Shire of Colac Otway
Victoria
Location in Victoria
Coordinates38°26′S 143°38′E / 38.44°S 143.63°E / -38.44; 143.63
Population
  • 22,423 (2021)[1]
  • 20,972 (2016)[2]
 • Density6.52311/km2 (16.8948/sq mi)
Established23 September 1994
Gazetted23 September 1994[3]
Area3,437.47 km2 (1,327.2 sq mi)[4]
MayorKate Hanson
Council seatColac
RegionBarwon South West (region)
CountyPolwarth
State electorate(s)Polwarth
Federal division(s)Wannon
WebsiteShire of Colac Otway
LGAs around Shire of Colac Otway:
Corangamite Golden Plains Golden Plains
Corangamite Shire of Colac Otway Surf Coast
Southern Ocean Bass Strait Bass Strait

The Shire of Colac Otway is a local government area in the Barwon South West region of Victoria, Australia, located in the south-western part of the state.

Needs more padding in intro

Current Council structure

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Current composition

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The council is composed of seven councillors elected to represent the municipality. In order of election in 2020, they are:[5]

Ward Party Councillor Notes
Unsubdivided Restore Democracy Sack Dan Andrews Tosh-Jake Finnigan Elected on a countback in 2023 to replace Joe McCracken[6]
Independent Chris Potter Councillor since 2016
Independent Graham Lesie Costin
Independent Kate Hanson Councillor since 2016
Greens Stephen Hart Councillor since c2008
Independent Jamie Bell
Independent Margaret White

Wards

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The Shire is currently not subdivided into wards, and its seven councillors represented the entire area.

If there are any wards:
===... Ward===

Administration and governance

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The council meets in the council chambers at the council headquarters in the Colac Municipal Offices, which is also the location of the council's administrative activities. It also provides customer services at both its administrative centre in Colac, and its service centre in Apollo Bay.

Councillors

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  • Stephen Hart (c2008-)
  • Kate Hanson (2016-)
  • Chris Potter (2016-)
  • Jamie Bell (2020-)
  • Graham Lesie Costin (2020-)
  • Margaret White (2020-)
  • Tosh-Jake Finnigan (2023-)

Former councillors

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  • Frank Buchanan (c2008-2012, 2013-2016)
  • Brian Crook (c2008-2016, 2018-2020)
  • Stuart Hart (c2008-2012)
  • Geoff Higgins (c2008-2012)
  • Lyn Russell (c2008-2016)
  • Chris Smith (c2008-2020)
  • Michael Delahunty (2012-2016)
  • Mick McCrickard (2012-2013)
  • Terry Woodcroft (2012-2018)
  • Joe McCracken (2016-2022)
  • Jason Schram (2016-2020)

Mayors

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Kate Hanson

Former Mayors

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  1. Jim Ryan (1996-?)
if there are Deputy Mayors:
==Deputy Mayors==
===Former Deputy Mayors===

History

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Traditional owners

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The original inhabitants of the area are the Gulidjan people (from the Colac region) and the Gadubanud people (from the southern area of the municipality)[7] of the Eastern Maar Nation.[8] Colac was known as “Kolak” or “Kolakgnat” which means ‘belonging to sand’ in the Gulidjan language.[8]

European settlers

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The earliest European settlers arrived in the district in the 1830s and settled around Lake Colac.[9]

History of former municipalities

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The Colac Otway Shire was created as a new municipality on 23 September 1994 as part of Local Government amalgamations of the City of Colac, Shire of Colac and parts of the Shire of Heytesbury and Shire of Otway.[3]

If it has been renamed or altered:
===City of ...===
If it has been altered:
==Former compositions==
===Composition ... to ..===

Former Wards

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  • Colac (1996–2008)
  • Murray (1996–2008)
  • Otway (1996–2008)
  • Warrion (1996–2008)

Colac Ward

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The Colac Ward had three councillors.

Murray Ward

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The Murray Ward had one councillor.

Otway Ward

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The Otway Ward had one councillor.

Warrion Ward

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The Warrion Ward had one councillor.

Should this be included?
==Elections==
===... election===

Townships and localities

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The 2021 census, the shire had a population of 22,423, up from 20,972 in the 2016 census[4].

Population
Locality 2016 2021
Aire Valley 0 0
Alvie 132 141
Apollo Bay 1,598 1,790
Balintore 67 59
Barongarook 434 458
Barongarook West 235 291
Barramunga 7 11
Barunah Plains 9 10
Barwon Downs 131 136
Beeac 370 394
Beech Forest 82 125
Birregurra^ 828 942
Bungador 62 65
Cape Otway 15 34
Carlisle River^ 135 168
Carpendeit^ 134 115
Chapple Vale^ 36 42
Colac 9,048 9,243
Colac East 217 168
Colac West 81 89
Population
Locality 2016 2021
Coragulac 161 171
Cororooke 310 358
Corunnun 115 119
Cressy^ 175 176
Cundare 11 15
Cundare North^ 9 10
Dreeite 55 77
Dreeite South 30 28
Elliminyt 2,900 3,260
Eurack 65 43
Ferguson 19 13
Forrest 230 257
Gellibrand 210 230
Gellibrand Lower^ 13 19
Gerangamete 105 112
Glenaire 28 33
Grey River 4 4
Hordern Vale 43 44
Irrewarra 345 365
Irrewillipe 125 100
Population
Locality 2016 2021
Irrewillipe East 76 84
Jancourt East^ 188 185
Johanna 63 85
Kawarren 166 189
Kennett River 41 74
Larpent 194 200
Lavers Hill 78 87
Marengo 239 272
Mount Sabine 0 0
Murroon 83 95
Nalangil 76 72
Ombersley^ 97 93
Ondit 94 101
Pennyroyal^ 86 110
Petticoat Creek 0 7
Pirron Yallock^ 113 132
Separation Creek 19 28
Simpson^ 569 583
Skenes Creek 164 249
Population
Locality 2016 2021
Skenes Creek North 16 19
Stonyford^ 51 65
Sugarloaf 14 20
Swan Marsh 121 127
Tanybryn 19 15
Warncoort 130 146
Warrion 198 204
Weeaproinah 11 15
Weering 67 62
Whoorel 18 25
Winchelsea^ 1,954 2,456
Wingeel^ 23 26
Wongarra 37 47
Wool Wool 38 55
Wye River 63 67
Wyelangta 38 40
Yeo 148 124
Yeodene 121 107
Yuulong 37 49

^ - Territory divided with another LGA

Demographics

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Ages

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Ages as declared in the 2021 census[4]

  0-4 (5.01%)
  5-9 (5.74%)
  10-14 (5.92%)
  15-19 (5.41%)
  20-24 (4.57%)
  25-29 (5.7%)
  30-34 (5.77%)
  35-39 (5.65%)
  40-44 (5.35%)
  45-49 (5.91%)
  50-54 (6.64%)
  55-59 (7.02%)
  60-64 (7.34%)
  65-69 (7.31%)
  70-74 (6.37%)
  75-79 (4.35%)
  80-84 (3.03%)
  85+ (2.9%)

The median age in 2021 was 45, same as in 2016[4].

Ages 2016[4] 2021[4]
Count % Count %
0-4 1,166 5.56 1,123 5.01
5-9 1,267 6.04 1,286 5.74
10-14 1,262 6.02 1,327 5.92
15-19 1,191 5.68 1,214 5.41
20-24 1,081 5.15 1,025 4.57
25-29 1,105 5.27 1,277 5.7
30-34 1,095 5.22 1,294 5.77
35-39 1,055 5.03 1,266 5.65
40-44 1,215 5.79 1,199 5.35
45-49 1,386 6.61 1,325 5.91
50-54 1,437 6.85 1,490 6.64
55-59 1,556 7.42 1,574 7.02
60-64 1,593 7.6 1,646 7.34
65-69 1,464 6.98 1,639 7.31
70-74 1,105 5.27 1,428 6.37
75-79 832 3.97 975 4.35
80-84 566 2.7 680 3.03
85-89 366 1.75 416 1.86
90-94 179 0.85 187 0.83
95-99 33 0.16 41 0.18
100+ 9 0.04 7 0.03

Religion

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Religion in Australia as declared in the 2021 census[4]

  Buddhism (0.78%)
  Catholicism (22.13%)
  Protestantism (18.53%)
  Other Christian (2.6%)
  Hinduism (0.36%)
  Islam (0.41%)
  Judaism (0.06%)
  Sikhism (0.13%)
  Other religions (0.21%)
  No religion (46.19%)
  Not stated or unclear (8.57%)
Affiliation 2016[4] 2021[4]
Count % Count %
Catholic 5,265 25.1 4,962 22.13
  Anglican 2,314 11.03 1,844 8.22
  Baptist 173 0.82 186 0.83
  Lutheran 65 0.31 61 0.27
  Pentecostal 124 0.59 184 0.82
  Presbyterian & Reformed 898 4.28 592 2.64
  Salvation Army 44 0.21 40 0.18
  Seventh-day Adventist 16 0.08 12 0.05
  Uniting Church 1,659 7.91 1,209 5.39
  Other Protestantism 41 0.2 28 0.12
Protestantism total 5,334 25.43 4,156 18.53
  Churches of Christ 13 0.06 10 0.04
  Eastern Orthodox 104 0.5 106 0.47
  Jehovah's Witnesses 67 0.32 54 0.24
  Latter Day Saints 12 0.06 10 0.04
  Other Christian 347 1.65 402 1.79
Other Christian total 543 2.59 582 2.6
Christian total 11,149 53.16 9,704 43.28
Buddhism 116 0.55 174 0.78
Hinduism 39 0.19 80 0.36
Islam 116 0.55 91 0.41
Judaism 9 0.04 14 0.06
Sikhism 13 0.06 30 0.13
 Other non-Christian 38 0.18 48 0.21
Non-Christian total 332 1.58 439 1.96
 No Religion, so described1 7,290 34.76 10,286 45.87
 Other Beliefs2 101 0.48 69 0.31
Irreligion total 7,392 35.25 10,358 46.19
Not Stated3 2,102 10.02 1,922 8.57
Totals4 20,972 100% 22,423 100%

1: 'No Religion, so described' does not include those who reported Secular and Other Spiritual Beliefs such as Atheism, Agnosticism and Own Spiritual Beliefs

2: Includes relatively small numbers of so-called 'Secular Beliefs' such as Atheism, Agnosticism, Humanism &, Rationalism, and Other Spiritual Beliefs such as New Age, Own Spiritual Beliefs, Theism(!), etc.[10]

3: Includes 'Inadequately described'

4: Due to rounding, figures may not add up to the totals shown.

Infrastructure and Public transport

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Railways

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Current lines

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Former lines

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Trams

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Freeways

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Major roadways

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Industry and economy

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Education

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Primary education

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Secondary education

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Tertiary education

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Combined education

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Special education

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Library services

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Public libraries

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Private libraries open to the public

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Art and culture

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Sport and recreation

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Teams

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Australian Rules

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Cricket

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Netball

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Soccer

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Places of interest

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If sister cities:
=Sister cities=
(small list of 1-3 places)

Notable residents

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Controversies

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "2021 Community Profiles: Colac Otway". 2021 Census of Population and Housing. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  2. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "2016 Community Profiles: Colac Otway". 2016 Census of Population and Housing. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Part 2 - Shire of Colac-Otway (per S63 of 1994)". Victoria Government Gazette. Victorian Government Printer. 23 September 1994. p. 3.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Australian Bureau of Statistics. "Census data". Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Colac Otway Shire Council election results 2020". www.vec.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  6. ^ Egging, Kiel. "Victoria elects trans councillor Tosh-Jake Finnigan to Colac Otway Council". Herald Sun. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Colac Otway Regional Profile". Colac Otway Shire. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  8. ^ a b "About Colac Otway". Colac Otway Shire. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  9. ^ "A short history of Colac". Colac & District Historical Society. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  10. ^ "Religious affiliation (RELP) | Australian Bureau of Statistics". Abs.gov.au. 15 October 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2022.

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Colac Otway, Shire of}}
[[Category:Local government areas of Victoria (Australia)]]
[[Category:Barwon South West (region)]]
[[Category:Shire of Colac Otway| ]]
[[Category:Otway Ranges]]