President Barb Shaw, Barkly Shire Council, Northern Territory
I have been an elected member for five years; four years as a councillor and more recently as the Shire President. I am determined that the people of the Barkly Region and the Shire must work more closely together in all spheres of local government including waste management, animal control, roads and communications.
In particular I am very conscious of the need to advance regional economic and social development and, in this regard, I am the Barkly representative on the Northern Territory Panel for Regional Development Australia (RDA).
Positive development must be carried out in partnership with all stakeholders, and the Shire has a vital role to play in stimulating local initiatives.
Highlights of Barkly Shire
The Barkly Shire is one of the largest local government areas in Australia, covering 323,514 square kilometres in Central Australia. This is an area larger than Victoria and Tasmania combined yet the population is very sparse, with only two people per 100 square kilometres.
There is very little industry in the Shire, apart from grazing and tourism. The latter includes such notable attractions as Karlu Karlu (the Devils Marbles) south of Tennant Creek, the Davenport Ranges, and some of the most scenic landscapes in Australia.
Also, vestiges of the old Telegraph Line that crossed the continent from south to north can be seen throughout the Shire, especially in the former Telegraph Stations at Tennant Creek, Powell Creek and Barrow Creek.
Birth of the Shire
The Shire itself is quite young, having been constituted in July 2008 following the amalgamation of various smaller councils from Tennant Creek, Elliott, Ali Curung, Ampilatwatja, Alpurrurulam, Wutunugurra and Arlparra, yet I am proud of what Council has achieved since that time. Slowly but surely, aging equipment and infrastructure is being replaced or upgraded and improved.
Council’s Animal Health program has evolved over recent years to be regarded as an ideal model, especially for remote communities. Last year this program was recognised with a National Award at the ALGA National Congress. A number of other regional programs are developing in depth and ability for the betterment of the communities they serve.
Since 2008, Council has been supporting local businesses wherever possible. Council’s website incorporates a Barkly Trades and Services Directory and Council participates in various community and local business forums. But, perhaps one of the Shire’s greatest roles is that of advocacy to government and the commercial sector.
Facing Barkly’s challenges
I believe one of the greatest challenges facing the Barkly Shire is that of communication between our remote communities, as many people feel somewhat disenfranchised in their relationship to the relatively new Shire.
It must be remembered that less than five years ago, there were smaller councils in each of these communities. Now the Barkly Shire is actively encouraging formation of strong local boards that can meet regularly to discuss local issues and affairs and make recommendations to the larger Council.
This regular communication between each community and the Shire is extremely important in fostering a sense of togetherness, which allows Shire elected members to understand the important issues that each community holds dear, and act appropriately.
A further challenge to the Shire is that of the physical distance between its communities, which are connected by an extended network of dirt roads that are extremely susceptible to rainy seasons, which can render them impassable for months.
These extreme distances add to operational difficulties in the form of costs, delivery times, transport, and in providing those community services many take for granted, such as health care.
Future plans
During my term as Barkly Shire President, I am determined to encourage development — both economic and individual — throughout the area wherever possible.
I believe the Shire has not only a responsibility to provide local government services, but to provide employment and training that would otherwise be unattainable, and to provide personal opportunities for community members as they arise.
The next few years are vital in the process of Barkly Shire Council becoming a proactive and viable organisation.
Mayor Ian Abbott, City of Palmerston, Northern Territory
In the mid-1990s I ran twice in Council by-elections but was unsuccessful. Then, in 1999, after an elected member ran for a Northern Territory Government position, I was appointed to Council. Since then I have been an Alderman, until April 2012 when I became the popularly elected Mayor.
I have been greatly influenced by my parents, especially my father, in terms of being actively involved in the community (my father was an Alderman in the Nourlunga Town Council in South Australia). When I moved to the Northern Territory in 1985, I joined Apex until my business commitments took over.
I was always interested in local government, as it didn’t tie me to a specific commitment and I could plan my time around meetings. Through this involvement I have been able to sate my desire to assist the community.
I have operated my own commercial cleaning business for the past 22 years, which I still run concurrently with my Mayoral role. I think this experience has contributed to my being a better analytical decision-maker who is able to view Council matters from multiple aspects.
After 13 years on Council I believe that a multitude of experiences have influenced my current role, however I always make decisions based on what is best for the community, first and foremost.
The City of Palmerston
I moved to Palmerston in 1989, when the population was approximately 9000. The City has just celebrated its 30th birthday and the population has now grown to approximately 30,000.
Originally, there was something of a stigma attached to Palmerston. It was labelled a ‘satellite town’, as it was based 20km from Darwin City and was predominately a community with a low socio-economic demographic.
The arrival of the Australian Army’s 1st Battalion started to change Palmerston’s image, with the soldiers’ families setting up house in the City. As a result, we still have one of the youngest populations in Australia, with a mean age of 28. Some 40 percent of our population is under 15!
Current & future challenges
Palmerston is well placed as a ‘Regional Capital’ supplying social services to the rural community, and Council is committed to facilitating ongoing commercial and social growth.
One of our biggest challenges is social infrastructure. This is because the Northern Territory Government’s control on planning and land release often leads to new subdivisions that have varied from the original plans, and the push is mainly for residential.
The result is that any community/commercial allocation is lost and isn’t reallocated in future plans. This has led to a serious shortfall in community amenities here in Palmerston, and residents need to have a feeling of ‘ownership’ of the local area in order to feel empowered.
Another challenge is Palmerston’s CBD, which needs significant work to enhance its potential. While council has done its own master plan to assist in the strategic development of the CBD, the NT Government controls planning and is also a major stakeholder. This means that there has been little meaningful development so far.
Although Palmerston continues to have strong residential growth in the suburbs, residents are crying out for a greater choice of retail and social services. Currently we have no residential development in the CDB and this is critical to its activation as a precinct.
Projects, plans & achievements
Palmerston City Council is committed to providing a comprehensive waste transfer facility that will incorporate recycling, mulching, a Men’s Shed, and an educational centre. We are determined to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and our carbon footprint.
Council wants to continue to grow Palmerston’s vibrancy, making it a place where residents and visitors alike want to be. We have great opportunity to create this feeling, as the city is still young and growing.
One of the highlights of my time on Council was being part of the Goyder Hill redevelopment, where Council resolved to partially level a manmade hill in the middle of the CDB. The Hill had previously created a physical division in the City centre, and levelling it has opened up the vista to our highly popular library and recreation centre. The Goyder Hill redevelopment has now been a catalyst for future growth.
As Mayor, I’m extremely proud to be part of a team that has successfully grown the City to 30,000 without major social consequence. Palmerston continues to grow but it still has the same community feeling as it did 20 years ago!
