Council Responsibilities

What the Council Does

The Council performs a number of functions in the community.

These include:

Acting as agent for Telstra and Optus for voice and internet communications, rebroadcasting of ABC and commercial television and radio.

Creating and maintaining public parks, gardens and recreational areas and the carrying out of landscaping and other associated works

Developing and maintaining sports facilities, maintaining the community hall, public toilets and ablution blocks, laundry facilities

Collecting and disposal of garbage and the provision and maintenance of sanitation, storm water drainage, water and electricity supply facilities and the removal of health hazards

Council is agent for the NT Power & Water Corporation, Centrelink and Australia Post.

Council provides vocational and other training to the adult members of the community.

The supply and maintencne of housing for residents and their families is a major function of council

Many of the community's residents are participants in the Tjuwanpa CDEP, and are employed by council using its funds to bring wages up to award levels.

Through its agency partnership with Centrelink and other government agencies council is involved in the promotion and provision of community welfare, health and care facilities for all age groups

Wallace Rockhole is a "Dry Community" under the NT Liquor Act, and as such the possession of alcohol and its consumptions barred (by community consent) in the council area. Wallace Rockhole has been spared, due to the diligance of parents and carers from the ravages of petrol sniffing and other forms of drug abuse. Council supports these people in their efforts to keep Wallace Rockhole "clean".

The Council maintains a cemetery

Roaming, diseased dogs are a problem for many communities. At Wallace Rockhole, families voluntarily restrict the number in each household. Council has fenced its area to keep horses out of the residential areas.

Council recieves funding for the mainenance of its roads through the NT Grants Commission, and is currently negotiating through the NAHS to seal the last two sections.

Wallace Rockhole, being only just an hour out of Alice Springs does not have an airstrip.

Council hires out its plant and equipment to contractors doing infrastructure works in this area.

Contracts for works projects such as preparation of house footings, trenching for water and telecommunications are often performed by council.

Although council has the power to establish and operate the commercial enterprises, such as the store and tourist park, it prefers to sponsor community members in personal endevours of this sort.

There is a comprehesive hydrant plan for firefighting maintained by council.

Council developed the tourist ark and other attractions in the area, and the Arts centre and the production and selling of artefacts and souvenirs has been handed to private entreprenuers with council support and assistance.

Control of sites of historic interest, especially the the Rockhole are important facets of community pride and enterprise.

Wallace Rockhole is a major supporter of traditional Aboriginal cuture, and supports large,annual meetings of traditional elders for the initiation of young men in the region. Through its sponsorship and encouragement local artistis are able to sell their works through the local Arts centre. Council has built a multi-purpose court for basketball, tennis and cricket to indoor rules. Other sporting facilities planned for the near future include softball arenas, and Aussie rules oval and a gymnasium. Council purchased commercial quality Karaoke equipment for use by the community and school concerts.

To do all this the Council needs money, so each year they set the rates and receive grants from the Commonwealth and Territory and private philanthropist organisations. Rates are an amount that each household pay, on a fortnightly basis at the rate of $5.00 per week.

This money helps the Council to pay for supplying the services.