Wollondilly Shire

Wollondilly Shire is a Local Government Area (LGA) on the South-West edge of Sydney and is named after the Wollondilly River. The entire area is part of the Macarthur Region of New South Wales along with Camden Council and the City of Campbelltown.

It is administered by Wollondilly Shire Council, and the Mayor is Col Mitchell. The area is crossed by the Hume Highway and the Southern Highlands railway line.

It contains several small towns and villages broken up by farms and sandstone gorges. Its west is wilderness and includes the Nattai Wilderness and the Burragorang Valley. The majority of the shire is either National Park or Water Catchment for several of Sydneys main dams. It also has the distinction of providing 97% of Sydney's water supply.

Local attractions

Demographics

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

• Were 41,977 people as at 30 June 2006, the 53rd largest Local Government Area in New South Wales. It was equal to 0.6% of the New South Wales population of 6,827,694
• Was an increase of 674 people over the year to 30 June 2006, the 26th largest population growth in a Local Government Area in New South Wales. It was equal to 1.1% of the 58,753 increase in the population of New South Wales
• Was, in percentage terms, an increase of 1.6% in the number of people over the year to 30 June 2006, the 18th 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 7,394 people or 21% (2.0% in annual average terms), the 15th 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.

Main towns and villages

The major town in the Shire is Picton. Other towns and villages include: Theresa Park, Tahmoor, Bargo, Yanderra, Pheasants Nest, Thirlmere, Buxton, Wilton, Appin, Douglas Park, Menangle, Cawdor, Lakesland, The Oaks, Oakdale, Warragamba, Silverdale and Werombi. It also includes the almost inaccessible ghost town of Yerranderie.

Council

Wollondilly Shire Council is composed of nine councillors elected proportionally. The area is divided into three wards, each electing three councillors. The mayor is not directly elected.^[4] The current makeup of the council is as follows:^[4]

The current council, elected in 2008, is:^[4]

Local media

Wollondilly is home to two local newspapers, the Macarthur Chronicle Wollondilly edition and the Wollondilly Advertiser. Other regional media which serve the area are radio stations, 2MCR and C91.3FM, newspaper the District Reporter, and newsletter Wollondilly Trumpeter.

References