In September 2013 Council endorsed a resolution to change the Council’s name to Yorke Peninsula Council. The former District Council of Yorke Peninsula was formed on 10 February 1997 following the voluntary amalgamation of the District Councils of Central Yorke Peninsula, Minlaton, Yorketown and Warooka.
The Council covers an area of 5,899 square kilometres, has a distance of approximately 175 kilometres between its northern and southern boundaries, and being a Peninsula, has a varying width east to west averaging approximately 30 kilometres. The Council is unique in comparison to other Local Government Authorities in that it is bordered by sea on three sides and as such has 485 kilometres of coastline.
The Council shares its northern boundary with the Copper Coast Council, Barunga West Council and the Wakefield Regional Council.
The Council’s population is 11,061 (based on 2011 Census figures) which is less than 1% of the total South Australian population. Of that base population, the Yorke Peninsula region has one of the oldest age profiles of any region within Australia. The ABS Census data records the Yorke Peninsula’s median age is 55 years old, compared to the Australian average of 38 years.
The area contains 12 larger towns and 33 smaller townships and holiday settlement zones, the latter being predominately located along the vast coastline. The 2016 Census of Population and Housing indicated that there were 9,722 private dwellings in the Council area.
The Yorke Peninsula is a major tourist destination within South Australia, with figures supplied from the Regional Tourism Profile December 2015 December 2017 highlighting that there were 518,000 trips, or 1.8 million site night visits to the Peninsula (figures are for the whole Peninsula). These figures represent a continual increase each year.
Council currently maintains 3 office locations and 4 works depots.
- The Maitland office is the principal office and accommodates the majority of Council’s ‘indoor’ staff, including the ‘northern’ Development Services team.
- The Minlaton office (Monday to Friday) offers an access point for all Council services.
- The Yorketown office provides all Council services plus houses the ‘southern’ Development Services team.
- Works depots are situated at Maitland, Minlaton, Yorketown and Warooka.
Council employs approximately 140 employees, equating to 109 full time equivalent positions
- maintaining an administration / management workforce of approximately 60 employees
- approximately 90 works related staff.
The Council area boasts both private and public schooling, from reception to year 12 and is serviced by 3 hospitals (2 public, 1 private) and associated specialist and aged care providers. Ambulance services are provided throughout the area, with emergency access to the air ambulance. Most religious denominations are catered for on the Peninsula.
A wide range of sporting clubs provide a varied range of recreational pursuits, together with the opportunities available from the coastline surrounding the peninsula. Some of the sports catered for include football, tennis, basketball, netball, polo-crosse, cricket, bowls, 8-ball, snooker and darts. There is a sailing club at Port Vincent which caters for sailing on most levels and wind surfing. Other recreational pursuits available include Pony Club, fishing, boating and many art and craft groups. There are excellent walking trails established within the area including the award winning Walk the Yorke, as well as National Trust / Museums and art / craft galleries.