Population 12,602 (2016 estimate) Federation Council Lockhart, Greater Hume Administrator Michael Eden Federal division Division of Farrer | State electorate(s) Albury Area 5,685 km² Region Riverina | |
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Established 12 May 2016 (2016-05-12) | ||
The Federation Council is a local government area located in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. This area was formed in 2016 from the merger of the Corowa Shire with its neighbouring Urana Shire.
Contents
The council comprises an area of 5,685 square kilometres (2,195 sq mi) and covers the urban areas of Corowa and Mulwala and the surrounding cropping and pastoral region to the north. It is bounded to the south by the Murray River and the state of Victoria. At the time of its establishment the council had an estimated population of 12,602.
The Administrator of the Federation Council is solicitor and former rugby league player Michael Eden, until the elections for councillors to take place on 9 September 2017.
Main towns and villages
In addition to the main urban centres of Corowa and Mulwala, localities in the area include Blighty, Boree Creek, Buraja, Coreen, Daysdale, Hopefield, Howlong, Lowesdale, Morundah, Oaklands, Rand, Rennie, Savernake and Urana.
Council
Once elected, Federation Council will comprise nine Councillors elected proportionally as a single ward. All Councillors are expected to be elected for a fixed four-year term of office with effect from 9 September 2017.
History
The Federation Council was created by the Government of New South Wales as a result of an amalgamation of some local government bodies through a reform program between 2013 and 2016. As part of the review, all New South Wales local government authorities were assessed by the NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal on their historical and projected demographic data, financial sustainability, and other measures including their impact on the State's resources. Those council deemed "unfit" were asked to nominate their preferred merger partner in order to achieve economies of scale. Corowa and Urana shires both nominated to merge with each other. In addition Lockhart Shire nominated Urana Shire as a preferred merger partner. In December 2015, the Minister for Local Government Paul Toole proposed the amalgamation of all three Councils. All three Councils opposed the proposal and a group of residents in the town of Mulwala in Corowa Shire threatened to secede and join Berrigan Shire if the three-way merger went ahead. Corowa Shire put forward the alternate proposal being a merger of Corowa and Urana shires, despite objections from Urana Shire. The Minister accepted the Corowa and Urana merger proposal and the Federation Council was proclaimed on 12 May 2016.