Sunshine Coast Region

Sunshine Coast Region Queensland
Location within Queensland, 2013, prior to the de-amalgamation of Shire of Noosa
Population	287,539 (2015)[1] (9th)
• Density	127.7259/km2 (330.8084/sq mi)
Established	16 March 2008
Area	2,251.22 km2 (869.2 sq mi)[2]
Mayor	Mark Jamieson
Council seat	Nambour, Caloundra
Region	South East Queensland
State electorate(s)	Buderim, Caloundra, Glass House, Kawana, Maroochydore, Nicklin
Federal Division(s)	Fairfax, Fisher, Wide Bay
Website	Sunshine Coast Region
LGAs around Sunshine Coast Region: Gympie Noosa Pacific Ocean Somerset Sunshine Coast Region Pacific Ocean Moreton Bay Moreton Bay Pacific Ocean

The Sunshine Coast Region is a local government area located in the Sunshine Coast region of South East Queensland, Australia.

It was created by the amalgamation in 2008 of the City of Caloundra and the Shires of Maroochy and Noosa. It contains 4,194 kilometres (2,606 mi) of roads, 211 kilometres (131 mi) of coastline and an estimated resident population of 323,423 (2009). The first budget of the new Council for the 2008–2009 financial year totals A$673 million including $498 million operating expenditure, $168 million capital expenditure and $25.2 million for repayment of loans.

On 1 January 2014, the Shire of Noosa was re-established independent of the Sunshine Coast Regional council.

History

Prior to 2008, the new Sunshine Coast Region was an entire area of three previous and distinct local government areas:

• the City of Caloundra;
• the Shire of Maroochy;
• and the Shire of Noosa.

At the establishment of regional local government in Queensland on 11 November 1879 with the Divisional Boards Act 1879, most of the area was part of the Caboolture Division, while the northernmost part around Noosa was part of the Widgee Division centred on Gympie. The Maroochy Division split away from Caboolture on 5 July 1890. All three divisions became Shires on 31 July 1903 under the Local Authorities Act 1902.

In 1910, the Shire of Noosa split from Widgee, and on 22 February 1912 the Shire of Landsborough split from Caboolture.^[3] The two new entities together with Maroochy were to remain fairly stable for almost 100 years.

On 19 December 1987, the Shire of Landsborough was granted City status, and was renamed the City of Caloundra,^[4] reflecting the population boom in the coastal section of the City.

In July 2007, the Local Government Reform Commission released its report and recommended that the three local governments amalgamate. While it noted all three were "functioning councils with moderate to strong financial performance", it argued that they covered a self-contained region in a geographic, social and economic sense and that the advantages of coordinated planning in a high-growth area and the avoidance of duplication of facilities were arguments in favour of amalgamation. The councils opposed the amalgamation, and the Commission itself noted that the bulk of statewide individual submissions came from this region reflecting a "depth of feeling" regarding the issue.^[5] On 15 March 2008, the City and two Shires formally ceased to exist, and elections were held on the same day to elect twelve councillors and a mayor to the Regional Council.

In the 2011 census, the Sunshine Coast Region had the 4th largest population of any local government area in Australia (following City of Brisbane, City of Gold Coast and Moreton Bay Region).^[6]

In 2012, a proposal was made to de-amalgamate the Shire of Noosa from the Sunshine Coast Region.^[7] On 9 March 2013, Noosa residents voted to de-amalgamate Noosa from the Sunshine Coast Council.^[8] On 18 March 2013, the Sunshine Coast Regional Council decided its new planning scheme should not apply to those areas that were part of the former Noosa Shire (different attitudes to planning and developments having been a major objection by residents of Noosa Shire to the amalgamation).^[9] The Shire of Noosa Shire was re-established on 1 January 2014.^[10][11]

Divisions

The Region is divided into 10 divisions,^[12] each represented by one councillor, plus an elected mayor who represents the entire Region. The council is elected for a four-year term.

Suburbs

Population

The populations given relate to the component entities prior to 2008. The next census, due in 2016 and will not include the Shire of Noosa's census figures.

Sunshine Coast Council

Mayors

Australia Day Awards

^[13]

Sister cities and Friendship cities

As of March 2016, the Sunshine Coast Region has the following sister cities:^[14]

• Tatebayashi, Japan
• March, Fenland District, England

As of March 2016, the Sunshine Coast Region has the following friendship cities:^[14]

• Xiamen, China
• Mont Dore, New Caledonia

References

External links

• Queensland Electoral Commission Interactive Map
• Sunshine Coast Regional Council