Central Highlands Region

Central Highlands Region is a local government area in Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the Central Highlands Region had a population of 27,836 people.[1]

Central Highlands Region
Queensland
Location within Queensland
Coordinates23°31′20″S 148°09′42″E / 23.52222°S 148.16167°E / -23.52222; 148.16167 (Central Highlands Region)
Population27,836 (2021 census)[1]
 • Density0.465220/km2 (1.20492/sq mi)
Established2008
Area59,834 km2 (23,102.0 sq mi)[2]
MayorKerry Hayes
Council seatEmerald
State electorate(s)Gregory
Federal division(s)Flynn
WebsiteCentral Highlands Region
LGAs around Central Highlands Region:
Isaac Rockhampton Rockhampton
Barcaldine Central Highlands Region Banana
Blackall-Tambo
Murweh
Maranoa Western Downs

History

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Wadja (also known as Wadjigu, Wadya, Wadjainngo, Mandalgu, and Wadjigun) is an Australian Aboriginal language in Central Queensland. The language region includes the local government areas of the Aboriginal Shire of Woorabinda and Central Highlands Region, including the Blackdown Tableland, the Comet River, and the Expedition Range, and the towns of Woorabinda, Springsure and Rolleston.[3]

Yambina (also known as Jambina and Jambeena) is an Australian Aboriginal language of Central Queensland. Its traditional language region is the local government area of Central Highlands Region, including Peak Downs, Logan Creek, south to Avon Downs, east to Denham Range and Logan Downs, west to Elgin Downs and at Solferino.[4]

Yetimarala (also known as Jetimarala, Yetimaralla, and Bayali) is an Australian Aboriginal language of Central Queensland. Its traditional language region is within the local government areas of Central Highlands Region, on the Boomer Range and Broadsound Range and the Fitzroy River, Killarney Station, Mackenzie River and Isaac River.[5]

The Central Highlands Region was created in March 2008 as a result of the report of the Local Government Reform Commission released in July 2007. The new local government area, located in Central Queensland, contains the entire areas of four previous local government areas:

Legislation introduced into the Queensland Parliament gave the name of the new region as Central Highlands.[6] The report recommended that the new local government area should not be divided into wards and should elect eight councillors and a mayor. The Central Highlands Region has an area of 59,834 square kilometres (23,102 sq mi),[2] contained an estimated resident population in 2018 of 28,645[2] and has an estimated operating budget of A$66 million.[when?]

On 17 April 2020, the Queensland Government re-drew the boundaries of localities within the Region by:[7][8][9]

  • replacing the locality of The Gemfields with three new localities of Rubyvale, Sapphire Central and Anakie Siding (around the towns of Rubyvale, Sapphire, and Anakie respectively)
  • adjusting the boundaries of existing localities to accommodate these changes by:
    • Argyll losing its south-eastern corner to become the northern part of the new Rubyvale and the north-eastern part of the new Sapphire Central
    • Emerald gaining the north-eastern corner and eastern parts of The Gemfields but losing a small area on its western boundary to the new Anakie Siding
    • Gindie gaining the south-eastern corner of The Gemfields and gaining the eastern edge of Lochington, but losing a small area of its northern part and a small area from its north-east part to Anakie Siding
    • Lochington losing a small portion of land to the north to the new Anakie Siding, losing land from its north-eastern edge mostly to Gindie but gaining a small piece of land from Minerva
    • Minerva losing a small piece of land from its north-western edge of Lochington

As a consequence of these changes, Lake Maraboon is now entirely within the north-west of Gindie and the boundary between Lochington and Minerva/Gindie more closely follows the course of the Nogoa River.[10]

Demographics

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In the 2016 census, the Central Highlands Region had a population of 27,999 people.[11]

In the 2021 census, the Central Highlands Region had a population of 27,836 people.[1]

Towns and localities

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The Central Highlands Region includes the following settlements:

Notes:

1 – partially shared with Isaac Region (former Belyando Shire)

Libraries

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The Central Highlands Region operates public libraries at Bauhinia, Blackwater, Capella, Dingo, Duaringa, Emerald, Rubyvale (The Gemfields), Rolleston, Springsure and Tieri.[12]

Mayors

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  • 2008–2016: Peter John Eric Maguire[13][14]
  • 2016–2024: Kerry Michael Hayes[15][16]
  • 2024–present: Janice Margaret Moriarty[17]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Central Highlands Region (LGA)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.  
  2. ^ a b c "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017-18: Population Estimates by Local Government Area (ASGS 2018), 2017 to 2018". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018.
  3. ^   This Wikipedia article incorporates CC BY 4.0 licensed text from: "Wadja". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  4. ^   This Wikipedia article incorporates CC BY 4.0 licensed text from: "Yambina". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  5. ^   This Wikipedia article incorporates CC BY 4.0 licensed text from: "Yetimarala". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  6. ^ "Local Government Reform Bill" (PDF). State of Queensland. 2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 September 2007. Retrieved 9 September 2007.
  7. ^ "Recent place name decisions: Job number 18-115: The Gemfields". Queensland Government. 17 April 2020. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  8. ^ "Proposed Locality Boundaries and Names: Anakie Siding, Argyll, Emerald, Gindie, Lochington, Minerva, Rubyvale and Sapphire Central" (PDF). Queensland Government. 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  9. ^ "Locality Boundaries and Names: Anakie Siding, Argyll, Emerald, Gindie, Lochington, Minerva, Rubyvale and Sapphire Central" (PDF). Queensland Government. 17 April 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  10. ^ "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  11. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Central Highlands Region (LGA)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.  
  12. ^ "Locations". Central Highlands Regional Council. Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  13. ^ "2008 Central Highlands Regional Council – Mayoral Election – Election Summary". results.ecq.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 29 March 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  14. ^ "2012 Central Highlands Regional Council – Mayoral Election – Election Summary". results.ecq.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 1 April 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  15. ^ "2016 Central Highlands Regional Council – Mayoral Election – Election Summary". results.ecq.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  16. ^ "2020 Local Government Elections: Saturday, 28 March 2020". Electoral Commission of Queensland. 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.[dead link]
  17. ^ Offord, Geordi (28 March 2024). "Janice Moriarty declared mayor of Central Highlands Regional Council". The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 29 March 2024. Central Highlands Regional Council has its first female mayor since it was established in 2008 after Janice Moriarty was officially declared the winner by the Electoral Commission Queensland on Thursday.
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