• to act as a representative, informed and responsible decision-maker in the interests of its constituency; and
• to develop a strong and cohesive social life for its residents and allocate resources in a fair, socially inclusive, and sustainable way; and
• to provide and coordinate public facilities and services; and 
• to encourage and develop initiatives for improving quality of life; and 
• to represent the interests of its area to the wider community; and 
• to exercise and perform the powers and functions of local government assigned to the council under this Act and other Acts.

• to plan for the future requirements of its area for local government services; 
• to provide services and facilities for the benefit of its area, its residents and visitors; 
• to provide for the interests and well-being of individuals and groups within the council area; 
• to carry out measures to protect its area from natural and other hazards and to mitigate the effects of such hazards; 
• to manage and develop council facilities and services in its area in a sustainable way;
• to manage and develop for the benefit of its area all the resources available to the council;
• other functions assigned to the council under this or any other Act

The functions of a council may (if the council chooses to perform them) include the following:

• to promote its area as a location for appropriate industries or commerce or as an attractive tourist destination;
• to establish or support organisations or programs that benefit the council area.

• to provide open, responsive and accountable government at the local level;
• to be responsive to the needs, interests and aspirations of individuals and groups within its area;
• to cooperate with Territory and national governments in the delivery of services for the benefit of its area;
• to seek to ensure a proper emphasis on environmentally sustainable development within its area and a proper balance between economic, social, environmental and cultural considerations;
• to place a high value on the importance ofservice to the council's constituency;
• to seek to ensure that council resources are used fairly, effectively and efficiently;
• to seek to provide services, facilities and programs that are appropriate to the needs of its area and to ensure equitable access to its services, facilities and programs;
• generally to act at all times in the best interests of the community as a whole.