The $20 million Kununurra Aboriginal Short Stay Accommodation facility has reached a key milestone with the appointment of an architect to design the facility.
Franco Carozzi Architects and local firm Mark Phillips Architect have been appointed to design the new facility. Franco Carozzi Architects were the lead architects for the Derby Aboriginal Short Stay facility and oversaw the construction of the newest facility in Broome, opened in 2019.
As the largest regional centre in the Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley, Kununurra is a hub for employment, amenities, health services, social care, education and training.
The new facility will ensure people visiting Kununurra from remote communities have access to culturally informed, affordable, safe and secure accommodation.
The Kununurra Short Stay will be built in proximity to the former Garrjang Village Workers Accommodation site on Victoria Hwy. The facility will offer a range of guest accommodation options, including single, family and universal access units and rooms.
The project is expected to create approximately 100 jobs and contribute substantially to the local economy.
The facility will be the third Short Stay facility operating in the Kimberley region and is funded under the State Government’s WA Recovery Plan to drive economic and social recovery from the impacts of COVID-19.
Around $60 million is being invested by the McGowan Government to deliver the Kununurra ASSA, as well as facilities in Geraldton and Perth.
Western Australia’s three existing regional Short Stay facilities in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Derby and Broome have welcomed thousands of Aboriginal visitors every year and greatly reduced the incidence of rough sleeping and overcrowding in the regional centres.
As stated by Housing Minister John Carey:
“We are investing around $60 million to double the amount of Aboriginal Short Stay facilities across our state, which will provide a culturally appropriate, affordable and safe accommodation to people visiting regional centres and cities from remote communities.
“The Kununurra facility will be the third of its kind in the Kimberley region and it’s fantastic to see an architect appointed that has local knowledge and has worked on the delivery of other Short Stay projects in the past.
“The architects will consult with stakeholders, particularly traditional owners MG Corporation, to design a safe and culturally appropriate accommodation facility for Aboriginal people visiting Kununurra to access services or for business, cultural and family reasons.
“I urge the people of Kununurra and communities throughout the Kimberley to get on board and continue the process of engagement influencing the design of this new facility.”
As stated by Aboriginal Affairs Minister Tony Buti:
“Our investment in this Aboriginal Short Stay facility is part of a $600 million package in the latest Budget to strengthen services that deliver positive outcomes for Aboriginal people and communities.
“This investment supports the McGowan Government’s Aboriginal Empowerment Strategy and Closing the Gap Implementation Plan, targeting initiatives that will improve economic and social opportunities for Aboriginal people.”
As stated by Kimberley MLA Divina D’Anna:
“The Short Stay accommodation model has been successful in both Broome and Derby, and I am pleased to see this third facility for Kununurra continuing to progress.
“People living in our remote communities regularly have to travel to larger regional centres for a variety of reasons, and having a safe, affordable and culturally appropriate place to stay is absolutely critical.
“Our Government is investing $20 million to deliver the facility and it’s fantastic that we have architects on board that already understand the model, and what we are trying to achieve.”
