Cairns Region


The Cairns Region is a local government area in Far North Queensland, Queensland, Australia, centred on the regional centre of Cairns. It was established in 2008 by the amalgamation of the City of Cairns and the Shire of Douglas. However, following public protest and a referendum in 2013, on 1 January 2014, the Shire of Douglas was separated from the Cairns Region and re-established as a local government authority.
The Cairns Regional Council has an estimated operating budget of A$300 million.

History

Yidinji is an Australian Aboriginal language. Its traditional language region is within the local government areas of Cairns Region and Tablelands Region, in such localities as Cairns, Gordonvale, and the Mulgrave River, and the southern part of the Atherton Tableland including Atherton and Kairi.
Tjapukai Regulation 1994'' was gazetted on 16 December 1994. On 22 March 1995, the Shire was abolished and became part of the new City of Cairns.
In July 2007, the Local Government Reform Commission released its report and recommended that Cairns amalgamate with the Shire of Douglas, and that the new Cairns Regional Council be undivided with 10 councillors and a mayor. On 15 March 2008, the City and Shire formally ceased to exist, and elections were held on the same day to elect councillors and a mayor to the Regional Council.
In 2012, a proposal was made to de-amalgamate the Shire of Douglas from the Cairns Region. On 9 March 2013, the citizens of the former Douglas shire voted in a referendum to de-amalgamate. The shire was re-established on 1 January 2014.

Wards

The Region is divided into nine divisions, each of whom elects one councillor to the Cairns Regional Council. The mayor is elected by the entire region.
Division 1 covers the southern districts which were part of the Shire of Mulgrave prior to 1995. At the time of the 2008 amalgamation, Division 10 contained all of the former Shire of Douglas.

Towns and localities

The Cairns Region includes the following settlements:
Cairns Central area:
Northern Mulgrave area:
Southern Mulgrave area:
1 – shared with Cassowary Coast Region
2 – shared with Cassowary Coast Region and Tablelands Region

Libraries

The Cairns Regional Council operate public libraries at Babinda, Cairns City, Earlville, Edmonton, Gordonvale, Manunda, Smithfield and Stratford.

Population

The populations given relate to the component entities prior to 2008. The next census is due in 2021.
The only census in which the Cairns Region included the Douglas Shire was conducted in 2011.

Mayors

Council members

The Council members elected in 2020 were:
PositionPerson
Mayor of CairnsBob Manning
Division 1 CouncillorBrett Moller
Division 2 CouncillorRob Pyne
Division 3 CouncillorCathy Zeiger
Division 4 CouncillorTerry James
Division 5 CouncillorAmy Eden
Division 6 CouncillorKristy Vallely
Division 7 CouncillorMax O'Halloran
Division 8 CouncillorRhonda Coghlan
Division 9 CouncillorBrett Olds

The Council members elected in 2016 were:
PositionPerson
Mayor of CairnsBob Manning
Division 1 CouncillorBrett Moller
Division 2 CouncillorJohn Schilling
Division 3 CouncillorCathy Zeiger
Division 4 CouncillorTerry James
Division 5 CouncillorRichie Bates
Division 6 CouncillorLinda Cooper
Division 7 CouncillorMax O'Halloran
Division 8 CouncillorJessie Richardson
Division 9 CouncillorBrett Olds

The Council members elected in 2012 were:
PositionPerson
Mayor of CairnsBob Manning
Division 1 CouncillorSteve Brain
Division 2 CouncillorJohn Schilling
Division 3 CouncillorRob Pyne
Division 4 CouncillorTerry James
Division 5 CouncillorRichie Bates
Division 6 CouncillorLinda Cooper
Division 7 CouncillorMax O'Halloran
Division 8 CouncillorJessie Richardson
Division 9 CouncillorGregory Fennell
Division 10 CouncillorJulia Leu

On 1 January 2014, Julia Leu ceased to be a Councillor upon the de-amalgamation of the Shire of Douglas.
On 31 January 2015, Rob Pyne was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Queensland and resigned as a Councillor. Cathy Zeiger was appointed on 12 March 2015 to replace Rob Pyne by a panel comprising Mayor Bob Manning and former Councillors Fran Lindsay and Jeff Pezzutti.
The Council members elected in 2008 were:
PositionPerson
Mayor of CairnsVal Schier
Division 1 CouncillorPaul Gregory
Division 2 CouncillorNancy Lanskey
Division 3 CouncillorRob Pyne
Division 4 CouncillorKristen Lesina
Division 5 CouncillorAlan Blake
Division 6 CouncillorLinda Cooper
Division 7 CouncillorDiane Forsyth
Division 8 CouncillorMargaret Cochrane
Division 9 CouncillorSno Bonneau
Division 10 CouncillorJulia Leu