9 March 2023
The Territory Labor Government is celebrating a significant milestone in the rollout of its remote housing program, with the number of new homes built since 2016 having reached 1000.
The new builds are in areas of high need – with the milestone home constructed in Maningrida, one of the largest remote towns in the Territory located 500 kilometres east of Darwin.
The Arnhem Land community of 2956 residents is programmed to receive 95 new homes under the HomeBuild program, with 57 completed and 16 underway. Under the Room to Breathe program, 75 existing homes in Maningrida are programmed to receive extensions, with 35 homes completed and 13 underway.
The key to the 1000th home – a four-bedroom blockwork house – was handed over to Ms Margo Gurawiliwili and Mr Charlie Nanguwerr on 2 March 2023. The couple’s two adult children and grandson will also reside at the home.
Charlie and Margo both grew up and completed their schooling in Maningrida. In their younger years they travelled throughout the West Arnhem region, working and living in Gunbalanya, before returning to live in their homeland at Mandodjkadjang.
Charlie said getting a new house will mean a lot to the family because he will now be able to access much needed medical treatment.
The 1000th home was built by Territory-based company, GT Builders Pty Ltd, as part of 22 homes to be built on a 30-lot subdivision that was completed in 2019. GT Builders was awarded a $6.8 million period contract to deliver construction, refurbishments and upgrades to houses and other Northern Territory Government infrastructure in Maningrida.
Work on a second 30-lot subdivision in the community is anticipated to commence after the wet season by Elite Interiors (NT) Pty Ltd, trading as DCT Australia.
Since coming to Government in 2016, the Territory Labor Government has built and upgraded over 3530 homes across all remote housing programs, including works underway. We are continuing to deliver the record investment of $2.1 billion, jointly funded with the Australian Government, Our Community. Our Future. Our Homes.
Quotes attributable to Chief Minister Natasha Fyles:
“We came to Government in 2016 with a clear agenda to transform remote housing and this milestone is an indication of just how far we have come.
“The Territory Labor Government has built, upgraded and extended more homes in the bush than any other NT Government.
“Community involvement is at the core of the planning, design and construction process. Locals are not only consulted and involved completely in the process, they are employed on the project. With contracts running several years, Aboriginal Territorians have the opportunity to complete formal training including certificates and apprenticeships, supporting sustainable local employment and economic development.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Housing and Homelands Selena Uibo:
“The construction of 1000 new homes in remote communities across the Northern Territory is an enormous achievement – unlike the CLP who only built one new home in their last two years of Government.
“Not only are we directly improving the lives of families who move into new or renovated homes, we are building up core skilled workforces and creating communities that can be sustainable into the future.
“With work on a second 30-lot subdivision in Maningrida to get underway after the wet season we can expect to have more good news coming from Arnhem Land soon.”
Northern Territory Government
