Minjilang members meet

Minjilang Local Authority members at the first official meeting on Friday 8 August: Elston Lami Lami, Rev Teubiti Tapera, Daisy Yarmirr, Marcus Fletcher, Jamie Milpurr, Charles Yirrawala, Ronnie Waaraludj, Roxanne Ogden, William Noinba and Minjilang community member Captain Brown.

Minjilang held its first official Local Authority meeting at the council meeting room on Croker Island on Friday 8 August, following on from successful meetings at Gunbalanya and Maningrida.

The members present elected William Noinba as their chairman before getting down to the business of discussing local issues and ideas. The West Arnhem Regional Council is continuing its successful work within its communities to help them establish their own Local Authority.

Under changes to the Local Government Act, which formally introduced Local Authorities in January 2014, West Arnhem Regional Council was required to establish Local Authorities in the Gunbalanya, Maningrida, Warruwi and Minjilang communities by 1 July 2014.

West Arnhem Regional Council Governance Projects Officer Barbara Newland and Chief Executive Brian Hylands, spent the early months of 2014 travelling to the communities, consulting with local residents, explaining the new structure and encouraging nominations. A good number of nominations were received and the Local Authorities are now getting down to business. Both Mr Hylands and Mrs Newland were present at the Minjilang meeting to introduce members to the formal processes.

Mr Hylands congratulated Mr Noinba on his new position as Minjilang Local Authority Chair. Mrs Newland said the West Arnhem Regional Council would continue to have a representative at each Local Authority meeting to help members have their say.  “The Minjilang Local Authority is your chance to have a strong say in how council funds are spent in your community,” Mrs Newland told the meeting. 

Minjilang Council Services Manager Justin Dean presented a report on council initiatives and services to the meeting, and outlined progress on an all-ages playground for the community. “Hopefully when it is up it will provide something for the kids, as there is not much for them in the way of recreation facilities at the moment,” Mr Dean said. 

Local Authority Member and Minjilang’s elected Councillor Daisy Yarmirr said the local community had chosen the site for the new playground carefully. “We don’t want it too far away – it needs to be near parents so parents can look after the kids,” she said. The proposed site is where an old log cabin used to be, close to houses and homes.

Mr Dean said recent renovations to the council offices had brought improved amenities to the community. “The new office space is more comfortable for people using the Centrelink facility, as everyone has their own space,” Mr Dean said.

In other news, the council is bringing in a new backhoe and is continuing dry season maintenance on the island’s roads. “We have done the road to the barge landing and are waiting on four new Works Officers to come on board to continue maintenance on the airport road,” Mr Dean said.

tems discussed included the need to bring more jobs and more training opportunities to Croker Island, and the possibility of the community putting in place a dog control program. The Local Authorities, which replace Local Boards, act as a vital link in the consultation process of Local Government in the West Arnhem Region. 

Newly elected Minjilang Local Authority Chairperson William Noinba.