Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner

Northern Territory Minister for Housing and Community Development Gerald McCarthy

Work Underway On 100 Remote Homes Providing Local Jobs & Additional Rooms

Victor P Taffa

Work is underway on 100 remote homes as part of the Territory Government’s Room to Breathe program part of the 10 year record $1.1 Billion remote housing program, Our Community, Our Future, Our Homes.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner today visited Ramingining to meet with local workers building additional living spaces onto existing houses under Room to Breathe.

“We are restoring trust in Government, creating jobs, investing in children and building safer, fairer and stronger communities’ right across the Territory.” Chief Minister Gunner said.

“We believe good housing is a right for every Territorian a good home leads to a good education, good health and good community outcomes.”

“Territorians deserve to make decisions about their lives our remote housing program will restore local decision making so people have a say over their future.”

Minister for Housing and Community Development Gerry McCarthy said Ramingining was one of 21 communities where local jobs had been created for Room to Breathe work.

“We fast tracked $10 Million for Room to Breathe to begin to tackle overcrowding in remote Aboriginal communities, before our record $1.1 Billion remote housing program started in Budget 2017.” Mr. McCarthy said.

“By creating local jobs, we are building the local workforce and local economy when our remote communities and regions are strong, the Territory is strong.”

ALPA’s Bukmak Constructions were awarded the Room to Breathe contract in Ramingining and have employed four locals.

ALPA Deputy Chair Mickey Wunungnurra said the local employees had completed a two week course to prepare them for the construction work on Room to Breathe.

“Our new employees for Room to Breathe undertook a literacy and numeracy program to help them to understand ‘balanda’ (non-Aboriginal language) on construction sites.” Mr. Wunungnurra said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. McCarthy said remote housing in the Territory is inadequate, overcrowded and has contributed to poor health, educational and social outcomes.

“We acknowledge there is a huge amount of work to be done to address overcrowding, but we will walk hand in hand with Aboriginal people to ensure local people make decisions about how their communities’ housing challenges will be addressed and what job and training opportunities will be created.” Mr. McCarthy said.

(ALPA) Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation