Southern Region
Region Snapshot
Region Snapshots, provided by the Department of Business, Economic and Regional Development, are based on the the 5 Statistical Regions in the Northern Territory.
Building a community
In recent times, community development processes throughout the are have had to overcome the historical legacy of racial tension, and the stereotyping of towns as centres for alcohol abuse. Tennant Creek has struggled with the problem of alcohol abuse for many years. Between 2005 and 2007 the average alcohol consumption was 15.8 litres of pure alcohol, compared to the national average of 9.81 litres. Despite restrictions on consumption to one day - known as Thirsty Thursday – the town continued to see the problem increase. The community has now worked up a new alcohol management plan that came into effect on August 1, 2008. It restricts the supply of takeaway alcohol, limits the type and amount of alcohol and places restrictions on public drinking. The new plan is expected to not only reduce the ready availability of alcohol, but reduce the harm associated with its consumption. One public indicator of community building is the development of a local art industry: today, Aboriginal residents showcase their culture at the Nyinkka Nyunyu Art and Cultural Centre in Tennant Creek.
Improved attitudes
Other things have changed in recent times. The Central Land Council reports that the attitude of mining companies towards the rights of Aboriginal people in the region is much better now than in the past. Now that they have gained some of their land back, Aboriginal people feel more comfortable in allowing mining companies onto their land, and so the proportion of mining exploration licence approvals has increased, with some mineral sites looking promising.
One successful outcome of this process has been the agreement to mine manganese at Bootu Creek (100km north of Tennant Creek), boosting exports and providing income for the traditional landowners.
History of gold
Tennant Creek was the site of Australia’s last major gold rush in the 1930s. Mines around the town produced about 6.5 million ounces of gold, with new prospects now being explored at the Rover field west of the town. The tailings of the old Peko mine to the east of the town are being reworked to extract even more gold. The search for gold and other minerals continues around the Barkly region.
Barkly Shire Plan
The new Barkley Shire operates out of Tennant Creek, and has drawn up a Business Plan that will provide the blueprint for the region’s economic future. The new shire is part of the NT Government’s reform of local government.
Equality and collaboration
The early days of European settlement of the Barkly region was characterised by the exclusion of Aboriginal people from most economic activities. The situation has changed dramatically, with the past decade bringing about greater equality and the collaboration between non-Aboriginal and Aboriginal people in most areas of the regional economy.
The Southern Area
Small Aboriginal settlements dominate the southern half of the Barkly area. It is one of the most sparsely settled areas of the Northern Territory.
The most significant of these settlements are Ali Curung and Alpurrurulam. Ali Curung (formerly Warrabri) was originally a place to which Aboriginal people from the Tennant Creek area were removed by governments. It was a place where different tribal groups were mixed up on other people’s country, with consequent violence and trauma. Today however the traditional owners, the Kaytetye, are properly recognised and it is generally a peaceful community.
Not far from where the Barkly Highway crosses the Queensland border is Alpurrurulam, a living area for Aboriginal people excised from Lake Nash station. This is harsh country, with winter temperatures below zero and fierce, cold winds. But it is a place where people wanted to stay. Communities close to the border often look to Queensland towns for their services and entertainment, with Mt Isa the closest urban centre. The provision of services out here has been sparse, but the new Barkly Shire is expected to improve them. The huge distances and scarcity of people is shown in the size of the properties: Alexandria cattle station is 1.94 milliion hectares and Brunette Downs 1.38 million hectares.
Most other communities – Canteen Creek, Wutunugurra and the numerous small family outstations scattered around the bush – are the outcome of modern policies which sought to acknowledge the rights associated with traditional land ownership. Large areas of this sub-region have been returned to Aboriginal ownership under the Aboriginal Land Rights (NT) Act 1976, encouraging people to move back in small family groups to ‘look after’ their country.
The cattle industry dominates economic activity across this area. However, in the larger settlements such as Ali Curung, there are aspirations to move into horticulture and to further develop their role in the Aboriginal art industry.