2008-09 Inaugural Annual Report
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Inaugural Annual Report 2008-09 EAST ARNHEM SHIRE IS THE FOCUS OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT with seven Territory Growth Towns - of which six are also Federal priority communities - the Shire is set to play a pivotal role as the interface between Northern Territory & Federal Government initiatives and the priority needs of the people of the Shire. EAST ARNHEM IS A CENTRE FOR ABORIGINAL ARTS & CULTURE recognised worldwide as the wellspring of bark painting and the iconic ýidaki or didgeridoo. EAST ARNHEM IS A LEADER IN MINERAL RESOURCES centred upon Rio Tinto’s bauxite deposit at Nhulunbuy and the BHP Billiton GEMCO manganese mine on Groote Eylandt –one of the world’s largest - the Shire is highly prospective and as access infrastructure improves, so will the viability of new mining ventures and employment opportunities. THE SHIRE’S CORE VALUES ARE RESPECT, PROFESSIONALISM, RESULTS, INTEGRITY, INNOVATION AND ENGAGEMENT to achieve cohesive and community focussed outcomes through a strategic approach, articulating a range of policies and guidelines. THE SHIRE’S OBJECTIVE IS A STRONG, RELIABLE AND RESPONSIBLE SHIRE COUNCIL that will support the people of East Arnhem, by providing high quality services that lead to community, cultural, economic and environmental wellbeing. Shire publications, including the Annual Report, are available on the Shire website www.eastarnhem.nt.gov.au Front cover images of Twin Eagles Cape Arnhem by Chris Taplin (Walkabout Lodge,) etching by Barayuwa (2), Mununggur, Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Centre and Shire President Banambi Wunungmurra with Governor General Quentin Bryce (Photo: Eddie Misic, Eddison Photographics www.eddison.com.au). The Shire logo was created by Sheridith Manggurra of Groote Courtesy of the custodians of the Milingimbi Collection and the Eylandt with the help of her grandmother Rosalind Lalara. Museum & Art Gallery of the NT It was the winning design in the Shire Council Logo Competition. CONTENTS SECTION 1 - ABOUT THE COUNCIL Council Profile 2 Governance - Reporting and Public Disclosure SECTION 2 - THE PAST Macassans, Missions, Military & Mines 31 Transition to New Shire SECTION 3 - THE PRESENT Shire Profile 41 The Organization The Communities SECTION 4 - THE FUTURE A Working Future 90 NTER Future Directions SECTION 5 - FINANCIAL & AUDIT STATEMENTS 96 SECTION 6 - SUPPORTING INFORMATION 140 Shire Contact Details ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Shire gratefully acknowledges the support and assistance of the following organizations: Sprout Creative Northern Territory Library Australian War Museum Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory Rio Tinto-Alcan BHP Billiton The Walkabout Lodge OneTalk Technology The SEP Consultancy Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Centre East Arnhem Shire Council Annual Report 2008-09 1 ABOUT THE COUNCIL Courtesy of the custodians of the Milingimbi Collection and the Museum & Art Gallery of the NT MILINGIMBI GALIWIN’KU GUNYANGARA YIRRKALA RAMINGINING GAPUWIYAK ROAD ARNHEM MILYAKBURRA Central Arnhem Road UMBAKUMBA ANGURUGU NUMBULWAR GUMURR GATTJIRRK WARD GUMURR MIWATJ WARD ANINDILYAKWA WARD GUMURR MARTHAKAL WARD HIGHLIGHTS SHIRE WIDE » Over 250 Indigenous jobs created. » 9 Community Advisory Boards established. » $38.7m in grant programs managed. » $14.2m for new plant & equipment. » $2.8m new Night Patrols in all communities & Nhulunbuy. » $1.1m extra for Aged and Disability Services. COMMUNITIES » $500,000 Aged Care Facility & $600,000 upgrade of Community Hall at Milingimbi. » $293,000 for Multimedia Centre at Ramingining. » $600,000 to upgrade Ovals at Ramingining, Galiwin’ku and Umbakumba. » $204,000 Housing & Respite Care at Milyakburra. East Arnhem Shire Council Annual Report 2008-09 3 PRESIdent’s STATEMENT It gives me great pleasure to present this Annual Report to the Hon. Rob Knight MLA, Minister for Local Government. This is a record of our progress against the goals in the Strategic Plan and shows the efforts of Shire staff against great difficulties. I also want to recognise the many Federal and Northern Territory Government Departments and individuals that have supported us throughout the year. Back in 1931 the Arnhem Land Reserve was declared to provide a 50 years period to adjust to the modern world. Within 20 years Arnhem Land was at the frontline of the war and much of our infrastructure was created at that time. As the war moved northwards, Arnhem Land was again left behind. Despite the start of mining in the 1960’s and the endless parade of health, housing and other surveys that showed our priority need - we remained the poor relation until now. With the coming of the Intervention and the granting of Regional Local Government through the creation of the Shire - East Arnhem is at last on track - with six of our nine communities being Federal priority areas and seven being Territory Growth Towns. All the old, familiar systems of the last thirty years have gone and we must make new partnerships with Government, at every level, to prevent waste and duplication through not knowing our local conditions. In the words of our Councillor Mavis Danganbarr - ‘we must find ways to help the balandas to help us’. We know that this is the new start and a chance to build a solid foundation for the future. I am particularly pleased to see Government’s commitment to developing our major communities as ‘service centres’ for the homeland movement which started in 1936 at Gattji and was expanded through the fifties and sixties to meet the defining business essentials of ownership, stability and authority. Through modern communications technology, our isolation will become our major asset in art and tourism as well as providing the means for education and health services as happens overseas. The challenges ahead are great but the opportunities are greater and I look forward to the positive relationship, with you and your Government, growing through the coming year. Banambi Wunungmurra PRESIDENT 4 East Arnhem Shire Council Annual Report 2008-09 SHIRE TREE EAST ARNHEM SHIRE COUNCIL PRESIDENT Banambi Wunungmurra GUMURR GUMURR GUMURR ANINDILYAKWA CEO GATTJIRRK MIWATJ MARTHAKAL WARD IAN BODILL WARD WARD WARD COUNCILLOR DIRECTOR COUNCILLOR COUNCILLOR COUNCILLOR DEPUTY CORPORATE RONNIE BANAMBI MAVIS PRESIDENT SERVICES BARRAMALA WUNUNGMURRA DANGANBARR KEITH HANSEN KERRY WHITING DIRECTOR COUNCILLOR COUNCILLOR COUNCILLOR COUNCILLOR TECHNICAL MUNYARIRR BARAYUWA WININBA LIONEL SERVICES GURRALPA MUNUNGGURR GANAMBARR JARAGBA TY JOHNSON DIRECTOR COUNCILLOR COUNCILLOR COUNCILLOR COUNCILLOR COMMUNITY DAYMIRRINGU YANANYMUL KAYE KEITH SERVICES WARRAYA MUNUNGGURR THURLOW MAMARIKA DALE KEEHNE East Arnhem Shire Council Annual Report 2008-09 5 COUNCIL COMMITTEES AND COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARDS FINANCE COMMITTEE Council routinely meets bi-monthly, with special meetings convened as and when required. The finance administration workload is such as to require the establishment of a dedicated Finance Committee. The Finance Committee was created at the first council Meeting on 12th November 2008 and met 4 times during the year. The committee is comprised Courtesy of OneTalk of the Chief Executive Officer, Ian Bodill and the three Directors Ty Johnson (Technical Services), Dale Keehne (Community Services) & Kerry Whiting (Corporate Services). This committee meets on alternate months to the Council, to ensure the presentation of a monthly finance report and to monitor the on-going financial position of Council. ANIMAL WELFARE AND CONTROL SUB-COMMITTEE At the March meeting of Council, a resolution was passed agreeing to establish the Animal Welfare and Control Sub-committee. The committee is comprised of one Councillor per Ward - the representatives are Cr. Jack Gurralpa - Cr. Don Wininba - Cr. Lionel Jaragba - Cr. Barayuwa Mununggurr. The primary role of this committee is to assess the by-laws and policies of other councils and in consultation with communities develop effective by- laws and policies for the Shire. COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARDS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NORTHERN TERRITORY GOVERNMENT EAST ARNHEM SHIRE COUNCIL COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARDS 6 East Arnhem Shire Council Annual Report 2008-09 A primary responsibility of the Shire Council is to Except in particular circumstances, such as when ensure equitable representation throughout the meeting a delegation of volunteers. Shire. Each community is progressively developing its An imperative has been to validate resolutions and Advisory Board as the formal mechanism by which recommendations of the Boards by guaranteeing clan/ individual Shire members can raise their concerns and mala representation from throughout the service area. suggestions. Purely local issues are addressed to the Government and its agents must be confident that when Shire Services Manager, whilst broader concerns are consulting with a Community Board they are meeting with formulated into recommendations and put up to the representatives of every person within the service area. Shire Council. The Councillors from the relevant Ward are then in a position to speak with authority upon A range of information & communications technology the matter before Council, which may then resolve options is being explored to identify the best means of to either deal with the matter internally or make a supporting and developing the Boards, whilst remaining recommendation to the NT Government, which may within the improbable strictures of the Act. The Shire feels likewise refer the matter on to the Federal level. strongly that one validation test of Regional Government is to track initiatives from grassroots electors