Gladstone Region

Gladstone Region Queensland
Location within Queensland
Population	60,316 (2010)[1]
• Density	5.7510/km2 (14.8949/sq mi)
Established	2008
Area	10,488 km2 (4,049.4 sq mi)
Council seat	Gladstone
Region	Central Queensland
Website	gladstone.qld.gov.au
LGAs around Gladstone Region: Rockhampton Rockhampton Coral Sea Banana Gladstone Region Coral Sea North Burnett Bundaberg Bundaberg

Gladstone Region is a local government area in Queensland, Australia.

History

Gladstone Region came into being on 15 March 2008 as a result of the report of the Local Government Reform Commission released in July 2007. The legal standing of the council is sourced from the Local Government Reform Act 2007 (Qld).

The new Council, located in Central Queensland, contains the entire area of three former local government areas;

• City of Gladstone;
• Shire of Calliope; and
• Shire of Miriam Vale.

The report recommended that the new local government area should not be divided into wards and elect eight councillors and a mayor. The Gladstone Regional Council covers an area of 10,488 square kilometres (4,049 sq mi), contain an estimated resident population at 30 June 2008 of 57,587^[2] and have an estimated operating budget of A$84 million.

Mayors

The First Mayor of the Gladstone Regional Council is George Creed, who was the Mayor of the Calliope Shire Council.^[3]

Towns and localities

The Regional Council covers the city of Gladstone, the towns of 1770, Agnes Water, Benaraby, Boyne Island, Calliope, Miriam Vale and Tannum Sands as well as the villages/communities of Ambrose, Bororen, Builyan, Lowmead, Many Peaks, Nagoorin, Raglan, Rosedale, Ubobo and Yarwun.

Other responsibilities

Additionally the new council took control of the assets of the Gladstone Airport which was previously operated by the Gladstone Calliope Aerodrome Board.^[4] This Board was a statutory body made up of representatives of the City of Gladstone and Shire of Calliope.

Industry within the Region

Gladstone Ports Corporation

Gladstone‟s bustling world-class port is Queensland‟s largest multi-commodity port. It handles more than 79 Mt of cargo annually, with the region it serves tipped to be Australia‟s major industrial centre for the 21st century.

As a government owned corporation, Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC) controls and manages the facility.GPC is unique among Australian port authorities because it acts as a „landlord‟ as well as owning and operating cargo handling facilities.It is a well recognised member of the Gladstone community, providing 35 hectares of recreational waterfront facilities at the beautiful Marina and Spinnaker Park. Here, residents and visitors to the area will find barbecues, shade shelters, 250 mooring berths, playground equipment, walking trails and a man-made beach.^[5]

Austick

Austicks Pty Ltd produces ice cream sticks from plantation-sourced timber. The factory, located at Gladstone, produces for both the domestic and export markets.^[6]

Boyne Smelter Limited

Rio Tinto Alcan (RTA) is the largest shareholder in the Boyne Smelters Limited. (BSL) joint venture and has been operating in the Gladstone region for over 40years. As a shareholder in other local industry operations including Rio Tinto Alcan Yarwun, Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL) and the Gladstone Power Station, RTA maintains significant contributions of A$3.34 billion into the region‟s economy annually.BSL has been in operation since 1982 and over time has undergone extensive expansion. The smelter underwent a A$1 billion expansion in 1997 introducing a third reduction line which increased aluminium production from 260,000 to more than 558,000 tonnes per annum.^[7]

Cement Australia Limited (Queensland)

Cement Australia Gladstone is the largest cement Plant in Australia and utilises state of the art technology. The plant is Australia‟s most efficient and is the leading environmental performer in the industry.

Cement Australia Gladstone has a production capacity of over 1.6 million tonnes per annum and processes limestone, clay, silica sand and copper slag to produce and supply cement and clinker throughout Australia and overseas destinations, as well as cement in bulk or in bags.^[8]

Rio Tinto Aluminium Yarwun (RTA)

RTA has been part of the Gladstone community for over 40 years. RTA maintains a significant shareholding in Queensland Alumina Ltd, the Gladstone Power Station and a shareholding and management of Boyne Smelters Limited. A 2008 Socio-economic study found that Rio Tinto Alcan contributed A$3.34 billion annually into the region‟s economy.

RTAY was constructed between 2002 and 2004 at a capital cost of A $1.4 billion. Stage One of RTAY has the capacity to provide 1.4 million tonnes of smelter grade alumina per annum and with the construction of Stage Two currently taking place the refinery will increase its production capacity to 3.4 million tonnes per annum.^[9]

References

External links

• Gladstone Regional Council

Coordinates: 23°51′00″S 151°15′00″E / 23.85000°S 151.25000°E / -23.85000; 151.25000