User:ThylacineHunter/Colac Otway

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=

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

Wards
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= 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

 * 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

 * 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
Kate Hanson

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

Former Deputy Mayors
=History=

Traditional owners
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) of the Eastern Maar Nation. Colac was known as “Kolak” or “Kolakgnat” which means ‘belonging to sand’ in the Gulidjan language.

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

History of former municipalities
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. If it has been renamed or altered:

City of ...
If it has been altered:

Former Wards

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

Colac Ward
The Colac Ward had three councillors.

Murray Ward
The Murray Ward had one councillor.

Otway Ward
The Otway Ward had one councillor.

Warrion Ward
The Warrion Ward had one councillor. Should this be included?

... election
=Townships and localities= The 2021 census, the shire had a population of 22,423, up from 20,972 in the 2016 census.

^ - Territory divided with another LGA

=Demographics=

Ages
The median age in 2021 was 45, same as in 2016.

Religion
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.

3: Includes 'Inadequately described'

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

=Infrastructure and Public transport=

Major roadways
=Industry and economy=

=Education=

Private libraries open to the public
=Art and culture=

=Sport and recreation=

Soccer
=Places of interest=

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

=Notable residents=

=Controversies=

=See also=
 * List of places on the Victorian Heritage Register in the Shire of Colac Otway

=References=

=External links=

Still need to check these links
 * Colac Otway Shire Council official website
 * Colac Otway Web – Regional Web Site
 * Metlink local public transport map
 * Link to Land Victoria interactive maps
 * Colac Otway Shire: Know Your Council

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