Sid Vashist: New Barkly mayor says fixing council finances, improving $78m deal are priorities
Despite the region fighting fires on multiple fronts, the new Barkly mayor says he is optimistic a brighter future is ahead and a competent, well-run local government can help bring it about.
Northern Territory
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The new Barkly mayor says his priorities are fixing the council’s concerning finances, restarting the stalled Barkly Regional Deal, worth $78.4m to the struggling region, and restoring faith in the municipality after its previous administration was dismissed.
Former councillor Sid Vashist was elected mayor of Barkly Regional Council earlier this month with 54 per cent of the first preference votes – although only about 33 per cent of registered voters turned out.
The Barkly local government elections were precipitated by the prior council under Mayor Jeff McLaughlin being suspended, then subsequently dismissed, after an investigation found widespread governance issue.
The administration by long-term NT government mandarin Peter Holt was itself not without controversy, with the council’s latest annual report showing wages jumped $4.8m under Mr Holt’s leadership, which pushed the council’s operating deficit out to $12.1m in 2023–24 (up from a $1.25m deficit in 2022–23).
“There are clear concerns regarding the council’s financial stability,” Mr Vashist said.
“The reported... deficit in the last financial year is significant, particularly for a small regional council.”
The wage breakout – equivalent to nearly 20 per cent of the council’s revenue – was of “serious concern” to Mr Vashist.
“As a regional council, Barkly cannot afford such discrepancies, as they directly impact service delivery and community trust,” he said.
Mr Vashist said newly elected councillors would seek a detailed briefing from council staff regarding finances at their inaugural general meeting on Friday.
Another pressing issue facing the new council is the need to restart the stalled Barkly Regional Deal, a trilateral deal signed in 2018 between all levels of government to funnel $78m worth of investment to the region to combat disadvantage.
At the halfway mark, just six of 28 initiatives have been completed, with the Tennant Creek Youth Centre one of the only big-ticket items delivered, alongside the Barkly Business Hub.
Other initiative, including the $9.5m Tennant Creek Visitor Park and the $17.9m weather radar, are nowhere to be seen.
Local Government Minister Steve Edgington said getting the cash into the region more quickly was vital.
“For example, $17.9m co-funded by the Australian and NT governments has been allocated for the installation of a weather radar in Tennant Creek—a critical infrastructure project included in the deal,” he said.
“Since the decommissioning of the Tennant Creek weather radar in 2015, the Barkly region has been without this essential service for nearly a decade.
“Addressing this gap remains a priority.”
Mr Edgington said an ongoing governance review of the Barkly Regional Deal was expected to help lubricate its engine.
Mr Vashist said he had scheduled a meeting with the deal’s executive officer, and concurred with Mr Edgington in expressing a desire “streamline” processes to ensure investment flowed sooner.
Despite the region fighting fires on multiple fronts, Mr Vashist said he was optimistic a brighter future lay ahead and a competent, well-run local government could help bring it about.
“Our focus is on delivering practical, effective governance and promoting the amazing stories and people that make the Barkly unique,” he said.
“From improving service delivery to fostering pride in our workforce and highlighting the
region’s incredible natural beauty and opportunities, we have a lot to celebrate
and share with the world.”
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