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  Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku  


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At its formation the Shire assumed responsibility for the limited services previously provided by the old Shire of Wiluna. Since then the Shire has been steadily improving and extending the range of services provided to the communities. Whilst significant progress has been made the Shire was only established in 1993 and it will still take some time for it to assume responsibility for all of the services expected of a "mainstream" local government, most of which have been in existence for more than 100 years. In implementing these services the Council has needed to allow for the culture and sensitivities of the local communities. 

Initially in most instances this was achieved by making contributions to fund existing facilities and services such as ovals, street lights, welfare, TV and radio retransmission, swimming pools and culture. However increasingly the Shire is now taking the more conventional avenue and providing the service directly. This includes Health, Building, Waste Services, Litter control, Rubbish Disposal Sites, Road Sealing, Sports & Recreation, Project management and other community-based programs. Since sealing the Warburton, Warakurna and Jameson Community, Council has taken control of roads within communities. The three projects were undertaken for a total cost of $3.65m for the 12.6 km of which ATSIC contributed $850,000. A list of current services is set out below:

Current Services

• Management Services - Tjulyuru Cultural & Civic Centre
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• Daily rubbish collection - Warburton, Warakurna and Jameson.
• Litter control - Warburton and Warakurna.
• Dog control program - all communities.
• Project Management - all Communities
• Refuse site maintenance - Warburton & Warakurna monthly all other communities annually.
• Verge Maintenance Programme/Road Sweeping - Warburton, Warakurna and Jameson.
• School holiday youth recreation programme funded under "Safer WA" grant.
• Maintenance of Football/Recreation Oval - Warburton and Warakurna.
• Provision of funding for Maintenance of Football/Recreation Oval - all other communities.
• Provision of funding for swimming pool maintenance for Warburton, Warakurna and Blackstone.
• Provision of funding for street lighting - all communities.
• Road maintenance.
• Health services - Environmental Health Officer services all aboriginal communities within the Shire. (Service provided under contract with City of Canning).
• Building services - Building Surveyor issues building licences and inspects all new building and structures within the Shire (Service provided by the City of Canning).
• Youth Development Programme.
• Youth Centres at Warburton and Blackstone.
• Provision of funding for upgrading roads of cultural significance.
• Provide a biannual TV/Radio equipment maintenance programme for all communities.
• Sport & Recreation programme.

Works undertaken and in Progress

• Community layout plans (form of town planning scheme for aboriginal communities) - Warburton and Warakurna only. This project has been funded by ATSIC and has been established in conjunction with the Western Australian Planning Commission and the Shire.
• Council is negotiating with the Western Australian Police Service for the provision of additional patrols to the region. The Shire has provided a grant for the operating expenditure related to additional patrols.
• Submission to the Regional Telecommunications Inquiry.
• The Shire has entered into an agreement with the Library and Information Services of Western Australia and Ngaanyatjarra College to create a new library in Warburton.
• Creation of new grassed softball field in Warburton.

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Population Dispersion

The Shire is responsible for ten aboriginal communities spread throughout the Shire. To physically service the communities necessitates staff travelling up to 840 km in a round trip. The cost of the travel and the time lost adds to the cost of the service. 

Health, building and supervisory staff are required to constantly travel between the major settlements at considerable cost in both time and travel expense. The Shire will eventually have duplicated facilities at most of the communities, which will significantly increase the Shire's costs. None of the communities are within commuting distance of one another and duplication is the only feasible way of providing services. 

Road Construction and Maintenance

The Shire is responsible for the maintenance of all roads currently on the Shire's Road Inventory. The Shire performs this function by contracting the work. Ngaanyatjarra Services are the current contractor responsible for providing plant and labour for the provision of all construction and maintenance works within the Shire. 

Major Roads maintained by the Shire:

• Great Central Road (Outback Hwy) 438kms
• Giles Mulga Park Road. 136kms
• Blackstone Access Road. 244kms
• Tjukurla Access Road. 94kms
• Tjirrkarli Access Road. 97kms
• Wanarn Access Road. 19kms
• Patjarr Access Road. 192kms
• Jameson Access Road. 52kms
• Warakurna Access Road. 5kms
• Wingellina Access Road. 7kms
• Bail Facility (Kanpa) Road 25kms

Youth Programme

Youth Development Officer, Warburton.

The Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku began employing a Youth Development Officer in October 2001 and since this time the level of service provided to youth within the Shire has grown incredibly. The fact that most attests to this statement is the reduction in anti-social behaviour, substance abuse and juvenile crime - especially during school holidays - since the creation of the position. Moreover the level of sport, recreation, positive activity and the general well-being of youth has also increased as the question shifts from “we’re bored, what can we do” to “what have we got on tonight?”

The Warburton Youth Centre is the focus of activity for youth at night in Warburton. The Centre has three pool tables, four Playstations with an array of games, pinball machines, air hockey, a big screen TV showing videos and a small canteen. But probably the biggest factor in the Youth Centre’s success is the frequency it is open, usually 5 nights a week. The benefits of having a dedicated Shire officer employed to manage the Centre means that all equipment is maintained and looked after and local youth can rely on the Centre being open for them at night.

In 2002 the Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku received some valuable assistance to their youth development program in the form of a grant from the Safer WA Communities Fund. This money was used to transport and accommodate students from UWA’s Human Movement Department who had come out the Lands to work with youth during school holiday periods. The Shire Holiday Program was thus created and has enjoyed enormous success since its inception. Now, when school finishes and an activity void is created these students ‘take up the slack’ and run activities like; discos, sport and games, extra pool supervision, mural painting and cooking. It is also a positive step for the students themselves being able to see with their own eyes outback Australia and the Ngaanyatjarra Lands, several of these students have gone on to begin their Diploma of Education based on their positive experiences with Aboriginal children in the Ngaanyatjarra Lands.

The Shire’s was also an award recipient in the Heart Foundation Kellogg’s Local Government Awards 2002 for their ‘Disco at the Oval’, which was the best national Project with Limited Resources. The “disco at the Oval’ put simply involves taking music equipment, the latest CDs and sports equipment down to the Warburton oval. The lights are turned on and usually a crowd of 80 people gather to play football, softball, throw the Frisbee and dance under the lights and under the stars.

Youth Development Officer, Blackstone - Kevin Weidman.

As of August 2002 the Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku extended its youth development program to Blackstone with the placement of a Youth Development Officer in the community. Among many other positive outcomes this ensured the opening of the Papalankutja swimming pool for the beginning of summer, and since its opening in October it has been in constant use. A swimming pool in the desert is, as it sounds, a very handy and welcomed facility. Since August the creation of a Youth Centre has also been under way. Opening in November to rave reviews from youth and community members alike, the Centre has an array of pool tables, Playstations, a jukebox, and a mini cinema (The Blackstone Single-plex!) Set up on the mezzanine floor of the swimming pool building - which in itself is a terrific idea, as the building was not being used in winter months - the Centre was an instant hit with local youth.

Having someone in Blackstone to specifically work with youth has also paid dividends in many areas. Sports equipment, for example, can now be purchased, distributed and maintained, and as a result nightly games of basketball, football and softball have taken place.

The Shire Holiday Program has also been successfully implemented in Blackstone with several students from UWA spending time in the community this year. The program was designed to fill the ’activity void’ created when school finishes each term, and to combat boredom by better utilising equipment that was often locked away over the holidays. This summer the students provided extra supervision at the swimming pool, started work on a BMX track, and demonstrated healthy lifestyle and the benefits of exercise as well as umpiring and playing games.

With a new Youth Centre, the cool and well-supervised waters of the swimming pool, discos, more sporting equipment and the Holiday Program, the community of Blackstone and indeed the surrounding communities have welcomed this new addition to Blackstone from the Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku.

Sports & Recreation

The Shire after initially contributing to maintenance of sportsgrounds at Warburton and Warakurna where grassed ovals are situated has now taken direct control of those ovals and their maintenance. Under the Shire's control the Warburton oval has been upgraded and reticulated.

In March 2000 the Shire employed a Sports Development Officer:

• To Promote participation in sport, as an enjoyable, worthwhile and healthy activity.
• To increase the sport participation rates, and improve the fitness and quality of life.
• To assist schools to improve participation, retention and achievements of the students by offering a comprehensive school sports development program.
• To promote health and fitness, and specific health messages as per sponsorship agreements, particularly "Smarter than Smoking" and substance misuse messages, through the DSDP.

The Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku received recognition for its Sport Development Program, being the recipient of Community Service Industry Award 2000 for services to remote areas. 


Regulatory Services

Environmental Health Services

The role of the Environmental Health Service is to oversee and protect the public environmental health standards of the communities within the Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku in the areas of water surveillance, food safety, disease control, community living, waste management and health education. The aim of the service is to improve the health of the communities, protect the quality of the environment and to ensure the requirements of the Health Act and Regulations are adhered to.

The following is a brief list of some of the programs currently implemented by Environmental Health Services:

• Potable water quality monitoring through regular analysis of test results.
• Routine inspection and sampling of public swimming pools.
• Routine inspection of food premises, and food monitoring programs to ensure food for sale is fit for human consumption.
• Investigations carried out on notifications of infectious disease, to attempt to isolate the source of contamination and to prevent further spread of the disease.
• Participation in dog health and control programs.
• Maintain programs for the control of mosquitoes and other pests and to provide education to the communities on such issues.
• To ensure that accommodation and community facilities meet satisfactorily standards of health and safety.

Building

Building Control is also provided under the same contract. (City of Canning)

The program ensures that all applications for building licences are dealt with efficiently and in compliance with codes, policies and other relevant legislation. Which ensures structural sufficiency of buildings and that all safety aspects of the occupants are not compromised.

Learn more, click the link below.

Shire's Health & Building Services
PDF Format  (Get FREE Reader Here)

Social Justice

Council employs a Social Justice Issues/Project Development Officer whose function it is to provide an understanding of the role of the Police, of the law and their rights under the law to the aboriginal people residing within the Ngaanyatjarra Lands. The objective is to improve the quality of life of all aboriginal people resident within the Ngaanyatjarra Lands, and to ensure as far as possible that aboriginal residents of the Lands receive, in regard to all social justice issues, a standard of service comparable with that provided to members of the wider community.

Centre Management - Tjulyuru

Council has entered into a Deed of Management with the Warburton Community to provide management services to the newly constructed Tjulyuru Cultural & Civic Centre. The Centre is owned by the Warburton Community, who have entered into the following agreements with the Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku:

• A lease agreement to ensure that the use of the facility for Local Government purposes will be at a peppercorn rental in acknowledgment of the Local Governments contributions to the project.
• An agreement to ensure that the operation and management of the facility will be provided by the Local Government and where appropriate the requirements as detailed in the Local Government Act 1995 will be observed.
• This purpose built & designed Cultural & Civic Centre will act as a focal point for all Ngaanyatjarra communities, cultural activities as a way to maintaining and communicating their identity.

Objectives:

1. Maintaining and promoting Ngaanyatjarra Culture, as one of embracing continuity of ageless tradition and twenty-first century systems of community self-government. 
2. Servicing demands for Ngaanyatjarra art and craft, culture and interaction from an increasing domestic and international tourist clientele.
3. Maximising opportunities for CDEP participants for structured, useful CDEP employment, for opportunities to increment their CDEP income and to move towards full or part time mainstream employment.
4. Promotion and marketing of commercial art and tourism ventures within the Ngaanyatjarra Lands. 
5. Nurturing the growth of sustainable cultural tourism and ecotourism ventures on Ngaanyatjarra Lands through providing a training ground for community members in the supply of core tourism services. 
6. Act as a hub for mentoring and group support for Ngaanyatjarra Council members involving themselves in local government administration and activities servicing a tourist clientele.

Representation in this Committee will comprise of at least 8 (eight) members:

• 2 Members shall be nominated by the Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku consisting of two Councillors or One Councillor and one Council Officer.
• 2 Members to be nominated by the Ngaanyatjarra Council (Aboriginal Corporation).
• 2 members to be nominated by the Warburton Arts Project.
• 2 members to be nominated by the Warburton Community Inc.

Pursuant to section 5.9 (2) (C) of the Local Government Act 1995 the Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku has established a committee comprising of Council members, employees and other persons and pursuant to section 5.16 of the Local Government Act 1995. 

Council at its meeting held 5th April 2000 resolved:

(a) That the following nominations be accepted by Council for the Ngaanyatjarra Cultural & Civic Centre Management Committee.

• Warburton Community Inc. 
  - Livingston West (Chairperson) 
  - Cyril Simms
• Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku 
  - Cr Damian McLean (President)
  - Mr Chris Paget (CEO)
• Warburton Arts Project 
  - Lalla West
  - Albie Viegas
   (Mr. Livingston West - Chairperson) 

(b) Pursuant to section 5.17 (1) (c) of the Local Government Act 1995 the committee be delegated the following powers and duties:

• To facilitate the construction of the Cultural & Civic Centre.
• To manage the operations of the Cultural and Civic Centre.
• Through the Centre, the promotion of Ngaanyatjarra culture.
• Through the Centre to provide education and training programmes to assist the Ngaanyatjarra people to develop skills. 
• Through the Centre to establish a commercially oriented trading business retailing Ngaanyatjarra culture and art.
• Through the centre to create opportunities for the Ngaanyatjarra people which will enable them to pursue self-determination and economic independence, such as the establishment of tourism and other business ventures relevant to the activities of the Centre.

By an absolute majority. 

Day to day management of the Centre is the responsibility of the Chief Executive Officer of the Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku. 

In the area of the provision of services and facilities the Ngaanyatjarraku Shire Council will satisfy itself that the services and facilities it provides integrate and co-ordinate with any provided by governments or public bodies; avoid unnecessary duplication with those provided by governments, any other body or person be they public or private; and are managed efficiently and effectively.


Learn more, click the link below.

Tjulyuru Cultural & Civic Centre Business Plan
PDF Format  (Get FREE Reader Here)

Waste Management

Council has taken over responsibility for waste management services at Warburton, Warakurna and Jameson. A Works team employed from within the communities carry out the Waste Service program. The service is currently being provided three times a week - every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The capital cost of duplicating plant and depots has prevented the extension of the service to other communities at this stage. A rubbish charge of $100 is levied at Warburton and Warakurna per property, per annum.

Streetscape Program and Street Sweeping & Litter Control

The Shire is committed to improving the appearance of the Shire's streets and has developed this program for Warburton, Warakurna and Jameson - other communities to follow. Road verge maintenance ensures the community's road verges do not become over grown and keeps the appearance of the communities visually pleasing.

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