COMMUNITY FACT SHEETS

ABOUT THE TRUST

Vision Mission and Goals

The Trust is working towards a future in which:

Residents of the outback enjoy ongoing improvements to their quality of life, social capacity and access to services and infrastructure.

This future will ensure that outback residents and communities:

• Enjoy equitable access to services and necessary infrastructure.
• Are not unduly disadvantaged by location or remoteness.
• Can take pride in their individual community identity.
• Achieve a strength that is underpinned by economic prosperity and social capacity.
• Take control of planning their own initiatives, priorities and environmental responsibilities.

• Setting clear strategic directions for its governance role.
• Providing strong leadership in planning, co-ordination and administration in the region.
• Continuing to build strategic partnerships and effective working relationships with outback communities, government, business and other community groups.
• Where necessary, adapting its function and mode of delivery to meet the changing needs of outback communities.

Background – a small piece of history

In the early 1970s the Commonwealth Government introduced an amended income tax assessment notice that showed the proportion of tax revenue that went to the Federal Government, the State governments and local government. The obvious lack of reference to them drew a sharp reaction from the people of the unincorporated outback areas of South Australia.

Several communities made direct approaches to the then SA Premier, Don Dunstan, and their local members of parliament. But an initial proposal to form local government in each remote area was rigorously opposed and subsequently abandoned.

In a 1977 election policy speech, Mr Dunstan indicated that as a means by which tax rebates could be returned also to the people of the outback, he would, if elected, establish a 'trust' to operate in the outback and distribute funds via the Local Government Grants Commission. The 'trust' was to qualify as a local government authority for this purpose.The Labour Government won the election and on 20 May 1978, the Outback Areas Community Development Trust Act was proclaimed.

**From an account of the first 20 years of the Trust by its inaugural Chairman, Ted Connelly.

Legislative Mandate

The Trust is established and empowered by the Outback Areas Community Development Trust Act, 1978 which is within the portfolio responsibilities of the Minister for Local Government.

The Act also defines the areas of the State to which its provisions apply, sets out the Trust's powers and functions, makes provision for support staff and allows the Trust to borrow and apply money. It also enables specified provisions of the Local Government Act, 1999 to be applied by regulation to part, or all, of the Trust's area.

The Act further requires the accounts of the Trust to be audited at least once a year by the Auditor-General and that the Trust provide an annual report to State Parliament.

The functions of the Trust, as defined in section 15 of the Act are:

(i) to carry out development projects and to provide services for local communities within the area;
(ii) to make grants and loans to community organisations within the area and otherwise to foster the development and work of such organisations;
(iii) to exercise such powers and carry out such functions of a local government body in relation to its area or any part thereof, as may be conferred upon, or assigned to, the Trust under the Act and;
(iv) to carry out works to improve, or otherwise promote or facilitate the improvement of, communications to country districts (whether within or
outside the area).

In relation to (iii), the Trust, to a limited extent, fulfils the role of a local government authority through the provision of some services (eg dog registration). The scope of involvement is generally limited by the needs of each community organisation and the working relationship the Trust has with it.

Area of Responsibility

Less than 20% of South Australia is under the control of local government authorities operating pursuant to the provisions of the Local Government Act. The Trust has responsibility for the major portion of the remaining 80% within Outback SA. The land over which it has no responsibility includes the Pitjantjatjara and Maralinga Aboriginal Lands and the Aboriginal reserves at Yalata and Nepabunna.

To view a map of the Trust's area of responsibility, click here.

The Act formally describes the Trust's area of responsibility to include…'those parts of the State not contained within municipalities or districts administered under the Local Government Act,1999, but excludes:

(i) Pitjantjatjara Lands, pursuant to section 42 of the Pitjantjatjara Land Rights Act,1981; the Mintabie Precious Stones Field is included in the
Trust's area;
(ii) Maralinga Lands, pursuant to section 40 of the Maralinga Tjarutja Land Rights Act 1984;
(iii) Aboriginal Reserves, pursuant to section 4 of the Trust's Act.

As at 2002 the resident population of the Trust's area of responsibility was 5,290 people, based on the ABS 2001 census.

Trust Membership

The Act provides for the appointment of a maximum of five members by the Governor. There is also provision for the appointment of deputies.

 * Deputy for all Members

The Trust membership represents community, pastoral and adjoining local government. Geographically it is drawn from Marla, Blinman, Port Augusta, Yunta, Woomera and Andamooka.

Trust Meeting Arrangements - Fact Sheet

Trust Staff & Office