Welcome

Many voices, one dream, building a quality desert lifestyle

A message from the Council President

A message from the Chief Executive Officer

Situated in an arid desert environment at the centre of the Australian continent, MacDonnell Regional Council features many iconic, panoramic landscapes which are easily accessed from Alice Springs. The picturesque water holes, magnificent flora and fauna, red desert sands and captivating mountain ranges with changing hues are reasons why the MacDonnell region is uniquely beautiful and has a deep and powerful strength that can only be felt when travelling across the land.

MacDonnell Regional Council was established in 2008 and its area covers our 13 major remote communities as well as many outstations and numerous established and emerging enterprises in the pastoral, tourism and mining industries. The towns of Alice Springs and Yulara are excluded from the Council. The total estimated population of MacDonnell Regional Council, as stated in the 2016 Estimated Resident Population Census Data, is 6,029.

MacDonnell Regional Council recognises and respects the fact that Aboriginal culture is the oldest continuing culture in the world and that Aboriginal people have had their own forms of governance for tens of thousands of years.

Having strong and effective Indigenous representatives on the Council has provided an opportunity to discuss and develop effective two-way communication and engagement as well as strong governance principles and practices. Council discussions are multi-lingual, moving easily between the Indigenous languages spoken in the MacDonnell region (mainly Luritja, Pintubi, Pitjantjatjara and Arrernte) and English. Councillors explore vastly different perspectives and expectations, and analyse the impacts of decisions made.

MacDonnell Regional Council employs an average of 479 staff, of whom 76% are Aboriginal, and is committed to delivering quality services for residents. The coordination of all services and the administration of governance, finance, funding arrangements, program management and human resources is undertaken centrally from an Alice Springs office.