Wattle Range Council

Wattle Range Council
South Australia

Position of the Wattle Range Council
Coordinates 37°27′55″S 140°30′00″E / 37.4653°S 140.4999°ECoordinates: 37°27′55″S 140°30′00″E / 37.4653°S 140.4999°E
Population 11,669 (2013)[1]
 • Density 2.97413/km2 (7.7030/sq mi)
Established 1997
Area 3,923.5 km2 (1,514.9 sq mi)
Mayor Peter Gandolfi
Council seat Millicent
Region Limestone Coast[2]
State electorate(s) MacKillop, Mount Gambier
Federal Division(s) Barker
Website Wattle Range Council
LGAs around Wattle Range Council:
District Council of Robe Naracoorte Lucindale Council
Wattle Range Council Glenelg (Vic)
District Council of Grant

Wattle Range Council is a local government area in the Limestone Coast region of South Australia. It stretches from the coast at Beachport east to the Victorian border. The estimated population of the council area is about 11,669 people.[1]

The council is divided into four wards; Kintore, Riddoch, Sorby Adams and Corcoran wards, with two or more councillors representing each ward.

History

The aboriginal people of the region were composed of five powerful tribes, each occupying its own territory which was strictly defined, and territorial rights guarded jealously. Each had different dialects and the names of the tribes were Booandik, Pinegunga, Mootatunga, Wichitunga and Polingunga, of which the first was the most powerful.[3] The tract of country occupied by the Booandik extended from the mouth of the Glenelg River to Rivoli Bay North (Beachport) for about 30 miles inland.

European settlers first moved into the area in the late 1840s, and by the 1860s opened up tracts of land for farming cereal crops. Beachport became an important port during the 1880s, further increasing the population of the area.[3] The first local government areas were set up around the three towns of Millicent, Penola and Beachport in the late 19th century, with each operating independently of each other until 1997.

The Wattle Range Council was formed in 1997 from the amalgamation of the District Councils of Beachport, Millicent and Penola.[4]

Economy

The local economy is dependent on wide range of activities, with agriculture, fishing, forestry and tourism making up the major components.

Sheep and cattle farming are the prominent agricultural venture, with dairy farming common also. Cereal cropping is also prevalent in the nutrient-rich soils of the South East.[5]

Viticulture is well established in the council area, with one of South Australia's premier wine growing regions, the Coonawarra wine region, located in its bounds, with rich terra rossa soil aiding the wine quality.[6]

Forestry and milling have also been important to the district, with processing plants at Nangwarry and Millicent.

Tourism is a diverse, growing aspect of the economy, with seaside towns such as Beachport attracting tourists for the seaside atmosphere, and others such as Coonawarra, for the wine growing industry.[7] A niche tourism activity is cave diving in the water-filled caves and sinkholes present in the southern part of the council's area as well as in the adjoining local government area of the District Council of Grant. This activity attracts cave divers from around the globe. Popular sites include Fossil Cave, Pines and Tank Cave.[8][9]

Localities

The service town of the district is Millicent, with a large number of other towns and localities encompassed in the council area. The full list is:

Beachport, Benara, Benara Flat, Canunda, Comaum, Coonawarra, Furner, Glencoe, Glencoe West, Glenroy, Grey, Hatherleigh, Kalangadoo, Katnook, Killanoola, Kirip, Koorine, Krongart, Leggs Lane, Maaoupe, Millicent, Mount Burr, Mount Graham, Mount McIntyre, Nangula, Nangwarry, Penola, Pompoon, Rendlesham, Rivoli Bay, Rocky Camp, Sebastapol, Short, Snuggery, Southend, St Clair, Tantanoola, Thornlea, Wattle Range and Wyrie[10]

Elected members 2014/2018

Mayor: Peter Gandolfi

CEO: Peter Harriott

Councillor and Ward:

Elected members 2010/2014

Mayor: Peter Gandolfi

CEO: Frank Brennan-2012 Peter Harriott 2013-2014

Councillor and Ward:

Previously Elected members

Mayor: Mark Braes

CEO: Frank Brennan

Councillor and Ward:

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Australian Bureau of Statistics (30 March 2010). "Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2008–09". Retrieved 3 June 2010.
  2. ↑ "Limestone Coast SA Government region" (PDF). The Government of South Australia. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Manning Index, South East, retrieved 18 June 2007
  4. ↑ Wattle Range Council, Home, archived from the original on 28 August 2007, retrieved 18 June 2007
  5. ↑ Wattle Range Council, Primary Industries, archived from the original on 11 August 2007, retrieved 18 June 2007
  6. ↑ WineDiva, Coonawarra region, retrieved 18 June 2007
  7. ↑ Wattle Range Tourism, Home, retrieved 18 June 2007
  8. ↑ "The Pines – 5L061". Richard "Harry" Harris. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
  9. ↑ "Tank Cave 5L230". Richard "Harry" Harris. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
  10. ↑ LGA of South Australia, Wattle Range Council, retrieved 18 June 2007

External links