The Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley is one of the four local government areas in the Kimberley region of northern Western Australia, covering an area of 117,514 square kilometres (45,372 sq mi) at Western Australia's northeastern corner. The Shire's seat of government was originally in Wyndham but now in the town of Kununurra, which is home to over half of the Shire's permanent population of around 7,000 (ABS 2016), while a council office is located at Wyndham.
The East Kimberley Road District was gazetted on 10 February 1887. It was renamed as the Wyndham Road District on 4 September 1896. On 1 July 1961, it became the Shire of Wyndham–East Kimberley following the passage of the Local Government Act 1960, which reformed all remaining road districts into shires.[3]
The early 1960s establishment of Kununurra and the Ord River Irrigation Area eventually led to moving the seat of local government from Wyndham to Kununurra, which by the 1980s had become a larger centre of population.
The Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley has nine (9) councillors elected to represent the whole of the Shire.[5]
Ward
Councillor
Notes
Unsubdivided
Menzel, David
President
Chafer, Tony
Deputy president
Lodge, Grant
Pearce, Debra
Brook, Narelle
Dear, Mat
Farquhar, Judy
Mickittrick, Michelle
Petherick, Alma
List of former and current presidents
D Menzel (2017–present)
B Parker (2015–2016)
J Moulden (2011–2015)
F Mills (2008–2011)
M Pucci (2005–2008)
B Johnson (2001–2005)
M Middap (1997-2001)
C Wootton (1994-1997)
D Chapman (1992-1994)
B Raicevic (1990-1992)
S Bradley (1985-1990)
M Trowbridge (1983-1985)
P Reid (1978-1983)
Administration and governance
Ordinary council meetings alternate between the council chambers at the Kununurra and Wyndham Shire Offices, which are also the location of the Shire's administrative activities. Customer services are also available at Kununurra and Wyndham Shire Offices.
2015–2016 council controversy
In 2016, the Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley Council's power was temporarily transferred to Commissioner Ron Yuryevich (former Mayor of Kalgoorlie). The appointment of a Commissioner was as a result of ongoing dysfunction between the elected councillors with allegations of bullying and undeclared financial interests reported to the Local Government Minister. The Shire was issued with a Show Cause Notice under the Local Government Act 1995 in May 2016, requiring elected members and senior staff to take part in mediation. Mediation was declared untenable by the mediator on 2 August 2016 and the shire was issued with a second Show Cause Notice by the Local Government Minister, notifying his intention to suspend council. Following the resignation of five councillors after the budget adoption in September 2016, the council was left with no quorum and was therefore unable to conduct its business. As a result of these resignations, the Governor of Western Australia made an order under the Local Government Act 1995 declaring all offices vacant and required the appointment of a Commissioner in place of council until the Ordinary Elections in October 2017.[6]
Council elections were held in October 2017 and a new council of 9 councillors sworn in.
Population
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±% p.a.
1991
7,718
—
1996
8,761
+2.57%
2001
9,779
+2.22%
2006
6,596
−7.57%
Year
Pop.
±% p.a.
2011
7,799
+3.41%
2016
7,494
−0.79%
2021
7,477
−0.05%
Towns and localities
The towns and localities of the Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley with population and size figures based on the most recentAustralian census:[7][8]
^* This LGA holds city status under the Local Government Act 1995, ^† This LGA holds town status under the Local Government Act 1995, ^# Western Australian law applies to the Indian Ocean Territories under the Territories Law Reform Act 1992
