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Scenic Rim Region
Queensland
Location within South East Queensland
Population42,984 (2021 census)
 • Density10.1306/km (26.238/sq mi)
Established2008
Area4,243 km (1,638.2 sq mi)
MayorTom Sharp
Council seatBeaudesert
RegionWest Moreton
State electorate(s)Scenic Rim
Federal division(s)Wright
WebsiteScenic Rim Region
LGAs around Scenic Rim Region:
Lockyer Valley Ipswich Logan
Southern Downs Scenic Rim Region Gold Coast
Southern Downs Kyogle (NSW) Tweed (NSW)

The Scenic Rim Region is a local government area (LGA) in the West Moreton region of South East Queensland, Australia, and is located approximately 80 kilometres due south of Brisbane. Established in 2008, it was preceded by several previous local government areas with histories extending back to the early 1900s and beyond. The main town of the region is Beaudesert.

It has an estimated operating budget of A$33 million.

In the 2021 census, the Scenic Rim Region had a population of 42,984 people.

History

Prior to 2008, the new Scenic Rim Region was an entire area of three previous and distinct local government areas:

Beaudesert Shire Tramway, 1903
A bullock team at Kalbar, 1915
Timber yards at Canungra, 1939

In July 2007, the Local Government Reform Commission released its report and recommended that the areas amalgamate. It identified a rural community of interest as well as ecotourism potential from the Scenic Rim, a group of mountain ranges forming part of the Great Dividing Range, and recommended the transfer of the entire urban growth corridor previously within Beaudesert to Logan City. Along with Lockyer Valley and Somerset, it was expected to provide a rural hinterland for urban South East Queensland. The arrangement was Boonah's second preference (its first was simply absorbing the rural areas of Ipswich) while Beaudesert opposed splitting or amalgamation.

The legislation passed to effect the merger on 10 August 2007. A Local Transition Committee made up of staff and councillors of the dissolving entities was formed to manage the process. On 15 March 2008, the Shires formally ceased to exist, and elections were held on the same day to elect councillors and a mayor to the Regional Council.

Geography

Mount Lindesay from Palen Creek
Mount Maroon, 2009

The region is mostly rural, with Beaudesert and Boonah the main towns. It lies within the catchment areas of the Bremer River, the Logan River/Albert River and the Coomera River/Nerang River. The centre of the area is dominated by the Flinders Peak Group and broad sweep of mountainous terrain forming a southern boundary with the local government area on Queensland's southern border with New South Wales. Many high-altitude areas are covered by forests and protected in national parks (including World Heritage listings) at Tamborine Mountain, McPherson Range, Main Range National Park, Mount Barney National Park and landforms including Cunninghams Gap and Fassifern Valley. South East Queensland's highest mountain is Mount Barney, reaching 1,356 metres (4,449 ft) above sea level. Wyaralong Dam is the region's newest reservoir.

In the south east of the local government area is the Lamington National Park. It includes villages such as Canungra, Kooralbyn, Rathdowney, Beechmont and Harrisville. The peak at Mount French, part of Moogerah Peaks National Park is noted for its traditional rock climbing and does not have bolted climbing routes. The peak also boasts a '32' rated climb (one of the hardest in the world) which attracts international rock climbing visitors to the area. The area of Boonah is fairly flat with large areas of very productive soils for the growing of vegetables and other crops. Beechmont and O'Reillys are mountainous areas overlooking the Gold Coast hinterland. These areas attract visitors for camping, bushwalking and bird watching.

Council

The council is split into six wards (divisions), each returning one councillor, along with a directly-elected mayor.

Current composition

The current council, elected in 2024, is:

Ward Councillor Party
Mayor   Tom Sharp Independent
Division 1   Amanda Hay Independent
Division 2   Kerri Cryer Independent
Division 3   Stephen Moriarty Independent
Division 4   Jennifer Sanders Independent
Division 5   Marshall Chalk Independent
Division 6   Duncan McInnes Independent

Mayors

John Brent was the region's first mayor. He was first elected as a councillor in the Shire of Boonah in 1976 and was chairman of the Shire of Boonah beginning on 12 April 1994, becoming mayor of the Scenic Rim Region following the amalgamation.

2008−present

No. Portrait Mayor Party Term start Term end Council control
(term)
1 John Brent Independent 15 March 2008 19 March 2016 Independents majority
(2008–present)
2 Greg Christensen Independent LNP 19 March 2016 26 April 2023
(2) Independent 27 April 2023 16 March 2024
3 Tom Sharp Independent 16 March 2024 incumbent

Deputy mayors

In 2016, the council resolved to review the position of deputy mayor annually, instead of having it be the longer-term position it was from 2008 to 2016.

No. Portrait Mayor Party Term start Term end Mayor
1 Dave Cockburn Independent 2008 2012 Brent
(Independent)
2 Virginia West Independent 2012 2016
3 Nigel Waistell Independent 2016 2017 Christensen
(Ind. LNP/Independent)
4 Nadia O'Carroll Independent 2017 2018
5 Rick Stanfield Independent 2018 2019
6 Duncan McInnes Independent 2019 2021
7 Michael Enright Independent 2021 2022
8 Jeff McConnell Independent 2021 2024
9 Duncan McInnes Independent 2024 incumbent Sharp
(Independent)

Past councillors

2008−present

Year Division 1 Division 2 Division 3 Division 4 Division 5 Division 6
Councillor Party Councillor Party Councillor Party Councillor Party Councillor Party Councillor Party
2008   Derek Swanborough Independent   Richard Adams Independent   Virginia West Independent   Dave Cockburn Independent   Kathy Bensted Independent   Heather Wehl Independent
2012   Nigel

Waistell

Independent   Nadia O'Carroll Independent   Jennifer Sanders Independent   Rick Stanfield Independent   Duncan McInnes Independent
2016   Michael Enright Independent
2020   Derek Swanborough Independent   Jeff McConnell Independent   Marshall Chalk Independent
2023   Amanda

Hay

Independent
2024 Amanda

Hay

Independent Kerri Cryer Independent Stephen

Moriarty

Independent Jennifer

Sanders

Independent Marshall

Chalk

Independent Duncan

McInnes

Independent

Towns and localities

Main Street, Boonah, 2008
Moogerah Dam and Main Range, 2011

The Scenic Rim Region includes the following settlements:

Other areas:

- split with the City of Ipswich - split with Logan City

Demographics

The rugged terrain around Moogerah Peaks National Park, 2013

The populations given relate to the component entities prior to 2008.

Year Population
1986 22,992
1991 28,512
1996 32,997
2001 35,342
2006 34,659

In the 2011 census, the Scenic Rim Region had a population of 36,456 people.

In the 2016 census, the Scenic Rim Region had a population of 40,072 people.

In the 2021 census, the Scenic Rim Region had a population of 42,984 people.

Heritage register

In 2014, the Scenic Rim Regional Council established its local heritage register as required by the Queensland Heritage Act 1992. In February 2015, it listed 54 places based on criteria in the Australia ICOMOS Burra Charter 1999.

Libraries

The Scenic Rim Regional Council operate libraries in Beaudesert, Boonah, Canungra and Tamborine Mountain. The council commenced a mobile library service in 2008, which serves Beechmont, Harrisville, Hillview, Kalbar, Kooralbyn, Peak Crossing, Rathdowney and Tamborine.

References

  1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Scenic Rim Region (LGA)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017-18: Population Estimates by Local Government Area (ASGS 2018), 2017 to 2018". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 27 March 2019. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018.
  3. ^ Queensland Local Government Reform Commission (July 2007). Report of the Local Government Reform Commission (PDF). Vol. 2. pp. 32–36. ISBN 978-1-921057-11-3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 March 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  4. ^ "One of the most enduring leaders in Queensland local government, Scenic Rim Mayor John Brent has a blunt and simple response to questions about the role of a council and its mayor... - Local Government Association of Queensland". lgaq.asn.au. Archived from the original on 4 December 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  5. ^ "Nomination for Mayor or Councillor". Electoral Commission of Queensland. Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  6. ^ "COUNCIL ELECTS NEW DEPUTY MAYOR". Scenic Rim Regional Council. 28 May 2019. Archived from the original on 7 May 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  7. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Scenic Rim Region (LGA)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 21 June 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  8. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Scenic Rim Region (LGA)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018. Edit this at Wikidata
  9. ^ "Local Heritage Register". Scenic Rim Regional Council. Archived from the original on 10 February 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  10. ^ "Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2016-17" (PDF). Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. November 2017. p. 15. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  11. ^ "Locations and Membership". Scenic Rim Regional Council. Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.

Further reading

  • Teese, Nerelie (2001), Hurricane lamps & handmilking : a history of dairy farming along the Logan & Albert River Valleys, Nerelie Teese, ISBN 978-0-9579326-0-9

27°59′15″S 152°59′43″E / 27.98750°S 152.99528°E / -27.98750; 152.99528