A regional West Australian town is celebrating a council decision to fly the Aboriginal flag from council offices during NAIDOC week, despite the shire president still opposing the move.

The Carnarvon Shire Council yesterday reversed its decision not to fly the Aboriginal flag during the week-long celebration of Aboriginal culture.

The shire made national headlines in May when it voted 5-4 against flying the Indigenous flag.

The decision had attracted the condemnation of Premier Colin Barnett, who issued a directive to the council to fly the flag.

At a council meeting yesterday, councillors voted 6-2 in favour of erecting a second flag pole to enable the Indigenous flag to be raised for the celebrations.

However in both ballots, shire president Karl Brandenburg opposed the move, having previously said it would be "divisive" in the community.

The chair of the Carnarvon NAIDOC organising committee, Gail Bellotti, said the shire president's position was disappointing.

"Karl made the decision to not fly the flag in the first place, but second time around it does surprise me," she said.

"I thought in the time we've had since the original decision he would have thought about the impact it had on our community in Carnarvon.

"At least we know we've got the confidence of six other councillors that voted to fly the flag, and I thank them for that."

Mr Brandenburg has been contacted for comment.

A group of protestors raised an Aboriginal flag outside the Carnarvon Shire building in May after the original decision. ( Facebook: Antonio Barbarich )

Local businesswoman Doriana Mangili said the town's image has been damaged by the original council decision.

"I think they have brought the town into disrepute and now I guess the rebuilding happens and I hope that everybody celebrates NAIDOC week and really puts in extra effort this year to acknowledge and respect our Aboriginal history and our Aboriginal future," Ms Mangili said.

The Nationals Member for North West, Vince Catania, welcomed the decision but said the shire had a long way to go before it redeemed itself.

"It's disappointing it's taken this long but none the less we've got the result that the community wanted and that the state wanted," he said.

Mr Catania also questioned Mr Brandenburg's capacity to remain in the position.

"To have the shire president not support flying the Aboriginal flag still leaves a bad taste in people's mouths," he said.

"I think that does draw into question one's leadership, one's conviction to representing the constituency and really you ought to consider whether or not you want to remain."

According to Ms Bellotti, the flag controversy would not overshadow celebrations next week, which included balls, cultural dances and an exhibition of the Gascoyne Aboriginal community's achievements.

"Of course even though this is the ball during NAIDOC week, and it's a time when Aboriginals celebrate, it's also a time when we encourage all Australians to come and celebrate with us," Ms Bellotti said.