Big Rivers

Located in the top end of the Northern Territory approximately 200km south of Darwin, the Big Rivers Region extends from the Western Australia border in the west, the Gulf of Carpentaria along the Queensland border to the east and over 500km to the south.

The region accounts for approximately 25 per cent of the Northern Territory’s land area at 340,000km², encompassing the three Local Government Areas of the Katherine Town Council, and Victoria Daly and Roper Gulf regional councils.

At the heart of the region is Katherine; the major township and the fourth largest in the Northern Territory.

Katherine is strategically located at the juncture of the Darwin to Adelaide north-south transcontinental rail route and the Stuart Highway; the Northern Territory’s main arterial highway connecting the regional road network to major trade routes from Australia’s east, south and west coasts.

With a broad-based economy driven by key industry sectors including resources, agriculture, tourism and public administration and safety (including defence), the region boasts some of the most significant economic activity in Northern Australia.

Bagala Traditional Owners

  • Bagala Traditional Owners Decision Making Agreement PDF (1.6 MB)
  • Signed on 7 December 2022, this is the first LDM Agreement with the Northern Land Council as a partner.
  • The Bagala Traditional Owners Decision Making (TODM) Agreement 2022-2025 is also supported by the Northern Territory Government, Roper Gulf Regional Council, the National Indigenous Australians Agency, Jawoyn Association Aboriginal Corporation and Bagala Aboriginal Corporation (BAC).
  • The TODM Agreement has four strategic priority areas – Economic Development, Health and Community Wellbeing, Infrastructure and Housing, and Culture and Heritage.
  • As at December 2023, two actions under the TODM Agreement have been delivered. BAC has employed a General Manager, who is focused on growing Bagala’s capacity and addressing key actions within the TODM Agreement. BAC has also resumed management of the Barunga Festival, which was held in June 2023.
  • For their management of the Barunga Festival in its first year returning to a community-led model, BAC won the 2023 Northern Territory Best Community Event award at the Australian Event Awards and the 2023 Northern Territory Chamber of Commerce award for Excellence in Business - Best Festival Event in the Big Rivers region.

Gurindji Aboriginal Corporation (GAC)

  • GAC LDM MAP Implementation Plan  2021-2023 PDF (3.6 MB)
  • On 2 November 2021, GAC opened the Kalkaringi Child and Family Centre (Ngalywany Purrp’ku “Ours to Share”) and signed the Gurindji LDM Implementation Plan 2021-2023.
  • GAC has partnered with the Northern Territory Government and the National Indigenous Australians Agency to deliver actions under the Implementation Plan 2021-2023 across six strategic priority areas – Cultural Strength and Respect, Business Development and Contracting, Youth Services and Child and Family, Community Housing, Local Jobs and Training, and Community Recreation Facilities.
  • Progress on actions under the Implementation Plan 2021-2023 has been delayed due to a number of leadership changes in GAC and the Northern Region Flood Event in early 2023 which impacted Kalkaringi and nearby communities.
  • Through the flood response and recovery process, GAC supplied information, staff and resources to support the emergency management functions, and was required to repair assets which sustained significant damage, with works ongoing.
  • CM&C Big Rivers is continuing to support GAC as an entity and in their priority setting to inform the renewal of their Implementation Plan.
  • GAC LDM MAP Agreement  PDF (196.4 KB)
  • GAC LDM MAP Implementation Plan 2018-20 PDF (1.1 MB)

Jawoyn Association Aboriginal Corporation (JAAC)

  • Jawoyn Association Aboriginal Corporation Local Decision Making Implementation Plan 2021-2023 PDF (3.7 MB)
  • On 4 October 2021, JAAC signed their LDM Implementation Plan 2021-2023 with the Northern Territory Government, Roper Gulf Regional Council and the National Indigenous Australians Agency as their partners.
  • The Implementation Plan 2021-2023 has three strategic priority areas – Preserving Jawoyn Culture and Heritage, Housing/Civil Construction Opportunities, and Local Jobs and Training.
  • As at December 2023, three actions under the Implementation Plan 2021-2023 have been delivered. JAAC has supported the Werenbun Homeland to develop its own LDM Agreement, completed an evaluation of the Banatjarl Strongbala Wimun Grup, a JAAC enterprise, and developed the capacity and secured the Contractor Accreditation Limited certification of Jawoyn Contracting.
  • As a result, Jawoyn Contracting were recently awarded a 24-month period contract for all new housing builds and Room to Breathe works in Barunga and Manyallaluk, commencing 5 September 2023.
  • JAAC has recently purchased a new office space for the Banatjarl Strongbala Wimun Grup, with an official opening held on 20 October 2023 with key LDM partners.
  • CM&C Big Rivers will be working with JAAC to develop a new Implementation Plan with refreshed actions for signing in the first half of 2024.
  • JAAC LDM MAP Agreement PDF (201.2 KB)
  • JAAC LDM MAP Implementation Plan 2018 - 2020 PDF (1.3 MB)

Werenbun Homeland

  • Werenbun Homeland – Implementation Plan 2022 - 2027 PDF (3.2 MB)
  • Signed on 24 January 2022, the Werenbun Homeland Implementation Plan 2022-2027 is the first LDM Agreement for a Homeland in the Northern Territory.
  • This LDM Agreement is supported by the Northern Territory Government, the National Indigenous Australians Agency, Roper Gulf Regional Council, Jawoyn Association Aboriginal Corporation (JAAC), Sunrise Health Service Aboriginal Corporation, Wurli-Wurlinjang Health Service and Nitmiluk Tours as partners with Werenbun Homeland.
  • The Implementation Plan 2022-2027 has four strategic priority areas – Economic Development, Health and Community Wellbeing, Infrastructure and Housing, and Culture and Heritage.
  • As at December 2023, three actions of the Implementation Plan 2022-2027 have been delivered, including installation of a basketball court and hoop, beautification of the Werenbun cemetery and transfer of Homelands service provision to JAAC.

Yugul Mangi Development Aboriginal Corporation (YMDAC)

  • Yugul Mangi Development Aboriginal Corporation Local Decision Making Implementation Plan 2021 – 2023 PDF (6.6 MB). Signed on the 25 August 2021 to coincide with the official opening of the Local Decision Making Board room and office space in Ngukurr.
  • On 25 August 2021, the YMDAC LDM Implementation Plan 2021-2023 was signed, with the Northern Territory Government and the National Indigenous Australians Agency as partners.
  • The Implementation Plan 2021-2023 has five strategic priority areas – Cultural Strength and Respect, Governance and Capacity, Community Wellbeing, Economic Empowerment, and Local Jobs for Local People.
  • As at December 2023, three actions of the Implementation Plan 2021-2023 have been delivered, including renewing the Mutual Respect Agreement with Northern Territory Police, assuming management of the Ngukurr Oval and sealing of the Roper and Wilton bridges on the Roper Highway.
  • Further upgrades to the Ngukurr Oval are underway with a view to hosting games of the Big Rivers Football League in the 2024 season.
  • CM&C Big Rivers is working with YMDAC to develop a new Implementation Plan with refreshed actions for signing in the first half of 2024.
  • YMDAC LDM MAP Agreement PDF (216.3 KB)
  • YMDAC LDM MAP Implementation Plan  PDF (1.5 MB)

Other LDM initiatives (across Big Rivers region)

  • Numburindi Development Aboriginal Corporation (NDAC – Numbulwar), Urapunga Aboriginal Corporation (UAC) and Kurdiji Aboriginal Corporation (KAC – Lajamanu) have expressed their interest in developing LDM Agreements. CM&C Big Rivers continue to work with all groups to determine their goals and explore opportunities for LDM establishment.
  • NDAC met with potential LDM partners in Katherine in December 2023 to discuss proposed actions for an LDM Agreement. This follows a number of key achievements by NDAC, including a successful grant application to develop an office space in Numbulwar and the NDAC Board of Directors undertaking governance training, supported by CM&C Big Rivers.
  • CM&C Big Rivers has met with the UAC Board of Directors to discuss outcomes from Directors meetings and the next steps for LDM progression. The UAC Board of Directors has developed their first draft Strategic Plan and sought feedback from CM&C Big Rivers and the National Indigenous Australians Agency. The UAC Strategic Plan will be a key resource to guide discussions towards developing an LDM Agreement. UAC acting CEO has met with a number of stakeholders in Urapunga, supported by CM&C Big Rivers.
  • KAC is still in the very early phases of LDM pre-establishment, with CM&C Big Rivers continuing to work at their pace.

Videos

Local Decision Making - Wadeye

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Jabiru Memorandum of Understanding news

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Local Decision Making - Gunbalanya School

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Groote Eylandt Traditional Owners Mining Venture

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New local Health Service for Gapuwiyak Community

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Titjikala Room to Breathe Program news

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Local Decision Making - Vision

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Local Decision Making - Roadmap

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Local Decision Making - Implementation

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Local Decision Making introduction - John Paterson

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Everyone Together 2019-2029 - Aboriginal Affairs Strategy

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 Updated 3 weeks ago