History of Roxby Council 

Roxby Downs has a unique Local Government structure unlike any other township in South Australia.

The operations of the Roxby Council cannot be meaningfully understood withiout some knowledge of the community and its environment.

Nestled in rich red sand dunes clad in native pine, Roxby Downs was originally built in 1987, following much political controversy, to service the giant world-class Olympic Dam Copper Uranium Mine and Processing Plant.

The Mine was originally a Joint Venture operation between Western Mining Corporation (WMC) and British Petroleum (BP). In the late 1980s the then WMC Resources acquired BP's share and operated the mine until BHP Billiton's successuful acquisition in 2005.

Since its inseption the mine and town have rapidly grown. A major expansion in 1996 increased the town's size frpm 2,700 to the current permanent stable population of around 4,500. A number of workers also work on a fly in/drive in and fly out/drive out basis. Since May 2004 large scale investigations by WMC Resources and BHP Biliton have revealed that Olympic Dam has a world class ore body which will potentailly support an open cut mine for the next 100 years or so.

This has generated great optimism for a potential major expansion from the current underground operation.

With this optimism comes the realisation that Roxby Downs will need to become  a world class town and community if it is to adequately serve such with a world class ore body.

Community

Like traditional mining towns, many Roxby residents have high disposable incomes. Whilst approximately 20% of the adult population will turnover every year, a significant number arrived at the time that the mine commenced operation. Others came in following the 1996 expansion when the town effectively doubled in size.

The town was built by WMC Resources in partnership with the State Government as part of the provisions of the Roxby Downs (Indenture Ratification) Act 1982 (Indenture).

By its size, hierarchical structure and operational needs, the mine strongly influences the behaviour and makeup of the community. Much of community life revolves around shift rosters. Those at senior management level work long hours and are consistantly required to attend to operational issues assosciated with a 24-hour operation.

The residential community consists of 33% under the age of 19, with a number of contractors and employees living in residential camps and commuting to other home bases when not working. The 4 days on 4 days off mine shift roster influences this behaviour.

The community has grown rapidly to a size that the businesses and services offered also serve large domestic base and that of the surrounding region. Demands for a fulfilling lifestyle are growing.

The facilities and infrastructure are of high quality and the envy of most other towns.

In South Australia Local Government terms, Roxby Downs in unique. Created and operating under the Indenture, Council operates with all the powers, functions and duties of a South Australian Local Government Authority, with a number of notable exceptions eg.

• The requirement of elected Councillors has been suspended with an appointed "Administrator" performing all of the functions of Council.
• Seperate power and water authorities have been created, with Council operating them as seperate self-contained business units
• The State Government and BHP Billiton are required to approve the Council budget and fund an annual operating Municipal deficit
• External contractors carry out all of our construction and maintenance work

When the Municipality was established in 1982, it was always intended that the appointmemnt of the Administrator would be only interim, as a prelude to a possible future elected Council. At the time, it was envisaged that the town would have grown to a population in the vicinity of 9,000. In these circumstances, it was thought that there would be enough population to financially sustain a fully independent operation that could be effectively self-sufficient.

Despite population growth significant improvements in mining technology has meant that the Olympic Dam Copper Uranium Mine can be operated with far less staff than initially envisaged.

Whilst Roxby is one of the fastest growing toens in the State, it is unlikely that this initial prediction will, in the short to medium term, be reached. Accordingly, at this stage, Council operates its Municipal Operation with a deficit. Thats is subsidised equally between BHP Billiton and the State Government. Any move to an elected Council would be a decision taken jointly by both parties.

Council acts in a pro-active manner to build the social capacity of the community through a range of unique community development strategies as well as the traditional asset management and service delivery roles.

These are diverse and include such matters as improving the quality of life of the community, planning at the local and regional level, local area enironmental management, developing community resources, representing the interests of the wider community as well as acting as a responsible decision maker.

Council has therefore taken a proactive role in developing the capacity of the community, by increasingly seeking to inform and consult as we aim to form a strong community focused, participative and Local Government that will meet the needs of one of the largest mining companies in the world.