Clarence Valley Council

Clarence Valley New South Wales
Location in New South Wales
Population:	52,054(2009)
Area:	10441 km² (4,031.3 sq mi)
Mayor:	Richie Williamson
Council Seat:	Grafton (2 Prince Street)
Region:	Northern Rivers
State electorate:	Clarence
Federal Division:	Page, Cowper
Website: http://www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/
LGAs around Clarence Valley: Tenterfield Richmond Valley Pacific Ocean Glen Innes Severn Clarence Valley Pacific Ocean Guyra Bellingen Coffs Harbour

Clarence Valley Council is a Local Government Area (LGA) in northern New South Wales. It was formed in February 2004 by the amalgamation of the LGAs of City of Grafton and Maclean Shire, and parts of Copmanhurst, Pristine Waters and Richmond Valley LGAs. It is on 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.

Towns and localities

Grafton Alumy Creek Carrs Creek Carrs Island Grafton Great Marlow Junction Hill Koolkhan Mountain View Rushforth South Grafton Southampton Trenayr Waterview Waterview Heights

Lower Clarence Angourie Calliope Chatsworth Coldstream Cowper Gilletts Ridge Gulmarrad Harwood Iluka Lawrence Maclean Mororo Palmers Channel Palmers Island Shark Creek South Arm Southgate Swan Creek Tucabia Tyndale Ulmarra Wooloweyah Woombah Yamba

Rural Banyabba Billys Creek Brooms Head Clouds Creek Coaldale Copmanhurst Coutts Crossing Diggers Camp Eatonsville Glenferneigh Glenreagh Gurranang Kungala Lanitza Minnie Water Nymboida Sandon Seelands Stockyard Creek Tullymorgan Wooli Woombah

Demographics

In the 2006 Census of Population and Housing there were 48,145 usual residents living in Clarence Valley Council. Of this count, 23,875 (or 50%) were males and 24,271 (or 50%) were females.

By age, 20% of the population was under 15 years old, 61% were between 15 and 65, and 19% were over 65 years old.

Most people living in Clarence Valley Council were born in Australia (88%). The median age was 44 years.

Economy

According to the 2006 Census of Population and Housing, the median invididual income was $333 per week (equal to approximately $17,364 per year). The median family income in 2006 was $781 per week (equal to approximately $40,724 per year); and, the median household income in 2006 was $631 per week (equal to approximately $32,902 per year).

There were 16,929 people employed in 2006 (to give an employment to working age population ratio of 0.58), and 1,868 people unemployed. The most common occupations were Labourers (15%); Technicians and Trades Workers (14%); and, Professionals (14%). The top 5 industries for employment were School Education (5.3%); Cafes, Restaurants and Takeaway Food Services (3.3%); Hospitals (3.2%); Sheep, Beef Cattle and Grain Farming (3.2%); and, Local Government Administration (3.0%).

Housing

In the 2006 Census of Population and Housing, the median housing loan repayment was $953 per month. This equated to marginally under 38% of median household income.

The median rent in 2006 was $150 per week. This equated to just under 24% of median household income.

The average household size was 2.4 persons.

Council

Clarence Valley Council is composed of nine councillors elected proportionally. The mayor is not directly elected. The current makeup of the council is as follows:

Party		Councillors
	Independents	9
	Total	9

The current council, elected in 2008, is:

Councillor		Party	Notes
	Richie Williamson	Independent	Mayor
	Ian Tiley	Independent
	Jim Simmons	Independent	Deputy Mayor
	Ian Dinham	Independent
	Sue Hughes	Independent
	Margaret McKenna	Independent
	Karen Toms	Independent
	Craig Howe	Independent
	Patrick Comben	Independent

External links

• Clarence Valley Council Website