november build-up breaks over roper gulf...

Mail: PO Box 1321 Katherine NT 0851 Phone: 08 8972 9000 Fax: 08 8944 7020 Web: www.ropergulf.nt.gov.au

Build-up breaks over Roper Gulf region

GRADUATION CELEBRATION: Barunga-based Community Night Patrol Officer Alistair Andrews receives his testamur during the Charles Darwin University graduation ceremony held in Katherine on November 24. About 300 people converged on the Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts and Culture Centre for the annual event, at which eight Roper Gulf Regional Council staff were presented with a Certificate III in Community Night Patrol.

INSIDE THIS EDITION

Hitting the region running P4

Ngukurr program tackles grog P5

CSC forum delivers insight P6

Skull Cave gets seating choice P7

Leaders take charge at course P8

Night Patrol cohort graduates P9

Bulman beautification begins P10

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Message from the Mayor

With the end of the year knocking at the door, now is the perfect time to sit back and reflect on some of the achievements the Council has notched up during the previous financial year following the release of the 2015-16 Annual Report this month. One of the biggest results in 2015-16 was the restructure of the organisation from four Directorates into three, a move that will allow the Council to better align itself with the direction Local Government is taking in regard to service delivery, funding and policy development. Undertaking the restructure required an incredible amount of planning to ensure that residents and ratepayers were not impacted by the changes, and I would like to thank everyone involved who helped with the smooth transition. As I read the report, it makes me proud to see how many Town Priority projects were completed across the Roper Gulf region during the 2015-16 financial year. These projects are specific to each of our communities and represent the needs and wishes of the people who call them home, and it is always satisfying as Mayor to witness the Council working hard to deliver on expectation, even if only in an advocacy role with higher levels of Government or other stakeholders. Personally, it was a highlight to watch the dedicated softball diamond in Borroloola take shape after the Local Authority made it clear the community wanted a standalone facility to develop future stars of the sport. Wet season inundation will assist in greening the field up, but it is already apparent that Borroloola now boasts one of the best regional softball venues in the Northern Territory. The Local Government Association of the Northern Territory will hold its final general meeting of the year in conjunction with its annual general meeting in Alice Springs on December 2. During the meeting, the election of the next LGANT Executive will take place, with representatives of the Australian Electoral Commission attending to oversee the counting of votes.

I have nominated for re-election as LGANT’s Vice-President of Regional and Shire Councils, a position that I hold with the current Executive. I believe it is vital that Councils in remote parts of the NT have strong representation at the table, which is why I have decided to contest the election. As the Roper Gulf region crosses its fingers for a big wet season after a disappointing build-up, now is the time for staff, residents and ratepayers to prepare themselves for whatever Mother Nature is likely to throw at them over the next four months. There is nothing that quite matches the power and beauty of a Top End storm, but we need to be mindful that they can be incredibly destructive and cause all sorts of chaos, especially in remote towns. I know the team in Numbulwar has been busy getting the town safe for cyclone season, and I would like to see everyone else follow this lead by readying their homes and businesses by cleaning up trees, branches and any loose items lying around. For those needing a few tips on how to become storm and cyclone ready, the SecureNT Facebook page and app are providing handy weekly advice in the weeks leading up to the onset of the wet season. All the best

Message from the CEO

Hello readers With the exception of areas in the vicinity of Bulman and Ngukurr, the Roper Gulf region is still screaming out for the arrival of the wet season to settle the parched earth and transform the bush into a sea of green. Isolated inundation

has caused road conditions to change immensely over a short period of time in some places as waterways rise and gravel washes away. These changes – which occur in the lead-up to every wet season but still catch many road users by surprise – have caused the Work, Health and Safety team to issue several warnings about road conditions this month to anyone travelling on Council business. The warnings come as a timely reminder how dangerous driving on remote roads in the Top End can be, and I urge all staff to review the processes the Council has put in place to mitigate some of the risks involved with work-related travel, including journey management. The fantastic results the Council has been achieving with its Community Development Program were recognised on the national stage this month at a Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet Provider Business Meeting in Brisbane. The conference allowed CDP providers from

across Australia to discuss the challenges involved with the delivery of the program in regional areas, and CDP Regional Manager Janelle Iszlaub was handpicked to explain to delegates how the Council has been so successful in engaging participants. I am sure you will join me in congratulating everyone involved with the program across the region, especially the staff based in community who oversee the diverse projects driving the success. Infrastructure is a vital component in the sustainability and development of any community, especially for those located in some of the remotest parts of the Northern Territory. It is a position the Council has championed on behalf of residents, ratepayers and businesses at every opportunity, and I think it is fair to say that the construction of the new Roper River and Wilton River bridges – which is nearing completion – as part of a $40 million Roper Highway upgrade demonstrates the NT and Federal Governments have acknowledged that remote communities cannot survive without infrastructure investment. The bridges will hopefully be finished before the wet season arrives and when they are, will improve accessibility that in turn will act as a catalyst for increased economic development in communities situated along the Roper Highway. Until next time, stay safe.

Employees of the Month – November 2016 Employees of the Month are selected for their dedication and hard work within Roper Gulf Regional Council.

Headquarters – Felemeno Jnr Damien Barunga – Tony Walla

Beswick – Rodwynne King Borroloola – Timothy Lansen

Bulman – Justin Pedersen Eva Valley – Aaron Fredricks Jilkminggan – Antony Lynch

Mataranka – Yen Nguyen Ngukurr – Rebecca Joshua

Numbulwar – Wayne Murrungun

Congratulations to all of the winners

Council welcomes new Roper Area Manager

NEW TO NGUKURR: New Roper Area Manager Janeen Bulsey discusses the upcoming road works in Ngukurr with Director of Council and Community Services Sharon Hillen after starting with the Council in early November.

The Council’s new Roper Area Manager says community development is one of the main priorities she cannot wait to tackle in the role. Janeen Bulsey took up the reins in Ngukurr this month and explained that she hoped to utilise her wealth of experience both with the Federal Government and living in remote communities for the betterment of the Roper Gulf region. “The majority of my work history has been in and around the Barkly and Central Australia regions with Federal Government agencies such as Centrelink, Prime Minister and Cabinet, and employment and training,” she explained. “I’ve got a large strategic overview of how the programs are done at that high level, as well as operational on

the ground. “I’m hoping to be able to develop the local communities’ town planning and get some things in place. “Some of our communities are quite a significant size, but they’re not treated as an actual township, which needs to change.” Ms Bulsey’s family hails from the east cost of Australia, with her father calling Quandamooka country in Queensland home, and her mother Bundajalung country in New South Wales. “My family comes from the east coast, but I grew up in Tennant Creek,” she said. Ms Bulsey added that she would like to see more emphasis on nurturing local skills and training, in a bid to create long-term employment prospects.

“Community safety is important to me, as is community development,” she said. “You’re skilling up local people into positions and hopefully, down the track, that means we don’t have to recruit from outside the community.” An avid photographer, Ms Bulsey said she was looking forward to arriving on country and making the most of the opportunities that presented from behind the lens. “I’m excited about it, because it’s totally different country to what I’ve been used to, especially with things like crocodiles,” she laughed. “People have called them ‘snappy logs’ and ‘big geckos’, and while I won’t be going close to them, I’m hoping I’ll be able to get some photo opportunities.”

Tackling Ngukurr alcohol demand with sport

A Roper Gulf Regional Council alcohol action initiative in Ngukurr will use a $10,000 Northern Territory Government grant to further promote the benefits of healthy lifestyle choices for youth through the purchase of new sporting equipment. The initiative was launched in a bid to stop youth in Ngukurr being drawn to alcohol and other drugs as a form of entertainment, and instead turn their attention to a range of physical activities co-ordinated by the Council. Youth Development, Sport and Recreation Co-ordinator John Hickey said the funding would allow the Council’s Community Services team to continue its success in the remote community.

“What we’re trying to do is continue the momentum we already have in these guys improving their health and fitness on a daily basis,” he said. “We need equipment to do that.” He added that youth had embraced the initiative and were revelling in the opportunity to participate in activities they had not previously had exposure to, including mountain biking, weight training and agility courses. “It’s about making sure that drugs and alcohol aren’t their entertainment,” Mr Hickey said. “We’re helping to change their lifestyle to one of exercise and looking after themselves, and it’s making a big difference already.

“It’s a matter of them having a better image of themselves and who they are.” Community Services Regional Manager Annalisa Bowden thanked the NT Government for recognising that combatting alcohol and other drugs often needed a unique approach. “This funding means the Council will be able to buy more equipment for youth in Ngukurr to engage with as a form of entertainment, which means they will be kept active and make better life choices,” she said. “That will lead to a decline in the demand for alcohol and other drugs in the community, and provide a flow-on effect for service providers in that field, as well as Ngukurr as a whole.”

MAKING WAVES: The Roper Gulf Regional Council program utilises any sporting equipment – such as goggles and swim fins – that can be used to engage Ngukurr youth, in a bid to stop alcohol and other drugs being viewed as entertainment.

Taking a behind-the-scenes look at how a Municipal Council operates vital community infrastructure was just one component of the agenda when Roper Gulf Regional Council’s Council Services Co-ordinators (CSCs) converged on Katherine for a forum in November. The forum provided an opportunity for the CSCs to learn more about different aspects of Council operations, including Governance, Human Resources and Finance, as well as what new responsibilities they had as part of the mid-2016 organisational restructure. On day two of the forum, the CSCs toured three Katherine Town Council assets with Environment and Compliance Manager Mark Flynn - including the Waste Management Facility and pound - and gained valuable insight and ideas that could be applied to similar assets in their respective communities.

Council Service Co-ordinators gather for forum

SITE VISIT: Council Services Co-ordinators from across the Roper Gulf region learn how batteries and oil are processed at the Katherine Waste Management Facility by Big Rivers Waste Management Working Group Co-ordinator Liam Harte and Katherine Town Council Environment and Compliance Manager Mark Flynn during a site visit on November 9.

Mataranka/Jilkminggan CSC Antony Lynch and Beswick CSC Brenda Donges listen intently to a presentation on day one of the forum.

The Governance unit is running out of spare desks after it welcomed the Council’s new Compliance Co-ordinator to the team on November 14. Cristian Coman has arrived in the Top End from Sydney, where he notched up several years’ diverse experience with compliance, legislation and investigation with State and Federal

Governments. His first task will be finalising the review of Council policies and procedures, and writing any new polices or procedures that the Council requires. Thankfully, Cristian also seems to have brought some much-needed rain across the border with him.

CDP delivers Skull Cave seating alternative

GHOST WHO SITS: Talented Binjari CDP participants are all smiles as they show off the skull-themed chair - which would not look of place in the Phantom’s famed Skull Cave - they constructed as part of a furniture-building project.

Roper Gulf Regional Council’s talented Community Development Program participants are continuing to show off their creative flair on the furniture front. After participants in Barunga turned heads with a range of seating made from recycled 44-gallon fuel drums earlier in

the year, the Binjari crew has channelled a comic book favourite in creating its latest piece of one-of-a-kind furniture. Participants could not keep the smiles off their faces this month as they unveiled a skull chair that could easily have found a home in the Phantom’s Skull

Cave, had it not been snapped up before the horse-riding, lycra-clad superhero could get his hands on it. Like much of the other furniture being created in the community, the material for the stunning chair was sourced from salvaged pallets.

WELCOME ABOARD: Former Sydneysider Cristian Coman is the Council’s new Compliance Co-ordinator.

Council compliance gets staffing boost

by Angela Pattison, LGANT Staff from Roper Gulf Regional Council, Katherine Town Council and Victoria Daly Regional Council learned more about what it took to be a Local Government leader when they attended the Introduction to Leadership course on November 11.

Presented by Allan Adams from Beyond IQ, the day included a range of modules which challenged participants' thinking about their workplace relationships and goal setting. In an effort to achieve clear communication with colleagues and clients, they also explored how to communicate

effectively and deal with conflict, in particular how to deal with their own reactions and as a leader, how to deescalate conflict. The content was both challenging and revealing, as it critically examined participants' reactions to certain situations and sought the source of their emotional responses.

Stakeholders have an opportunity to review the major achievements of the Council during the previous financial year after the 2015-16 Annual Report was endorsed by Elected Members at the Ordinary Meeting of Council on October 26. The report summarises the activities and performance of the Council each financial year against the main objectives, strategies and targets of its Strategic Plan, and Mayor Tony Jack urged staff, residents and

ratepayers to take the time to read it. “It’s been a big year for the Council and we have been able to complete a lot of the Town Priority projects that communities wanted,” he said. “The Annual Report gives a complete overview of what Council has achieved during 2015-16.” The report is available to download for free on the Council website. READ ALL ABOUT IT: The 2015-16

Annual Report is now available.

2015-16 Annual Report now available

Staff take charge with leadership course

LEARING LEADERSHIP: Facilitator Allan Adams puts participants through their paces during a module on November 11.

Eight Roper Gulf Regional Council staff that converged on the classroom to help improve safety in their respective communities have been lauded at a special Charles Darwin University graduation ceremony on November 24. The staff, who are based in Borroloola, Ngukurr, Beswick, Barunga, Manyallaluk and Jilkminggan, completed the Certificate III in Community Night Patrol and were presented with their qualification in front of more than 300 people at the CDU event, which was held at Katherine’s Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts and Culture Centre.

Community Night Patrols play a vital part in minimising antisocial behaviour and alcohol abuse in 11 communities in the Roper Gulf region, and Chief Executive Officer Michael Berto said the qualification provided the staff with a nationally-recognised pathway to add capacity to the Council’s service delivery. “Community Night Patrol is an extremely important part of what Council does in our remote communities on behalf of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet,” he explained. “It is more often than not the first line of defence against

antisocial behaviour and promoting community safety, which comes with a complex set of challenges made tougher by the tyranny of distance. “Our Community Night Patrol staff are seen as role models in their communities, and the eight that graduated this week now have a formal qualification that adds to the skills they have learned in the course of their duties.” The graduates are Alistair Andrews, Dwayne Gordon, Nicodemus Farrell, Vanessa McCale, Adrian Doctor, John Sigai, Ian Daylight and Russell Agalara.

Council celebrates Night Patrol graduates

SAFER COMMUNITIES: Roper Gulf Regional Council staff take time out to consider their educational success and what it means for safety in their respective communities after graduating with a Certificate III in Community Night Patrol.

CDP crew begins beautifying Bulman public spaces

BEAUTIFUL BULMAN: Bulman residents using the community’s parks are enjoying the colour added to three tables as part of a creative Community Development Program project to beautify public spaces with eye-catching artwork.

The remote communities of Bulman and Weemol have become more welcoming to residents and visitors thanks to the efforts of Council staff, and eager Community Development Program participants. In Bulman, grass and painted tables - which are adorned with the artwork of CDP participants - have made public spaces more appealing, while construction has begun on a basketball half-court and community area in Weemol. Director of Commercial Services Marc Gardner visited Weemol last week to watch the first pour in the construction of the court,

and said it was fantastic to see CDP participants making their mark on the improvement of the communities. “Bulman is looking great, with plenty of grass starting to pop up as a result of the hard work of Council staff,” he said. “Dust suppression was a 2015-16 Town Priority and a major part of beautifying the community, and the painting of tables in public spaces has only enhanced Bulman’s aesthetic appeal.” “The basketball half-court in Weemol will include a barbeque area and seating that will be a hit.”

CDP participants discuss the progress of the basketball half-court at Weemol with Director of Commercial Services Marc Gardner and Central Arnhem Area Manager Nathan McIvor last week.

Bodhi Bus passengers in Beswick now have a place to wait for their ride away from the harsh Top End elements after a long-awaited infrastructure project was completed in the community on November 28.

A bus stop has been on the want list of residents for some time and became a reality as a result of the project, which utilised more than $5000 in Local Authority funding and labour supplied by Community Development

Program participants. Central Arnhem Area Manager Nathan McIvor said it had been thrilling to watch the project take shape and provide an asset for the Beswick community.

Beswick bus passengers welcome new infrastructure

AEC thanks for Council’s election assistance The invaluable assistance Roper Gulf Regional Council provided in remote communities during the 2016 Federal Election has been recognised by the Australian Electoral Commission. Ensuring the electoral process runs smoothly in remote communities is one of the biggest hurdles faced by the AEC every three years, and the Council helped by providing locations for voting booths and on-the-ground assistance. AEC staff from Darwin presented a Certificate of Recognition to the Council during a special visit to Katherine on November 3.

BUS STOP BEGINNINGS: Community Development Program participants assisting Council staff to build the long-awaited Beswick bus stop pause for a group photo as the slab on which it will sit takes shape on November 24.

ELECTION THANKS: Director of Corporate Governance Greg Arnott accepts the Certificate of Recognition from the Australian Electoral Commission for the Council’s remote voting efforts during the 2016 Federal Election.

Nominations open for Australia Day recognition

The wet season is almost upon the Top End, so now is the time to consider storm and cyclone safety. The Northern Territory Government’s emergency information website, SecureNT, has been overhauled for this year’s wet season, with new social media alerts among the many improvements aimed at making this time of year easier for residents

and visitors. With a website, Facebook page and new-look app available, there is an option accessible to every user, and Director of Emergency Recovery Collene Bremner urged Territorians to make themselves familiar with their preferred platform’s functionality. Visit securent.nt.gov.au for more information.

Do you know someone who tirelessly goes above and beyond for the betterment of your community? Have you attended a community event in the past 12 months you think is worthy of recognition on January 26, 2017? Nominations are now open for Roper Gulf Regional Council’s Australia Day Local Government Awards in Barunga, Beswick, Borroloola, Bulman, Jilkminggan, Manyallaluk, Mataranka,

Ngukurr and Numbulwar. Until December 16, you can nominate someone in your community in a range of award categories, including Citizen of the Year, Youth Citizen of the Year and Community Event of the Year. For more information about what awards are up for grabs in your community, or to obtain a nomination form, visit your Council office.

SecureNT has tips for safe storm season

COMMUNITY SPIRIT: If you know someone in your community who is worthy of recognition on Australia Day, now is your chance to nominate them for Roper Gulf Regional Council’s Australia Day Local Government Awards.

BE PREPARED: Storm season in the Top End is not something residents and visitors should take lightly.

Get up to speed with commercial dumping process Waste Management Facility users are being asked to brush up on the do’s and don’ts of dumping commercial waste in the Roper Gulf region. The Council has released a flyer explaining why it has adopted a fee for the dumping of commercial waste at any of its Waste Management Facilities, and how the fees collected help to fund service and infrastructure delivery. For the 2016-17 financial year, it costs $70 per cubic metre to dump commercial waste. Further information on the fee is available on the Council website, with the flyers also being displayed in Council offices.

Out and About

BIRD’S-EYE VIEW: Manager Governance and Corporate Planning Amanda Haigh snapped this great shot of Roper Bar as she flew to Ngukurr for the Local Authority Meeting on November 16.

A swag of Local Authority Meetings in the calendar meant despite the build-up heat, communities were still hives of

Council activity during November. In addition, all roads led to Katherine for three days as

Council Services Co-ordinators attended a forum to learn more about their roles under the new organisational structure.

Roper Area Manager Janeen Bulsey and Borroloola Council Services Co-ordinator Fred Graham give their undivided attention to a CSC forum presenter.

KNOW THE RULES: The Council is urging people using any of its Waste Management Facilities to get up to speed about commercial dumping fees.

Upcoming Meetings of Council and Local Authorities

Mayor Tony Jack Phone: 0428 793 132 Email: [email protected] Deputy Mayor Judy MacFarlane Phone: 0427 754 668 Email: [email protected]

Chief Executive Officer Michael Berto Phone: 0427 799 621 Email: [email protected] Roper Gulf Regional Council reception Phone: 08 8972 9000 Fax: 08 8944 7020 Email: [email protected]

Contact us

For current jobs, visit www.ropergulf.nt.gov.au or email [email protected].

Job Opportunities

Do you have a story to tell or photograph to share? Roper Gulf Regional Council would like to showcase the stories and photographs from across the region. Residents, ratepayers and Council are invited to submit their articles and original photos for consideration. Please send your material to [email protected] or call the Communications Co-ordinator on 0419 891 666.

Date Time Meeting Location

12 Dec 5.30pm Mataranka Local Authority Meeting Mataranka Community Hall

14 Dec 8.30am Ordinary Meeting of Council 2 Crawford Street, Katherine

All Local Authority Meetings and Ordinary Meetings of Council are open to the public

Please Note: Local Authority Meetings are subject to change

november build-up breaks over roper gulf...

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