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Bega Valley Shire

Coordinates: 36°40′S 149°50′E / 36.667°S 149.833°E / -36.667; 149.833
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(Redirected from Sapphire Coast)
This article is about the local government area. For the regional town, see Bega, New South Wales.

Bega Valley
New South Wales
Location in New South Wales
Coordinates36°40′S 149°50′E / 36.667°S 149.833°E / -36.667; 149.833
Population35,942 (LGA 2021)[1]
Established1981
Area6,279 km2 (2,424.3 sq mi)
MayorRussell Fitpatrick (Mayor)
Anthony McMahon (CEO)
Council seatBega[2]
RegionSouth Coast
State electorate(s)Bega
Federal division(s)Eden-Monaro
WebsiteBega Valley
LGAs around Bega Valley:
Snowy Monaro Eurobodalla Tasman Sea
Snowy Monaro Bega Valley Tasman Sea
East Gippsland (Vic) East Gippsland (Vic) Tasman Sea

The Bega Valley Shire is a local government area located adjacent to the south-eastern coastline of New South Wales, Australia. The Shire was formed in 1981 with the amalgamation of the Municipality of Bega, Imlay Shire and Mumbulla Shire,[3] with its name deriving from the town of Bega. The shire is also known as the Sapphire Coast for tourism and marketing purposes. During the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season, the area was devastated by fire, with 448 houses being destroyed by fire[4] and approximately 365,000 hectares burned, which is 58% of the Shire's total land mass.[5]

The estimated population as at the 2021 census was 35,942.[6]

The current mayor is Russell Fitzpatrick, an independent who joined the Liberal Party in 2023.[7]

Area

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The shire covers 6,040 square kilometres (2,330 sq mi), and includes a coastline of 225 km (140 mi), with 101 beaches and 26 estuaries. Around 78% of the area belongs to various national parks and state forests. The biggest industry is the production of timber, followed by dairy farming and other agriculture. Smaller industries include fishing, oyster harvesting, and tourism.[8] The Biamanga National Park includes important Aboriginal sites.[9]

Towns and localities

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The area extends from Bermagui in the north to the Victorian border in the south and includes the towns of Bega, Tathra, Merimbula, Tura Beach, Wolumla, Cobargo, Bemboka, Pambula, Pambula Beach and the former whaling port, tourism hotspot, and major port of Eden.

Smaller localities include:

  • Angledale
  • Bald Hills
  • Barragga Bay
  • Berrambool
  • Black Range
  • Bournda
  • Boydtown
  • Broadwater
  • Brogo
  • Buckajo
  • Burragate
  • Candelo
  • Chinnock
  • Coolagolite
  • Coopers Gully
  • Cuttagee
  • Devils Hole
  • Dignams Creek
  • Doctor George Mountain
  • Edrom
  • Frogs Hollow
  • Greendale
  • Greigs Flat
  • Jellat Jellat
  • Kalaru
  • Kameruka
  • Kanoona
  • Kiah
  • Kingswood
  • Lochiel
  • Millingandi
  • Mirador
  • Mogareeka
  • Mogilla
  • Morans Crossing
  • Mount Darragh
  • Murrah
  • Myrtle Mountain
  • Narrabarba
  • Nelson
  • Nethercote
  • New Buildings
  • Nullica
  • Numbugga
  • Nungatta (part)
  • Nungatta South
  • Pericoe
  • Quaama
  • Reedy Swamp
  • Rocky Hall
  • South Pambula
  • South Wolumla
  • Stony Creek
  • Tanja
  • Tantawangalo
  • Tarraganda
  • Timbillica
  • Toothdale
  • Towamba
  • Verona
  • Wallagoot
  • Wandella
  • Wapengo
  • Wolumla
  • Wonboyn
  • Wyndham
  • Yellow Pinch
  • Yowrie

Council

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Bega Valley Shire Council is composed of nine councillors elected proportionally as one entire 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, and the makeup of the Council is as follows:[10]

Party Councillors
Independent 6
Labor 1
Independent Liberal 1
Greens 1
Total 9

The current Council, elected in 2021, in order of election, is:[10]

Councillor Party Notes
  Helen O’Neil Labor
  Karen Wright Independent
  Russel Fitzpatrick Independent Liberal[11] Mayor[12]
  Tony Allen Independent
  Cathy Griff Greens Deputy Mayor[12]
  Mitch Nadin Independent
  David Porter Independent
  Liz Seckold Independent
  Joy Robin Independent

Election results

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2024

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This section is an excerpt from Results of the 2024 New South Wales local elections in South Coast and Southern Inland § Bega Valley results.[edit]
2024 New South Wales local elections: Bega Valley[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independents For Change 1. Mitchell Nadin (elected)
2. David Porter (elected)
3. Peggy Noble (elected)
4. Jason Hetherington
5. Morgan Eneberg 		7,374 34.63 +34.63
Labor 1. Helen O'Neil (elected)
2. Simon Daly (elected)
3. David Neyle
4. Nicola Collins 		5,296 24.87 +7.57
Greens 1. Peter Haggar (elected)
2. Liane Munro
3. Emma Goward
4. Vivian Harris
5. Jamie Shaw 		2,926 13.74 +1.34
Independent Russell Fitzpatrick (elected mayor) 2,044 9.60 −3.50
Independent Tony Allen (elected) 1,836 8.62 −3.48
Independent Clair Mudaliar (elected) 1,082 5.08 +5.08
Independent Phillip Dummett 733 3.44 +3.44
Total formal votes 21,291 90.87 −0.53
Informal votes 2,138 9.13 +0.53
Turnout 23,429

2021

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This section is an excerpt from Results of the 2021 New South Wales local elections in South Coast and Southern Inland § Bega Valley results.[edit]
2021 New South Wales local elections: Bega Valley[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labor 1. Helen O'Neil (elected)
2. Simon Daly 		4,943 17.3
Independent Russell Fitzpatrick (elected) 2,818 13.1
Greens 1. Cathy Griff (elected)
2. Vivian Harris
3. Paula Park
4. Angus Ashcroft
5. Peter Haggar 		2,665 12.4
Independent Tony Allen (elected) 2,594 12.1
Independent Karen Wright (elected) 2,539 11.8
Independent Mitch Nadin (elected) 1,201 5.6
Independent Joy Robin (elected) 1,080 5.0
Independent David Porter (elected) 1,003 4.7
Independent Mike Britten 884 4.1
Independent Liz Seckhold (elected) 875 4.1
Independent Nathan O'Donnell 852 4.0
Independent Joshua Shoobridge 650 3.0
Independent Neil Bourke 568 2.6
Total formal votes 21,435 91.4
Informal votes 2,026 8.6
Turnout 23,461 87.9

Demographics

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Selected historical census data for Bega Valley Shire local government area
Census year 2011[15] 2016[16][6] 2021
Population Estimated residents on census night 31,950 Increase 33,253 Increase 35,942
LGA rank in terms of size within New South Wales 56th Decrease 57th
% of New South Wales population 0.46% Decrease 0.44% Steady 0.44%
% of Australian population 0.15% Decrease 0.14% Steady 0.14%
Cultural and language diversity
Ancestry,
top responses		 English 32.5% Decrease 31.9% Increase 43.8%
Australian 31.3% Decrease 30.9% Increase 40.7
Irish 9.3% Decrease 9.2% Increase 13.0%
Scottish 8.4% Decrease 8.2% Increase 11.4%
German 3.8% Decrease 3.7% Increase 5.1%
Language,
top responses
(other than English)		 German 0.6% Decrease 0.5% Decrease 0.4%
Dutch 0.3% Decrease 0.2% –
Italian 0.2% Steady 0.2% –
French 0.2% Steady 0.2% Steady 0.2%
Thai n/r 0.2% Steady 0.2%
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation,
top responses		 No religion, so described 26.7% Increase 35.1% Increase 46.9%
Anglican 27.3% Decrease 21.9% Decrease 16.4%
Catholic 20.0% Decrease 17.9% Decrease 15.1%
Not stated n/r 10.4% Decrease 8.3%
Uniting Church 4.6% Decrease 3.7% Decrease 2.7%
Median weekly incomes
Personal income Median weekly personal income $454 Increase $538 Increase $645
% of Australian median income 78.7% Increase 81.3% Increase 80.1%
Family income Median weekly family income $1,014 Increase $1,242 Increase $1,501
% of Australian median income 68.5% Increase 71.6% Decrease 70.8%
Household income Median weekly household income $848 Increase $986 Increase $1,200
% of Australian median income 68.7% Decrease 68.6% Increase 68.7%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Bega Valley (Local Government Area)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ "Bega Valley Shire Council". New South Wales Division of Local Government. Archived from the original on 7 September 2006. Retrieved 14 November 2006.
  3. ^ "Holdings". Bega Valley Genealogy Society. Bega Valley Genealogy Society Inc. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  4. ^ McKnight, Albert (18 March 2020). "Forty per cent of fire-destroyed homes haven't registered for free clean-up: Bega council". Bega District News. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  5. ^ McKnight, Albert (29 February 2020). "Bushfire damage count: two-thirds of Far South Coast burnt, eight lives lost". Illawarra Mercury. Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  6. ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Bega Valley". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 May 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  7. ^ "Bega Valley Mayor endorsed as Liberal candidate in next state election". 24 November 2022.
  8. ^ "About the Bega Valley Shire". About the Shire. Bega Valley Shire Council. n.d. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  9. ^ "Biamanga Cultural area". NSW National Parks. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Bega Valley Councillor Election". NSW Electoral Commission. 21 December 2021. Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2022. The following candidates were declared elected on 21 December 2021: Helen O'NEIL (ALP) Karen WRIGHT (IND) Russell FITZPATRICK (IND) Tony ALLEN (IND) Cathy GRIFF (GRN) Mitch NADIN (IND) David PORTER (IND) Liz SECKOLD (IND) Joy ROBIN (IND)
  11. ^ Smyth, Ben (24 November 2022). "Bega Valley Mayor endorsed as Liberal candidate in next state election". Merimbula News Weekly. Archived from the original on 20 May 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Meet your Councillors and Mayor". Bega Valley Shire Council. Bega NSW. 12 January 2022. Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  13. ^ "Bega Valley - First Preference Group and Candidate Votes by Aggregated Vote Type". New South Wales Electoral Commission. 1 October 2024. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  14. ^ "Bega Valley". ABC News.
  15. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Bega Valley (A)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 9 July 2017. Edit this at Wikidata
  16. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Bega Valley (A)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 9 July 2017. Edit this at Wikidata
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