Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) offers commercial services to several Australian Government agencies and private businesses to deliver contracts in remote communities in the Central Desert region. In turn, these clients contribute to developing the region’s economy and wellbeing of these remote communities by paying service fees to Council.
CDRC Commercial Services strives to provide the best service possible to its wide ranging clients working in the region. The unit partners with these clients and communities to help improve the quality of life for residents in the region by delivering contracts that provide essential services to communities and create jobs to communities.
Services under the unit include Australia Post, Centrelink, Council accommodation services, Aerodromes Maintenance and the Community Development Program. Services are provided by Council staff located in the communities they operate in.
These commercial contracts serve as a two way benefit for both our clients and the Central Desert communities. Through managing different government contracts in the region, overseeing Council’s visitors’ accommodation in seven of nine communities and offering general services, the unit contributes to Council progressing its strategic goal of growing the regional economy and local employment and achieving its mission of protecting and improving the wellbeing of the Central Desert communities.
If you are interested in contracting services through CDRC, please email
On behalf of Australia Post, Council delivers postal services to four communities in the Central Desert region:
Council staff collect, sort and distribute mail at each location. Council workers also redirect uncollected mail. All mail is secured in the Council office until collected. Across the four services, mail collection time is during Council business hours of 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday.
On behalf of the Northern Territory Government’s Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics, Central Desert Regional Council conducts inspections, facilitates maintenance work and reporting for seven airstrips in the Central Desert region. This service is provided in:
Delivery of this contract ties in with Council’s strategic goals of growing the region’s economy by contributing to increasing the number of locally available jobs and fostering the wellbeing of communities.
Council’s Municipal Services Delivery teams play an important role in delivering this contract. They conduct and manage airstrip maintenance work and provide feedback to the contract principal.
Successful delivery of this service maintains the integrity of airstrips infrastructure and ensures a seamless flow of air traffic in remote Central Australia to deliver goods and services and transport people.
Central Desert Regional Council is contracted by Services Australia to provide the Agents and Access program in eight of the nine Central Desert communities. As an agent, Council is committed to providing and improving the quality of Services Australia services available to customers in the region.
Across the region, Council Services teams work as Agents and Specified Personnel. They provide culturally appropriate customer services, monitor and report on service consumption and manage service equipment on site.
All service access equipment is housed inside Council offices and accessible to customers during Council hours of operation. Services accessed by clients include Centrelink, Medicare, accessing MyGov and general assistance by Council agents to access self-service equipment and reference to the Services Australia call centre.
Service Locations and Times:
Atitjere – 09:00 to 14:00 (Closed for lunch from 12:00 – 13:00)
Anmatjere – 08:30 to 16:30 (Closed for lunch from 12:00 – 13:00)
Engawala – 09:00 to 12:00
Laramba – 08:00 to 15:00 (Closed for lunch from 12:00 – 13:00)
Lajamanu – 09:00 to 16:00 (Closed for lunch from 12:00 – 13:00)
Nyirripi – 09:00 to 15:00 (Closed for lunch from 12:00 – 13:00)
Yuelamu – 08:00 to 15:00 (Closed for lunch from 12:00 – 13:00)
Willowra – 09:00 to 15:00 (Closed for lunch from 12:00 – 13:00)
Central Desert Regional Council manages and offers commercial accommodation to contractors and other authorised visitors to communities in the Central Desert region.
Accommodation is offered at:
We have single bedrooms and double bedrooms available in these communities. Accommodation is un-serviced and cleaned in accordance with our CDRC COVID -19 Management Plan. Visitors supply their own meals and can utilise the available cooking facilities. Visitors must bring their own bed linen.
Possession, consumption and sale of alcohol in all of our accommodations which are located on Aboriginal land is prohibited. Visitors are required to respect our accommodations as alcohol-free premises. Entry permits to visit and stay in communities are required. These are issued and managed by the Central Land Council on behalf of communities in the region: CLC Permits.
Check-in must be done before 4:00 pm and check-out by 10:00 am the following day.
If you would like to request availability at any of our locations, please email
Go to Accommodation for more information and booking.
Central Desert Regional Council offers specialised and non-specialised services to clients across the Central Desert communities.
Specialised services are contracted services performed by certified or specially trained personnel; for example, essential services work conducted by trained Essential Services Officers.
Non-specialised services involve labouring to deliver general services to service providers and residents in the region. Yard maintenance is one such service. It involves mowing, general yard cleaning service excluding auto bodies removals – unless consent is provided by the house occupant.
Conditions
To request a service quotation at any of our locations, please email
Council delivers a range of exciting employment related training and activities in the following communities:
We aim to assist job seekers secure employment and create education and training opportunities to improve work readiness.
If you would like to know more about the CDP program visit our CDP Program page or the National Indigenous Australians Agency website at NIAA CDP or get in touch with the CDP team at