Local Government Unit

The Barkly Regional Council was placed under official management on 17 October 2023 due to serious concerns about its governance and operations.

For more information on Barkly Regional Council Investigation .

The NT Government provides support to councils and local authorities through the Local Government Unit.

The unit assists and supports councils and local authorities in the NT to meet their compliance, reporting and administration requirements. They develop and implement policy, legislation, and administer grant funding to local government councils.

In the Northern Territory (NT) there are 9 regional councils; 5 municipal councils, and 3 shire councils.

There are also 67 local authorities across regional and remote communities in the NT. They are involved in planning, giving feedback on service delivery, and identifying priority community projects. Regional councils operate local authorities.

Find your council on the NT Government website.

You can make a complaint about council operations that breach local government legislation or council member breaches of Code of Conduct on the NT Government website.

View a visual site map to help you navigate this site.

Local Government Act 2019

Information about the Local Government Act 2019, Regulations and Guidelines.

Burial and Cremation Act 2022

Information and resources about the Burial and Cremation Act 2022 and Regulations.

Publications and reports

Reports and reviews on and for the local government sector.

Elected member resources

Resources for local government elected members.

Funding

Grants for local government councils.

Compliance resources

Resources for local government councils and subsidiaries.

Conditionally rateable land

Past rates and approved proposals of conditionally rateable land.

Northern Territory Government Gazette notices

Gazette notices relating to local government councils, including changes to council boundaries.

Local Government Resource Hub

A restricted website providing training material, newsletters, supporting resources, sample documents and external links to assist local government councils, local authorities and local subsidiaries.

Barkly Regional Council Investigation

The Barkly Regional Council was dismissed on 20 June 2024 due to governance issues, with an Official Manager overseeing operations until new elections on 2 November 2024.

Groote Archipelago Regional Council elections

Information about the postponed Groote Archipelago Regional Council election to March 2025 and upcoming consultation on ward structures and representation.