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The Barkly is a strong and vibrant council that values and respects its cultural diversity 2014 3rd & 4th Quarter July - December Barkly Regional Council In this issue Literacy Pilot Program �������������������� P3 Skate Park Launch �������������� P4 Can’t get enough of footy ��������������������������������������P8 New bus service for Tennant Creek ���������������������������P14 Sneak peek at town pool design ������������������������������P15 Meet the newest citizens ������ P18 SKATEBOARDS Council Christmas TO BE WON PAGE 4 Party 2014 ��������������������������� P22 6 Contents Highlighting the importance of civic pride in the Barkly It has been an incredible six Development Committee, Local Government Association months and during that time I of the Northern Territory (LGANT) AGM, Sustainable have met with local dignitaries, Economic Growth in Regional Areas (SEGRA) Conference politicians and liaised with local and Tennant Creek Local Authorities. and Territory-wide stakeholders I continue with my role as Chair of the Tennant Creek as part of council’s commitment Alcohol Reference Group (ARG), an advisory group to listening to, engaging and representing the broader community. We met with the Chief involving the community. Minister Adam Giles in December and now we begin the hard As part of my role as President of work of formulating an alcohol management plan. the Barkly Regional Council I also attend a range of meetings I am also privileged to work with a dedicated and and public engagement activities. hardworking team of councillors, executive officers who are Some of the highlights over the past few months have overseeing projects such as construction of the new swimming included Australian Citizenship ceremonies (Page 18), the ABC Garden Awards presentations, World Teachers’ Day pool (Page 15), and council staff, including those involved in celebrations, International Women’s Day meetings, Skate Park the Language, Literacy and Numeracy Pilot Program (Page 3) Launch (Pages 4-5), Tennant Creek High School Awards, and Community Services team who help organise community the opening of the Tennant Creek Women’s Refuge garden carnivals, NAIDOC activities and implement youth multi- (Page 17), Barkly Region Drug And Alcohol Advisory Group media programs (Pages 6-10). (BRADAAG) 30-year anniversary and the Council Christmas As the year draws to a close I hope readers all enjoy this Party (Pages – 22-23). bumper issue of the Barkly Buzz. I also wish everyone a Other meetings attended include Regional Development Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year. Australia (NT), Tennant Creek Regional Economic President Barb Shaw • Council has updated the fees and IN THIS ISSUE What’s new … charges. You can find the updated document on http://barkly.nt.gov. • The NT Government has proposed that Language, Literacy and au/about-the-council/publications- the next Council elections be deferred Numeracy Pilot Program ��������������P3 resources/ until 26 August, 2017 because of Federal Skate Park Launch �����������������������P4 and State elections. • The results of funding for the Federal Desert Sevenz Government’s Indigenous Advancement Music Award Win ��������������������������P6 • The NT Government has called Strategy will not be known until March for submissions and consultation for 2015. Bush activities ������������������������������P7 the Cemeteries Act legislation that is • Council is taking part in a youth Ampilatwatja Football Carnival �����P8 currently being reviewed. Council will project where youngsters can paint four Arlparra Sports Weekend �����������P10 consult with all its Local Authorities for wheelie bins. Four-wheel drive training ������������P11 comment with submissions to the Local • The Tennant Creek Town Cemetery has Government Association of the Northern Long service award new gates as part of its upgrade. Territory (LGANT) in February 2015. for Depot worker �������������������������P12 • The Tennant Creek and Barkly Region New bus • Council recently conducted a cultural Strategic & Action Plan 2014-2016 has service for Tennant ���������������������P14 communication pilot program with the been endorsed by the Tennant Creek Sneak peek at designs aim of developing a cultural awareness Regional Economic Development for new town pool �����������������������P15 framework for the Barkly. Committee. Service awards • Council has adopted a new financial • The Community Safety Action Plan for councillors �����������������������������P16 sustainability and revenue policy to help has been endorsed by the Tennant Creek President’s Page ������������������������P17 better govern council in coming years. Community Safety Action Committee. Meet the newest citizens ������������P18 You will find a copy of this policy, along • The Council’s Regional Plan 2014- with all other adopted council policies, 2015 and Annual Report 2013-2014 are Library News ������������������������������P20 on http://barkly.nt.gov.au/about-the- available at http://barkly.nt.gov.au/about- Christmas Party 2014 �����������������P22 council/policies/ the-council/publications-resources/ Cover photo by Barry Nattrass. Page 2 Pilot Program Literacy project puts staff on right pathway A pilot project to help develop speaking, Night Patrol Manager Ralph Adamo was reading, writing and basic maths skills also full of praise: “Reporting has become for council staff in Ampilatwatja has more consistent, employees have begun using emails for communication, and they are more been a great success. confident in their workplace. I sincerely hope Supervisors and participants alike have this program can continue as the benefits can already seen improvements since the be clearly seen.” BRC proposed MULTIPLE benefits: that staff be given Trainer Kailas Kerr, an opportunity to right, assists Alwyn take part in a LLN Morton with paperwork program after in- for the landfill site; house assessments night patrol staff Alec found significant numbers of Lewis and Elizabeth employees in Bonney, top right; Tennant Creek Alwyn Morton checks and across all a council vehicle and communities on-the-job training in to be below the “Adding the factors of extreme remote the workshop. Australian Core community living and poor education Skills Framework opportunities to the mix produces a workforce (ACSF). excluded from opportunities for advancement Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) It was also recognised by council that or full life/workplace participation,” said Mani. training program began in August this year. literacy and numeracy training support To address and resolve the LLN skill Municipal Supervisor Bob Smith said the was fundamental to improve the chances of barrier, Mani proposed a pilot workplace LLN project, delivered by Central Desert workers in the region getting and keeping a LLN program in Ampilatwatja because of Training Director Kailas Kerr, has really job. the challenges and potentials the community assisted workers with their day-to-day jobs. Council’s Literacy and Numeracy Workplace poses. “Kailas has done a good job on my guys Mentor Manivannan Naidu said some of the “The majority of employees are at Pre-Level there, their confidence in doing timesheets council’s workforce has lower levels of LLN 1 in one or more skill areas, but there’s a high and vehicle logs and maintenance has grown, due to varying factors, the most prominent level of motivation among staff with 100 per especially Zepaniah and Alwyn,” said Bob. being that English is the second or third cent requesting LLN training and support.” language of many council employees. With shared funding from Barkly Regional Council and the NT Government’s Department of Business, Alice Springs-based Central Desert Training was then engaged as training providers for a five-month trial. Director Kailas Kerr said part of their training was to help staff understand workplace procedures, conduct vehicle checks, complete reports, fill in timesheets, apply for licenses and Ochre cards, and communicate via email. Training also provided on-the-job support, focusing on life skill development and addressing factors external to the workplace that may affect employee engagement and retention. As council worker Damien Peterson summed up: “It’s hard but I won’t give up. I want to start [reading and writing] from the easy bit first – make me think properly … work my brain. The training program is good – here to help me out.” INCREASED confidence: Council worker Damien Peterson, above, fills out a Funding is currently being sought from the Federal Government to roll the project out timesheet for work. He enjoys the training, which while hard, has helped with his across eight locations in the Barkly for a three- day-to-day job. Pictures by Ktima Heathcote year period. Page 3 Purkiss Reserve Skateboarders hit the decks at launch School kids and skateboarders came Back in April 2013 six students from Tennant students enjoy skating and do it often, only out to hang with the Barkly Regional Creek High School wrote to BRC expressing seven students used the old skate park and 58 Council (BRC) for the launch of a new their concerns about the poor state of the old would use a skate park if it was renovated. skate park and highlighting a few safety issues. Council worked closely with the school group, skate park in early December. The students - Ayden Renfrey-Carroll, Jamarn who were initially encouraged by teacher President Barb Shaw told a gathering of Hampton, Luke Baldock and Chabascoe predominantly primary and high school Bostock, Charles Walden