MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire staff are likely to be exchanged with their counterparts from Roper Gulf Regional Shire in the Northern Territory under a partnership agreement being drawn up by the two municipalities.
Arrangements for the Friendly Council Partnership date back to early 2023 and involved a visit to the remote shire by then mayor Cr Anthony Marsh and CEO John Baker.
The partnership was formally agreed to by peninsula councillors on 31 October last year, some weeks after plans for a formal announcement were dropped following the “last minute” cancellation of a visit to the peninsula by the mayor and CEO of Roper Gulf Regional Council.
At Mornington Peninsula Shire’s Tuesday 20 February public meeting, Roper Gulf’s mayor Cr Tony Jack said the partnership would be the first in the history of his municipality. “We’ve never had anything like this before, so it’s a new journey for my council and my people,” Jack said. “We could have gone anywhere in Australia for a partnership with a big council and it happened to be your council, Mornington Peninsula. “I think it’s really important that we learn from each other. As a remote council that’s up there in the territory and you guys down here … a mixture of what it’s all about in local government, and we learn from each other. “One of the ideas we’re looking at is exchanging staff. The opportunity is there, we can learn from each other.”
The 201,000 square kilometre Roper Gulf shire’s 268 staff (full time and part time) manage a $40 million budget on behalf of 6500 residents. Mornington Peninsula Shire, 723 square kilometres, has an income of more than $270 million and about 170,000 residents. The partnership agreement between the two widely different municipalities remains a single page, stating: The Roper Gulf Regional Council and the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council agree to establish a Friendly Council Partnership (‘Gulf to Peninsula Partnership’) to explore opportunities between the two areas (‘Partnership’ details yet to be ‘explored’ – shire, The News 24/4/23).
Asked for comment from CEO Baker, the shire last week responded with a quote from the mayor, Cr Simon Brooks: “During the visit by members of Roper Gulf Regional Council, we discussed potential ways in which we could deepen connections and share knowledge between our two regions. These discussions are ongoing.” The shire is also going to add a page to its website that “will provide more context to the partnership and the links between Roper Gulf and the shire and will be built on as the partnership builds”.
Jack, who had been taken on a tour of the peninsula along with Roper River councillors Helen Lee (deputy mayor), Cathy Ann Numur, Patricia Farrel and CEO Mark Gardener, said their eyes “had been opened” by the health care available on the peninsula. Health and education were issues that the two municipalities “can work together on”.
Jack touched briefly on the differences between growing up in Roper River and the peninsula. He said education was “a tool” to be cherished as it allowed “you to go where you want to go”. “That’s the reason I’m standing here today. I was a real ratbag, swimming rivers with crocodiles and all.” His council was already talking about making a return visit.
“We’re very excited at Roper Gulf and have sort of thought about this for a long time. We’ve made the decision now and are we really are happy to be here today,” Jack said. “Hopefully, we can work together from here onwards and, if there’s some issue, we can learn together. The whole opportunity is waiting.”
Deputy mayor Cr Antonella Celi told The News that peninsula schools which had an existing connection with Roper Gulf Regional Council “will be delighted to know that the delegation was given a warm welcome to our community by the shire”.
The mayor Cr Simon Brooks said the peninsula tour with Crs Marsh and Celi and CEO Baker had included the Yawa aquatic centre at Rosebud and the Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association gathering place at Hastings.He thanked the Roper River delegation for “making the trek down here – we’re looking forward to coming back up and having a look at your neck of the woods”.
First published in the Mornington News – 5th March 2024
