Population 38,798 (2015) State electorate(s) Lockyer Lockyer Valley Region Ipswich Founded 2008 Council seat Gatton | Established 2008 Website Lockyer Valley Region Area 2,272 km² Region West Moreton Federal division Division of Wright | |
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Mayor vacant following the death of Steve Jones on 20 February 2016 Points of interest Das Neumann Haus, Preston Peak Wines, Laidley Pioneer Village a, Lockyer Valley Cultural, Glen Rock National Park | ||
The Lockyer Valley Region is a local government area in the West Moreton region of South East Queensland, Australia, between the cities of Ipswich and Toowoomba. It was created in 2008 from a merger of the Shire of Gatton and the Shire of Laidley. Steve Jones, former mayor of Gatton, was elected as first mayor of the Lockyer Valley Region.
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Map of Lockyer Valley, QLD, Australia
It has an estimated operating budget of A$35m.
History
Prior to 2008, the new Lockyer Valley Region was an entire area of two previous and distinct local government areas:
Prior to European settlement, the Lockyer Valley area was home to the Kitabul Aboriginal people.
Tarampa Divisional Board was created on 15 January 1880 under the Divisional Boards Act 1879, and held its first meeting on 20 February 1880. On 25 April 1888, the Laidley area broke away and separately incorporated, and on 25 January 1890, the Forest Hill area moved from Tarampa to Laidley. On 1 July 1902, the town of Laidley was created as a separate municipality with its own Borough Council.
With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, the borough and divisions became a town and shires respectively on 31 March 1903. The town council was dissolved on 8 February 1917, and Laidley absorbed part of the Shire of Rosewood.
On 3 September 1938, Tarampa was renamed the Shire of Gatton. On 19 March 1949 it grew to incorporate part of the former Shires of Drayton and Highfields, while losing some of its original area to the City of Toowoomba and Shire of Crows Nest.
In July 2007, the Local Government Reform Commission released its report and recommended that Gatton and Laidley amalgamate, uniting the major farming, cropping and horticultural production area of South East Queensland under one local authority. While both councils opposed the amalgamation, they identified each other as preferred partners if it had to go ahead. On 15 March 2008, the two Shires formally ceased to exist, and elections were held on the same day to elect six councillors and a mayor to the Regional Council.
After the deadly 2010–11 Queensland floods, which destroyed the town of Grantham, the council responded quickly to relocate the town to non-flood prone land. The council purchased freehold land adjoining the existing town for the voluntary resettlement of eligible residents. To speed the recovery process normal land use planning procedures were dropped although there was a public consultation period. Support from the state government was muted, partly because the new urban development was contrary to the South East Queensland Regional Plan.
Wards
The council remains undivided and its elected body consists of six councillors and a mayor, elected for a four-year term.
Towns and localities
The Lockyer Valley Region includes the following settlements:
1 - split with Somerset Region
Population
The populations given relate to the component entities prior to 2008. The next census, due in 2011, will be the first for the new Region.
Mayors
2008–2016: Steve Jones, died in office on 20 February 2016