Cassowary Coast Region

Cassowary Coast Region Queensland
Location within Queensland
Population:	31,291(2010)
Established:	2008
Area:	4701.3 km² (1,815.2 sq mi)
Mayor:	Bill Shannon
Council Seat:	Innisfail
Region:	Far North Queensland
State electorate:	Mulgrave, Hinchinbrook
Federal Division:	Kennedy
Website: http://www.cassowarycoast.qld.gov.au
LGAs around Cassowary Coast Region: Tablelands Cairns Tablelands Cassowary Coast Region Coral Sea Charters Towers Hinchinbrook

On the Liverpool Creek near Japoonvale (between Tully and Innisfail)

The Cassowary Coast Region is a Local Government Area located in the Far North Queensland region of Queensland, Australia, south of Cairns and centred on the towns of Innisfail, Cardwell and Tully. It was created in 2008 from a merger of the Shire of Cardwell and the Shire of Johnstone.

The Regional Council, which administers the Region, has an estimated operating budget of A$64 million.

History

The Hinchinbrook Division was created on 11 November 1879 as one of 74 divisions around Queensland under the Divisional Boards Act 1879. On 28 October 1881, the Johnstone Division split away from it. On 18 January 1884, the Cardwell Division also split away. With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, both Cardwell and Johnstone became shires on 31 March 1903.

In July 2007, the Local Government Reform Commission released its report and recommended that Cardwell and Johnstone amalgamate. Cardwell was in particular opposed because Johnstone was rated as "financially distressed" and its council had just been sacked by the State Government. On 15 March 2008, the two Shires formally ceased to exist, and elections were held on the same day to elect six councillors and a mayor to the Regional Council.

Wards and Councillors

Although the Commission recommended the council be undivided with six councillors and a mayor, the gazetted form was that of six divisions each electing a single councillor, plus a mayor.

Those elected on 15 March 2008 were as follows:

• Mayor: Bill Shannon
• Division 1 Councillor: Ross Sorbello
• Division 2 Councillor: Carmel Silvestro
• Division 3 Councillor: Jennifer Downs
• Division 4 Councillor: Mark Nolan
• Division 5 Councillor: Ian Rule
• Division 6 Councillor: Bill Horsford

Towns and localities

Innisfail Belvedere Eaton East Innisfail Goondi Goondi Bend Goondi Hill Hudson Innisfail Estate Jubilee Heights Mighell South Innisfail Webb Tully Birkalla Silky Oak Cardwell

Bilyana Bingil Bay Bulgun Cardstone Carmoo Comoon Loop Cowley Damper Creek Daradgee East Palmerston El Arish Ellerbeck Etty Bay Euramo Feluga Flying Fish Point Garradunga Germantown Hull Heads Japoonvale Jarra Creek

Jumbun Kennedy Kurrimine Beach Lower Tully Mena Creek Merryburn Midgenoo Mission Beach Moresby Mourilyan Mourilyan Harbour Mundoo Murray Upper Murrigal Rockingham Silkwood South Johnstone South Mission Beach Tully Heads Wangan Wongaling Beach

Population

The populations given relate to the component entities prior to 2008. The next census, due in 2011, will be the first for the new Region.

Year	Population (Region total)	Population (Johnstone)	Population (Cardwell)
1933	17,193	12,777	4,416
1947	16,611	12,265	4,346
1954	20,025	14,980	5,045
1961	20,967	15,784	5,183
1966	22,169	16,529	5,640
1971	21,614	15,878	5,736
1976	23,254	16,776	6,478
1981	25,291	17,438	7,853
1986	26,123	17,457	8,666
1991	29,066	19,184	9,882
1996	30,604	20,474	10,130
2001	30,145	19,511	10,634
2006	29,501	18,917	10,584

External links

• 2008 Election results - Mayoral
• 2008 Election results - Councillors
• University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Cassowary Coast Regional Council