Bid to bring Dundee Beach and other unincorporated NT land into council
Hundreds of Territorians have been able to avoid paying council rates, but that could be about to change. Here’s which Top End areas may be in for a shake-up.
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Territorians living beside one of the Top End’s most popular fishing grounds could soon cough up council rates for the first time.
The NT government is revisiting a proposal to bring unincorporated land into either new or existing local governments.
The Cox-Daly and Marrakai-Douglas Daly areas, which includes popular tourist destinations and growing communities Dundee Beach and parts of Litchfield National Park, are not serviced by any Territory council.
There are an estimated 2082 allotments within the two areas, with the latest Census data showing about 460 residents in the growing locality of Dundee alone.
Many have told this publication, consultations between the community and the government have indicated Dundee would likely be merged with an existing council, all of which lie at least 90km away.
Dundee Progress Association chairman Alan Stephens said the association would possibly support the beachside community having its own local government, despite widespread frustrations on the lack of government services already provided.
“The problem we’ve got is that 30 to 40 years ago when Dundee was set up it was never intended to be anything more than a few blocks for some fishermen,” Mr Stephens said.
“People being people have come and said ‘well we want to stay here’.
“But there are no services to speak of except a waste station.
“The roads aren’t being properly maintained and are graded three to four times a year – it’s a quagmire.
“There’s no infrastructure here and so it’s a very expensive proposition for the government to create a council.”
The Chief Minister and Cabinet department did not answer questions on when a decision would be made, but a spokesman said they had reviewed “extensive” feedback after submissions closed on the proposal in May last year.
“Submissions indicated both no support and support for incorporation, and identified a range of issues that should be considered,” the spokesman said.
“Some residents in the unincorporated areas are currently receiving council services from the NT government at a cost of more than $7m a year.
“This includes the provision of waste management services such as the supply of bins for the removal of household waste and transfer of waste to the City of Darwin’s Shoal Bay facility; the management of public areas, and the management of local roads.”
Dundee Beach resident of almost 30 years Jean Wilson said she had spent up to $30,000 connecting her property to power and installing a water bore.
“To live here has been very, very expensive,” she said.
“If they take over our bore are they going to start charging us for water?
“We’re a retirement area with very little industry and that’s the way we want it.
“If we go into a council we’re not going to get better roads, footpaths, rubbish collection … nothing we haven’t already paid for.”
Local Government Association NT chief executive Sean Holden said his association supports the move.
“Since 2013 it has been LGANT’s policy for full incorporation of all unincorporated land in the Territory,” Mr Holden said.
“Local government for unincorporated areas brings the opportunity of representation for locals to make local decisions, and the opportunity for greater funding for things like roads, social infrastructure and social service provision.”
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