Goulburn Mulwaree Council

Coordinates: 34°44′S 149°44′E / 34.733°S 149.733°E / -34.733; 149.733
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Goulburn Mulwaree
New South Wales
Location in New South Wales
Coordinates34°44′S 149°44′E / 34.733°S 149.733°E / -34.733; 149.733
Population32,053 (2021 census)[1]
 • Density9.954/km2 (25.78/sq mi)
Established2004
Area3,220 km2 (1,243.2 sq mi)
MayorPeter Walker
Council seatGoulburn[2]
RegionSouthern Tablelands
State electorate(s)Goulburn
Federal division(s)Hume
WebsiteGoulburn Mulwaree
LGAs around Goulburn Mulwaree:
Upper Lachlan Upper Lachlan Wingecarribee
Yass Valley Goulburn Mulwaree Shoalhaven
Queanbeyan–Palerang Queanbeyan–Palerang Shoalhaven

Goulburn Mulwaree Council is a local government area located in the Southern Tablelands region of New South Wales, Australia. The area is located adjacent to the Hume Highway and the Southern Highlands railway line. The estimated resident population of the area stood at 32,053 on 2021 census.[1]

The mayor of Goulburn Mulwaree Council is Peter Walker.

Cities, towns and localities[edit]

The area covered under administration is 3,220 square kilometres (1,240 sq mi) and includes Goulburn and the towns and localities of:

Parts of the Southern Highlands, the Southern Tablelands and Morton National Park lie within the Goulburn Mulwaree Council area.

History[edit]

The oldest habitation sites discovered in the region date back more than 3000–5000 years ago. Two distinct Aboriginal language groups were identified in the region when the Europeans initiated contact. These were the Gundungurra and the Ngunnawal groups, which were connected through common beliefs and culture. These groups are the traditional owners of the Goulburn Mulwaree local government area and the area is a meeting place of the two groups, with the Gundungurra to the north and the Ngunnawal to the south. Muniwarung is "meeting place" in the Gundungurra language.

The first Europeans to visit Goulburn Mulwaree were John Wilson and John Price. Properties were established here during 1817–1820 due to the grazing potential of the Southern Tablelands.[3]

Municipal history[edit]

The council was formed in 2004 as the Greater Argyle Council, an amalgamation of Goulburn City and parts of the former Mulwaree Shire. It was renamed in 2005 to Goulburn Mulwaree Council.[citation needed]

Controversies[edit]

During 2011–2013, Goulburn Mulwaree Council has been at the centre of alleged breaches[4] of NSW Council Rules and Regulations. In late 2013, a Government investigation by the New South Wales State Government found that the Goulburn Mulwaree Council's Multi-Use Centre Tendering Process breached established State Regulations, ruling that: "[Goulburn Mulwaree] Council contravened regulations, ignored tendering guidelines and offered unfair advantage to two tenderers including the successful tenderer, Bathurst firm, Hines Constructions."[5] The Investigation prompted multiple Council Internal Reform suggestions, as well as prompting the council's General Manager Performance Review Committee to suspend the automatic employment renewal of Mr Chris Berry, the then General Manager of Goulburn Mulwaree Council, in September 2013.[6]

In 2011, Goulburn Mulwaree Council partnered with Veolia Environmental Services in seed funding to make up $10,000 for an art award through the Goulburn Regional Art Gallery. The Award, known as the Veolia Environmental Services Art Award, prompted condemnation from the peak body for Australian visual and media arts (The National Association for Visual Artists or NAVA), as well as an independent investigation after multiple complaints alleging the winning entry breached the stipulated entry conditions.[7] The Investigation, completed by Planning, Environmental and Economic Consulting, resulted in a 22-page report where: "The consultant recommended that Council make a public statement to acknowledge grievances and the necessary improvements. Secondly, gallery staff should be proactive in engaging professionals, galleries and judges to develop and benchmark the entry and judging criteria."[7] Veolia Environmental Services discontinued its annual $10,000 support for the Award in 2012.

Council[edit]

Current composition and election method[edit]

Goulburn Mulwaree Council is composed of nine councillors elected proportionally as one entire ward. All councillors are elected for a fixed four-year term of office. The mayor is elected by the councillors at the first meeting of the council.

2021 election results[edit]

Elected councillor Party
  Bob Kirk Independent
  Jason Shephard Labor
  Michael Prevedello Independent
  Daniel Strickland Independent
  Andy Wood SFF
  James Carol Independent
  Peter Walker Independent
  Steven Ruddell Independent
  Andrew Banfield Independent
2021 New South Wales local elections: Goulburn Mulwaree[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Bob Kirk 4,000 23.0
Labor 3,017 17.3
Independent Michael Prevedello 1,554 8.9
Independent Daniel Strickland 1,425 8.2
Shooters, Fishers, Farmers Andy Wood 1,268 7.3
Independent James Carol 1,056 6.1
Independent Peter Walker 1,030 5.9
Independent Steven Ruddell 1,003 5.8
Independent Andrew Banfield 878 5.0
Greens Leah Ferrara 816 4.7
Independent Margaret O'Neill 774 4.4
Independent Timothy Dally 382 2.2
Independent Adam Milani 191 1.1
Total formal votes 17,394 92.0
Informal votes 1,519 8.0
Turnout 18,913 87.8
Party total seats Seats ±
Independent 7 Decrease 1
Labor 1 Increase 1
Shooters, Fishers, Farmers 1 Increase 1
Greens 0 Decrease 1

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Goulburn Mulwaree (A)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 19 January 2022. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ "Goulburn Mulwaree Shire Council". Department of Local Government. Archived from the original on 6 September 2006. Retrieved 15 November 2006.
  3. ^ "History and Character". Goulburn Mulwaree Council.
  4. ^ "Councillors condemn multifunction tender 'mess'". Goulburn Post. 19 July 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  5. ^ "Epic Fail: Council's multi-use centre tender process". Goulburn Post. 8 July 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  6. ^ "GM's contract renewal on hold". Goulburn Post. 11 September 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  7. ^ a b "Artists group demands gallery apologise". Goulburn Post. 14 April 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  8. ^ "Goulburn Mulwaree". ABC News.