Clarence Valley Council

Clarence Valley
New South Wales

Location in New South Wales
Population 49,665 (2011)[1]
 • Density 4.76/km2 (12.3/sq mi)
Established 2004 (as Clarence Valley)
Area 10,441 km2 (4,031.3 sq mi)
Mayor Richie Williamson (Independent)
Council seat Grafton
Region Northern Rivers
State electorate(s) Clarence
Federal Division(s)
Website Clarence Valley
LGAs around Clarence Valley:
Tenterfield Richmond Valley Tasman Sea
Glen Innes Severn Clarence Valley Tasman Sea
Guyra Bellingen Coffs Harbour

Clarence Valley Council is a local government area in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia.

It was formed in February 2004 by the amalgamation of the City of Grafton and Maclean Shire, and parts of Copmanhurst, Pristine Waters and Richmond Valley local government areas. The Council area is adjacent to the Pacific Highway, the Gwydir Highway and the North Coast railway line. The Clarence Valley region includes the coastal plain and lower valleys of the Clarence River and Nymboida River. Most of the valley is agricultural, however the oceanside towns of Yamba and Iluka are popular holiday resorts.[2]

The Mayor of Clarence Valley Council is Cr. Richie Williamson, an independent politician.[3]

Towns and localities

Towns and localities in the Clarence Valley Council are:

Demographics

At the 2011 Census, there were 49,665 people in the Clarence Valley local government area, of these 49.4% were male and 50.6% were female. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 5.7% of the population which is more than double the national average. The median age of people in the Clarence Valley Council area was 46 years; some 10 years higher than the national median. Children aged 0 – 14 years made up 18.6% of the population and people aged 65 years and over made up 21.3% of the population. Of people in the area aged 15 years and over, 49.3% were married and 14.6% were either divorced or separated.[1]

Population growth in the Clarence Valley Council area between the 2006 Census and the 2011 Census was 3.15%. When compared with total population growth of Australia for the same period, being 8.32%, population growth in the Clarence Valley local government area was lower than the national average. The median weekly income for residents within the Clarence Valley Council area was significantly below the national average,[1][4] being one of the factors that place the Clarence Valley Council area in an area of social disadvantage.

At the 2011 Census, the proportion of residents in the Clarence Valley local government area who stated their ancestry as Australian or Anglo-Saxon exceeded 82% of all residents (national average was 65.2%). In excess of 64.1% of all residents in the Clarence Valley Council area nominated a religious affiliation with Christianity at the 2011 Census, which was above the national average of 50.2%. Meanwhile, as at the Census date, compared to the national average, households in the Clarence Valley local government area had a significantly lower than average proportion (3.1%) where two or more languages are spoken (national average was 20.4%); and a significantly higher proportion (94.0%) where English only was spoken at home (national average was 76.8%).[1]

Selected historical census data for Clarence Valley local government area
Census year 2006[4]2011[1]
Population Estimated residents on Census night 48,146 49,665
LGA rank in terms of size within New South Wales
% of New South Wales population 0.72%
% of Australian population 0.24% Decrease 0.23%
Cultural and language diversity
Ancestry,
top responses 		Australian 34.6%
English 31.9%
Irish 9.0%
Scottish 8.3%
German 3.4%
Language,
top responses
(other than English) 		German 0.2% Steady 0.2%
Dutch 0.1% Increase 0.2%
Italian 0.1% Steady 0.1%
Cantonese 0.1% Steady 0.1%
Spanish n/c Increase 0.1%
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation,
top responses 		Anglican 32.0% Decrease 30.6%
Catholic 22.5% Decrease 22.1%
No Religion 15.3% Increase 19.0%
Presbyterian and Reformed 7.4% Decrease 6.7%
Uniting Church 5.0% Decrease 4.7%
Median weekly incomes
Personal income Median weekly personal income A$333 A$396
% of Australian median income 71.5% 68.6%
Family income Median weekly family income A$631 A$924
% of Australian median income 61.4% 62.4%
Household income Median weekly household income A$781 A$768
% of Australian median income 66.7% 62.2%

Council

Current composition and election method

Clarence Valley Council is composed of nine Councillors elected proportionally as one entire ward. All Councillors are elected for a fixed four-year term of office. The Mayor is elected by the Councillors at the first meeting of the Council. The most recent election was held on 8 September 2012, and the makeup of the Council is as follows:[5]

PartyCouncillors
  Independents 9
Total 9

The current Council, elected in 2012, in order of election, is:[5]

CouncillorPartyNotes
  Richie Williamson Unaligned Mayor[3]
  Andrew Baker Independent
  Craig Howe Independent Deputy Mayor[3]
  Jason Kingsley Independent
  Sue Hughes Independent
  Jim Simmons Independent
  Margaret McKenna Independent
  Karen Toms Unaligned
  Jeremy Challacombe Independent

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Clarence Valley (A)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  2. ↑ "Clarence Valley Social Plan". Clarence Valley Council. Archived from the original on 10 February 2007. Retrieved 19 November 2006.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Deefholts, Terry (25 September 2012). "Williamson returns as mayor". The Daily Examiner. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Clarence Valley (A)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Clarence Valley Council: Summary of First Preference Votes for each Candidate". Local Government Elections 2012. Electoral Commission of New South Wales. 15 September 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.

External links