversity of landscapes within its boundaries, allowing for diverse rural, fishing and tourism industries to occur. The largest part of the economy comes from agriculture, with a wide variety of farming practices including dairy, beef and sheep farming, with areas around Goolwa and Mount Compass prominent in the dairy industry.[3] A number of crops including cereals, as well as Lucerne are planted in the district Langhorne Creek and Currency Creek are well known for its viticulture, producing high quality Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz and Chardonnay.[4] In the Kuitpo region, forestry is prominent, with large tracts of pine present.[5]

The district borders three distinct bodies of water, the Southern Ocean, The Coorong and The Lower Murray River, all of which are commercially exploited for a variety of fish and crustaceans. The coasts produce shark, mulloway and Australian salmon, as well as huge numbers of Goolwa cockles which are exported all over South Australia. The Coorong holds large numbers of Salmon, Mulloway, Shark, Bream and Mullet, all of which are caught commercially.[6] Commercial fishing above the Locks has become highly regulated to conserve native fish species but Golden Perch and Murray Cod are still caught, and a number of operators have found markets for the invasive European Carp.[7]

The area also has a significant tourism industry, particularly based around the Murray River at Goolwa and the beaches of Port Elliot and Middleton. The Steamranger Cockle Train operates from Goolwa and stops at Port Elliot on the way to Victor Harbor.

[edit] Demographics

In the 2006 Census (held on 8th August 2006), there were 20,715 people who were usually resident in Alexandrina Council's bounds: 49.2% were males and 50.8% were females. Of the total population , 1.1% were Indigenous persons.[1]

It was found that 18.2% of the population usually resident in Alexandrina Council were children aged between 0-14 years, and 36.2% were persons aged 55 years and over. The median age of persons was 45 years, compared with 37 years for persons in Australia.[1]

In the 2006 Census, 76.5% of people stated they were born in Australia, with lower numbers immigrating from a number of countries, with the most prominent being: England 9.4%, Netherlands 0.8%, Germany 0.8%, Scotland 0.8% and New Zealand 0.8%.[1]

The most common responses for religious affiliation for persons usually resident were: No Religion 28.4%, Anglican 15.6%, Uniting Church 14.1%, Catholic 10.4% and Lutheran 4.7%.[1]

[edit] Localities

The main towns within the council are:

Smaller towns and localities covered by the council are:

Angas Plains, Belvidere, Blackfellows Creek, Bletchley, Bull Creek, Currency Creek, Dingabledinga, Finniss, Gemmells, Goolwa Beach, Goolwa North, Goolwa South, Hartley, Hayborough, Highland Valley, Hope Forest, Kuitpo, Kuitpo Colony, Kyeema, Lake Plains, McHarg Creek, Montarra, Mosquito Hill, Mount Compass, Mount Jagged, Mount Magnificent, Mount Observation, Mundoo Island, Nangkita, Nurragi, Pages Flat, Paris Creek, Point Sturt, Prospect Hill, Red Creek, Salem, Sandergrove, The Range, Tolderol, Tooperang, Willunga Hill, Willyaroo, Woodchester, Yundi.[8]

[edit] Elected Members & Staff

Mayor: Kym McHugh

CEO: John Coombe

Councillors: The wards of the respective members are indicated after their name.

  • Anne Woolford - Strathalbyn
  • Mary Beckett - Port Elliot - Middleton
  • Grant Gartrell - Nangkita - Kuitpo
  • Jim Davis - Goolwa - Hindmarsh Island
  • Barry Featherston, - Angas - Bremer
  • Trent Rusby - Strathalbyn
  • Rick Medlyn - Goolwa - Hindmarsh Island
  • Alan Oliver - Port Elliot - Middleton
  • Rod Potter - Angas - Bremer
  • Ian Saunders - Goolwa - Hindmarsh Island
  • Frank Tuckwell - Goolwa - Hindmarsh Island

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). Alexandra DC) (Local Government Area). 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved on 2008-02-28.
  2. ^ Littley, Bryan (23/01), “Alexandrina Merger Success”, The Advertiser: 31 
  3. ^ SA Central, Compass cup, <http://www.sacentral.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=56&area=2&c=49157>. Retrieved on 7 June 2007 
  4. ^ Currency Creek region, Wines, <http://www.currencycreekwineregion.com.au/>. Retrieved on 7 June 2007 
  5. ^ Forestry SA, Kuitpo Forest, <http://www.forestry.sa.gov.au/pdf/kuitpoforest-a3.pdf>. Retrieved on 7 June 2007 
  6. ^ SeaNet, Annual report, <http://www.oceanwatch.org.au/documents/SeaNetAnnualReport2005-2006.pdf>. Retrieved on 7 June 2007 
  7. ^ Exotic Fish Australia, Carp, <http://www.nativefish.asn.au/exotics.html>. Retrieved on 7 June 2007 
  8. ^ Local Government Association of South Australia. Alexandrina Council. Retrieved on 2007-06-07.

[edit] External links

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