Mayor Vashist urges NT Families Minister Cahill to meet on Barkly social issues

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Barkly Mayor Sid Vashist has urged NT Minister for Territory Families Robyn Cahill to meet with him to discuss greater long-term support for social services for families in the Barkly region, after leading a community roundtable last week with Federal Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth.

Minister Rishworth and Federal Member for Barkly Marion Scrymgour met with Mayor Vashist and several Barkly region social services leaders last week to discuss support services and funding for families dealing with domestic violence, aged care residents, and those facing insecure housing.


The meeting comes as Mayor Vashist and Council chief executive officer Chris Kelly are planning a trip to Canberra in February, to discuss social and community services and the need for further investment in infrastructure in the Barkly with federal ministers, Opposition frontbenchers and crossbenchers.


It follows significant funding injections in recent years by both the federal and Territory governments in community services, public safety and related infrastructure in both Alice Springs and Darwin.

But Mayor Vashist said Barkly Regional Council – which oversees the second-largest geographical local government area in the country – seemed to have missed out on most of the Territory Government funding.


In December, the NT Government announced a new, six-month trial of a “Circuit Breaker” program in Alice Springs, aiming to support young people at risk and hold parents accountable for their child’s behaviour.


The same month, the Territory government announced $850,000 to provide more support services and improve public safety at the Litchfield Court public units in Darwin.

In recent weeks, Council has dealt with a series of break-ins at its public facilities including the Tennant Creek library, town pool and youth centre – despite continuing to provide those services for all residents throughout the school holidays.


Mr Vashist said while he had had some positive discussions with Territory Member for Barkly Steve Edgington, who also controls the NT portfolios of Alcohol Policy, Housing and Local Government, he was still seeking a formal meeting with NT Minister for Children and Families Robyn Cahill.

He said it was time to put the Barkly back on the agenda for serious, long-term support, not just election announcements or temporary support offered in the wake of natural disasters, which have devastated the region in two of the past three summers.

Mayor Vashist also said he was keen to see the outcomes of the six-month ‘Circuit Breaker’ trial in Alice Springs in July, and whether it may lead to future improvements for the Barkly region.

Trash for a splash: pool cool-off with cash-in containers

March 5, 2026
Thursday 5 March 2026  The Barkly Regional Council (BRC) is making it easy for kids to stay cool in the pool before it closes for a few days at the end of the month to enable emergency maintenance. During March parents with children and youth under 16-years-old can ditch the cash and use a refundable container as an entry token. BRC CEO Peter Harder said the trash-for-splash deal means that kids can stay cool in the pool in exchange for helping to keep the town clean. “Closing the pool for a few days is going to be disappointing for locals, so until then we’re making it easier to spend as much time at the pool as possible,” he said. “It’s also a good lesson for young people to realise refundable cans and bottles are tradeable assets that support a circular economy. “Perhaps there won’t be so much litter on our streets when they see that rubbish that they walk over every day is actually worth money.” Mr Harder said Council would be monitoring the success of the March bin-to-win deal to measure the merit of the strategy. The swimming pool, which was built in the mid-1960s, has been a hot topic on the Council agenda for some time. The complex was significantly upgraded in 2015 however, due to funding limitations, not all works were completed. Now the pumps and filters are set to be replaced, and the March closure will deal with those priorities. Emergency maintenance work - amounting to $151,000 - will focus on restoring pump room equipment which has been funded by the NT Government following advocacy by the Member for Barkly Steve Edgington. Mr Harder said the Council appreciated Minister Edgington’s understanding of the critical situation at the pool and his proactive efforts to secure the funding for initial repairs. “We have now turned to Minister Edgington again to help secure funding for other high priority works,” he said. “Council urgently requires a further $2.5 million for new shade sails and to replace pipework that is at risk of imminent failure. “Minister Edginton has strong ties to the community, and we know he recognises the importance of our swimming pool; so we are confident he will advocate strongly for the next round of upgrades which are functional necessities, not luxuries.” -ENDS-

Disaster assistance activated for flood affected communities across Barkly

March 5, 2026
Wednesday 4 March 2026  Following concerted lobbying by the Barkly Regional Council (BRC) after a recent severe weather event, the Federal and NT Governments have activated disaster assistance for the Barkly region. A cost-sharing agreement between the Commonwealth, State and Territory governments, the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) supports the delivery of urgent financial assistance to disaster affected communities. A region-wide assessment to reveal the extent of the damage is currently underway. Once assessed, the Council will be able to restore essential public assets and infrastructure such as debris removal, temporary repairs, and works to make properties safe. Heavy rain and high winds that lashed the Barkly during February caused major damage to roads and other critical infrastructure. Days of torrential downpours isolated communities and pastoral stations and left many routes impassable. Residents of Imangara, who relocated to Ali Curung after their homes flooded, have still not been able to return. BRC CEO Peter Harder said the Council lobbied extensively for the activation of the DRFA to be able to access the funding required for repairs. “Intense rainfall and flash flooding across the region caused widespread damage to roads, community assets and critical infrastructure,” he said. “Now we must determine the full extent of the impacts so we can establish recovery priorities as soon as possible. “We are also hoping the DRFA will support Council to make our roads and communities more resilient to these types of events in the future." END

New Remote Community Shade Structure Brings Relief and New Opportunities

By Lis Clough • December 16, 2025
ALPURRURULAM, NORTHERN TERRITORY – Barkly Regional Council is thrilled to announce the successful completion and opening of a brand-new shade structure over the Alpurrurulam community court, transforming the space into a safer and more versatile hub for residents. This significant project was made possible with $313,514 from the Australian Government under the Priority Community Infrastructure Program. This investment once again highlighting the strong partnership between the Council and the Australian Government to improve remote community facilities. For four years, the court has been a popular, yet exposed, area. The lack of shade severely limited its use, particularly during the intense heat of the day. The new structure, which began construction on November 6, 2025, and was completed on November 30, 2025, provides much-needed relief. This significant upgrade establishes the court as a true multipurpose area for the community. Beyond its traditional use for basketball, the newly shaded court will now serve as a vital meeting place and a dedicated area for various Sports and Recreation programs. A key feature of the new structure is the installation of solar lights. This addition is especially important, as it will allow children and residents to safely play basketball and participate in other activities during the cooler evenings, making the facility accessible even on the hottest days when daytime use is difficult.  "This new shade structure is more than just a physical upgrade—it’s an investment in community wellbeing and opportunity. My hope is that by creating a safer, cooler, and more friendly space, that we’re enabling our young people to come together, stay active, and enjoy social connections. The addition of solar lighting means this facility can be used well into the evening, which is a game-changer for our communities. I’m proud of the collaboration between Barkly Regional Council and the Australian Government that made this possible, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have for years to come." said Barkly Regional Council Deputy Mayor, Valda Napurrula Shannon. Barkly Regional Council is responsible for fostering sustainable development and delivering essential services to over 8,000 residents over 322, 713 square kilometres across the Northern Territory.
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