Cootamundra–Gundagai Regional Council

Cootamundra–Gundagai Regional Council (CGRC) is a local government area located in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. The council was formed on 12 May 2016 through a merger of the Cootamundra Shire and Gundagai Shire Councils.^[3] Originally named Gundagai Council, the name was changed to Cootamundra–Gundagai Regional Council on 7 September 2016.

Cootamundra–Gundagai Regional Council New South Wales
Location in New South Wales
Coordinates	34°48′S 148°7′E
Population	11,141 (2016)[1] 11,260 (2018 est.)[2]
• Density	2.7985/km2 (7.2482/sq mi)
Established	12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)
Area	3,981 km2 (1,537.1 sq mi)[3]
Mayor	Cr. Charlie Sheahan
Council seat	Cootamundra and Gundagai
Region	Riverina
State electorate(s)	Cootamundra
Federal division(s)	Riverina
Website	Cootamundra–Gundagai Regional Council
LGAs around Cootamundra–Gundagai Regional Council: Temora Hilltops Hilltops Junee Cootamundra–Gundagai Regional Council Hilltops Wagga Wagga Snowy Valleys Yass Valley

The council has an area of 3,981 square kilometres (1,537 sq mi) and occupies the slopes of the western side of the Great Dividing Range between Yass and Tumut and to the north the beginning of the northern part of the Riverina plains. At the time of its establishment the council had an estimated population of 11,141.^[1]

The first mayor of the Cootamundra–Gundagai Regional Council was Councillor Abb McAlister, who was elected after the inaugural Cootamundra–Gundagai Regional Council election which was held on 9 September 2017.^[4]

The second and current mayor of the Cootamundra–Gundagai Regional Council is Councillor Charlie Sheahan, who was elected after the NSW Local Government Election which was held on 4 December 2021.

History

Controversy at creation

Around the same time as the state government was announcing the mergers of shires and councils in a 2015 review to amalgamate 44 local government areas to form 19 new local government areas, the mayor of the former Gundagai Shire, Abb McAlister, lodged papers with the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales to prevent it.^[5]

Signs protesting the amalgamation were prominently displayed throughout Gundagai for several years.

Towns and localities

The following towns and localities are located within Cootamundra-Gundagai Council:

• Brawlin
• Coolac
• Cootamundra
• Frampton
• Gundagai
• Muttama
• Nangus
• Stockinbingal
• Tumblong
• Wallendbeen

Population

The population for the predecessor councils was estimated in 2015 as:^[6]

• 7,705 in Cootamundra Shire and
• 3,756 in Gundagai Shire.

Council

The CGRC consists of nine Councillors elected proportionally in a single ward.

The inaugural councillors were expected to be elected for a fixed four-year term of office by the Local Government Elections held on 9 September 2017. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the councillors served a slightly longer term as the elections were postponed to 4 December 2021.

The second council was elected on 4 December 2021, with the final results declared on 20 December 2021. These councillors was sworn in at an extraordinary meeting held on 10 January 2022 and will serve for 2 years and 3/4 to realign the election calendar to the original plan. The next election will take place in September of 2024.

The most recent election was held on 4 December 2021, and the makeup of the council is as follows:

Party		Councillors
	Independents and unaligned	9
	Total	9

Councillor		Party	Notes
	Abb McAlister	Independent	Former mayor and returning councillor
	Charlie Sheahan	Independent	Mayor, returning councillor
	Gil Kelly	Independent	Returning councillor
	Les Boyd	Independent
	Leigh Bowden	Independent	Deputy Mayor, returning councillor
	Penny Nicholson	Independent	Returning councillor
	Logan Collins	Independent National
	Trevor Glover	Independent
	David Graham	Independent	Returning councillor

Election results

2024

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 2024 New South Wales local elections in Riverina § Cootamundra–Gundagai.[edit]

Cootamundra–Gundagai Regional Council is composed of nine councillors elected proportionally to a single ward.

2021

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 2021 New South Wales local elections in Riverina § Cootamundra–Gundagai.[edit]

Cootamundra–Gundagai Regional Council is composed of nine councillors elected proportionally to a single ward.

Logan Collins was elected at the age of 18, becoming the youngest local councillor in New South Wales history.^[7][8]

Past councillors

2017−present

Year	Councillor		Councillor		Councillor		Councillor		Councillor		Councillor		Councillor		Councillor		Councillor
2017		Doug Phillips (Ind.)		Abb McAlister (Ind.)		Dennis Palmer (Ind.)		Craig "Stewie" Stewart (Ind.)		Charlie Sheahan (Ind. Labor)		Gil Kelly (Ind.)		David Graham (Ind.)		Penny Nicholson (Ind.)		Leigh Bowden (Ind.)
2021		Les Boyd (Ind.)				Logan Collins (Ind. Nat)		Trevor Glover (Ind.)

See also

• New South Wales portal

• Local government areas of New South Wales

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Gundagai (A) (Local Government Area)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
2. "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017-18". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019. Estimated resident population (ERP) at 30 June 2018.
3. "Gundagai Council". Stronger Councils. Government of New South Wales. 12 May 2016. Archived from the original on 11 June 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
4. Grey, Lachlan (21 September 2017). "Abb McAlister to lead new Cootamundra-Gundagai council". Cootamundra Herald. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
5. Morphet, Jack (13 May 2016). "COUNCIL MERGERS: Former Gundagai mayor takes on Baird government". The Daily Advertiser. Fairfax Regional Media. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
6. "Regional Population Growth, Australia. Population Estimates by Local Government Area (ASGS 2015), 2005 to 2015 Table 1. Estimated Resident Population, Local Government Areas, New South Wales". 30 March 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
7. O'Driscoll, Max (24 March 2022). "Logan Collins plans to represent the regions for many years to come". About Regional. Archived from the original on 18 April 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024. Representing Cootamundra-Gundagai at only 18 years of age, Logan Collins is believed to be the youngest councillor ever elected in New South Wales.
8. "MEET YOUR COUNCILLORS". Cootamundra–Gundagai Regional Council. Archived from the original on 7 August 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024. Cr Collins is the state's youngest councillor in history and serving his first term.

External links

• Cootamundra–Gundagai Regional Council website