Carrathool Shire is a Local Government Area (LGA) in the Far West of New South Wales on the Mid-Western Highway and north of the Sturt Highway.
The largest town is Hillston and the council seat is Goolgowi. The Shire also includes the villages of Merriwagga, Rankins Springs, Carrathool.
Where once regular droughts made life almost untenable, the area now has irrigated crops, gardens, greened sporting facilities and village verges. Over 15,000 square kilometres are now used in rural pursuits, including more than 600 km² in wheat, rice, vineyards, cotton, potatoes, vegetables and orchard trees. Most of the change was made possible by the widespread use of river and underground water.
[edit] Council
Carrathool Shire Council is composed of ten councillors elected preferentially. The shire is divided into five wards, each electing two councillors. The mayor is not directly elected.[4] The current makeup of the council is as follows:[4]
| Party |
Councillors |
| |
Unaffiliated |
10 |
|
Total |
10 |
The current council, elected in 2008, is:[4]
| Ward |
Councillor |
Party |
Notes |
| A Ward |
|
Darryl Jardine |
Unaffiliated |
Elected Deputy Mayor in the September 2009 Mayoral elections, defeating the incumbent, Cr Russell Campbell.[5] |
| |
Brian Newman |
Unaffiliated |
|
| B Ward |
|
Margaret Merrylees |
Unaffiliated |
|
| |
Russell Campbell |
Unaffiliated |
|
| C Ward |
|
Bill Kite |
Unaffiliated |
|
| |
Jim Caughey |
Unaffiliated |
|
| D Ward |
|
Peter Kingston |
Unaffiliated |
|
| |
David Fensom |
Unaffiliated |
|
| E Ward |
|
Vince Cashmere |
Unaffiliated |
|
| |
Peter Laird |
Unaffiliated |
Mayor |
[edit] References
Coordinates: 33°58′S 145°42′E / 33.967°S 145.7°E / -33.967; 145.7
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