City of Newcastle
City of Newcastle New South Wales | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() Aerial view of Newcastle | |||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 32°55.7′S 151°46.9′E / 32.9283°S 151.7817°E | ||||||||||||||
Population | 155,411 (2016 census)[1] (39th) | ||||||||||||||
• Density | 862.2/km2 (2,233/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Area | 187 km2 (72.2 sq mi)[2] | ||||||||||||||
Time zone | AEST (UTC+10) | ||||||||||||||
• Summer (DST) | AEDT (UTC+11) | ||||||||||||||
Lord Mayor | Nuatali Nelmes (Labor)[3] | ||||||||||||||
Location | 162 km (101 mi) NNE of Sydney | ||||||||||||||
Council seat | 282 King Street, Newcastle | ||||||||||||||
Region | Hunter[4] | ||||||||||||||
County | Northumberland | ||||||||||||||
State electorate(s) | |||||||||||||||
Federal division(s) | |||||||||||||||
File:City of Newcastle logo.jpg | |||||||||||||||
Website | City of Newcastle | ||||||||||||||
|
The City of Newcastle is a local government area in the Hunter region of New South Wales, Australia. The City of Newcastle incorporates much of the area of the Newcastle metropolitan area.
The Lord Mayor of City of Newcastle Council is Councillor Nuatali Nelmes, a Labor politician.[3] Nelmes was elected at a by-election on 15 November 2014 following the resignation of Jeff McCloy, the former Lord Mayor.[10]
Proposed amalgamation
After a 2015 review of local government boundaries by the NSW Government Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal found that Newcastle City Council was not "fit for the future", it was recommended that the City of Newcastle merge with Lake Macquarie City Council.[11] However, the Minister for Local Government subsequently proposed that Newcastle City Council instead merge with Port Stephens Council to form a new council with an area of 1,045 km2 (403 sq mi) and support a population of approximately 230,000.[12] The outcome of an independent review was completed by mid–2016. On 14 February 2017, the NSW Government announced it would not be proceeding with further regional council mergers, including the Newcastle City Council and Port Stephens Council merger.[13]
Demographics
At the 2011 census, there were 148,535 people in the City of Newcastle local government area, of these 49.2 per cent were male and 50.8 per cent were female. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 2.6 per cent of the population, which was marginally higher than the national and state averages of 2.5 per cent. The median age of people in the City of Newcastle was 37 years, equal to the national median. Children aged 0 – 14 years made up 17.0 per cent of the population and people aged 65 years and over made up 15.4 per cent of the population. Of people in the area aged 15 years and over, 41.6 per cent were married and 12.6 per cent were either divorced or separated.[2]
Population growth in the City of Newcastle between the 2001 census and the 2006 census was 3.91 per cent; and in the subsequent five years to the 2011 census, population growth was 4.78 per cent. When compared with total population growth of Australia for the same periods, being 5.78 per cent and 8.32 per cent respectively, population growth in the City of Newcastle local government area was significantly lower than the national average.[14][15] The median weekly income for residents within the City of Newcastle was marginally lower than the national average.[2]
At the 2011 census, the proportion of residents in the City of Newcastle local government area who stated their ancestry as Australian or Anglo-Saxon exceeded 76 per cent of all residents (national average was 65.2 per cent). In excess of 56% of all residents in the City of Newcastle nominated a religious affiliation with Christianity at the 2011 census, which was slightly higher than the national average of 50.2 per cent. Meanwhile, as at the census date, compared to the national average, households in the City of Newcastle local government area had a significantly lower than average proportion (10.1 per cent) where two or more languages are spoken (national average was 20.4 per cent); and a significantly higher proportion (87.3 per cent) where English only was spoken at home (national average was 76.8 per cent).[2]
Selected historical census data for the City of Newcastle local government area | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Census year | 2001[14] | 2006[15] | 2011[2] | 2016[1] | ||
Population | Estimated residents on Census night | 136,413 | 141,753 | 148,535 | 155,411 | |
LGA rank in terms of size within New South Wales | 18th | |||||
% of New South Wales population | 2.15% | ![]() | ||||
% of Australian population | 0.73% | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | ||
Cultural and language diversity | ||||||
Ancestry, top responses |
Australian | 30.4% | ||||
English | 29.2% | |||||
Irish | 8.9% | |||||
Scottish | 8.0% | |||||
German | 2.9% | |||||
Language, top responses (other than English) |
Macedonian | 1.1% | ![]() |
![]() | ||
Italian | 0.9% | ![]() |
![]() | |||
Mandarin | n/c | ![]() |
![]() | |||
Greek | 0.7% | ![]() |
![]() | |||
Arabic | n/c | ![]() |
![]() | |||
Religious affiliation | ||||||
Religious affiliation, top responses |
Catholic | 26.6% | ![]() |
![]() | ||
No Religion | 12.7% | ![]() |
![]() | |||
Anglican | 27.0% | ![]() |
![]() | |||
Uniting Church | 8.2% | ![]() |
![]() | |||
Presbyterian and Reformed | 4.1% | ![]() |
![]() | |||
Median weekly incomes | ||||||
Personal income | Median weekly personal income | A$409 | A$563 | |||
% of Australian median income | 87.8% | ![]() | ||||
Family income | Median weekly family income | A$1,132 | A$1,530 | |||
% of Australian median income | 96.7% | ![]() | ||||
Household income | Median weekly household income | A$885 | A$1,165 | |||
% of Australian median income | 86.2% | ![]() |
Council
Current composition and election method
Newcastle City Council is composed of thirteen Councillors, including the Lord Mayor, for a fixed four-year term of office. The Lord Mayor is directly elected while the twelve other Councillors are elected proportionally as four separate wards, each electing three Councillors. The most recent election was held on 8 September 2012.[10][16][17][18][19] The Lord Mayor elected at that time, Jeff McCloy, resigned in 2014, and a by-election for Lord Mayor was held on 15 November 2014. The current makeup of the Council, including the Lord Mayor, is as follows:
Party | Councillors | |
---|---|---|
Labor Party | 7 | |
Liberal Party | 1 | |
Independents | 4 | |
The Greens | 1 | |
Total | 13 |
The current Council, elected in September 2017 in order of election by ward is:
Ward | Councillor | Party | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Lord Mayor | Nuatali Nelmes | Labor | [3] | |
Ward One[16] | Emma White | Labor | ||
John MacKenzie | Greens | |||
John Church | Independent | |||
Ward Two[17] | Carol Duncan | Labor | ||
Kath Elliott | Independent | |||
Brad Luke | Liberal | |||
Ward Three[18] | Declan Clausen | Labor | Deputy Lord Mayor of Newcastle from September 2017 | |
Andrea Rufo | Independent | |||
Peta Winney-Baartz | Labor | |||
Ward Four[19] | Jason Dunn | Labor | ||
Matthew Byrne | Labor | |||
Allan Robinson | Independent |
Sister cities
Newcastle Council has sister city relations with the following cities:
City | Prefecture/State | Country | Year |
---|---|---|---|
Ube | ![]() |
![]() |
1980 |
Dubbo | ![]() |
![]() |
1995 |
Arcadia | ![]() |
![]() |
References
- ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Newcastle (C)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
- ^ a b c d e Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Newcastle (Local Government Area)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
- ^ a b c "New mayor Labor's Nuatali Nelmes cruises to victory". Newcastle Herald. 15 November 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
- ^ "Suburb Search – Local Council Boundaries – Hunter (HT) – Newcastle City Council". New South Wales Division of Local Government. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
- ^ "Newcastle". New South Wales Electoral Commission. 24 September 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
- ^ "Wallsend". New South Wales Electoral Commission. 24 September 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
- ^ "Charlestown". New South Wales Electoral Commission. 24 September 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
- ^ "Port Stephens". New South Wales Electoral Commission. 24 September 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
- ^ "Newcastle". Australian Electoral Commission. 26 July 2012. Archived from the original on 21 May 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ a b "Mayor Tally Sheet" (PDF). Newcastle City Council Election 2012. Australian Election Company. September 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
- ^ "Four Hunter councils deemed 'unfit for future'". ABC News. 20 October 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
- ^ "Merger proposal: Newcastle City Council, Port Stephens Council" (PDF). Government of New South Wales. January 2016. p. 8. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
- ^ "Stronger Councils Stronger Communities". Government of New South Wales. 14 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
- ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (9 March 2006). "Newcastle (C)". 2001 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
- ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Newcastle (C)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
- ^ a b "Final Result in Order of Standing: Ward One" (PDF). Newcastle City Council Election 2012. Australian Election Company. 21 September 2012. p. 24. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
- ^ a b "Final Result in Order of Standing: Ward Two" (PDF). Newcastle City Council Election 2012. Australian Election Company. 21 September 2012. p. 24. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
- ^ a b "Final Result in Order of Standing: Ward Three" (PDF). Newcastle City Council Election 2012. Australian Election Company. 20 September 2012. p. 22. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
- ^ a b "Final Result in Order of Standing: Ward Four" (PDF). Newcastle City Council Election 2012. Australian Election Company. 21 September 2012. p. 24. Retrieved 3 October 2012.