Cobar Shire Explained

Type:lga
Cobar Shire
State:nsw
Pop:4647
Pop2:4,658
Pop2 Year:2019 est.
Pop2 Footnotes:[1]
Area:44065
Est:[2]
Coordinates:-31.4983°N 145.6678°W
Seat:Cobar
Mayor:Peter Abbott (Independent)
Region:Orana
Url:http://www.cobar.nsw.gov.au
Stategov:Barwon
Fedgov:Parkes
Near-Nw:Central Darling
Near-N:Bourke
Near-Ne:Brewarrina
Near-E:Bogan
Near-W:Central Darling
Near-Sw:Central Darling
Near-S:Carrathool
Near-Se:Lachlan

Cobar Shire is a local government area in the Orana region of New South Wales, Australia. The Shire is located in an outback area that is centred around the mining town of Cobar. The Shire is traversed by the Barrier Highway and the Kidman Way. With a total area of, about two-thirds the size of Tasmania, Cobar Shire is larger than Denmark and 99 other countries and self-governing territories, but its population is under 5000.

Lilliane Brady was the mayor of Cobar Shire for more than 20 years, before her death in 2021.[3] At the time of her death, she was the longest-serving female mayor in New South Wales' history.

The current mayor of Cobar Shire Council is Cr. Peter Abbott, an independent politician.

Villages and localities

The shire also includes several small outback towns and localities; the twin villages of Euabalong and Euabalong West in the far south east of the shire, Mount Hope, Nymagee and Irymple.[4]

Demographics

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics during 2003–04 there:[5]

Selected historical census data for Cobar Shire local government area
Census year 2011 2016
Population  
 
% of New South Wales population
% of Australian population
Cultural and language diversity
Ancestry,
top responses
English
Australian
Italian
Chinese
Irish
Language,
top responses
(other than English)
Italian
Mandarin
Cantonese
Korean
Greek
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation,
top responses
Catholic
No religion
Anglican
Eastern Orthodox
Buddhism
Median weekly incomes
Median weekly personal income
% of Australian median income
Family income Median weekly family income
% of Australian median income
Household income Median weekly household income
% of Australian median income

Council

Current composition and election method

Cobar Shire Council is composed of 12 councillors elected proportionally to 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 4 December 2021. Only eleven candidates nominated for election, and with there being no additional candidates, the election was uncontested. A by-election was held on 26 February 2022 for the remaining seat. The makeup of the council is as follows:[6]

PartyCouncillors
 Independents and Unalignedalign=right 12
Totalalign=right 12

The current Council, elected in 2021, in order of election, is:[6]

CouncillorPartyNotes
Peter Abbott IndependentMayor[7]
Tony Chaplain Independent
Janine Lea-Barrett Independent
Jarrod Marsden IndependentDeputy Mayor
Peter Maxwell Independent
Kain Neale Independent
Julie Payne Independent
Lillian Simpson Unaligned
Bob Sinclair Unaligned
Harley Toomey Independent
Kate Winders Independent
Michael Prince IndependentElected at the 26 February 2022 by-election[8]

Election results

2021

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2018–19. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2 July 2020. 2 July 2020. Estimated resident population (ERP) at 30 June 2019.
  2. Web site: Government Gazette Proclamations and Legislation – New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 – 1900) – 18 Mar 1884. New South Wales Government Gazette. 18 March 1884 . 1 October 2016 .
  3. News: Wells . Jamelle . 7 February 2021 . Cobar mayor Lilliane Brady, NSW's longest-serving female mayor, dies aged 90 . ABC News . 7 February 2021.
  4. Web site: Cobar Shire villages page . 5 February 2008.
  5. Web site: . Regional Wage and Salary Earner Statistics, Australia (catalogue no.: 5673.055.003) . 11 March 2007.
  6. Web site: 4 December 2021 . Cobar – Councillor Election results . 18 March 2022 . NSW Electoral Commission.
  7. Web site: Mayor & Councillors . 2022-03-18 . Cobar Council . en-AU.
  8. Web site: 14 March 2022 . Distribution of Preferences Report – Councillor Election: Cobar . 18 March 2022 . NSW Electoral Commission.