News from Around the Region

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.

Good luck to the 30 softball players from Engawala, Laramba and Ti Tree who are travelling to Tennant Creek this week to represent Central Desert Regional Council at the AAI Central Australia Softball Tournament. Players will hit the field on Friday night and all day Saturday. Check our Facebook or website for the results next week!

Photo: Annalisa Dixon from Laramba waiting to bat.

It's not too late. There is still time to complete your Census.

Visit www.census.abs.gov.au for more information.

Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) has hosted CAAMA Radio’s rebroadcast service in Atitjere for many years, helping to improve the liveability of the town. The quality of the old CAAMA transmitter was not good and only mono – very much like an AM broadcast radio station.  The antennas had been damaged a very long time ago and the service was struggling to cover the community.

Central Desert Regional Council’s (CDRC) Atitjere municipal crew were once again out and about at the Harts Range Races and Sports Weekend this year. Council sponsor a variety of community events and have been supporting this event with people, equipment and financially for many years.

In the weeks preceding the event the works crew were able to help out with some of the campsite preparation and the new Atitjere rubbish truck was present throughout the event assisting with the disposal of general waste. Every morning during the event the rubbish truck would do the rounds of the campsites, canteen and event arenas emptying wheelie bins and taking bagged waste from the many campers visited.  There were many positive comments about the new rubbish truck.