1/12/05
The State Government has committed a record $30.5million to Aboriginal housing and community upgrades in the first five months of this financial year.
Housing and Works Minister Francis Logan said the projects represented an unprecedented injection into the sustainability of Aboriginal communities around the State.
Mr Logan said the $30.5million spent in the first five months of 2005-06 almost matched the total expenditure of $31.6million for the whole of 2004-05.
“In the past month alone, we have awarded housing construction and upgrade contracts worth $11.6million,” the Minister said.
“These contracts will see the construction of 28 new houses, the upgrading of four existing dwellings, the demolition of 10 asbestos dwellings and the construction of an ablution facility and a basketball court.”
Mr Logan said in the five months to the end of November, total capital expenditure in Aboriginal communities amounted to $17.8million, while contracts worth $12.7million had been awarded for essential services infrastructure.
He said the most recent contract was a $3.3million project to build nine transportable single-detached houses in the Bayulu Aboriginal community near Fitzroy Crossing.
The contract, which has been awarded to Murray River North, also involves the demolition of 10 existing asbestos dwellings.
The project is due to be completed by the end of April, 2006.
Other projects under way in the West Kimberley include a $2.8million contract to build nine single-detached dwellings in the Wankatjungka Community and a $1.6million contract to build five single-detached houses at Yakanarra.
Earlier this week, Mr Logan announced the $2million project to construct six new houses in the remote Aboriginal communities of Wingellina and Wannan in the Western Desert, near the Western Australia-Northern Territory border.
Also this month, contracts worth $1.6million were awarded to upgrade three Aboriginal communities in the Pilbara.
The Mingullatharndoo, Jundaru and Jinparinyah, Punju Ngarugudi Njamal communities will undergo housing upgrades, as well as the construction of a single detached dwelling, a new ablution block and a basketball court.
“All of this activity shows clearly the Gallop Government is determined to act on the issue of Aboriginal housing to help meet the needs of indigenous communities in some of the State’s most remote areas,” Mr Logan said.
Minister's office: 9222 8950
