ROPER GULF REGIONAL COUNCIL REGIONAL REGIONAL PLAN 2020/21 Council Support Centre WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Street Address Strait Islander readers are advised that 2 Crawford Street Katherine NT 0850 this document may include the images of people who are deceased. Postal Address PO Box 1321 Katherine NT 0851 Phone 08 8972 9000 Fax 08 8911 7020 Email [email protected] Website www.ropergulf.nt.gov.au Roper Gulf Regional Council | ABN 94 746 956 090 The Logo Workshop and Depot 63 Chardon Street Katherine NT 0850 The logo was developed from a concept created by Lainie Joy of Borroloola. Council Offices The five flowing figures have multiple Phone Fax meanings. They represent the five wards Barunga 08 8977 3200 08 8944 7059 in our Region (Never Never, Numbulwar Beswick 08 8977 2200 08 8975 4565 Numburindi, Nyirranggulung, South West Borroloola 08 8975 7700 08 8975 8762 Gulf and Yugul Mangi); the five main Bulman 08 8975 4189 08 8975 4753 rivers winding through our Region (the Jilkminggan 08 8977 3100 08 8975 4905 Limmen, McArthur, Robinson, Roper and Manyallaluk 08 8975 4091 N/A Rose Rivers); the low-lying hills that are Mataranka 08 8977 2300 08 8975 4608 visible on the horizon nearly everywhere in Ngukurr 08 8977 4601 08 8975 4658 the Roper Gulf Region and the Rainbow Serpent that underlies everything. The Numbulwar 08 8977 2101 08 8975 4673 colours are based on the different colours Urapunga 08 8977 4601 N/A of the soil, and the people co-existing in Other Locations the Roper Gulf Region. Badawarrka Mount Catt Baghetti Mulgan Barrapunta (Emu Springs) Nulawan (Nalawan) Boomerang Lagoon Numerloori Costello Daly Waters Robinson River Jodetluk (Gorge Camp) Gorpulyul Kewulyi Weemol Larrimah Werenbun Minyerri Mole Hill Momob This Regional Plan was approved by Council at its Ordinary Meeting in Katherine on 29 July 2020. 2 | Roper Gulf Regional Council Acknowledgements Our sincerest gratitude to all the residents and stakeholders of the Roper Gulf Region who took the time to speak to us and contribute valuable suggestions that will allow the Council to look for dynamic ways to improve on its delivery of services and programs in communities around the Region. We appreciate the ongoing support of the community-based staff who assisted with the consultation process that led to residents choosing the town priorities you see on page 56 of this plan. As we move into the 2020/2021 Financial Year, Elected Members, Members of Local Authorities and staff remain committed to the Council’s vision of “Sustainable, Viable and Vibrant”. The people who make up the Region are its most precious resource, so we offer our thanks for speaking up, getting involved and allowing their opinions to be heard. Regional Plan 2020/2021 | 3 Acronyms and Definitions AAC Alawa Aboriginal Corporation JCAC Jilkminggan Community Aboriginal Corporation AAI Alcohol Action Initiative KPI Key Performance Indicator ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics LA Local Authority AGD Department of Attorney-General (Commonwealth) LDM Local Decision Making AOD Alcohol and Other Drugs LWOP Leave without Pay BBRF Building Better Regions Fund MAC Mungoorbada Aboriginal Corporation CACP Community Aged Care Package MAM Minister for Arts and Museums CASA Civil Aviation Safety Authority MAP Multi-Agency Partnership CDP Community Development Programme MARA Mabunji Aboriginal Resource Association CEO Chief Executive Officer MOU Memorandum of Understanding CIG Capital Infrastructure Grant MRM CBT McArthur River Mine Community Benefits Community The term ‘Community’ refers to all groups of people Trust living in the Region, unless specifically stated otherwise NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme CS Community Safety NIAA National Indigenous Australians Agency CSC Council Services Coordinator NLC Northern Land Council DAGJ Department of Attorney-General and Justice NPO Not Permanently Occupied DBCDE Department of Broadband, Communication and the NQF National Quality Framework Digital Economy (Commonwealth) NSRF National Stronger Regions Fund DCA Department of Communications and the Arts NTCET Northern Territory Certificate of Education and (Commonwealth) Training DCM Department of Chief Minister NTEPA Northern Territory Environment Protection DENR Department of Environment and Natural Resources Authority DET Department of Education and Training NTPFES Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency (Commonwealth) Services DLGHCD Department of Local Government, Housing and NTG Northern Territory Government Community Development OMC Ordinary Meeting of Council DIPL Department of Instratructure, Planning and Logistics PAWA Power and Water Corporation DoE Department of Education R&M Repair and maintenance DoH Department of Health R2R Roads to Recovery DPMC Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet RAF Regional Arts Funding (Commonwealth) REIF Regional Economic Infrastructure Fund DSS Department of Social Services (Commonwealth) RGRC Roper Gulf Regional Council DTBI Department of Trade, Business and Innovation RIBS Remote Indigenous Broadcasting Program DTSC Department of Tourism, Sport and Culture RSAS Remote School Attendance Strategy DWP Daly Waters Progress Association RTO Registered Training Organisation ELP Enterprise Learning Program RWMS Regional Waste Management Strategy EOI Expression of Interest S&R Sport and Recreation FG Federal Government SASO Senior Administration Support Officer FRRR Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal SHS Sunrise Health Service Aboriginal Corporation HMP Housing Maintenance Program SNP School Nutrition Program HR Human Resources SPG Special Purpose Grant IAN Indigenous Affairs Network TNT Tourism Northern Territory IAS Indigenous Advancement Strategy VOQ Visiting Officers’ Quarters IBP Indigenous Broadcasting Program WHS Work Health and Safety ICC Indigenous Coordination Centre Workshop Mechanical Workshop IPWEA Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia YMDAC Yugul Mangi Development Aboriginal Corporation ISRP Indigenous Sport and Recreation Project YS Youth Services ITEC ITEC Group is the name of the company IVMS In-Vehicle Monitoring System 4 | Roper Gulf Regional Council CONTENTS Mayor’s Message 6 Town Priorities 56 Chief Executive Officer’s Message 7 Barunga 58 About Our Council 10 Beswick (Wugularr) 60 Our Mission, Vision and Values 12 Borroloola 61 Roper Gulf Regional Council 13 Bulman and Weemol 63 Our Councillors 14 Daly Waters 66 Electoral Representation Review 15 Hodgson Downs/Minyerri 68 Governance Structure 16 Jilkminggan 69 Council Committees 18 Larrimah 71 Potential changes to administrative Manyallaluk 72 and regulatory frameworks 19 Mataranka (including Mulggan Camp) 74 Cooperative arrangements 19 Ngukurr 76 Council representation on external committees 20 Numbulwar 79 Planning Framework 21 Robinson River 81 About Our People 23 Urapunga 82 Staffing Plan 2020/2021 24 Outstations and Homelands 84 Function Framework 28 Budget 2020/2021 86 Grant Funded Projects 29 Service Delivery 32 Service Delivery by Location 34 Strategic Priorities 42 GOAL 1: Good Governance 43 GOAL 2: Strengthen Quality Of Life 47 GOAL 3: To Protect and Care For Our Physical Environment 50 GOAL 4: To Support Training and Employment In Remote Communities 54 Regional Plan 2020/2021 | 5 Mayor’s Message 2020/2021 is going to bring new and unprecedented Community Hub, and the Robinson River Oval challenges to Council as we try to navigate through upgrades in partnership with the Mungoorbada our “new normal” and recover from the effects Aboriginal Corporation and the Northern Territory of COVID-19. Council and staff are working Government. continuously to improve upon our current processes, ensuring that our service delivery to all communities In 2020/2021, we will work to develop our Strategic continues in a safe way in accordance with our Plan for the period of 2021-2024. This Strategic Plan COVID-19 Safety Plans and Business Continuity will ensure Roper Gulf Regional Council continues to Plan. move forward. Through these challenges, Council has remained I would like to acknowledge our Councillors, Local strong and steadfast in its commitment. Last year Authority Members, staff, residents and stakeholders brought about the completion of housing upgrades for their continuous hard work and dedication to to Mulggan Town Camp; the installation of Ngukurr everyone within the Roper Gulf region and their Oval Lights; the construction of multiple playgrounds valuable input into the development of this Regional for our youngest residents in various communities; Plan. Your continued support helps us to reach our and the development of some major projects that will goals for our communities to be sustainable, viable be delivered in 2020/2021. and vibrant. In the 2020/2021 financial year, Roper Gulf Regional Council’s focus will be to continue to deliver projects Judy MacFarlane that benefit our communities and their residents. Long awaited projects are scheduled to commence Mayor, Roper Gulf such as the Rocky Creek Bridge, the Mataranka Regional Council 6 | Roper Gulf Regional Council Chief Executive Officer’s Message Like all other local governments across the Members to make more informed decisions and country, Roper Gulf Regional Council finds itself in rationalise its long-term financial plan. Council is unprecedented operating conditions as we enter always disappointed with the continuing damage to the 2020/2021 Financial Year. The Coronavirus public property, and will work with Local Authorities to (COVID-19) pandemic that broke out globally in early build respect