District Council of Grant | |||||||||||||
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 Location of the District Council of Grant | |||||||||||||
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| Country | Australia | ||||||||||||
| State | South Australia | ||||||||||||
| Region | Limestone Coast[1] | ||||||||||||
| Established | 1996[2] | ||||||||||||
| Council seat | Mount Gambier | ||||||||||||
| Government | |||||||||||||
| • Mayor | Kylie Boston[3] | ||||||||||||
| • State electorate | |||||||||||||
| • Federal division | |||||||||||||
| Area TheDistrict Council of Grant completely surrounds but does not include theCity of Mount Gambier. | |||||||||||||
• Total | 1,904 km2 (735 sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| Website | District Council of Grant | ||||||||||||
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TheDistrict Council of Grant is alocal government area located in theLimestone Coast region of South Australia, and is the southernmost council in the state.
The council was formed on 1 July 1996 after the amalgamation of theDistrict Council of Mount Gambier and theDistrict Council of Port MacDonnell, and currently surrounds theCity of Mount Gambier.[2][4] The economy of the district is based on agriculture,forestry and fishing.
The council seat and administration offices are outside the council boundaries inMount Gambier, while it maintains a branch office inPort MacDonnell.[5]
The council includes the towns and localities ofAllendale East,Blackfellows Caves,Canunda,Cape Douglas,Caroline,Carpenter Rocks,Caveton,Compton,Dismal Swamp,Donovans,Eight Mile Creek,German Creek,Kongorong,Mil-Lel,Mingbool,Moorak,Mount Schank,Nene Valley,Pelican Point,Pleasant Park,Port MacDonnell,Racecourse Bay,Square Mile,Tarpeena,Wandilo,Wye andYahl, and parts ofBurrungule,Glenburnie,OB Flat,Suttontown,Tantanoola,Wepar andWorrolong.[6]
Local government inMount Gambier was established in 1863, when theDistrict Council of Mount Gambier met for the first time, and Edward Wehl was elected theinaugural chairman.In December 1864 the District Council of Mount Gambier was divided into the District Council of Mount Gambier West (Town Council) and the District Council of Mount Gambier East. In May 1876 another division occurred resulting in the formation of the first town council with John Watson as Mayor.[7]
The three local governments operated independently up until 1932 when the District Council of Mount Gambier West and District Council of Mount Gambier East were merged to once again be united under the banner of the District Council of Mount Gambier.The town council never merged back, instead becoming what is now theCity of Mount Gambier.[7]
Land aroundPort MacDonnell was taken up bypastoralists as early as the 1840s. Settlement started in the 1850s.
By the end of the 1860s there were enough people in town and surrounding smaller settlements to warrant the proclamation of theDistrict Council of Port MacDonnell.[8]
With Port MacDonnell being the second largest port in South Australia, the population held steady until the decision was made not to connect the port to the newly south east railway network. This resulted in loss of trade, and declining populations in the town.[8]
The two councils merged in 1996 to form the District Council of Grant.[9]
The economy of the district relies on a range of industries, including agriculture, fishing,forestry and tourism.
Cereal crops and horticulture dominate many agricultural areas in the district, with beef, dairy and sheep production also prominent activities.
The fishing industry in Port MacDonnell is mostly reliant on therock lobster industry, as well as certain scalefish, and is a significant factor in the economy of the area.
Forestry production and related secondary industries of logging,milling and paper production are major economic and employment generating activities.
Tourists are attracted to the district by natural features such as thecoastline, theCanunda National Park andLake Bonney SE as well as the Europeanheritage making the area a popular and growing tourist destination.[9] A niche tourism activity iscave diving in the water-filledcaves andsinkholes present in the council's area as well of those of the City of Mount Gambier and theWattle Range Council. This activity attracts cave divers from around the globe. Popular sites within the council's area includeEwens Ponds andPiccaninnie Ponds.[10][11]
During autumn, many visitors also arrive to take advantage of the run ofbluefin tuna along the coast, with fish caught out over the edge of thecontinental shelf.
| Ward | Councillor | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor[3] | Kylie Boston | ||
| Central[3] | Megan Dukalskis | ||
| Brad Mann | |||
| Katherine Greene | |||
| Bruce Bain | |||
| Gavin Clarke | |||
| Peter Duncan | |||
| Barry Kuhl | |||
| Port MacDonnell[3] | Rodney Virgo | ||
| Tarpeena[3] | Karen Turnbull | ||
The District Council of Grant has a directly elected mayor.[12]
37°50′00″S140°47′00″E / 37.8333333333°S 140.783333333°E /-37.8333333333; 140.783333333