Residents of a remote community near the Queensland border plan to celebrate Christmas in brand new homes, thanks to a building boom across the Barkly region.
Twenty-one families have recently moved into homes at Alpurrurulam, and three more five-bedroom homes will be ready in the next couple of weeks.
The modular homes, built by Territory company Demountable Sales and Hire have been installed by Wilga Indigenous Corporation, which has provided employment opportunities to Alpurrurulam locals.
It’s a similar story in Elliott, where eight homes are under construction; and at Ali Curung where 10 new homes have made living much easier for families.
At Ampilatwatja on the Sandover Highway, a contract has been awarded for eight new homes with construction works expected to commence in January 2024; while procurement is underway for eight homes in the Davenport Ranges community of Canteen Creek.
The Barkly building boom extends across to Pmara Jutunta where five homes have been built with another three under construction; and north to Borroloola where five new homes will add to the pool of 34 new homes, which have already been completed under the NT-wide program that is the biggest-ever investment in remote housing by any Territory government.
Homes have already been completed in Nturiya, Tara and Wilora.
The Barkly yield will be 155 new homes, of which 103 have already been completed and a further 27 are currently under construction.
Additionally, 126 homes in the region will be extended and improved as part of the innovative Room to Breathe program, with more than half already finished.
The Territory Labor Government hit the ground running when it came to government in 2016, building and upgrading around 1,300 homes under ongoing programs before launching its own remote housing program in partnership with the Australian Government.
So far 3,750 homes in remote communities have been built and upgraded, including works underway.
Minister for Remote Housing and Homelands Selena Uibo said she is incredibly proud of their housing achievements in the Barkly.
“The Barkly’s geographic expanse presents many challenges that we have managed to navigate to build and upgrade hundreds of homes,” she said.
“It truly is an honour to be leading our remote housing program because I know that decent homes are not only making lives easier and better for Territorians, but are improving long-term health, education, employment and social outcomes right across the Territory.
“I hear first-hand accounts of families who have struggled for many years in overcrowded conditions, and I see tears of joy and relief when we hand over the keys to their new homes.”
Member for Lingiari Marion Scrymgour said the Albanese Labor Government has committed to the largest increase in housing funding in Australia’s history, and now money from one of the housing funds is flowing through to remote Territory communities.
“The new houses for Alpurrurulum and across the Barky is just the start. I know there’s still an enormous amount of work to do in improving housing right across the NT. Housing is so important because it’s not just about building homes – it’s about community safety, employment and stronger communities,” she said.
This article appeared in Tennant & District Times, 1 December 2023.
