News

3 February 2020

MacNews January 2020

New energy in Ikuntji, Councillors speak up on economic development, our young people join effort to reduce suicide, internal and Territory Tidy Town Awards. Open this issue as a pdf: MacNews...

13 December 2019

MacNews December 2019

A massive December issue for a busy end of the year.   Open this issue as a pdf: MacNews December 2019 volume 11 issue 2

20 September 2019

Return of the MacNews

The September 2019 MacNews is a special bumper issue full of great achievements including photos and details of Santa Teresa's 2019 Australian Sustainable Communities Tidy Town...

28 June 2019

2019-20 Regional Plan

Following a 21 day consultation period the MacDonnell Regional Council’s 2019-20 Regional Plan was adopted at the Ordinary Council Meeting on 28 June 2019. The Plan can be downloaded...

21 May 2019

Santa Teresa to celebrate their national success

Santa Teresa prepares to celebrate their community pride after being named the tidiest town in Australia. Pride and engagement across the entire community was central to Santa Teresa’s success...

6 April 2019

Australia’s tidiest town is…Santa Teresa

The remote Aboriginal community of Santa Teresa in the Northern Territory has been named the 2019 winner of the Australian Sustainable Communities Tidy Town Award. Proud residents from...

1 April 2019

Santa Teresa travelling “overseas” for awards ceremony

Hoping to win the 2019 Australian Tidy Town Award for their remote Aboriginal community, proud residents of Santa Teresa will fly from the Northern Territory to Tasmania to attend the gala national...

24 December 2018

Vale Mr Anderson

On behalf of the President, Councillors, Executive and staff of MacDonnell Regional Council it is with great sadness we acknowledge the passing of Mr Anderson. Mr Anderson was well...

27 November 2018

Santa Teresa gets its just desserts

After the main course was cleared the finalist communities were announced. Nhulunbuy was named Best Large Community, Santa Teresa named Best Medium Community and Wallace Rockhole named Best Small...

10 November 2018

Santa Teresa shines as the Territory Tidy Town

The Grand Ballroom of Darwin’s SkyCity casino shone from the community pride displayed by the Santa Teresa representatives at the gala awards ceremony when their community was named the Territory...

7 November 2018

2017|18 Annual Report tabled

MacDonnell Regional Council advises that its Annual Report for the financial year ended 30 June 2018 is available at its public office on the corner of South Terrace and Bagot Street, Alice Springs...

5 November 2018

Territory Tidy Towns hots up

Top End communities have been ‘stepping up their game’ in a bid to take the Territory Tidy Town mantle from MacDonnell Regional Council communities. They are hoping that hosting the 2018...

4 September 2018

dirtgirlworld comes to life at MacKids

dirtgirl and Costa the Garden Gnome from ABC TV visited Santa Teresa to launch the rollout of The Get Grubby Program across our communities. The program will be an integral part of our MacKids...

10 August 2018

Gettin’ grubby to tidy the town

dirtgirl and Costa the Garden Gnome from ABC TV will be special guests at a family day in Santa Teresa to launch the rollout of The Get Grubby Program across the MacDonnell Regional Council. The...

7 August 2018

MacDonnell Regional Council welcomes its newest councillor

Following a recent call for nominations, to fill a vacated position of councillor of the Luritja Pintubi ward, MacDonnell Regional Council welcomes its newest councillor, Sarah Stockman. Having...

17 July 2018

Ten years of service recognised

As a NAIDOC Week celebration, council services across its 13 remote Aboriginal communities closed for the afternoon as residents and staff of MacDonnell Regional Council celebrated ten years of...

5 July 2018

Shires come of age

1 July this year marked ten years since the Shires were introduced across the Northern Territory and therefore our tenth birthday. During a break from a recent council meeting, our elected...

2 July 2018

2018-19 Regional Plan released

MacDonnell Regional Council’s 2018-19 Regional Plan was adopted at its Ordinary Council Meeting on 29 June 2017. Copies are available at the public office on the corner of South Terrace and Bagot...

25 May 2018

Sid Anderson retires from service to MacDonnell Regional Council

After ten years service to the MacDonnell Regional Council, including seven years as its President, Sid Anderson announced his resignation today due to health issues. Effective immediately, Mr...

7 April 2018

Finke wins two national Tidy Town categories

The small remote community of Finke was recognised when named the winner in two categories at the Keep Australia Beautiful national Tidy Town awards ceremony last night. Having flown from the edge...

30 March 2018

Finke's day in the sun

The first two attempts to fly the national Tidy Town judge to Finke didn’t get off the ground due to low rain clouds. So residents at Finke waited an extra week to show their community in its best...

2 March 2018

Finke being judged against the nation’s best

When Finke was named the 2017 Territory Tidy Town last year it became the territory finalist in the national Tidy Town competition. Judging against six categories for the national title will take...

31 January 2018

Ten years on…

…and we continue bringing improvements to remote Aboriginal communities in Central Australia. Later this year marks the ten year anniversary since our residents were introduced into the national...

11 December 2017

New way to vote in the bush

MacDonnell Regional Council welcomes a new councillor and a new way to vote in remote Aboriginal communities following a recent by-election in its Luritja Pintubi ward. Following the sad passing...

8 December 2017

By election declared

Following the sad passing of Councillor L Abbott shortly after his re-election, a by-election attracted a field of three candidates that included Giselle Barku from Kintore, Dalton McDonald from...

16 November 2017

2016|17 Annual Report tabled

MacDonnell Regional Council advises that its Annual Report for the financial year ended 30 June 2016 is available at their public office on the corner of South Terrace and Bagot Street, Alice...

15 November 2017

Finke wins big

After coming a close second many times before, Finke was finally named Best Medium Community at the 2017 Territory Tidy Town awards ceremony. Previously commended or named winners of different award...

27 October 2017

Finke named Territory Tidy Town

Originally an important siding on the Old Ghan railway line, the proud community of Finke has a rich cultural history. This evening another qualification for this remote community was made when it...

23 October 2017

Tidy Town competition hots up

While the 2017 Territory Tidy Town awards ceremony is being held in Central Australia, the chance of a Top End community taking the main title from the MacDonnell Regional Council communities has...

26 September 2017

Council begins again

Following the 2017 NT local government elections MacDonnell Regional Council held its first meeting on Friday 15 September. Newly elected councillors joined with re-elected councillors to nominate...

19 September 2017

Passing of Councillor L Abbott

On behalf of the President, councillors and staff of MacDonnell Regional Council it is with great sadness we advise the passing of Councillor L Abbott yesterday. Cr L Abbott was well known and...

18 September 2017

MacDonnell Regional Council appoints its President and Deputy

Following the 2017 NT local government elections MacDonnell Regional Council held its first meeting on Friday 15 September. Newly elected councillors joined with re-elected councillors to nominate...

4 September 2017

MacDonnell Council election results

The twelve members elected to the third council of the MacDonnell Regional Council where declared today by the NT Electoral Commission. Elections were conducted in two of the four MacDonnell...

4 September 2017

Council declared

The twelve members elected to the third council of the MacDonnell Regional Council where declared at 12noon today by the NT Electoral Commission. The NT Electoral Commission joined candidates and...

30 August 2017

Finke road closure

Town of Finke Permanent closure of existing road reserve between Lot 61 and Lot 62 At the request of the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics, MacDonnell Regional Council is...

26 August 2017

Council voting closes

Voting for the 2017 NT Local Government election closed at 6pm on Saturday 26 August. MacDonnell Regional Council elects twelve members from its four wards. Councillors are elected for four year...

5 July 2017

Yamba says bin it

Yamba recently dropped into Santa Teresa to launch a Tidy Towns Roadshow featuring songs to teach children and their parents about recycling and the health benefits of a tidy town. The famous...

3 July 2017

2017-21 Regional Plan released

MacDonnell Regional Council’s 2017-2021 Regional Plan was adopted at its Ordinary Council Meeting on 30 June 2017. Copies are available at the public office on the corner of South Terrace and...

26 June 2017

Yamba joins locals for Tidy Towns Family Day

Thursday 29 June looks set to be a big day in the Santa Teresa social calendar. Yamba the Honeyant’s new roadshow featuring songs to teach children and their parents about recycling and the health...

9 May 2017

Areyonga heading “overseas” for awards ceremony

Proud residents of Areyonga will fly from the Northern Territory to Tasmania to attend the national Tidy Towns awards ceremony this week, hoping to win the 2017 Australian Tidy Town Award for their...

4 May 2017

Areyonga, the beautiful.

Having been named the Territory Tidy Town, the people of Areyonga recently showcased their community to the national Tidy Town judge ahead of attending the national awards in Tasmania this month...

6 March 2017

Santa never made it into Kintore

A big rain came and rushed through the community – over 200mm of rain fell in less than 2 hours. The rain set water rushing off the two nearby mountains. When a blockage formed in a creek behind...

10 January 2017

Kintore council workers get their first rest since Christmas

MacDonnell Regional Council workers in the Kintore community have been working long days since heavy rain caused flooding in their community on Christmas Day. The past weekend provided workers...

19 December 2016

the Territory’s tidiest town is…

Areyonga won the major award of the Territory’s Tidy Town competition at the 2016 Keep Australia Beautiful (NT) Awards and will go on to represent the Northern Territory at the national awards...

8 November 2016

Annual Report 2015/16 tabled

MacDonnell Regional Council advises that its Annual Report for the financial year ended 30 June 2016 is available at their public office on the corner of South Terrace and Bagot Street, Alice...

22 October 2016

Hidden gem discovered by Territory Tidy Town awards

Upon being named this year’s Territory Tidy Town at last night’s Keep Australia Beautiful (NT) awards ceremony, Areyonga will cease to be the best kept secret of Central Australia. Civil Works...

18 October 2016

MacDonnell Council workers carry the hopes of their region

Workers representing four MacDonnell Regional Council communities are travelling to Darwin to attend the 2016 Northern Territory Tidy Towns awards ceremony this Friday evening. Civil Works team...

5 October 2016

Territory champions

MacYouth Women’s Softball team returns from the 2016 NT State Championships in Darwin with the Division 2 Women’s Softball title. Being only the second year MacYouth supported a softball team to...

4 August 2016

Special look around our communities

It has been two years since our thirteen Local Boards were replaced as Local Authorities. The new Local Authorities have been funded annually to support projects that bring much needed improvements...

24 June 2016

Regional Plan 2016-2020 released

MacDonnell Regional Council’s Regional Plan 2016-2020 was adopted at its Ordinary Council Meeting on 24 June 2016. Copies are available at the public office on the corner of South Terrace and...

11 April 2016

One of the best in Australia

Keep Australia Beautiful’s annual Tidy Town awards ceremony last month saw Mount Liebig community receive its inaugural Special Commendation award. Eight years after Aboriginal communities in the...

21 March 2016

Mt Liebig’s efforts awarded nationally

At the Keep Australia Beautiful national Tidy Town Awards this weekend, the hard work of the Mt Liebig community was honoured when they were named the inaugural Special Commendation Award winners...

16 March 2016

Mt Liebig on show in Western Australia

After being named Territory Tidy Town at last year’s NT awards ceremony, a contingent of MacDonnell Regional Council staff from Mt Liebig is set to travel to Toodyay in Western Australia to...

26 February 2016

Roxanne Kenny elected as new Council President

In addressing the resignation of Sid Anderson as President, at their Ordinary meeting today, the MacDonnell Regional Council has elected Roxanne Kenny as their new President. The succession to the...

23 February 2016

4000 Trees project funded

Minister for Local Government and Community Services, and Parks and Wildlife, Bess Price has provided the MacDonnell Regional Council with a $100,000 grant for their 4000 Trees project. The 4000...

22 February 2016

Council to elect a new President

At the Ordinary Meeting of the MacDonnell Regional Council this Friday 26 February, an immediate item of business will be to accept the resignation of Sid Anderson from the role and elect another...

19 February 2016

President Sid Anderson to be honoured

MacDonnell Regional Council has organised a reception to be held on the eve of President Sid Anderson’s resignation from Council. The reception, to be attended by civic and community leaders will...

11 February 2016

President Anderson is stepping aside

With a heavy heart Sid Anderson announced, to his fellow Councillors in their December meeting, his intention to resign as President. He described how he was no longer able to travel the necessary...

16 December 2015

Mt Liebig ready to celebrate their win with special guests

After being named Territory Tidy Town at the recent awards ceremony, the MacDonnell Regional Council community of Mount Liebig is set to celebrate the best way they know how – around a barbeque...

11 December 2015

Early retirement for Council's President

At the MacDonnell Regional Council meeting today, President Sid Anderson announced his resignation from the executive role on the grounds of health issues. Effective at the next Council meeting on...

8 December 2015

Community efforts in Mount Liebig rewarded

Everyone in Mount Liebig is a winner. This was recognised recently by Keep Australia Beautiful (NT) when they named the community as the 2015 Territory Tidy Town. Residents regularly engaging in...

11 November 2015

Annual Report 2014 / 15 tabled

MacDonnell Regional Council advises that its Annual Report for the financial year ended 30 June 2015 is available at their public office on the corner of South Terrace and Bagot Street, Alice...

23 October 2015

MacDonnell Council keeps cleaning up at Territory Tidy Town awards

MacDonnell Regional Council has gone from strength to strength in the Territory Tidy Town Awards. At this year’s awards ceremony, held in Katherine, the MacDonnell Regional Council again emerged...

20 October 2015

Our Tidy Town nominees travel to awards ceremony

Workers representing six MacDonnell Regional Council communities are travelling to Katherine to attend the 2015 Northern Territory Tidy Towns award ceremony this Friday evening. For the Civil Works...

9 September 2015

Wallace Rockhole is open for business…

Following the completion of MacDonnell Regional Council’s upgrade of the access road linking Wallace Rockhole to Larapinta Drive, tourists can now drive regular cars to experience the rock art and...

30 July 2015

Council welcomes renal patient support!

MacDonnell Regional Council welcomes the joint announcement yesterday by Federal Assistant Minister for Health, Fiona Nash and the Territory Minister for Housing, Bess Price – of $10 million...

17 July 2015

Regional Plan 2015-2019 released

MacDonnell Regional Council’s Draft Regional Plan 2015-2019 was adopted at its Ordinary Council Meeting on 26 June 2015. Copies are available at the public office on the corner of South Terrace...

15 July 2015

Wallace Rockhole more accessible to tourists

Tourists can now drive regular vehicles to experience the rock art and dot painting tours offered in the Wallace Rockhole community. This is now possible following the completion of the MacDonnell...

29 May 2015

Draft Regional Plan 2015-2019

MacDonnell Regional Council’s Draft Regional Plan 2015-2019 is available for inspection at their public office on the corner of South Terrace and Bagot Street, Alice Springs. Or it can be download...

15 April 2015

Wallace Rockhole: 4 Star jewel in the Western MacDonnell Ranges

This Tuesday 21 April, Keep Australia Beautiful NT is hosting a celebration for the Wallace Rockhole community to launch the new Territory Tidy Town initiative promoting both clean accessible towns...

2 April 2015

Daring to dream

Residents of MacDonnell Regional Council are encouraged to dream and are supported to reach their goals. Council’s strategic Vision even states that we are: many voices, one dream, building a quality desert lifestyle.

27 March 2015

Whispers of change

Residents of remote Central Australian Aboriginal communities are worried about their future. Article in The Centralian Advocate on Friday 27 March 2015.

13 March 2015

Desert dream in danger

Comment piece for The Centralian Advocate on Friday 13 March 2015 by MacDonnell Regional Council President, Sid Anderson.

9 March 2015

‘Prime Minister for Indigenous Affairs’ directly attacks remote Aboriginal wellbeing

Tony Abbott’s motherhood statement of being the ‘Prime Minister for Indigenous Affairs’ has proved to be worth nothing more than another broken promise. Tony Abbott’s foray into Indigenous...

1 March 2015

Titjikala receives national Heritage & Culture Award

Nestled among red sand dunes on the edge of the Simpson Desert, Titjikala’s 200 residents were honoured and extremely happy on Friday night to learn their community received the Heritage and...

20 February 2015

Territory’s best: Titjikala on show in Tasmania

A contingent of MacDonnell Regional Council staff from Titjikala is set to travel to Sheffield in Tasmania to represent the Northern Territory in the Keep Australia Beautiful Tidy Town Awards. The...

6 February 2015

Our proud boss

Territory Tidy Towns awards presentation night consolidated for our leaders, the level of staff achievement they had seen grow steadily over the years. Among the winners from our communities...

15 December 2014

Titjikala ready to celebrate their wins with special guests

After being named Territory Tidy Town for a second successive year, the MacDonnell Regional Council community of Titjikala is set to celebrate the best way they know how – around a barbeque...

10 December 2014

Titjikala celebrating two in a row!

After being named Territory Tidy Town for a second successive year, the MacDonnell Regional Council community of Titjikala is set to celebrate the best way they know how – with its residents and...

14 November 2014

Annual Report 2013-2014 tabled

MacDonnell Regional Council advises that its Annual Report for the financial year ended 30 June 2014 is available at their public office on the corner of South Terrace and Bagot Street,...

24 October 2014

MacDonnell Council cleans up at 2014 Territory Tidy Town awards

MacDonnell Regional Council goes from strength to strength as it continues to bring improvement to its residents’ quality of life. This was recognised again on Friday night at the Territory Tidy...

20 October 2014

MacDonnell is a great place for children and families

As we continue to improve the standards of our services across the MacDonnell Regional Council, some recent activities have seen a single theme emerge: MacDonnell is a great place for children and families.

20 October 2014

Three Territory Tidy Town finalists from MacDonnell Regional Council communities

Communities named include the reigning Territory Tidy Towns winner, Titjikala along with its Simpson Desert neighbour, Finke as well as Haasts Bluff, from within the West MacDonnell Ranges. When...

4 September 2014

Children’s Services Manager a national finalist

MacDonnell Regional Council’s Margaret Harrison is one of five national finalists in the 2014 HESTA* Australian Early Childhood Education and Care Awards. Nominated in the Excellence in Building...

29 August 2014

Relevant traineeships in our communities

Indigenous staff at Amoonguna and Titjikala have this week begun a traineeship to acquire their Certificate 2 in Rural Operations. Santa Teresa staff are due to commence their traineeships on...

4 July 2014

Declaration of Rates and Charges for 2014/15

MacDonnell Regional Council declares that its Rates and Charges for the 2014/15 financial year are available online or from its Public Office. Notice is hereby given, pursuant to Chapter 11 of the...

1 July 2014

Listening to our staff

Ensuring our employee’s voices are heard and staff are given an opportunity to raise issues and have input into the way we can all work together, our Human Resources team have travelled to all...

27 June 2014

2014-2018 Regional Plan adopted

MacDonnell Regional Council advises that its adopted Regional Plan, including budget estimates for the 2014/15 financial year, is available online or from its Public Office...

3 June 2014

Taking the shine off a great achievement

MacDonnell Regional Council and the community of Titjikala stand very proudly by their achievements, particularly their recent recognition at the Territory Tidy Town and then at the national...

28 May 2014

All Local Authorities elected and endorsed

Local Authorities have now been established in all 13 community areas of the MacDonnell Regional Council. Local Authorities replace Local Boards and have been established as the main plank to the...

1 May 2014

This does end well…

Many great outcomes flow from the recent MacYouth Regional Indoor Soccer Carnival. The Carnival included two sporting events involving young people from communities across the MacDonnell Regional...

1 April 2014

Our Civil Works team off to national awards

After being named the Territory Tidy Town winner last year, the community of Titjikala has been looking forward to the national awards that were held in Victor Harbour early this month. They were...

31 March 2014

Minister to meet Tidy Town hereos

The Minister for Community Services will visit the Northern Territory’s tidiest community, after having presented Titjikala and the MacDonnell Regional Council with ranging awards including the...

1 March 2014

“MacDonnell Council is doing a great job!”

After an absence of many years and following the recent changes making us a Regional Council the Minister for Local Government visited the MacDonnell Council last month. During his meeting with our...

1 February 2014

The voices of our communities

Our Local Boards in each community have worked very well. This new year, however, brings some improvements to them and now they are going to be called Local Authorities. Along with the name change...

2 December 2013

Big mobs at new training

With class numbers originally set for 16 staff, nobody knew that so many Civil Works Assistants would turn up from Papunya and neighbouring communities Mt Liebig and Haasts Bluff to do the three day...

1 November 2013

winners edition!

Titjikala awarded Territory’s Tidiest Town MacDonnell Shire cleans up at Territory Tidy Town awards First ESO Trainee indigenous graduate Our Charmaine’s New York Marathon goal Open...

4 October 2013

Common interest across the planet

Hermannsburg Youth enjoyed a cultural exchange when Raw Materials, a youth organisation from Brixton in England, visited for several days. The exchange included writing songs and making videos...

2 September 2013

High standard of family parks

The newly established family park at Haasts Bluff (Ikuntji) looks great thanks to the efforts of Shire Service Coordinator, Rhonda Wilcomes and the hard working and proud Civil Works Team. The...

5 July 2013

A look at our future

An historic event last month that saw young people from all communities across the MacDonnell Shire gather for a jamboree at the Ross River campgrounds. Under the name Come Together, the youth...