Barkly Regional Council

Area: Approximately 323,514 km²

Population: Total estimated resident population of the Shire is 8,137*

The Barkly Regional Council is the second largest local government area in the world, being 42% larger than Victoria. Victoria is considered the second most populous Australian state with a density of 2,431 persons per one hundred square kilometres compared to the Barkly Region which contains 2 persons in the same area. The shire stretches from the Queensland border over 620 kilometres to west of the Stuart Highway and from north of Elliott 570 kilometres southwards on each side of the Stuart Highway to Barrow Creek. The largest town in the shire is Tennant Creek located on the Stuart Highway approximately one thousand kilometres south of Darwin and five hundred kilometres north of Alice Springs.

The resident population of the Barkly Regional Council is estimated at 8,137 which include a population in Tennant Creek of 3,560, (which includes also the Urban Living Areas of Kargaru, Tinkarli, Wuppa, Marla Marla, Village Camp and Munji-Marla, Ngalpa Ngalpa, which has the largest concentration of residents) Followed then by the open town of Elliott and its surrounding district and the major communities and outstations of Ampilatwatja, Urapuntja, Alpurrurulam, Ali Curung, Canteen Creek and Wutunugurra (Epenarra). In addition to these major populations, the Shire also consists of approximately eight minor communities the largest of which include Tara and Mungkarta, seventy family outstations, forty nine pastoral stations, mining operations and commercial properties.

The level of cooperation between people in the various communities and towns with the Shire varies across programs and relies on the trust and understanding of communities and key individuals. Shire Service Managers and their staff throughout the shire area cooperatively supported by program managers and head office staff are critical to the success and achievements of the shire.

The work of the shire is carried out in a cross cultural atmosphere that can represent a major challenge to achieve a common shared vision. Acceptance and achievement of this vision will take time, especially on remote communities where it is imperative the needs of those communities are correctly identified and met. The very large size of the shire and the differing priorities of the various stakeholders create challenges that need to be addressed. Additionally identified objectives and priorities can be included as the strategy is developed, implemented, reviewed and assessed over time.