Lockyer Valley Region

The Lockyer Valley Region is a local government area in the West Moreton region of South East Queensland, Australia, between the cities of Ipswich and Toowoomba. It was created in 2008 from a merger of the Shire of Gatton and the Shire of Laidley. Steve Jones, former mayor of Gatton, was elected as first mayor of the Lockyer Valley Region.It has an estimated operating budget of A$35m.HistoryPrior to 2008, the new Lockyer Valley Region was an entire area of two previous and distinct local government areas: the Shire of Gatton; and the Shire of Laidley.Prior to European settlement, the Lockyer Valley area was home to the Kitabul Aboriginal people.Tarampa Divisional Board was created on 15 January 1880 under the Divisional Boards Act 1879, and held its first meeting on 20 February 1880. On 25 April 1888, the Laidley area broke away and separately incorporated, and on 25 January 1890, the Forest Hill area moved from Tarampa to Laidley. On 1 July 1902, the town of Laidley was created as a separate municipality with its own Borough Council.