Population 5,959 (2015 est) State electorate(s) Cootamundra Bland Shire Weddin Council seat West Wyalong | Mayor Tony Lord (Unaligned) Website Bland Shire Area 8,560 km² Region Central West | |
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Federal divisions Division of Riverina, Division of Parkes | ||
Bland Shire is a local government area located on the boundary between the central west and Riverina regions of New South Wales, Australia. The area is located adjacent to the Newell and Mid-Western highways.
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Map of Bland, NSW, Australia
The council's name honours William Bland.
The largest town and council seat is West Wyalong. The region also includes the towns of Wyalong, Barmedman, Tallimba, Ungarie, Weethalle and Mirrool. The major economic activities of the shire are agriculture, mining, transport, tourism and wholesale distribution.
The mayor of Bland Shire Council is Cr. Tony Lord, who is unaligned with any political party.
Current composition and election method
Bland Shire Council is composed of nine councillors elected proportionally as a single 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. The most recent election was held on 10 September 2016, and the make-up of the council is as follows:
The current Council, elected in 2016, in order of election, is:
Environment
Average annual rainfall is 482 millimetres (19.0 in). Average temperature are: maximum 23.3 °C (73.9 °F), minimum 9.5 °C (49.1 °F). The prevailing wind direction is north east in the morning and south west in the afternoon and evening, with predominantly calm conditions. Topography is generally undulating or flat, with the altitude ranging from 200 to 486 metres (656–1,594 ft). Main tree species include: kurrajong, cypress pine, mallee, box, ironbark, belah and wilga. Native fauna include: water fowl, red and grey kangaroos, echidnas, goannas, possums, bats and mallee fowls. Soil are predominantly clay with some granite soil and red brown earth, mostly neutral in pH. Native pasture plants include: wallaby grasses, Queensland blue grass and plains and wire grass.
History
The farm community of Bland Shire, West Wyalong was a former gold prospecting site in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia, The history of Bland Shire has, in part, been documented by West Wyalong Movies.
In 2013, the community joined Dull, Perthshire, Scotland and Boring, Oregon, USA to create a "League of Extraordinary Communities" to group Dull, Boring and Bland as a means of encouraging travel, promoting all three communities.