Wilya Janta, an Aboriginal Housing consultancy has recently taken another step forward with their plans for sustainable housing in Tennant Creek and remote communities.

They have taken a 60-year-old abandoned brick-making machine and given it a new lease on life.

The machine had previously been used to make the bricks used at Nyinkka Nyunyu and BP, but it had been left for many years.

Wilya Janta have relocated the machine to Karguru Nursery where Fluid Power generously fixed it at no charge and the Foundation for Regional and Rural Renewal paid for parts.

The machine, now fully re-engineered, electrified, and operational, is a symbol of hope for the future of sustainable housing in Tennant Creek and remote communities.

Wilya Janta envisions it being solar powered in the future, a testament to their commitment to environmental sustainability. Wilya Janta consider the machine a gift to the community, and they are excited about the potential it holds. They hope that it not only produces bricks for the project but will also offer young people training opportunities and the ability to build their own future. The community’s involvement is crucial to the success of this initiative.  

This article appeared in  Tennant & District Times, 24 May 2024.