Under the Local Government Act 2009 , Chapter 2, Part 1, the mayor of any city in Queensland, including the Gold Coast and except forBrisbane, 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.
Preparing and proposing the adoption of the local government's budget.
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.
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."
List of Gold Coast Mayors
The former mayor Cr. Ron Clarke resigned as mayor on 27 February 2012, after announcing his nomination as an independent candidate for the seat of Broadwater in the 2012 Queensland state election. Clarke's bid for the State seat of Broadwater failed, securing only 4% of the vote. Clarke was originally elected as an independent in 2004 and re-elected in 2008. Ron Clarke was preceded by Gary Baildon and Ray Stevens who was the first post-amalgamation Mayor of City of Gold Coast. The current Gold Coast mayor is Tom Tate, elected on 28 April 2012.
Prior to the South Coast council forming in 1948, ten local government areas existed between the City of Brisbane and the New South Wales border. Just four of those local government areas exist within modern day Gold Coast. Below is a list of the leaders of those areas:
The city is governed at the local level by the Gold Coast City Council, whose jurisdiction spans the Gold Coast, 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.
Wards and councillors
Gold Coast City has been divided into 14 wards, each electing one councillor at elections held every four years. The most recent local government election was on 19 March 2016. Divisional Councillors are:
Division 1: Cr Donna Gates Dep Mayor – Yatala
Division 2: Cr William Owen-Jones – Coomera
Division 3: Cr Cameron Caldwell – Paradise Point
Division 4: Cr Kristyn Boulton – Biggera Waters
Division 5: Cr Peter Young – Pacific Pines, Nerang and Hinterland areas
