14/10/05
Kununurra’s Nulleywah Town Reserve has become the first of 15 Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley to have its power supplies improved under a new State Government program.
Housing and Works Minister Francis Logan today officially launched new power supply and road upgrades at Nulleywah as part of the Town Reserves Regularisation Program.
Mr Logan said 14 other Aboriginal communities in Broome (Mallingbar and Nillir Irbanjin), Derby (Budula, Karmulinunga, Burununga, Djimund Nugba), Fitzroy Crossing (Kurnangki, Mindi Rardi), Halls Creek (Nicholson Camp, Red Hill), Kununurra (Mirima, Emu Creek) and Wyndham (Guda Guda, Warrayu) would be included in the first round of the power regularisation project.
“This program ensures that indigenous communities have access to the same level of essential services as non-indigenous towns and communities in Western Australia,” he said.
“The Gallop Government is committed to improving the quality of services to all Western Australians wherever they live.
“The $170,000 in funding for this important program has been provided through the Commonwealth’s Family and Community Services and the State’s Department of Housing and Works (DHW), proving that the Commonwealth and State agencies can work together when an important project is at stake.”
Under the program, Western Power has placed Nulleywah’s electricity network underground and upgraded the street lighting to ensure the community’s electricity supplies are safer and more reliable.
The Minister congratulated Western Power for introducing Ready Power, a pre-payment meter-based service that allows residents to pay for their power before they use it. He said this would make it easier for the residents of Nulleywah to budget for their power use.
Ready Power will progressively be introduced to other nominated town reserve communities. Under the arrangement, Western Power will also be able to provide energy rebates to eligible customers.
Mr Logan also cut a ribbon with Nulleywah community chairperson Lola Taylor to officially open the upgraded Nulleywah road network and stormwater drainage system.
“Formerly, the community had to cope with a network of unreliable, unsealed roads,” the Minister said.
“Now they have roads with good drainage which are commensurate with the Kununurra public road network.”
The project, funded by Family and Community Services, Transform WA and the DHW, was completed by contractor G&B Drainage for $1.1million.
“All those involved in this project - the Nulleywah community, the Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley, consulting engineers Arup Australia and the construction company - are to be congratulated on completing a highly successful project,” Mr Logan said.
Minister's office: 9222 8950
