Wingecarribee Shire

This article is about the local government area of the Southern Highlands, New South Wales. For the region, see Southern Highlands (New South Wales).

Wingecarribee Shire New South Wales
Location in NSW
Population:	46,364(2009)
• Density:	16.5/km² (42.7/sq mi)
Coordinates:	34°28′S 150°25′E
Area:	2689 km² (1,038.2 sq mi)
Mayor:	Ken Halstead (Independent)
Council Seat:	Moss Vale (Civic Centre, Elizabeth Street)
Region:	Southern Highlands, Capital Country, Illawarra
State electorate:	Goulburn, Kiama
Federal Division:	Throsby, Hume
Website: http://www.wsc.nsw.gov.au
LGAs around Wingecarribee Shire: Upper Lachlan Wollondilly Wollongong Goulburn Wingecarribee Shire Shellharbour Goulburn Shoalhaven Kiama Shaolhaven

Wingecarribee Shire (also known just as the Southern Highlands) is the Local Government Area (LGA) of the Southern Highlands in New South Wales of Australia. The Wingecarribee Shire is located around 110 km southwest of Sydney and is part of regional Capital Country and to some extent can be considered part of the Southern Tablelands.

The entire Southern Highlands region and district is under the authority of the LGA or council. Moreover, the area that makes up the Wingecarribee Shire is typically just referred as Southern Highlands instead of the Shire's actual name of Wingecarribee Shire.

The Council Seat and Chambers is based in Moss Vale. However, the centre of commerce of the Shire is based in Bowral.

The Shire came into existence on 1 January 1981 as an amalgamation of the three previous local government areas that made up the Highlands; Mittagong Shire Council (previously Nattai Shire Council), Bowral Municipality Council and former Wingecarribee Shire (based in Moss Vale).

Major towns and villages

The major towns in the Shire are Mittagong, Bowral, Moss Vale, Robertson and Bundanoon.

Villages include: Balmoral Village, Hill Top, Colo Vale, Yerrinbool, Burrawang, Burradoo, Berrima, Sutton Forest, Avoca, Exeter, Wingello, Welby and Penrose.

History

In 1981, the first Shire President was David Wood and the Shire Clerk was Harold Jopling.

Etymology

The current shire retains the name of the former Wingecarribee Shire because the Wingecarribee River is one of the most significant geographical features that is found in all the three previous local government areas that made up the Highlands prior to amalgamation.

The word Wingecarribee is from the Dharawal language (an Indigenous Australian language) which loosely translates into "a flight of birds", or "waters to rest beside". Moreover, the term "Wingecarribee" was used as the name of the area by the first settlers of the area, the Oxley Family (See, History of Bowral) and Governor Macquarie in 1816 recorded it as "Winge Karribee". In 1838, the contemporary spelling was adapted by Surveyor Mitchell.

Geology and geography

The Shire is crossed by the Hume Highway and the Southern Highlands railway line.

The pattern of development is one of small towns and villages. The eastern parts of the Shire are bounded by the Illawarra escarpment and Morton National Park, with some remnant rainforest and heathland. The north of the Shire is characterised by rugged eucalypt bushland, with gullies, gorges and sandy soils. This area forms part of the catchment for Sydney's water supply and two major storage dams (Avon and Nepean Dams) are located in this area. The dams cannot be accessed by any roads within the Wingecarribee Shire but by roads leading off south-east of the Wollondilly Shire. The Wollondilly and Wingecarribee Rivers flow through the west of the Shire, through deep sandstone valleys and much of this area forms part of the catchment for Warragamba Dam. The south of the Shire is bounded by Uringalla Creek and is a sandstone plateaux dissected by deep gorges.

Wingecarribee Swamp is home to the remaining population of the endangered Giant dragonfly and Wingecarribee Leek Orchid.

Local attractions

Main article: Local Attractions of Southern Highlands

Demographics

Population

The Wingecarribee Shire has an estimated population of 44,379 ⁽²⁰⁰⁶⁾ and is estimated to be growing 2.1% per annum compared to the state of New South Wales which is growing at 1.1%.

The population density is 16.5 person/km².

The Shire is relatively homogenous with an Australian-born population making up 84.5% of the population. 10% of 15.5% residents born overseas are of European origin. Indigenous Australians make up 1.3% of the population. 95.5% of the population speak English at home.

Workforce

The Shire's workforce is at a current estimate of 18,919 residents. Around 40% of Shire's entire population.

The Shire's workforce are 14.7% Managers, 19.3% Professionals, 16.2% Technicians and Trades Workers, 9.2% Community and Personal Service Workers, 12.5% Clerical and Administrative Workers, 9.5% Sales Workers, 6.3 Machinery Operators and Drivers, and 10.7% Labourers.

At the 2006 census, the average median income for the workforce of the Shire was $43, 052.

The workforce are primarily employed in four main industries: 16% in Retail Trading, 12% in Manufacturing, 11% in Health and Community Services, and 9% in Construction.

The workforce predominately works within the Shire, with 77% of the workforce working within the Shire. Moreover, 3% travel to nearby Wollongong for employment and 20% work in Sydney, New South Wales.

Educationally, 40% of residents of the Shire are qualified with post High School certification in which 11% hold a University Degree and 28% qualified with a Diploma or Certificate.

At the 2006 census , the Shire had an unemployment rate of 4.3%.

Housing and residential

Separate and detached housing make up the majority of the housing in the Shire at 91%. The rest is semi-detached/townhouse at 5% and apartments and units at 3%.

Council

Wingecarribee Shire is composed of nine councillors elected proportionally.

The current makeup of the council is as follows:

Party		Councillors
	Independents	5
	Liberal	2
	Greens	1
	Labor	1
	Total	9

The current council, elected in 2008, is:

Councillor		Party	Notes
	Juliet Arkwright	Liberal
	Jim Clark	Greens
	Larry Whipper	Independent	Deputy Mayor (elected 22/9/2010)
	Ken Halstead	Independent	Mayor (elected 22/9/2010)
	Graham McLaughlin	Labor
	Jim Mauger	Independent
	Duncan Gair	Independent
	David Stranger	Liberal
	Paul Tuddenham	Independent

General Map of the Wingecarribee Shire & Southern Highlands.

Local media

Main article: Local Media of Southern Highlands

External links

General Council Information: http://www.wsc.nsw.gov.au/

Official Tourism website: http://www.southern-highlands.com.au

Asset Management Information: http://lgam.wikidot.com/wingecarribee-shire-council