The Longreach Region is a local government area in Central West Queensland, Australia. Established in 2008, it superseded three previous local government areas that had existed for more than a century.
It has an estimated operating budget of A$22.3m.
Traditionally, pastoral activities, tourism, and rural education have been the areas of focus within the region, with a major agricultural college and attractions such as the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame and the Qantas Founders Museum.
In the , the Longreach Region had a population of 3,647 people.
History Longreach Region lay on the traditional tribal lands of the Iningai. Iningai (also known as Yiningay, Muttaburra, Tateburra, Yinangay, Yinangi) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken by the Iningai people. The Iningai language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Longreach Region, particularly the towns of Longreach, Barcaldine, Muttaburra and Aramac as well as the properties of Bowen Downs and catchments of Cornish Creek and Alice River.
Kuungkari (also known as Kungkari and Koonkerri) is a language of Western Queensland. The Kuungkari language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of Longreach Shire Council and Blackall-Tambo Shire Council.
Prior to the 2008 amalgamation, the Longreach Region existed as three distinct local government areas:
the Shire of Longreach; the Shire of Ilfracombe; and the Shire of Isisford.
In July 2007, the Local Government Reform Commission released its report recommending that the three areas amalgamate. Ilfracombe was rated by a Treasury sustainability review as very weak with a negative outlook, while the other two were rated as moderate. All three councils opposed the amalgamation. The legislation passed to effect the merger on 10 August 2007. A Local Transition Committee made up of staff and councillors of the three dissolving entities was formed to manage the process. On 15 March 2008, the three Shires formally ceased to exist, and elections were held on the same day to elect councillors and a mayor to the Regional Council.
In January 2019, it was decided to reduce the number of localities within Longreach Region by amalgamating the localities to the north and west of the town of Longreach into the locality of Longreach. The localities amalgamated were: Camoola, Chorregon, Ernestina, Maneroo, Morella, Tocal, and Vergemont. As a consequence of this amalgamation, the Longreach Region has only three localities: Longreach, Ilframcombe and Isisford.
On 10 September 2021, a new locality called Yaraka was created around the town of Yaraka, the land being excised from the locality of Isisford, to avoid confusion and restore historical connections.
Council
Current composition The current council, elected in 2020, is: WardCouncillorParty Mayor Anthony Rayner Independent Councillor Dale Bignell Independent Tony Emslie Independent Tracy Hatch Independent Tony Martin Independent Leonie Nunn Independent Trevor Smith Independent
Mayors
2008−present No.PortraitMayorPartyTerm startTerm end 1 John Palmer Independent 15 March 2008 28 April 2012 2 R. L. "Joe" Owens Independent 28 April 2012 19 March 2016 2 Ed Warren Independent 19 March 2016 28 March 2020 4 Tony Rayner Independent 28 March 2020 incumbent
Past councillors
2008−2012 (six wards) + YearDivision 1Division 2Division 3Division 4Division 5Division 6Councillor PartyCouncillor PartyCouncillor PartyCouncillor PartyCouncillor PartyCouncillor Party 2008 Tony Nielsen Independent Robert "Mick" Bischel Independent Richard Murray Independent Glennis Ford Independent Norma Rae Bowden Independent Ken Hoolihan Independent
2012−present (unsubdivided) + YearCouncillor PartyCouncillor PartyCouncillor PartyCouncillor PartyCouncillor PartyCouncillor Party 2012 Jocelyn Avery Independent Norma Rae Bowden Independent Tony Emslie Independent David Morton Independent Tony Nielsen Independent Trevor Smith Independent 2016 Trevor Harris Independent Tony Martin Independent Leonie Nunn Independent Anthony Rayner Independent 2020 Dale Bignell Independent Tracy Hatch Independent
Towns and localities The Longreach Region includes the following settlements:
Longreach area: Arrilalah Camoola (former) Chorregon (former) Ernestina (former) Longreach Maneroo (former) Morella (former) Tocal (former) Vergemont (former)
Ilfracombe area: Ilfracombe
Isisford area: Emmet Isisford Yaraka
Amenities Longreach Regional Council operates public libraries at Ilfracombe, Isisford, and Longreach.
Demographics The populations given relate to the component entities prior to 2008 and combined population after amalgamation. The population has been in steady decline since the early 1960s.
Year Population(Total) (Longreach) (Ilfracombe) (Isisford) 1933 6,079 4,564 642 873 1947 5,244 4,137 450 657 1954 5,694 4,343 544 807 1961 6,533 5,013 653 867 1966 6,366 4,959 660 747 1971 5,142 4,300 389 453 1976 4,911 4,052 428 431 1981 4,911 3,846 460 605 1986 4,663 3,871 327 465 1991 5,153 4,369 344 440 1996 5,054 4,419 333 302 2001 5,037 4,368 356 313 2006 4,806 4,180 279 347 2011 4,189 2016 3,660 2021 3,647
References
External links Maps showing the localities before and after the January 2019 amalgamations (archived before and after on 28 July 2019) Longreach Regional Council Website