Mayor of the Gold Coast
Encyclopedia
The Mayor of the City of the Gold Coast is presiding officer and public face of the Gold Coast City Council, the local government body
of the Gold Coast, Queensland
. The mayor
is charged with representing the city council
and is popularly elected by residents of the Gold Coast City local government area
in local elections held every 4 years. The mayor presides over all council meetings; is the only councillor to not represent a specific Gold Coast electoral district; and is the foremost representative of the Gold Coast City Council and its policies.
The Gold Coast City Council reportedly maintains a budget of an estimated $1.3 billion annually, among the highest of municipal governments in Australia
. The mayor's office is located in the Gold Coast City Council building in Bundall, Queensland
.
, including the Gold Coast and except for Brisbane
, has the following responsibilities in addition to their duty as a councillor:
, elected as an independent
in 2004 and re-elected in 2008. Clarke is a former Australia
n athlete, and one of the best known middle and long distance runners in the 1960s. He is notable for setting nineteen world record
s.
In 2005 Geelong Athletics honoured Clarke with an athletics meet to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Clarke breaking the world record
for the 20,000 m and one hour run at Landy Field in October 1965. This meet is held annually as part of the Athletics Australia
National Meet Series. On 15 March 2006, Ron Clarke was one of the final four runners who carried the Queen's Baton
around the MCG
stadium during the 2006 Commonwealth Games
Opening Ceremony in Melbourne
, Victoria
, Australia
.
Clarke and his wife, Helen, first came to the Gold Coast for a holiday in 1957. The couple returned almost every year thereafter, and in 1995, after 14 years abroad mainly in Europe, came back for good. As mayor, Clarke hopes to ensure the continuation of development in the infrastructure of the city, such as roads, transport, education and medical needs.
, Queensland
, and surrounding areas. Based on resident population, it is the second largest local government area in Australia and its council maintains a staff of over 2,500. It was established in 1948, but has existed in its present form since 1995.
Divisional Councillors are:
Local government
Local government refers collectively to administrative authorities over areas that are smaller than a state.The term is used to contrast with offices at nation-state level, which are referred to as the central government, national government, or federal government...
of the Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
. The mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
is charged with representing the city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
and is popularly elected by residents of the Gold Coast City local government area
Local Government Area
A local government area is an administrative division of a country that a local government is responsible for. The size of an LGA varies by country but it is generally a subdivision of a state, province, division, or territory....
in local elections held every 4 years. The mayor presides over all council meetings; is the only councillor to not represent a specific Gold Coast electoral district; and is the foremost representative of the Gold Coast City Council and its policies.
The Gold Coast City Council reportedly maintains a budget of an estimated $1.3 billion annually, among the highest of municipal governments in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The mayor's office is located in the Gold Coast City Council building in Bundall, Queensland
Bundall, Queensland
Bundall is a suburb located in the Gold Coast, west of Surfers Paradise and Nerang River. At the 2006 Census, Bundall had a population of 4,102....
.
Mayoral Responsibilities
Under the Local Government Act 2009 (Qld), Chapter 2, Part 1, the mayor of any city in QueenslandQueensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, including the Gold Coast and except for Brisbane
City of Brisbane
The City of Brisbane is the Local Government Area that has jurisdiction over the inner portion of the metropolitan area of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia...
, has the following responsibilities in addition to their duty as a councillor:
- Leading and managing meetings of the local government at which the mayor is the chairperson, including managing the conduct of the participants at the meetings.
- Proposing the adoption of the local government’s budget.
- Liaising with the chief executive officer on behalf of the other councillors.
- Leading, managing, and providing strategic direction to, the chief executive officer in order to achieve the high quality administration of the local government.
- Directing the chief executive officer, in accordance with the local government’s policies.
- Conducting a performance appraisal of the chief executive officer, at least annually, in the way that is decided by the local government (including as a member of a committee, for example).
- Ensuring that the local government promptly provides the Minister with the information about the local government area, or the local government, that is requested by the Minister for Local Government.
- Being a member of each standing committee of the local government.
- Representing the local government at ceremonial or civic functions.
Delegation of Mayoral Responsibilities
The Act further stipulates that "a councillor who is not the mayor may perform the mayor’s extra responsibilities only if the mayor delegates the responsibility to the councillor," while also stating that "when performing a responsibility, a councillor must serve the overall public interest of the whole local government area."Current Mayor
The current mayor is Cr. Ron ClarkeRon Clarke
Ronald William "Ron" Clarke, MBE is a former Australian athlete, writer, and current Mayor of the Gold Coast. He is one of the best known middle and long distance runners in the 1960s, notable for setting seventeen world records.- Early life and family :He attended Melbourne High School...
, elected as an independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
in 2004 and re-elected in 2008. Clarke is a former Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n athlete, and one of the best known middle and long distance runners in the 1960s. He is notable for setting nineteen world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
s.
In 2005 Geelong Athletics honoured Clarke with an athletics meet to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Clarke breaking the world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
for the 20,000 m and one hour run at Landy Field in October 1965. This meet is held annually as part of the Athletics Australia
Athletics Australia
Athletics Australia is the National Sporting Organisation recognised by the Australian Sports Commission for the sport of athletics in Australia....
National Meet Series. On 15 March 2006, Ron Clarke was one of the final four runners who carried the Queen's Baton
Queen's Baton Relay
The Queen's Baton Relay, similar to the Olympic Torch Relay, is a relay around the world held prior to the beginning of the Commonwealth Games. The Baton carries a message from the Head of the Commonwealth, currently Queen Elizabeth II. The Relay traditionally begins at Buckingham Palace in London...
around the MCG
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
stadium during the 2006 Commonwealth Games
2006 Commonwealth Games
The 2006 Commonwealth Games were held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia between 15 March and 26 March 2006. It was the largest sporting event to be staged in Melbourne, eclipsing the 1956 Summer Olympics in terms of the number of teams competing, athletes competing, and events being held.The site...
Opening Ceremony in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Clarke and his wife, Helen, first came to the Gold Coast for a holiday in 1957. The couple returned almost every year thereafter, and in 1995, after 14 years abroad mainly in Europe, came back for good. As mayor, Clarke hopes to ensure the continuation of development in the infrastructure of the city, such as roads, transport, education and medical needs.
Governance of Gold Coast City
The city is governed at the local level by the Gold Coast City Council, whose jurisdiction spans the Gold CoastGold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, and surrounding areas. Based on resident population, it is the second largest local government area in Australia and its council maintains a staff of over 2,500. It was established in 1948, but has existed in its present form since 1995.
Wards and councillors
Gold Coast City has been divided into 14 wards (known as divisions), each electing one councillor at elections held every four years. The most recent local government election was on 15 March 2008.Divisional Councillors are:
- Division 1 Cr Donna Gates - Yatala
- Division 2 Cr John Wayne - Coomera
- Division 3 Cr Grant Pforr - Paradise Point
- Division 4 Cr Margaret Grummitt - Biggera Waters
- Division 5 Cr Peter Young - Pacific Pines
- Division 6 Cr Dawn Crichlow - Southport
- Division 7 Cr Susie Douglas - Surfers Paradise
- Division 8 Cr Robert La Castra - Ashmore
- Division 9 Cr Ted Shepherd - Mudgeeraba
- Division 10 Cr Eddy Sarroff - Broadbeach
- Division 11 Cr Jan Grew - Robina
- Division 12 Cr Greg Betts - Burleigh Heads
- Division 13 Cr Daphne McDonald (Deputy Mayor) - Palm Beach
- Division 14 Cr Chris Robbins - Coolangatta
See also
- Gold Coast, QueenslandGold Coast, QueenslandGold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
- Local Government Areas of QueenslandLocal Government Areas of QueenslandThis is a list of local government areas in Queensland, sorted by region. For the history and responsibilities of local government in that state, see Local government in Queensland.-LGAs sorted by region:...