Wakefield Regional Council South Australia
Location of Wakefield Regional Council
Population:	6,372 (2006)
Area:	3469.4 km² (1,339.5 sq mi)
Mayor:	James Maitland
Council Seat:	Balaklava, South Australia
Region:	Mid North
State District:	Frome, Goyder
Federal Division:	Wakefield, Grey
Website: http://www.wakefieldrc.sa.gov.au/
LGAs around Wakefield Regional Council: Barunga West Port Pirie Northern Areas Yorke Peninsula Wakefield Regional Council Clare and Gilbert Valleys Yorke Peninsula Mallala Light

Wakefield Regional Council is a local government administrative body in South Australia.

[edit] Towns & communities

The Wakefield Regional Council includes the following townships located in the area:

• Avon
• Balaklava
• Blyth
• Bowmans
• Brinkworth
• Halbury
• Hamley Bridge
• Hoyleton
• Kybunga
• Lakeview
• Lochiel
• Owen
• Pinery
• Port Wakefield
• Snowtown
• Whitwarta

[edit] History

The body came into being on 1 July 1997, as a result of the amalgamation of the former District Councils of:

• Blyth-Snowtown and
• Wakefield Plains.

The amalgamation occurred when much of the boundary reform of the local government was coming from the State Government as a result of various provisions contained in the "Local Government Act 1934". As a result, the number of local councils in South Australia was reduced from 118 to 68 by the deadline of 30 June 1999. The extent of this reform was in-line with the Australian Federal Government's overall broader micro-economic reform plans.

The area falling under Wakefield Regional Council (WRC) has been much affected by local government boundary changes that have taken place since the early 1980s. Before 1983 the area consisted of five local government district councils which have now all been subsumed into the WRC.

The Council's development plans are set out in the Green Paper.

[edit] Transport

The regional area is well served by a developed transport and communication networks. The main roads, which include the Stuart Highway, are all sealed and there are well maintained minor gravel roads.

There is no rail service for passengers in the council area, but it is traversed by the national Sydney-Perth line as well as by the state rail network.

[edit] Demographics

Data are accurate to 2003.

• Geographical area: 3,469.4 km²
• Population: 6,588, estimated as of 30 June 2002 by the Australian Bureau of Statistics
• Road length: 2,695 km
• Assessed value: $1,354,733,680 (capital value), as of 1 July 2005

The Council has recorded a net decrease in its population of 4.2% between 1991-2001 - about 27 people per annum. Anecdotal evidence suggest that this trend will continue due a decline in employment opportunities.

The median age of the population in 2001 was 39, an increase of 5 years since 1991 - something reflected in the percentage of people aged greater than 45, at 41.8% of the population. It is felt that a shift to an aging community will in due course put pressure on suitable accommodation for this age group.

[edit] Council contacts

• Address: Wakefield Regional Council, Scotland Place, Balaklava SA 5461
• Telephone: +61 (0)8 8862 0800 or +61 1300 762 500
• Facsimile: +61 (0)8 8862 1115
• Email: admin@wakefieldrc.sa.gov.au

[edit] External links

• Council website
• Map of Council Jurisdiction
• Council By Laws and policies
• Yorke Peninsula website

Coordinates: 34°08′51″S 138°24′56″E / 34.1475°S 138.415555556°E / -34.1475; 138.415555556