It has taken more than a decade for the Davenport community in the Upper Spencer Gulf to receive government funding for services like waste collection and public space maintenance.

Key points:

  • Some rate-paying Aboriginal communities aren’t funded for basic services
  • The federal government stopped funding services 15 years ago
  • The council chief executive says it’s been a “tough go” trying to secure funding

About $170,000 a year will be provided to the Davenport Community Council by South Australia’s Attorney-General’s Department after federal funding ceased about 15 years ago.

“This has been a long time coming, but we finally have basic municipal services back in our community,” council chief executive Lavene Ngatokorua said.

Birubi Australia, an Aboriginal-owned and operated civil construction company, has been appointed to provide maintenance work until June 2022.

Davenpot Community Council has appointed Birubi Australia to maintain public spaces and roads. (

Supplied: Davenport Community Council

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General manager Sue Abbot said those services would normally be provided by local government but that was not always the case.

“In a lot of Aboriginal communities those services are not provide as standard by council, despite council rates being paid,” she said.

Ms Abbot said the new agreement would also provide part-time work for some Davenport residents, which could lead to ongoing employment.

Council responsible despite intervention

The SA Aboriginal Lands Trust (ALT) appointed a manager in June to oversee Davenport’s land and assets in response to complaints from residents about the council’s management of infrastructure and some services.

But Ms Ngatokorua said even without funding the Davenport Community Council was responsible for providing community services.

She said it had been trying to address the municipal gap by negotiating with various government departments for many years.

The federal government stopped funding municipal services for Aboriginal communities like Davenport.(

ABC News: Nicola Gage

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“It’s been a tough go for the council and the community to see which department is responsible for municipal services since the government slashed it 15 years ago,” Ms Ngatokorua said.

Ms Abbot said she was “really excited” to see progress.

Birubi Australia has been contracted to upgrade local roads, including Yorkies Crossing, a key freight route.