Nganambala sign Local Decision Making Agreement

Transfer of powers between government and Traditional Owners will see big investments in this small community.

EXCITEMENT woke Nganambala community early as they prepared to sign their historic Local Decision Making Agreement.

On Thursday, Ngen’giwumirri man Terry Sams welcomed Deputy Chief Minister Nicole Manison and Daly River MLA Dheran Young to their remote outstation 310kms southwest of Darwin.

The community entered into the Mulyung Local Decision Making Agreement which aims to give them greater control of infrastructure, essential services and housing.

Twelve months ago, then Chief Minister Michael Gunner, visited the community where Mr Sams niece spoke candidly about the need for investment in housing and the local school.

Mr Sams said he didn’t realise government was visiting till the “last minute” but told community it was a good thing and they needed to “stand up and speak about the issues out here”.

Nganambala Traditional Owners sign their Local Decision Making Agreement with the NT Government. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

“And my niece did that and I’m very proud of her for doing that,” he said.

“It was actually good that all them came out here and seen the issues for themselves, the roads, the school needs lot of support, the houses…”

Mr Sams said the previous housing provider never seemed to have funding to do things and community was often left wondering where funds had been spent.

Under the bureaucratic systems of Local Decision Making, Territory Labor have worked to transition many remote communities, under various Aboriginal Corporations, to the decade-long agreements.

Mrs Manison said the move was about enabling self-determination for Aboriginal people, however LDMs does not grant the exhaustive powers the Land Rights Act enables community.

“For too long governments have told Aboriginal people what to do and how to do it, but that stops with this government,” she said.

Deputy Chief Minister welcomed to country. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

The Mulyung Aboriginal Corporation will now hold board like powers around the implementation of government policy and spending in their community.

In the coming months the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics (DIPL) is preparing information to undertake an infrastructure assessment, including identifying any upgrades required for future development.

In addition four new homes will be built in the community, including the demolishing of two existing dwellings which were built nearly 30 years ago.

However, despite great progress residents and the governments’ ideas varied. With Territory Labor hoping this agreement would look to transition Nganambala from a homeland to remote community.

“We aren’t sure we want that yet,” Mr Sams said.