# Scenic Rim Region

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The Scenic Rim Region is a local government area (LGA) in the West Moreton region of South East Queensland, Australia, and is located approximately 80 kilometres due south of Brisbane. Established in 2008, it was preceded by several previous local government areas with histories extending back to the early 1900s and beyond. The main town of the region is Beaudesert.
It has an estimated operating budget of A$33 million.
In the 2021 census, the Scenic Rim Region had a population of 42,984 people.

## History

Prior to 2008, the new Scenic Rim Region was an entire area of three previous and distinct local government areas:
* the Shire of Boonah;
* the southern part of the Shire of Beaudesert;
* and the Harrisville and Peak Crossing areas from the City of Ipswich.
In July 2007, the Local Government Reform Commission released its report and recommended that the areas amalgamate. It identified a rural community of interest as well as ecotourism potential from the Scenic Rim, a group of mountain ranges forming part of the Great Dividing Range, and recommended the transfer of the entire urban growth corridor previously within Beaudesert to Logan City. Along with Lockyer Valley and Somerset, it was expected to provide a rural hinterland for urban South East Queensland. The arrangement was Boonah's second preference (its first was simply absorbing the rural areas of Ipswich) while Beaudesert opposed splitting or amalgamation.
The legislation passed to effect the merger on 10 August 2007. A Local Transition Committee made up of staff and councillors of the dissolving entities was formed to manage the process. On 15 March 2008, the Shires formally ceased to exist, and elections were held on the same day to elect councillors and a mayor to the Regional Council.

## Geography

The region is mostly rural, with Beaudesert and Boonah the main towns. It lies within the catchment areas of the Bremer River, the Logan River/Albert River and the Coomera River/Nerang River. The centre of the area is dominated by the Flinders Peak Group and broad sweep of mountainous terrain forming a southern boundary with the local government area on Queensland's southern border with New South Wales. Many high-altitude areas are covered by forests and protected in national parks (including World Heritage listings) at Tamborine Mountain, McPherson Range, Main Range National Park, Mount Barney National Park and landforms including Cunninghams Gap and Fassifern Valley. South East Queensland's highest mountain is Mount Barney, reaching 1,356 metres (4,449 ft) above sea level. Wyaralong Dam is the region's newest reservoir.
In the south east of the local government area is the Lamington National Park. It includes villages such as Canungra, Kooralbyn, Rathdowney, Beechmont and Harrisville. The peak at Mount French, part of Moogerah Peaks National Park is noted for its traditional rock climbing and does not have bolted climbing routes. The peak also boasts a '32' rated climb (one of the hardest in the world) which attracts international rock climbing visitors to the area. The area of Boonah is fairly flat with large areas of very productive soils for the growing of vegetables and other crops. Beechmont and O'Reillys are mountainous areas overlooking the Gold Coast hinterland. These areas attract visitors for camping, bushwalking and bird watching.

## Council

The council is split into six wards (divisions), each returning one councillor, along with a directly-elected mayor.

### Current composition

The current council, elected in 2024, is:
| Ward | Councillor | Party |
| Mayor | Tom Sharp | Independent |
| Division 1 | Amanda Hay | Independent |
| Division 2 | Kerri Cryer | Independent |
| Division 3 | Stephen Moriarty | Independent |
| Division 4 | Jennifer Sanders | Independent |
| Division 5 | Marshall Chalk | Independent |
| Division 6 | Duncan McInnes | Independent |

## Mayors

John Brent was the region's first mayor. He was first elected as a councillor in the Shire of Boonah in 1976 and was chairman of the Shire of Boonah beginning on 12 April 1994, becoming mayor of the Scenic Rim Region following the amalgamation.

### 2008−present

| No. | Mayor | Party | Term start | Term end | Council control (term) |
| 1 | John Brent | Independent | 15 March 2008 | 19 March 2016 | Independents majority (2008–present) |
| 2 | Greg Christensen | Independent LNP | 19 March 2016 | 26 April 2023 | Independents majority (2008–present) |
| (2) | Greg Christensen | Independent | 27 April 2023 | 16 March 2024 | Independents majority (2008–present) |
| 3 | Tom Sharp | Independent | 16 March 2024 | incumbent | Independents majority (2008–present) |

### Deputy mayors

In 2016, the council resolved to review the position of deputy mayor annually, instead of having it be the longer-term position it was from 2008 to 2016.
| No. | Mayor | Party | Term start | Term end | Mayor |
| 1 | Dave Cockburn | Independent | 2008 | 2012 | Brent (Independent) |
| 2 | Virginia West | Independent | 2012 | 2016 | Brent (Independent) |
| 3 | Nigel Waistell | Independent | 2016 | 2017 | Christensen (Ind. LNP/Independent) |
| 4 | Nadia O'Carroll | Independent | 2017 | 2018 | Christensen (Ind. LNP/Independent) |
| 5 | Rick Stanfield | Independent | 2018 | 2019 | Christensen (Ind. LNP/Independent) |
| 6 | Duncan McInnes | Independent | 2019 | 2021 | Christensen (Ind. LNP/Independent) |
| 7 | Michael Enright | Independent | 2021 | 2022 | Christensen (Ind. LNP/Independent) |
| 8 | Jeff McConnell | Independent | 2021 | 2024 | Christensen (Ind. LNP/Independent) |
| 9 | Duncan McInnes | Independent | 2024 | incumbent | Sharp (Independent) |

## Past councillors
### 2008−present

| Year | Division 1 | Division 1 | Division 1 | Division 2 | Division 2 | Division 2 | Division 3 | Division 3 | Division 3 | Division 4 | Division 4 | Division 4 | Division 5 | Division 5 | Division 5 | Division 6 | Division 6 | Division 6 |
| Year | Councillor | Councillor | Party | Councillor | Councillor | Party | Councillor | Councillor | Party | Councillor | Councillor | Party | Councillor | Councillor | Party | Councillor | Councillor | Party |
| 2008 | | Derek Swanborough | Independent | | Richard Adams | Independent | | Virginia West | Independent | | Dave Cockburn | Independent | | Kathy Bensted | Independent | | Heather Wehl | Independent |
| 2012 | | Nigel Waistell | Independent | | Nadia O'Carroll | Independent | | Virginia West | Independent | | Jennifer Sanders | Independent | | Rick Stanfield | Independent | | Duncan McInnes | Independent |
| 2016 | | Nigel Waistell | Independent | | Nadia O'Carroll | Independent | | Virginia West | Independent | | Michael Enright | Independent | | Rick Stanfield | Independent | | Duncan McInnes | Independent |
| 2020 | | Derek Swanborough | Independent | | Jeff McConnell | Independent | | Virginia West | Independent | | Michael Enright | Independent | | Marshall Chalk | Independent | | Duncan McInnes | Independent |
| 2023 | | Amanda Hay | Independent | | Jeff McConnell | Independent | | Virginia West | Independent | | Michael Enright | Independent | | Marshall Chalk | Independent | | Duncan McInnes | Independent |
| 2024 | | Amanda Hay | Independent | | Kerri Cryer | Independent | | Stephen Moriarty | Independent | | Jennifer Sanders | Independent | | Marshall Chalk | Independent | | Duncan McInnes | Independent |

## Towns and localities

The Scenic Rim Region includes the following settlements:
Other areas:
$^1$ - split with the City of Ipswich $^2$ - split with Logan City

## Demographics

The populations given relate to the component entities prior to 2008.
| Year | Population |
| 1986 | 22,992 |
| 1991 | 28,512 |
| 1996 | 32,997 |
| 2001 | 35,342 |
| 2006 | 34,659 |
In the 2011 census, the Scenic Rim Region had a population of 36,456 people.
In the 2016 census, the Scenic Rim Region had a population of 40,072 people.
In the 2021 census, the Scenic Rim Region had a population of 42,984 people.

## Heritage register

In 2014, the Scenic Rim Regional Council established its local heritage register as required by the Queensland Heritage Act 1992. In February 2015, it listed 54 places based on criteria in the Australia ICOMOS Burra Charter 1999.

## Libraries

The Scenic Rim Regional Council operate libraries in Beaudesert, Boonah, Canungra and Tamborine Mountain. The council commenced a mobile library service in 2008, which serves Beechmont, Harrisville, Hillview, Kalbar, Kooralbyn, Peak Crossing, Rathdowney and Tamborine.