ROPER GULF REGIONAL COUNCIL Strategic Plan 2018-2021STRATEGIC PLAN 2018-2021 1 ROPER GULF REGIONAL COUNCIL 2018-2021 STRATEGIC PLAN The Roper Gulf Regional Council 2018-2021 Strategic Plan is available online at www.ropergulf.nt.gov.au. For more information about the Strategic Plan, please contact: Manager Governance and Corporate Planning Address: PO Box 1321, Katherine NT 0851 Phone: 08 8972 9005 Email: [email protected] THE LOGO The logo was developed from a concept created by Lainie Joy of Borroloola. The five flowing figures have multiple meanings. They represent the five wards in our region (Never Never, Numbulwar Numburindi, Nyirranggulung, South West Gulf and Yugul Mangi); the five main rivers winding through our Region (the Limmen, McArthur, Robinson, Roper and Rose Rivers); the low-lying hills that are visible on the horizon nearly everywhere in the Roper Gulf Region and the Rainbow Serpent that underlies everything. The colours are based on the different colours of the soil, and the people co-existing in the Roper Gulf region. RGRC ADMINISTRATION CENTRE COUNCIL OFFICES Street Address Phone Fax 2 Crawford Street Katherine NT 0850 Barunga 08 8977 3200 08 8944 7059 Postal Address Beswick 08 8977 2200 08 8975 4565 PO Box 1321 Katherine NT 0851 Borroloola 08 8975 8758 08 8975 8762 Phone 08 8972 9000 Bulman 08 8975 4189 08 8975 4753 Fax 08 8944 7020 Jilkminggan 08 8977 3100 08 8975 4905 Email [email protected] Manyallaluk 08 8975 4055 N/A Website www.ropergulf.nt.gov.au Mataranka 08 8977 2300 08 8975 4608 Ngukurr 08 8977 4600 08 8975 4658 Roper Gulf Regional Council ABN 94 746 956 090 Numbulwar 08 8977 2100 08 8975 4673 WORKS DEPOT 63 Chardon Street Katherine NT 0850 OTHER LOCATIONS COMMERCIAL, COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY SERVICES Barawarka Larrimah 126 Victoria Highway Katherine NT 0850 Baghetti Minyerri Barrapunta (Emu Springs) Mole Hill Boomerang Lagoon Mount Catt DESIGN AND LAYOUT Costello Mulgan Photography: Roper Gulf Regional Council Daly Waters Nulawan (Nalawan) Design and layout: [email protected] Jodetluk (Gorge Camp) Werenbun Kewulyi This Strategic Plan was approved by Council on Month Day 2018. INDIGENOUS BROADCASTING WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers Located in Barunga, Beswick, Bulman, Ngukurr and Numbulwar. are advised that this document may include the images of people who are deceased. Phone 08 8972 9000 2 ROPER GULF REGIONAL COUNCIL Introduction Section 1 - Introduction What is the Strategic Plan? 5 Message from the Mayor 6 Our Council 7 Planning Framework About Us 8 About the Roper Gulf Region 9 Our Vision, Mission and Values 10 Section 2 - Planning Framework Our Role and Responsibilities 12 Our Planning Framework 13 Measuring Our Success 14 SWOT Analysis for Service Delivery 15 Strategic Goals Strategic Section 3 – Strategic Goals TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE Our Goals 19 Goal 1 – Good Governance 20 Goal 2 – Strengthen Quality of Life in the Roper Gulf Region 22 Goal 3 – To Protect and Care for Our Physical Environment 24 Goal 4 – To Support Training and Employment in Remote Communities 26 Section 4 – Long-Term Financial Plan Projections of Income and Expenditure (2017-18 to 2020-21) 28 Long-Term Financial Plan Financial Long-Term STRATEGIC PLAN 2018-2021 3 4 ROPER GULF REGIONAL COUNCIL Introduction Planning Framework The Roper Gulf Regional Council 2018-2021 Strategic Plan is a document that identifies the direction we need to take in order to strengthen the quality of life for those who call the Roper Gulf region home over the current four-year term of Government. This Strategic Plan lays out the four goals we believe are critical to delivering our vision of a sustainable, viable and vibrant future for both the organisation and residents, and specifies the Goals Strategic outcomes that will contribute to the achievement of this aim. These goals represent the core of what we are about – robust governance, providing safe, strong communities, protecting the physical environment of our Local Government Area, and supporting training, employment and economic development opportunities for remote stakeholders. The focus of our annual Regional Plan is underpinned by the strategies explained in this document. WHAT IS THE STRATEGIC PLAN? THE STRATEGIC IS WHAT Long-Term Financial Plan Financial Long-Term STRATEGIC PLAN 2018-2021 5 Roper Gulf Regional Council’s 2018-2021 Strategic Plan was developed in late 2017 following the appointment of the 13 new Elected Members who will lead the organisation for the next four years. Our region is the jewel in the crown of the Top End, which will allow us to track and report our progress with unlimited potential to develop into a social and on an annual basis via the Regional Plan and Annual economic powerhouse that plays a major role in the Report. long-term growth of the Northern Territory. This Strategic Plan is the result of extensive Council is an impassioned advocate for that consultation with stakeholders at all levels, and I development, and I believe the four goals outlined would like to thank them, Council staff, our 10 Local on the following pages will provide the framework Authorities and my fellow Elected Members for their for us to deliver on outcomes that will make the input and dedication to creating a document that Roper Gulf region sustainable, viable and vibrant for clearly sets out our direction until 2021. generations to come. These goals take on the themes of strong governance and financial management, building capacity, ensuring natural environment is considered in every decision we make, and supporting local training opportunities and employment for local people. Judy MacFarlane The outcomes, and strategies that will be Mayor implemented to achieve them, have been purposely Roper Gulf Regional Council designed to be easy to understand and quantifiable, MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR FROM MESSAGE 6 ROPER GULF REGIONAL COUNCIL NEVER NEVER WARD Introduction Mayor Councillor Councillor Judy MacFarlane Annabelle Daylight Ossie Daylight NYIRRANGGULUNG WARD OUR COUNCIL Planning Framework Deputy Mayor Councillor Councillor Helen Lee Selina Ashley Wayne Runyu YUGUL MANGI WARD NUMBULWAR NUMBURINDI WARD Councillor Councillor Councillor Councillor Owen Turner Eric Roberts Edwub Nunggunmajbarr David Murrungun Goals Strategic SOUTH WEST WARD Councillor Councillor Councillor Samuel Evans Don Garner Keith Rory The third Roper Gulf Regional Council was sworn in on September 14, 2017 at its inaugural Ordinary Meeting of Council in Katherine. At the meeting, Never Never Ward Councillor Judy MacFarlane was appointed Mayor for the four-year term of Government and Nyirranggulung Ward Councillor Helen Lee Deputy Mayor. Long-Term Financial Plan Financial Long-Term STRATEGIC PLAN 2018-2021 7 WEST ARNHEM DARWIN REGIONAL COUNCIL EAST JABIRU ARNHEM PINE CREEK KATHERINE ROPER GULF REGIONAL COUNCIL REGIONAL WA NT COUNCIL DALY WATERS QLD RENNER SPRINGS TENNANT CREEK Bulman BARROW NYIRRANGGULUNG Weemol CREEK ALICE WARD SPRINGS Manyallalu (Eva Valley) Numbular SA Katherine Barunga NUMBULWAR NUMBURINDI KATHERINE Besic Nguurr TOWN COUNCIL Urapunga WARD Jilminggan Matarana YUGUL MANGI Minyerri/ WARD Hodgson Dons Larrimah NEVER NEVER WARD Borroloola Daly Waters VICTORIA SOUTH WEST DALY WARD REGIONAL Robinson River COUNCIL BARKLY REGIONAL COUNCIL Roper Gulf Regional Council delivers a range of services and programs as diverse as the part of the Northern Territory’s Top End it is located in. Roper Gulf Shire Council was formed in 2008 following of the Stuart Highway to the Gulf of Carpentaria and the amalgamation of six smaller Community Councils - Queensland border. Borroloola Community Council, Numbulwar Numburindi Community Council, Nyirranggulung Mardrulk The Council’s strategic direction and service delivery is Ngadberre Regional Council, Yugul Mangi Community governed by four major pieces of legislation, being: ABOUT US ABOUT Council, Mataranka Community Council and Jilkminggan • Local Government Act; Community Council - and previously unincorporated • Local Government (Accounting) Regulations; land. It was renamed Roper Gulf Regional Council in January 2014. • Local Government (Administration) Regulations; and • Local Government (Electoral) Regulations. Incorporating a Local Government Area of 186,000 square kilometres – almost three times the size of In addition, subordinate Guidelines and General Tasmania – the Council’s operational footprint is the Instructions determine the Council’s operational model fourth largest in the NT and runs from the southern in a number of key areas, including the establishment side of the Kakadu escarpment to the northern edge and maintenance of the 10 Local Authorities within its of the Barkly Tablelands, and from the western fringe boundary. 8 ROPER GULF REGIONAL COUNCIL WEST ARNHEM REGIONAL COUNCIL EAST ARNHEM REGIONAL COUNCIL Bulman Introduction NYIRRANGGULUNG Weemol WARD Manyallalu (Eva Valley) Numbular Katherine Barunga NUMBULWAR NUMBURINDI KATHERINE Besic Nguurr TOWN COUNCIL Urapunga WARD The Roper Gulf Local Government Area is a vast area The Council receives funding from the Northern Jilminggan as rich in biodiversity as it is with the people who Territory Department of Housing and Community Matarana call the region home. Development to provide maintenance and essential YUGUL MANGI services in the following outstations: Minyerri/ WARD The Census held in 2016 showed 6,505 people Hodgson Dons live in towns and outstations within the Roper Gulf • Badawarka Larrimah Regional Council boundary, with a median