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Wyong Shire

Coordinates: 33°16′S 151°25′E / 33.267°S 151.417°E / -33.267; 151.417
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This article is about the local government area. For the city, see Wyong, New South Wales.

Wyong Shire
New South Wales
Location in New South Wales
Coordinates33°16′S 151°25′E / 33.267°S 151.417°E / -33.267; 151.417
Population149,746 (2011 census)[1]
 • Density181.07/km2 (469.0/sq mi)
Established1947
Area827 km2 (319.3 sq mi)
MayorDoug Eaton (Independent)
Location
Council seatWyong
RegionCentral Coast
State electorate(s)
Federal division(s)
WebsiteWyong Shire
LGAs around Wyong Shire:
Cessnock Lake Macquarie Tasman Sea
Hawkesbury Wyong Shire Tasman Sea
Gosford Tasman Sea

Wyong Shire is a local government area located in the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia, north of Sydney.

Wyong Shire is located around the coastal lake system of Tuggerah Lake, Budgewoi Lake and Lake Munmorah. The area includes a coastal strip from Bateau Bay to Budgewoi, some lakeside towns and residential areas, some inland towns on the coastal plain and a sparsely populated region to the west with the rural townships of Yarramalong, Dooralong, Jilliby, and regions of native bush surrounding Kulnura.

Wyong Shire's administrative centre is located in the town of Wyong, and the Council maintains service and information centres at The Entrance, Tuggerah and at Lakehaven Shopping Centre. Wyong Shire and the City of Gosford control the Gosford/Wyong Councils' Water Authority, that operates the Mangrove Creek Dam.

The Mayor of Wyong Shire is Cr. Doug Eaton, an independent politician.

Suburbs and localities in the local government area

Suburbs, towns and localities in the Wyong Shire are

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Demographics

At the 2011 census, there were 149,746 people in the Wyong Shire local government area, of these 48.3% were male and 51.7% were female. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 3.6% of the population which is higher than the national average. The median age of people in the Wyong Shire was 40 years; significantly higher than the national median age of 37 years. Children aged 0 – 14 years made up 20.2% of the population and people aged 65 years and over made up 18.8% of the population; 34% higher than the national average in this age bracket. Of people in the area aged 15 years and over, 46.4% were married and 15.0% were either divorced or separated.[1]

Population growth in the Wyong Shire between the 2001 Census and the 2006 Census was 7.10%; and in the subsequent five years to the 2011 Census, population growth was 7.11%. When compared with total population growth of Australia for the same periods, being 5.78% and 8.32% respectively, population growth in the Wyong Shire local government area was on par with the national average.[2] The median weekly income for residents within the Wyong Shire was significantly lower than the national average.[1][3]

At the 2011 Census, the proportion of residents in the Wyong Shire local government area who stated their ancestry as Australian or Anglo-Saxon approached 81% of all residents (national average was 65.2%). In excess of 65.0% of all residents in the Wyong Shire nominated a religious affiliation with Christianity at the 2011 Census, which was significantly above the national average of 50.2%. Meanwhile, as at the Census date, compared to the national average, households in the Wyong Shire local government area had a lower than average proportion (6.0%) where two or more languages are spoken (national average was 20.4%); and a significantly higher proportion (91.8%) where English only was spoken at home (national average was 76.8%).[1]

Selected historical census data for Wyong Shire local government area
Census year 1991 1996 2001[2] 2006[3] 2011[1]
Population Estimated residents on Census night 100,643 115,999 130,536 139,801 149,746
LGA rank in terms of size within New South Wales 16th
% of New South Wales population 1.76% Increase 1.92% Increase 2.05% 2.16%
% of Australian population 0.60% Increase 0.65% Increase 0.70% Steady 0.70% Steady 0.70%
Cultural and language diversity
Ancestry,
top responses		 Australian 33.6%
English 31.5%
Irish 8.4%
Scottish 7.0%
German 2.3%
Language,
top responses
(other than English)		 Italian 0.4% Steady 0.4% Steady 0.4%
Spanish 0.2% Increase 0.3% Steady 0.3%
Greek 0.2% Steady 0.2% Steady 0.2%
German 0.2% Steady 0.2% Steady 0.2%
Cantonese 0.2% Steady 0.2% Steady 0.2%
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation,
top responses		 Anglican 34.7% Decrease 32.0% Decrease 30.4%
Catholic 27.0% Increase 27.4% Increase 27.5%
No Religion 11.6% Increase 14.5% Increase 17.8%
Uniting Church 5.2% Decrease 4.4% Decrease 3.9%
Presbyterian and Reformed 3.9% Decrease 3.6% Decrease 3.2%
Median weekly incomes
Personal income Median weekly personal income A$381 A$469
% of Australian median income 81.8% 81.3%
Family income Median weekly family income A$770 A$1,171
% of Australian median income 75.0% 79.1%
Household income Median weekly household income A$1,013 A$934
% of Australian median income 86.5% 75.7%

Council

Current composition and election method

Wyong Shire Council is composed of ten Councillors elected proportionally as two separate wards (previously known as "ridings"), each electing five Councillors. 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. The most recent election was held on 8 September 2012, and the composition of the Council is:[4][5]

Party Councillors
Template:Australian politics/party colours/Independent|  Independents 3
Template:Australian politics/party colours/Labor|  Australian Labor Party 3
Template:Australian politics/party colours/Liberal|  Liberal Party of Australia 2
Template:Australian politics/party colours/Independent|  Save Tuggerah Lakes 2
Total 10

The current Council, elected in 2012, in order of election by ward, is:

Ward Councillor Party Notes
A Ward[4] Template:Australian politics/party colours/Labor|  Doug Vincent Labor
Template:Australian politics/party colours/Liberal|  Luke Nayna Liberal
Template:Australian politics/party colours/Independent|  Greg Best Independent
Template:Australian politics/party colours/Independent|  Adam Troy Save Tuggerah Lakes
Template:Australian politics/party colours/Labor|  Ken Greenwald Labor
B Ward[5] Template:Australian politics/party colours/Liberal|  Lynne Webster Liberal Deputy Mayor[6]
Template:Australian politics/party colours/Independent|  Bob Graham Independent
Template:Australian politics/party colours/Labor|  Lisa Matthews Labor
Template:Australian politics/party colours/Independent|  Lloyd Taylor Save Tuggerah Lakes
Template:Australian politics/party colours/Independent|  Doug Eaton Independent Mayor[6]

A referendum was held on 8 September 2012 and an absolute majority of voters resolved in favour of the election of the Mayor by electors for a four-year term which necessarily increases the number of Councillors by one. The change will take effect at the next elections in 2016 unless changed by another referendum before then.[7]

Mayors

Main article: List of mayors of Wyong Shire

History

The area now known as Wyong Shire was developed in modern times alongside the Putty Road, connecting Sydney and Hunter Valley. Progressively people started to establish timber cutting and from there dairy and citrus farming in the valleys of the shire. On the opening of the railway in 1889 to Newcastle the focus of commercial activity shift eastward to Wyong town. As Wyong town developed this was marked by the opening of the Royal Hotel and the first post office was established. The development of railways locally and within the state was an important aspect in the ongoing sustainment of the local timber industry. In 1903 the Lighthouse at Norah Head was built and the first few houses and tourist accommodations began to appear at The Entrance. In 1947, Wyong Shire was created following the division of the former Erina Shire into two, the other being Gosford Shire.

Industries and services

Tourism is an important industry, with the region attracting visitors mainly from within the state. The shire Tourist Information Office is located at The Entrance.

  • University of Newcastle (Australia) has a campus at Ourimbah, Wyong Shire
  • NSW Police Assistance Line (PAL) call centre operates from Tuggerah Business Park, Wyong Shire
  • Woolworths has one of two state distribution centres in the Shire, located at Warnervale
  • ING Bank Australia has its main call centre, training facility and backup recovery site at Tuggerah Business Park, Wyong Shire
  • Belkin Australia (multinational computer & audiovisual supplier) has its Australian headquarters at Tuggerah Business Park, Wyong Shire

Sister cities

Wyong Shire was a sister city to Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan and Southland District, New Zealand until 2010 when ties were severed for financial reasons.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Wyong (A)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 November 2012. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (9 March 2006). "Wyong (A)". 2001 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 November 2012. Edit this at Wikidata
  3. ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Wyong (A)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Wyong Shire Council - A Ward". Local Government Elections 2012. Electoral Commission of New South Wales. 16 September 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Wyong Shire Council - B Ward". Local Government Elections 2012. Electoral Commission of New South Wales. 16 September 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  6. ^ a b Smith, Errol (4 October 2012). "Doug Eaton elected Wyong Shire Council mayor". Central Coast Express Advocate. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  7. ^ "Wyong Shire Council - Referendum". Local Government Elections 2012. Electoral Commission of New South Wales. 13 September 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  8. ^ "Councillors aren't flippant when it comes to expenses" (Press release). Wyong Shire Council. 14 January 2010. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
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