The first tranche of a $12 million plan to improve housing at the remote island community of Milikapiti has been awarded to Territory construction company, DT Hobbs.
The $4.2 million tender, jointly funded by the NT and Australian Governments, is the first stage of a 36-month period contact to deliver construction, refurbishments and upgrades; including 13 new homes.
Around 24 homes will receive extra living spaces as part of the Room to Breathe program, adding to eight existing homes in the community which were previously extended and upgraded.
Works will provide a pipeline of works over three years that will build community capacity and capability through employment opportunities as well as structured and accredited training for Milikapiti locals.
Last year, six new homes were constructed at the Tiwi Island community which looks over an inlet and out to the Timor Sea.
DT Hobbs has already mobilised on Melville Island where the team is currently constructing 20 new homes at Pirlangimpi, with six nearing completion. The company, which works closely with the Tiwi Islands Training and Employment Board to recruit locals and support local enterprises, has previously extended and upgraded 44 homes in the community.
Works are part of the Territory Labor Government’s $2.1 billion investment in better housing across remote communities which includes:
$1.1 billion Northern Territory Government funding for the Our Community. Our Future. Our Homes. program across 10 years from 2017-2018 to 2026-2027$550 million Australian Government funding delivered under the Our Community. Our Future. Our Homes. framework from 1 July 2018 – 30 June 2023$432.8 million Northern Territory Government is investment in land servicing and essential services infrastructure to support new housing.
Since 2016, the Territory Labor Government has delivered more than $969 million in housing and related infrastructure through current and previous programs, bringing the tally of homes that have been built, upgraded and improved to more than 2800.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Remote Housing and Town Camps Chansey Paech:
“These works will make a huge difference to the Milikapiti community which has a population of around 470.
“The new homes and extra living spaces on existing homes will go a long way towards alleviating overcrowding and improving liveability.
“Now that preliminary works, such as the construction of new subdivisions, have been completed, the pace of our remote housing program has stepped up and we are seeing contracts for major works roll out.”
