Central Australia

The Central Australia region is the geographical centre of Australia and desert land covers 600,000 km² and 40% of the NT. Alice Springs, the second largest town in the NT, with a population of roughly 28,000, services a total regional population of 41,000.

A large percentage of the Central Australia region’s population live in outlying communities. This includes the Yulara township, which provides accommodation and services for the tourism industry at Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park.

Yulara's population of just over 1,000 people is increased by visitor numbers to around 300,000 each year.

Other major remote centres in the Central Australia region include Ntaria, Yuendumu and Papunya, with the rest of the population widely spread across the region in smaller communities, outstations, pastoral properties and mining operations.

These residents depend on Alice Springs for supplies and essential services.

Download Northern Territory Government regions map with place names PDF (410.7 KB)

Alice Springs Town Camps
The Alice Springs Town Camps LDM Heads of Agreement was signed on 28 July 2020 by Tangentyere Council Aboriginal Corporation on behalf of the Town Campers, and the Chief Minister on behalf of the NT Government.
LDM Heads of Agreement documentation PDF (3.8 MB) includes
Schedule 1. Community information, key contacts, dates, and agreement processes PDF (385.6 KB);
Schedule 2. Agreed LDM Priorities PDF (103.3 KB);
and
Schedule 3.1 Shelter and Housing PDF (241.1 KB).
The Agreement outlines the seven priority areas known as Wellness Domains identified by the Alice Springs Town Campers that will articulate the full scope of areas to be transitioned to community control.
The first of these, Shelter and Housing, forms Schedule 3.1 of the Agreement and includes a transition timeframe.
Tangentyere Council Aboriginal Corporation is undertaking extensive research with Town Campers to develop the detail for the remaining six Wellness Domains. As these are articulated the relevant NT Government agencies are engaging and forming strong partnerships with Tangentyere Council.
- LDM Commitment Agreement signed on 4 July 2019.
- The Agreement outlines how the parties will work towards a LDM Heads of Agreement.
- TCAC LDM Commitment Agreement PDF (3.6 MB)
Apmwerre Aboriginal Corporation (AAC)
Apmwerre also known as Blacktank Bore is a family outstation approximately 90km north of Alice Springs. Apmwerre Aboriginal Corporation expressed interest of a Local Decision Making Agreement in May 2023. Department of Chief Ministers and Cabinet (CM&C), Central Australia and AAC have worked closely in formalising a Community Strategic Plan which they will use to inform their LDM Agreement.
On 29 July 2024 a Statement of Commitment (SOC) PDF (467.1 KB) was signed for Apmwerre Aboriginal Corporation (AAC).
CM&C, Central Australia will continue to work with AAC in developing a formalised LDM Agreement. This LDM will reflect AAC’s Determination, Vision and Values for their community.
The community’s priorities are identified in their strategic plan:
- Healthy Country
- Strong In Culture
- Thriving Community
Atyenhenge Atherre Aboriginal Corporation (AAAC)
The Local Decision Making Agreement for Atyenhenge Atherre Aboriginal Corporation (AAAC) PDF (8.3 MB) was signed on 17 July 2024.
The first phase of the LDM agreement spans a two-year period, from 2024 to 2026, focusing on the short term goals identified in AAAC’s Strategic Plan.
- Organisation Governance and Sustainability
- Economic Development
- Health and Community Wellbeing
- Infrastructure and Assets
The Department of Chief Ministers and Cabinet will continue working with AAAC to implement the deliverables under the Agreement.
Ingkerreke Services Aboriginal Corporation
On 29 July 2024 the Ingkerreke Services Aboriginal Corporation (Ingkerreke) Local Decision Making Agreement PDF (1.9 MB) was signed.
Ingkerreke was established because they identified the need for service delivery for their founding homelands. This LDM Agreement captures Ingkerreke’s role as a representative body for the active 11 founding homelands.
- Artekerre (Harry Creek)
- Yamba-Mpweringe (Burt Creek)
- Akngwirrweltye (Yamba / Snake Well)
- Alkupitja (Gillen Bore)
- Arnapipe (Sandy Bore)
- Pwayne (Williams Well)
- Athenge-Lhere (16 Mile)
- Were-Therre (Hamilton Downs)
- Undoolya (Mt Undoolya)
- Aluralkwe (Little Well)
- Aulperenge (Corkwood Bore)
Ingkerreke is recognised for its role in advocating, representing, supporting and delivering services and projects to additional homelands.
The Ingkerreke Agreement identifies two key priority areas:
- Develop our active founding member homelands through being formally recognised as their representative body, and improve engagement, service delivery coordination, service delivery outcomes and advocacy.
- Deliver municipal services and infrastructure projects and provide advocacy and support to improve sustainability and quality of life for homelands Ingkerreke supports across Central Australia.
The Northern Territory Government will continue working with Ingkerreke to implement the deliverables under the Agreement.
Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation (LAAC)

An LDM Agreement is in development between LAAC and the NT Government. The Agreement outlines a range of actions to progress social and economic development opportunities. Identified areas of priority include capacity building, education and training, employment and enterprise development, housing, and recognition of ties to traditional country.

Mutitjulu Community Aboriginal Corporation (MCAC)
The Mutitjulu community LDM Statement of Commitment PDF (610.5 KB) was signed on 26 July by Mutitjulu Community Aboriginal Corporation (MCAC) on behalf of the community, and the Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty on behalf of the NT Government.
MCAC will actively engage with service providers and government agencies involved in establishing and developing a formalised LDM Agreement, towards their strategic vision and delivery of services to the community. The priorities for the development of the LDM agreement go beyond their current service delivery footprint, with four preliminary goals emerging as the priorities for the future. They are:
- formal recognition of MCAC as the community ‘front door’ for external service provider engagements and touch points, providing input and program design into services delivered in their community
- employment and training pathways and partnership opportunities
- youth services, education and pathways
- housing
Ngurratjuta Pmara Ntjarra Aboriginal Corporation (Ngurratjuta)
Ngurratjuta Pmara Ntjarra Aboriginal Corporation - Statement of Commitment PDF (2.3 MB)
The first Local Decision Making Agreement for a Central Australian Community was signed on 11 April 2024.
The Ngurratjuta/Pmara Ntjarra Aboriginal Corporation (NPNAC) Local Decision Making Agreement (LDM) 2024-2034 PDF (1.1 MB) is supported by the Northern Territory Government and National Indigenous Australians Agency.
Phase 1 of the Agreement covers the communities of Papunya, Mt Liebig, Haasts Bluff and the surrounding homelands.
The NPNAC LDM Agreement has identified the following strategic priority areas of:
- housing tenancy, maintenance, constructions and government employee housing
- homelands municipal and essential services, housing maintenance services and special purpose grants
- remote jobs, industry and employment/training programs
- education attendance, two-way learning and pathways
- social disability and welfare
- community and economic development
- youth services and families.
The Department of the Chief Minister and Cabinet will continue to support and work with NPNAC on Phase 2 of the Agreement which will bring in the communities of Hermannsburg (Ntaria), Areyonga, Wallace Rockhole and surrounding homelands.
The first step in this process, the signing of the Local Decision Making Statement of Commitment between Ngurratjuta Pmara Ntjarra Aboriginal Corporation (Ngurratjuta), the Northern Territory Government and NIAA took place on 29 June, 2023.

Other LDM initiatives (across Central Australia region)

The Department of Health is in the process of transitioning the Yulara Health Clinic to community control.
The Department of the Chief Minister and Cabinet continues to meet with all 26 remote communities in the region to talk about LDM There is ongoing active engagement with Papunya, Santa Teresa, Hermannsburg and Yuendumu.
Yuelamu community members identified the need for a keeping place for men's business and repatriation of artefacts in community. The Department of Chief Minister and Cabinet has been working with the community members to enable to construction of the keeping place by the community, through the LDM principles.