The Northern Territory’s Country Liberal Party Government is working to undo the “chaos” caused by the former ALP Government’s “super shires” plan.

Super shires were decried almost as quickly as they were imposed in 2012, when the policy was used to force 52 local community councils into a network of big centres and ‘outstations’.

Accusations at the time said there was very little consultation, with remote communities unclear what was being done and how.

The scheme was also criticised over the lack of funding for outstations.

But now, the CLP Government claims it is undertaking “the abolition of Labor’s toxic shires”.

The Territory Government says it has restored the local voice to the Wadeye, Peppimenarti and Palumpa region with the creation of the new West Daly Regional Council.

The Minister for Local Government, Dave Tollner recently swore in the new councillors at a ceremony in Peppimenarti.

The new West Daly council covers 14,000 square kilometres and has a population of more than 3000 throughout the communities of Wadeye, Peppimenarti and Palumpa.

The regions had been forced into the larger Victoria Daly Regional Council, and some staff will now move to serve in the new government area.

The Department of Local Government undertook nearly 280 consultation meetings across the Territory discussing the best way to return to local control of local government.

Mr Tollner said there was no greater example of returning local voice than the new council.

“This exercise has also been a model of cooperation with stakeholders and the existing Victoria Daly Regional Council working closely on issues such as new boundaries, staff, office locations and how the transfer would take place.”

A Transition Committee was formed to inform the change-over. It included representatives from the new and continuing council areas, the Local Government Association of the NT, the NT and Australian Governments and the Member for Nelson, Gerry Wood, MLA.

The Transition Committee, who deliberated over more than 50 recommendations over a six month period, recommended the appointment of councillors to the new council, who were previously representing their local communities on Victoria Daly Regional Council. The councillors will continue till the next general election due in March 2016.

Mr Tollner said it is expected there will be a progressive settling in period for the new council over the first 12 months.

“This will be supported and closely monitored by the Department of Local Government and Regions to ensure administrative support and assistance is provided where needed. I was very pleased that all service delivery staff in the region agreed to transfer to the new council, and that the transition process was managed very cooperatively with the continuing Victoria Daly Regional Council. ”

Member for Daly, Gary Higgins, said he had every confidence the new council would be up to the task.

“We have had a very thorough process leading up to the formation of the new council and I’m confident the communities of Wadeye, Peppimenarti and Palumpawill soon start seeing the benefits of now having more control over their local services and needs,” Mr Higgins said.