Governance

MacDonnell Regional Council covers 268,329km2 of arid, desert environment at the heart of the Australian continent. The landscape of the region includes picturesque waterholes, iconic flora and fauna, striking red desert sands and rough-hewn mountain ranges. Our region is uniquely beautiful, with a powerful cultural and spiritual significance that can only truly be felt when living on or travelling across the land.

Council takes its name from the ancient and spectacular MacDonnell Ranges, and covers 13 major remote communities, as well as many outstations and enterprises in the pastoral, tourism and mining industries.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimate a resident population of 6,583 based on the 2021 Census. The towns of Alice Springs and Yulara are excluded from the MRC boundaries. 

At council, we recognise and respect the fact that Aboriginal Australians are the oldest-known continuous culture on the planet and have had their own forms of governance for tens of thousands of years. 

We have been able to develop strong governance principles and practices by using effective two way communication and engagement with the Aboriginal representatives on Council. 

Our discussions often move easily between the Aboriginal languages spoken in the MacDonnell region (mainly Arrernte, Pitjantjatjara, Pintubi and Luritja) and English. Councillors also explore vastly different perspectives and expectations when weighing up the impacts of their decisions. 

Council remains committed to providing quality assistance for all of our residents, operating from Council Services Centres in all 13 communities. The coordination of all services and the administration of governance, finance, funding arrangements, program management and human resources is undertaken centrally from our Alice Springs office. 

• Council Wards

  The four wards representing the MacDonnell Regional Council are based on resident language groupings and population distribution. The residents of MacDonnell Council elect a total of twelve Councillors to represent the four wards for a four year term. The Councillors currently serving were elected...

  

• Elected Councillors

  MacDonnell Regional Council has twelve elected members from its four wards. Council members elect their President and Deputy President (principal members) from the twelve member Council. Following the general election held 28 August 2021 Councillors of the fourth MacDonnell Regional...

  

• Local Authorities

  Local Authorities are established under the Local Government Act 2019 and have the following functions: To have as their primary objective the support of local decision making. To involve local communities more closely in issues related to local government. To ensure local...

  

• Executive Leadership

  MacDonnell Regional Council (MRC) is committed to delivering quality services for all of its residents from its Council Service Centres in all 13 communities. The administration of governance, finance, funding arrangements, program management and human resources is undertaken centrally in...

  

• Committees

  Audit Committee The six members of the Audit Committee monitor and review the integrity of the council’s financial management including the review of internal controls. Advice and recommendations are also provided to Council for further assessment. Audit Committee members can be...

  

• Local Government Legislation

  MacDonnell Regional Council is administered under the Local Government Act 2019 and subordinate legislation including the Local Government (General) Regulations 2021. To find other relevant legislation including regulations and guidelines please follow this link to the Northern...

  

• Council Code of Conduct

  MacDonnell Regional Council's Code of Conduct covers the standards of behaviour that apply to both Council and Local Authority members. The Code of Conduct demonstrates the commitment that Councillors and Local Authority members have towards ethical, courteous and accountable...

  

• Policies and Related Documents

  The policies, registers and documents of MacDonnell Regional Council sit alongside the governing legislation of the Local Government Act 2019 providing a basis for all operations. The policies and documents below reflect Council's commitment to good governance, transparency and...

  

• Reviewable Decisions

  Under the Local Government Act 2019 (section 322(2)), MacDonnell Regional Council is required to make public reviewable decisions. The following are designated by the Act as reviewable: a decision by the council or a council committee to reject an application for correction of an entry in...