LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF QUEENSLAND

The 'Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Queensland', Australia are the areas for which particular Local Government authorities, generally known as "Councils" have the responsibility to provide local government services. Determining the size and shape of the Local Government Areas is the sole responsibility of the Queensland Government and in the past many local government areas have been amalgamated or abolished, either voluntarily or involuntarily. Despite this, many of the local government areas date back to the start of the twentieth century, as shown on a 1909 map.^[1]
There are three classifications of local government in Queensland:
# Cities (predominantly urban or suburban areas)
# Towns (three medium size rural towns, all surrounded by a rural Shire) and;
# Shires (predominantly rural or outer suburban areas).
Other than Brisbane City Council, there are no practical differences between these types of local governments - the differences are only in name and reflect historical differences between the different types of local government prior to the enactment of the current law that regulates local government in the state of Queensland, the ''Local Government Act (Qld) 1993''. Brisbane City Council has its own Act of Parliament, the ''City of Brisbane Act 1924''.
In addition thirty-four Aboriginal Councils are administered under the Local Government Act; before January 2007 there were only two — Aurukun Shire Council and Mornington Shire Council — the rest underwent transition to full Shire council status in January 2007.^[2] The official term "Island Council" as reflected in the list below indicates a community of Islander people and does not necessarily indicate that an LGA comprises an island or a group of islands. Seisia and Bamaga are both mainland Island Councils.
The Queensland Minister of Local Government and Planning, Andrew Fraser, announced a complete review of all Queensland local government area boundaries (other than Brisbane City Council) by the Local Government Reform Commission, to be completed prior to the 2008 local government elections.^[3]
As of March 2007 there are 158 Local Government Areas in Queensland. These are listed below in alphabetical order. Under each LGA is listed recommended action regarding amalgamation.^[4]

Contents

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

P

Q

R

S

T

U

W

Y

External links

References

A

Council	Financial Status	Amalgamation Notes
Aramac Shire Council	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Barcaldine and Jericho Shires
Atherton Shire Council	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Eacham, Herberton and Mareeba Shires
Aurukun Shire Council		No boundary change

B

Council	Financial Status	Amalgamation Notes
Badu Island Council		Amalgamate in Torres Strait Island Regional Council
Balonne Shire Council	Financially Weak	No boundary change
Bamaga Island Council		Amalgamate with Injinoo, Umagico and New Mapoon Aboriginal Shires and Seisia Island Council
Banana Shire Council	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Division 1 of Taroom Shire
Barcaldine Shire Council	Financially Weak	Amalgamate with Aramac and Jericho Shires
Barcoo Shire Council		No boundary change
Bauhinia Shire Council	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Emerald, Peak Downs and Duaringa Shires
Beaudesert Shire Council		Amalgamate southern rural areas, including town of Beaudesert with Boonah Shire in Beaudesert Regional Council and amalgamate northern urban areas with Logan City
Belyando Shire Council		Amalgamate with Nebo and Broadsound Shires
Bendemere Shire Council	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Bungil, Warroo and Booringa Shires and Roma Town
Biggenden Shire Council	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Gayndah, Mundubbera, Eidsvold, Perry and Monto Shires
Blackall Shire Council	Financially Weak	Amalgamate with Tambo Shire
Boigu Island Council		Amalgamate in Torres Strait Island Regional Council
Boonah Shire Council	Financially Weak	Amalgamate with southern rural areas of Beaudesert Shire, including town of Beaudesert and transfer Harrisville/Peak Crossing area from Ipswich City
Booringa Shire Council	Financially Very Weak	Amalgamate with Bungil, Bendemere,and Warroo Shires and Roma Town
Boulia Shire Council	Financially Weak	No boundary change
Bowen Shire Council	Financially Weak	Amalgamate with Whitsunday Shire
Brisbane City Council		Not part of this review
Broadsound Shire Council	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Belyando and Nebo Shires
Bulloo Shire Council		No boundary change
Bundaberg City Council	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Burnett, Isis and Kolan Shires
Bungil Shire Council	Financially Moderate	Amalgamated with Bendemere, Warroo and Booringa Shires and Roma Town
Burdekin Shire Council	Financially Moderate	No boundary change
Burke Shire Council		No boundary change
Burnett Shire Council	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Isis and Kolan Shires and Bundaberg City

C

Council	Financial Status	Amalgamation Notes
Caboolture Shire Council	Financially Strong	Amalgamate with Pine Rivers Shire and Redcliffe City
Cairns City Council		Amalgamate with Douglas Shire
Calliope Shire Council	Financially Strong	Amalgamate with Gladstone City and Miriam Vale Shire
Caloundra City Council	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Maroochy and Noosa Shires
Cambooya Shire Council		Amalgamate with Clifton, Pittsworth, Millmerran, Jondaryan, Rosalie and Crows Nest Shires and Toowoomba City
Cardwell Shire Council		Amalgamate with Johnstone Shire
Carpentaria Shire Council	Financially Very Weak	No boundary change
Charters Towers City Council	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Dalrymple Shire
Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council		No boundary change
Chinchilla Shire Council	Financially Weak	Amalgamate with Murilla, Tara and Wambo Shires, Dalby Town and Division 2 of Taroom Shire (Wandoan area)
Clifton Shire Council	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Millmerran, Pittsworth, Cambooya, Jondaryan, Rosalie and Crows Nest Shires and Toowoomba City
Cloncurry Shire Council		No boundary change
Cook Shire Council		No boundary change
Cooloola Shire Council		Amalgamate with Kilkivan Shire and Division 3 of Tiaro Shire (Theebine/Gunalda area)
Crows Nest Shire Council	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Rosalie, Jondaryan, Millmerran, Pittsworth, Clifton and Cambooya Shires and Toowoomba City
Croydon Shire Council	Financially Weak	No boundary change

D

Council	Financial Status	Amalgamation Notes
Dalby Town Council	Financially Weak	Amalgamate with Wambo, Tara, Murilla and Chinchilla Shires and Division 2 of Taroom Shire (Wandoan area)
Dalrymple Shire Council	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Charters Towers City
Dauan Island Council		Amalgamate in Torres Strait Regional Council
Diamantina Shire Council	Financially Weak	No boundary change
Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council		No boundary change
Douglas Shire Council		Amalgamate with Cairns City
Duaringa Shire Council	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Bauhinia, Emerald and Peak Downs Shires

E

Council	Financial Status	Amalgamation Notes
Eacham Shire Council	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Herberton, Mareeba and Atherton Shires
Eidsvold Shire Council	Financially Very Weak	Amalgamate with Mundubbera, Gayndah, Biggenden, Perry and Monto Shires
Emerald Shire Council	Financially Strong	Amalgamate with Peak Downs, Bauhinia and Duaringa Shires
Erub Island Council		Amalgamate in Torres Strait Island Regional Council
Council of the Shire of Esk	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Kilcoy Shire
Etheridge Shire Council		No boundary change

F

Council	Financial Status	Amalgamation Notes
Fitzroy Shire Council	Financially Weak	Amalgamate with Mount Morgan and Livingstone Shires and Rockhampton City
Flinders Shire Council		No boundary change

G

Council	Financial Status	Amalgamation Notes
Gatton Shire Council		Amalgamate with Laidley Shire
Gayndah Shire Council	Financially Weak	Amalgamate with Mundubbera, Eidsvold, Monto, Perry and Biggenden Shires
Gladstone City Council	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Calliope and Miriam Vale Shires
Gold Coast City Council		Transfer Beenleigh/Eagleby area north of the Albert River to Logan City
Goondiwindi Town Council	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Waggamba and Inglewood Shires

H

Council	Financial Status	Amalgamation Notes
Hammond Island Council		Amalgamate in Torres Strait Island Regional Council
Herberton Shire Council	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Eacham, Atherton and Mareeba Shires
Hervey Bay City Council		Amalgamate with Maryborough City, Woocoo Shire and Divisions 1 and 2 of Tiaro Shire
Hinchinbrook Shire Council	Financially Moderate	No boundary change
Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council		No boundary change

I

Council	Financial Status	Amalgamation Notes
Iama Island Council		Amalgamate in Torres Strait Island Regional Council
Ilfracombe Shire Council	Financially Very Weak	Amalgamate with Isisford and Longreach Shires
Inglewood Shire Council	Financially Very Weak	Amalgamate with Waggamba Shire and Goondiwindi Town
Injinoo Aboriginal Shire Council (Cowal Creek)		Amalgamate with Umagico and New Mapoon Aboriginal Shires and Bamaga and Seisia Island Councils
Ipswich City Council	Financially Strong	Transfer Harrisville/Peak Crossing area to Beaudesert Regional Council
Isis Shire Council		Amalgamate with Kolan and Burnett Shires and Bundaberg City
Isisford Shire Council	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Ilfracombe and Longreach Shires

J

Council	Financial Status	Amalgamation Notes
Jericho Shire Council	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Barcaldine and Aramac Shires
Johnstone Shire Council	Financially Distressed	Amalgamate with Cardwell Shire
Jondaryan Shire Council	Financially Very Weak	Amalgamate with Millmerran, Pittsworth, Cambooya, Clifton, Rosalie and Crows Nest Shires and Toowoomba City

K

Council	Financial Status	Amalgamation Notes
Kilcoy Shire Council	Financially Weak	Amalgamate with Esk Shire
Kilkivan Shire Council	Financially Weak	Amalgamate with Cooloola Shire and Division 3 of Tiaro Shire (Theebine/Gunalda areas)
Kingaroy Shire Council	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Wondai, Murgon and Nanango Shires
Kolan Shire Council	Financially Very Weak	Amalgamate with Isis and Burnett Shires and Bundaberg City
Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council		No boundary change
Kubin Island Council		Amalgamate in Torres Strait Island Regional Council

L

Council	Financial Status	Amalgamation Notes
Laidley Shire Council	Financially Weak	Amalgamate in Torres Strait Regional Council
Livingstone Shire Council	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Fitzroy and Mount Morgan Shires and Rockhampton City
Lockhart River Aboriginal Shire Council		No boundary change
Logan City Council		Amalgamate with northern urban areas of Beaudesert Shire and Beenleigh/Eagleby areas north of the Albert River from Gold Coast City
Longreach Shire Council	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Isisford and Ilfracombe Shires

M

Council	Financial Status	Amalgamation Notes
Mabuiag Island Council		Amalgamate in Torres Strait Regional Council
Mackay City Council	Financially Strong	Amalgamate with Mirani and Sarina Shires
Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council
McKinlay Shire Council
Mareeba Shire Council		Amalgamate with Atherton, Eacham and Herberton Shires
Maroochy Shire Council	Financially Strong	Amalgamate with Caloundra City and Noosa Shire
Maryborough City Council	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Hervey Bay City, Woocoo Shire and Divisions 1 and 2 of Tiaro Shire
McKinlay Shire Council		No boundary change
Millmerran Shire Council	Financially Weak	Amalgamate with Pittsworth, Clifton, Cambooya, Jondaryan, Rosalie and Crows Nest Shires and Toowoomba City
Mirani Shire Council	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Mackay City and Sarina Shire
Miriam Vale Shire Council	Financially Weak	Amalgamate with Calliope Shire and Gladstone City
Monto Shire Council	Financially Weak	Amalgamate with Perry, Biggenden, Gayndah, Mundubbera and Eidsvold Shires
Mornington Shire Council		Include Sweers Island and Bountiful Islands (unincorporated lands)
Mount Isa City Council		No boundary change
Mount Morgan Shire Council	Financially Very Weak	Amalgamate with Fitzroy and Livingstone Shires and Rockhampton City
Mundubbera Shire Council		Amalgamate with Eidsvold, Monto, Perry, Biggenden and Gayndah Shires
Murgon Shire Council	Financially Distressed	Amalgamate with Wondai, Kingaroy and Nanango Shires
Murilla Shire Council	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Tara, Chinchilla and Wambo Shires, Dalby Town and Division 2 of Taroom Shire (Wandoan area)
Murweh Shire Council		No boundary change
Mer Island Council

N

Council	Financial Status	Amalgamation Notes
Nanango Shire Council	Financially Weak	Amalgamate with Kingaroy, Murgon and Wondai Shires
Napranum Aboriginal Shire Council		No boundary change
Nebo Shire Council	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Belyando and Broadsound Shires
New Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council		Amalgamate with Injinoo and Umagico Aboriginal Shires and Bamaga and Seisia Island Councils
Noosa Shire Council	Financially Strong	Amalgamate with Maroochy Shire and Caloundra City

P

Council	Financial Status	Amalgamation Notes
Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council		No boundary change
Paroo Shire Council		No boundary change
Peak Downs Shire Council	Financially Strong	Amalgamate with Emerald, Bauhinia and Duaringa Shires
Perry Shire Council	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Biggenden, Gayndah, Mundubbera, Eidsvold and Monto Shires
Pine Rivers Shire Council	Financially Strong	Amalgamate with Caboolture Shire and Redcliffe City
Pittsworth Shire Council	Financially Weak	Amalgamate with Millmerran, Clifton, Cambooya, Jondaryan, Rosalie and Crows Nest Shire and Toowoomba City
Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council		No boundary change
Poruma Island Council		Amalgamate in Torres Strait Island Regional Council

Q

Council	Financial Status	Amalgamation Notes
Quilpie Shire Council		No boundary change

R

Council	Financial Status	Amalgamation Notes
Redcliffe City Council	Financially Strong	Amalgamate with Pine Rivers and Caboolture Shires
Redland Shire Council		No boundary change
Richmond Shire Council		No boundary change
Rockhampton City Council	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Livingstone, Fitzroy and Mount Morgan Shires
Roma Town Council	Financially Very Weak	Amalgamate with Bungil, Bendemere, Warroo and Booringa Shires
Rosalie Shire Council	Financially Weak	Amalgamate with Crows Nest, Jondaryan, Millmerran, Pittsworth, Clifton and Cambooya Shires and Toowoomba City

S

Council	Financial Status	Amalgamation Notes
Saibai Island Council		Amalgamate in Torres Strait Island Regional Council
Sarina Shire Council	Financially Weak	Amalgamate with Mackay City and Mirani Shire
Seisia Island Council		Amalgamate with Injinoo, Umagico and New Mapoon Aboriginal Shires and Bamaga Island Council
St. Pauls Island Council		Amalgamate in Torres Strait Island Regional Council
Stanthorpe Shire Council	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Warwick Shire

T

Council	Financial Status	Amalgamation Notes
Tambo Shire Council	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Blackall Shire
Tara Shire Council	Financially Weak	Amalgamate with Murilla, Chinchilla and Wambo Shires, Dalby Town and Division 2 of Taroom Shire (Wandoan area)
Taroom Shire Council	Financially Very Weak	Amalgamate Division 1 (Taroom area) with Banana Shire and amalgamate Division 2 (Wandoan area) in Dalby Regional Council
City of Thuringowa	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Townsville City
Tiaro Shire Council	Financially Weak	Amalgamate Divisions 1 and 2 (northern areas of Shire) with Maryborough and Hervey Bay Cities and Woocoo Shire in Fraser Coast Regional Council and amalgamate Division 3 (Theebine/Gunalda areas) with Cooloola and Kilkivan Shires in Gympie Regional Council
City of Toowoomba	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Crows Nest, Rosalie, Jondaryan, Millmerran, Pittsworth, Clifton and Cambooya Shires
Torres Shire Council		No boundary change
City of Townsville	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Thuringowa City

U

Council	Financial Status	Amalgamation Notes
Ugar Island Council		Amalgamate in Torres Strait Island Regional Council
Umagico Aboriginal Shire Council		Amalgamate with Injinoo and New Mapoon Aboriginal Shires and Bamaga and Seisia Island Councils

W

Council	Financial Status	Amalgamation Notes
Waggamba Shire Council	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Goondiwindi Town and Inglewood Shire
Wambo Shire Council	Financially Weak	Amalgamate with Chinchilla, Tara and Murilla Shires, Dalby Town and Division 2 of Taroom Shire (Wandoan area)
Warraber Island Council		Amalgamate in Torres Strait Island Regional Council
Warroo Shire Council	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Booringa, Bungil and Bendemere Shires and Roma Town
Warwick Shire Council	Financially Weak	Amalgamate with Stanthorpe Shire
Whitsunday Shire Council	Financially Moderate	Amalgamate with Bowen Shire
Winton Shire Council	Financially Moderate	No boundary change
Wondai Shire Council	Financially Weak	Amalgamate with Murgon, Nanango and Kingaroy Shires
Woocoo Shire Council	Financially Weak	Amalgamate with Maryborough and Hervey Bay Cities and Divisions 1 and 2 of Tiaro Shire
Woorabinda Aboriginal Shire Council		No boundary change
Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council		No boundary change

Y

Council	Financial Status	Amalgamation Notes
Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council		No boundary change
Yorke Island Council		Amalgamate in Torres Strait Regional Council

External links

★

★ Local Government Association of Queensland

★ Queensland Government Local Government and Planning website

References

: Finicial status are according to the Financially Distressed Councils Report.
1. Queensland, 1909. National Library of Australia
2. Aboriginal and Island Councils
3. Local government reform
4. http://www.strongercouncils.qld.gov.au/IndependentReformCommission/Commissionsrecommendationsreport.aspx