| Renmark Paringa Council South Australia |
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Location of the Renmark Paringa Council |
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| Population: | 9,882(2009)[1] | ||||||||||||
| Established: | 1996 | ||||||||||||
| Area: | 915.5 km² (353.5 sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| Mayor: | Neil Martinson | ||||||||||||
| Council Seat: | Renmark | ||||||||||||
| Region: | The Riverland | ||||||||||||
| State District: | Chaffey | ||||||||||||
| Federal Division: | Wakefield | ||||||||||||
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The Renmark Paringa Council is a local government area located adjacent to the Victorian border, in the Riverland, South Australia. The area is known for its various fruit production, and is heavily dependent on the River Murray as a water source.
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As with most regions of Australia, the earliest inhabitants of the district area were the Naralte aboriginal people, who lived on the food provided by the river and surrounding areas. The word 'Renmark' is thought to be derived from the Naralte word for 'red mud'.[2]
The first European to explore the district was Captain Charles Sturt who rowed a whale boat down the Murrumbidgee in 1829, searching for Australia's 'inland sea' and reached the junction with the Murray River on 14 January 1830.
The Canadian Chaffey brothers are honoured as founders of Renmark, and were invited to Australia to create an irrigation colony at Mildura. After delays in the Mildura project, an agreement for the establishment of an irrigation colony at Renmark was signed in 1887. Vineyards and fruit blocks slowly emerged throughout the district, sealing the fate of the district as a fruit and wine growing region.
In 1893, the ‘Renmark Irrigation Trust’ was established to provide water to the growers. In the early years, the Trust also played the primary role in the administration and governing of the settlement.[2]
The 'Town of Renmark' and the 'District Council of Paringa' were established not long after, and continued operating independently until 1996, when the two districts amalgamated to form the current council.[3]
The towns in the district are heavily reliant on irrigated orchards and vineyards, with water supplied by the river. Sheep grazing and dryland farming of various cereal crops are the main land uses east of the river, with farming and horticulture to the west of the river.[3]
While wine grape production is the most important industry, there are also large nut and citrus plantations in the region, as well as vegetable and stone fruit production.[4]
Tourism is an important component of the economy, especially during summer school holidays. The district experiences in an influx of tourists during this period, attracted mainly by the River Murray. Houseboats are common along the stretch of river in the district, with other water sports such as water skiing, jet skiing and fishing common. There is a wide range of accommodation in the district.[4]
Renmark and Paringa are the largest towns and the centres of the district, with a number of smaller localities encompassed in the district. The full list is:
Calperum, Chaffey, Cooltong, Gurra Gurra, Lock No. 5, Lock No. 6, Lyrup, Murtho, Paringa, Pike River, Renmark, Renmark South, Renmark West and Wonuarra.[5]
Mayor: Neil Martinson
CEO: Barry Hurst
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