Media Release - Barkly Regional Council Announces CEO's Departure, Interim Leadership Appointed

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Media Release: Barkly Regional Council Announces CEO's Departure, Interim Leadership Appointed.



Barkly Regional Council today announced that its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Chris Kelly has resigned from his position and will be returning to Townsville, Queensland. Mr. Kelly has outlined the reason for his resignation is due to his 12-year-old son and wife, that are missing him dearly, and his eldest daughter who is expecting their first grandchild.


During his tenure, Mr. Kelly has been able to take Council from a $12m deficit last FY to a surplus in just one year. He has also delivered a staggering number of projects across the Barkly, and increased staff engagement and alignment from a mid-point to the top 10% of councils from across Australia (benchmarked against 76 studies).


Mr. Kelly has also been a strong advocate for the economic growth of the region and has left Council with a succinct regional plan that will continue to support the region into the future.

The Council thanks Mr. Kelly for his contributions and wishes him well in his future endeavors.

Mr. Kelly’s last day in the role will be 11 July 2025.


Barkly Regional Council will commence an immediate and thorough recruitment process to find a permanent Chief Executive Officer.


In the interim, the Council is pleased to announce that Ms. Susan Steele has agreed to serve as an interim CEO. Ms. Steele brings a strong background in executive leadership in local government, Aboriginal Corporations and has held many other positions such as a long-standing senior Director at QLD Health. Ms. Steele brings her wealth of experience to the role, having served as the Council's Director of Community Services, and her leadership will ensure a smooth transition and continued operational excellence from Council during this period.


"We are grateful to Chris and his dedication to our region over the past year," said Barkly Regional Council Mayor, Sid Vashist. "We are also incredibly fortunate to have someone of Susan Steele's calibre step into the Acting CEO role. Her deep understanding of our council and region will be invaluable as we navigate this transition and search for our next long-term leader. For Barkly Regional Council, it is business as usual".


Further announcements regarding the recruitment process will be made in due course.

Barkly Regional Council is responsible for fostering sustainable development and delivering essential services to over 7,000 residents over 322, 713 square kilometers across the Northern Territory.


Contact:

Lis Clough - Admin & Media Officer, Barkly Regional Council

Lis.clough@barkly.nt.gov.au

Tel: 0408 139 908


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Territory Energy Link: Why Tennant Creek's Central Role is Non-Negotiable

By Lis Clough • July 28, 2025
Tennant Creek, NT – Monday 28 July 2025 - The Barkly Regional Council today issued a strong call to action, urging the Northern Territory Government, Infrastructure Australia, and all stakeholders to reinstate Tennant Creek as a core component of the Territory Energy Link (TEL) corridor. The Council asserts that bypassing Tennant Creek risks squandering decades of strategic planning and undermining critical regional development. "Our region is not only poised to support the Territory economy but is fast becoming an engine room for the Nation," said Barkly Regional Council Mayor, Sid Vashist "As the Territory Energy Link corridor moves into its feasibility phase, it’s critical we ensure Tennant Creek remains central to this vision." Originally conceptualised as the Tennant Creek to Darwin Infrastructure Corridor, the TEL's focus has shifted to run from near Elliott to the Middle Arm Precinct in Darwin. While the proposed 670km multi-user, multi-asset infrastructure corridor is visionary, enabling gas, water, optical fibre, hydrogen, and future-facing services, the decision to bypass Tennant Creek raises significant concerns. Why Tennant Creek Must Not Be Left Out: · Logical and Historical Hub: Tennant Creek has long been envisioned as a mines and energy hub, connecting Australia’s north-south (Adelaide–Darwin) and east-west (Queensland–NT–WA) freight and energy corridors. It already hosts critical infrastructure, including rail, roads, and communications, making it uniquely positioned to support a hub-and-spoke model for resource distribution across Northern Australia. · Critical Intersections: Tennant Creek connects the Stuart Highway (north-south) with the Barkly Highway (east-west), two of Australia's most vital freight routes. Excluding Tennant Creek risks disconnecting this national infrastructure artery and losing future east-west integration, such as the Mt Isa–Tennant Creek rail proposal and Beetaloo to QLD energy export pathways. · Surge in Investment Confidence: Tennant Creek is currently experiencing significant investment from industry, exploration companies, government, and social infrastructure providers. Diverting the TEL now sends a negative signal, risking confidence, reducing private capital flow, and undermining long-term commitments in education, health, housing, and community services. · Essential Service Hub for Energy & Resource Projects: The Beetaloo Sub Basin and surrounding resource zones will require a central logistics, service, and maintenance hub. Tennant Creek offers the workforce potential, transport accessibility, and Indigenous partnerships to support this, and is better positioned to provide foundational infrastructure for hydrogen, gas, and minerals processing and services. · Cost vs. Opportunity: While realigning to Tennant Creek may appear to carry short-term cost implications, the long-term benefits – including economic resilience, diversification, private sector leverage, and Indigenous employment – offer exponential returns. The Council warns against repeating past mistakes of underinvesting in enabling infrastructure across regional Australia. The Barkly Regional Council urges the Northern Territory Government, Infrastructure Australia, and all levels of industry, investors, Traditional Owners, and the private sector to have their say. "Let us not lose the futurist and strategic vision of this corridor," the Council stated. "This is a once-in-a-century opportunity to shape our Territory’s infrastructure blueprint. Tennant Creek should not just be near this corridor — it must be part of it. Let’s not cut out the heart of the Centre. Let’s back the Barkly." Specifically, the Council is calling for: · Reinstatement of Tennant Creek in the core alignment of the Territory Energy Link. · Detailed assessment of a Tennant Creek–Elliott connection within the feasibility process. · Modelling of Tennant Creek as a hub-and-spoke node, supporting regional growth, workforce training, and service delivery. · Transparent community and stakeholder consultation to avoid decision-making that lacks Barkly representation. *** About Barkly Regional Council: Barkly Regional Council is responsible for fostering sustainable development and delivering essential services to over 8,000 residents across 322,713 square kilometres in the Northern Territory. Contact: Lis Clough Admin & Media Officer, Barkly Regional Council Lis.clough@barkly.nt.gov.au Tel: 0408 139 908

Media Release - Barkly Regional Council Honoured for Lifesaving Commitment While Advocating for Crucial Pool Infrastructure

By Lis Clough • July 23, 2025
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