The Barkly Regional Development Board is currently reviewing the Barkly Blue Print developed five years ago.
“The Blue Print provides an excellent start but concentrated largely on economic development initiatives,” said Michael Dougall, Regional Director. “The Regional Board is working closely with Yapakurlangu Regional Council to now integrate social and cultural issues into the one plan.”
A draft plan has now been prepared by consultants, through a series of community workshops. “It has developed 12 themes revolving around what are our successes and needs,” Michael Dougall said.
The draft plan was launched at the Tennant Creek Show on 9 July and is now open for public comment. The Barkly Regional Development Board had a stand at the show to encourage community feedback on the draft plan and provide an update on various Barkly Blue Print projects that are up and running. On 8 July, Chief Minister Claire Martin launched the Barkly Region Tourism Strategy titled ‘Thinking Tourism – Tourism is Everybody’s Business’.
Development of the strategy involved a community consultation process including a two day conference and one day workshop, conducted earlier this year. The strategy is based on five Es – entice, enter, engage, extend and exit.
The Barkly is the largest region in the Territory, but has the smallest population with just 6,000 people. Local Government bodies including Ali Curung, Elliot, Tennant Creek and Alpurrarulan, as part of Building A Better Barkly, are looking at opportunities for improving service delivery and capacity building projects.
Tennant Creek Town Council is the largest Local Government in the Barkly Region. It services 3,500 residents and has an annual budget of $2.5 million.
Chief Executive Officer, Dave Wormald, believes there are three options for structural reform in the region.
- One regional council
- A regional development authority handling some functions, with the current councils providing local services
- No change.
Tennant Creek provides a range of regional services including sports facilities, the library, a retail and service centre and cultural events, such as the Desert Harmony Festival each September.
The town has a number of tourist attractions including the Battery Hill Mining Centre, Mary-Ann Dam, Nyinkka Nyunya Cultural Centre and the historic Overland Telegraph Station. The Desert Harmony Festival runs a full program over two weeks including arts, cultural and sporting events. Local music, crafts, food and entertainment, Indigenous and multicultural celebrations are features of this major annual event.
Council has also entered into Partnership agreements with the Julalikari Council Aboriginal Corporation and the Yapakurlangu Regional Council to investigate opportunities to improve service delivery, funding availability, maintenance of assets and sustainable governance of the Barkly Region.
