News from Around the Region

Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) welcomes the newly elected Councillors to the fourth CDRC Council, who were sworn in on 30 September in Alice Springs, with Chansey Paech MLA in attendance.

Cr Adrian Dixon was elected President once again by the Council, with Cr Warren Williams returning to the role of Deputy President.

Adrian Dixon, Warren Williams, James Glenn, William Liddle, April Martin, Jacob Spencer and Freddy Williams all return to the Council, with Adrian Dixon and James Glenn having served on Council since its beginning in 2008.

Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) Youth, Sport and Recreation (YSR) staff attended a three day training week to complete various courses and planning sessions from 21 – 23 September. There was a total of twenty participants including staff from Laramba, Yuelamu, Atitjere, Pmara Jutunta, Nturiya, Wilora, Engawala and Alice Springs.

Over the three days the group completed an internal planning session to discuss what is working in the program and what requires further improvement. Strategies discussed will be implemented by staff across CDRC sites to further enhance the program.

On Thursday 9 September Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) Aged Care staff attended the Graduation ceremony at Batchelor – Desert People Centre Campus Alice Springs to graduate their Certificate II in Family Well Being.

There were four staff from Anmatjere, three staff from Engawala and two staff from Atitjere.

Congratulations to all the graduates.

The first round of the new breakfast all staff meetings were conducted throughout all nine Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) council centres on 31 August.  For Engawala and Atitjere egg and bacon sandwiches and fruit juice were on the menu. Engawala utilised the Aged Care facility while Atitjere were able to make use of their barbecue to get the job done.

All staff in attendance appreciated the opportunity to have a feed and discuss any local matters prior to the Council wide phone link up being conducted. This round Engawala was supported by Aged Care and Atitjere by Municipal. 

The 2021 Local Government Elections for the Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) were held in August and the results are now out.

Northern Tanami

There were only two nominations for two positions, so no election necessary. These were Andrew Johnson and Cyril Tasman.

Southern Tanami

There were four nominations for four positions, all by returning councillors. These are Warren Williams, April Martin, Fred Williams and Jacob Spencer.

Anmatjere

The Laramba Local Authority (LA) proposed to plant some indigenous trees along the main road into the community, from the Childcare to the turn off at the school. The approved sacred site clearance is for trees on both sides of the road however the other side next to the oval has a power line, so there are plans to get shade trees that will not grow tall so as not to disturb the overhead line.

A contractor planted 17 trees with tree guards a few weeks ago and the Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) Community Development Program (CDP) was tasked with the tree maintenance and management.  On 31 August Francis Madonko, Program Manager CDP Activities, visited Laramba to see how best they could manage the tree maintenance.

“I realised the contractor didn’t put basins around the trees, which is very important to allow water to collect so it can sink deep to encourage good root development and give the tree good anchoring,” he said.

A recent visit to Engawala Community by the Atitjere Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) works crew sparked some inter-community rivalry when they saw some of the new landfill improvement works there. One thing in particular that interested them was the new cardboard burn pit. The Engawala CDRC works crew have used some recycled materials to construct a very impressive new pit.

Since then, the Atitjere crew took on the challenge and designed a burn pit that they feel has lifted the bar even higher! They sourced some old leftover materials and have put together what they believe to be an even bigger and better cardboard pit.

On the first day of spring the Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) Yuelamu team of Marcus Briscoe, Norman Hagan and Mack Murphy conducted a combined office/municipal ‘Emu Pick’ of litter alongside the dam wall of Yuelamu. The crew organised the task the day before, coming up with the most successful way. 

“Yuelamu residents have commented positively on seeing the team working collaborative together for a cleaner community,” said Tammi Booker, Community Services Coordinator Yuelamu for CDRC.

Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) recently competed at the AAI Central Australia Softball Tournament held in Tennant Creek. CDRC were represented by 30 female players from Anmatjere, Laramba and Engawala.

The three teams were supported by CDRC Youth and Community Safety Patrol Team Leaders, who all met in Ti Tree on Friday. The teams had a quick lunch together then drove three hours up the Stuart Highway to Tennant Creek.

The Willowra road, from 18km to 23km, is being upgraded.

This is thanks to Local Government Priority Infrastructure Funding, proudly sponsored by the Northern Territory Government, and will be completed by Danny Orr Earthmoving.

The Regional Manager Roads and Capital Projects at Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) is the Project Manager for the upgrade.