A regular feature, this month we feature a Councillor from the Northern Territory
Mayor Anne Shepherd, Katherine Town Council, Northern Territory
Q. How long have you been on Council?
My first year as Mayor has just ended. I was first elected as a Councillor in a by-election in September 2001.
Q. Can you tell us about your municipality?
Katherine has a population of some 9,000 people. Approximately 30 per cent of residents are Indigenous. Katherine is the regional centre for an area that reaches the West Australian and Queensland State borders and is an area the size of Victoria. The beautiful and scenic Katherine River runs through Katherine and Council controls seven kilometres of the river corridor. We recognise that the river is our greatest asset. Council has a comprehensive River Plan of Management that guides us in caring for this precious environment. Industries include tourism, agriculture, horticulture, and in the region, mining and pastoral cattle. Katherine is the regional centre for the Jawoyn people. The Jawoyn are the traditional owners of Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) and they operate this major tourist attraction as a joint venture with a local travel company.
Q. What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in Local Government?
When elected as Mayor, I was without a Chief Executive Officer for three months and Council also had four new elected members, so there was an initial struggle to become a cohesive group. Taking on the position of Mayor which had been held by my popular predecessor for 16 years was a challenge, particularly in areas where I believe change was required. A major goal has been to strengthen Katherine’s position as a leader in the region and to work cooperatively with neighbouring Aboriginal Community Government Councils.
Q. What are important issues to you?
Social issues are important to me. Alcohol and other drugs affect a small percentage of our population, and this is exacerbated by the drift of itinerants from outlying communities.
Katherine Town Council works with the Katherine Regional Harmony Group which I chair, the Northern Territory Government, police, the Liquor Commission and Indigenous leaders to address these issues and improve the lives of individuals. Further, we have a number of youth at risk in our community and we cooperate with the relevant agencies to assist these young people.
Q. What are some of the issues facing your Council?
A major issue facing Katherine Town Council is the proposed incorporation of all lands in the Northern Territory under Local Government. This is an opportunity for Katherine and we are currently investigating our options. We certainly want to avoid the danger of being surrounded by large Shires and becoming a donut Council.
During my first 12 months as Mayor, Council has set a number of objectives including:
- ensuring value for money and careful scrutiny of all operations to avoid waste and to improve productivity
- adopting as a priority the sustainable management of community assets held by Council. This will involve focusing financial and other resources on the Katherine CBD, the Katherine River Reserve as well as roads, recreational facilities and other infrastructure
- providing leadership and facilitating economic and community development through supporting Regional Community Harmony initiatives and encouraging business and community groups to take responsibility for their own destiny
- ensuring, where appropriate and achievable, that Council activities are sustainable and based on a user pays approach
- fund and pre plan initiatives to maximise Council’s success in obtaining grant funding
- keeping rate rises as low as possible, consistent with Council’s responsibility for the provision of services and management of assets
- establishing a comprehensive and ongoing community consultative program to ensure transparency and provide opportunities for input
- ensuring staff have fulfilling jobs with an emphasis on the provision of accredited training opportunities
- ensuring elected members are adequately trained and have opportunities for personal development within the sphere of Local Government.
Q. What are the key aspects of being a good Councillor?
One needs to be honest, listen to constituents, demonstrate leadership, have the ability to sometimes compromise and to be open and accountable.
