Overview
The Barkly Region, formerly Barkly Shire, is a local government area of the Northern Territory of Australia, administered by the Barkly Regional Council. The region's main town is Tennant Creek. The region covers an area of and had a population of almost 7,400 as at June 2018.
History
In October 2006 the Northern Territory Government announced the reform of local government areas. The intention of the reform was to improve and expand the delivery of services to towns and communities across the Northern Territory by establishing eleven new shires. The Barkly Shire was created on 1 July 2008, as were the remaining ten shires. On 1 January 2014, it was renamed Barkly Region. The Barkly Region is administered by the Barkly Regional Council. The most recent elections of Councillors were held on 18 November 2024. The current President (Mayor) of the Region is Sid Vashist. In 2019, a proposal was made to build a solar farm in the region, which would become the world's largest solar energy project. In 2021, the region had the lowest rate of vaccination against COVID-19 pandemic.
In June 2024, all members of the council were dismissed after an investigation into its management. A report by the Northern Territory government found the organisation had unmanaged conflicts of interest, breached the Local Government Act and had "serious deficiencies" in the conduct of council affairs.
Council
Barkley Regional Council is governed by a Mayor and 12 councillors.
Current composition
The current council, elected in 2024 following an all-of-council dismissal is:
Wards
The council is divided into 4 wards: * Alyawarr Ward (South) (4) * Patta Ward (West) (5) * Kuwarrangu (until 2016 Yapakurlangu) (Northeast) (2) * Alpururrulam Ward (Southeast) (1)
Localities and communities
Land within the Barkly Region was divided during 2007 into bounded areas for the purpose of creating an address for a property. The bounded areas are called "localities", with those localities associated with Aboriginal communities being called "communities".
Localities
*Anmatjere (part) *Costello *Creswell *Davenport *Elliott *Newcastle Waters *Nicholson *Pamayu *Ranken *Sandover (part) *Tablelands *Tanami East *Tennant Creek *Warumungu
Communities
*Ali Curung *Alpurrurulam *Ampilatwatja *Canteen Creek *Tara *Wutungurra
Sister cities
* Uintah County, Utah, United States