With Cabinet sitting in Gapuwiyak this week, Minister for Local Government, Housing and Community Development, Gerry McCarthy took the opportunity to visit a recently completed 26-lot subdivision.
The job-creating project has transformed a greenfield site into build-ready blocks with Gapuwiyak locals benefitting from employment and training opportunities.
Ten new homes have already been constructed in the community with a further ten planned as part of the Territory Labor Government’s $1.1 billion remote housing program.
Plans are underway to build an extra 28 homes at Gapuwiyak over the next five years, subject to local decision making approval.
Additionally, five homes have been extended and improved under the Room to Breathe program and further works are planned.
Subdivisions have also been planned for Pirlangimpi, Hermannsburg, Yirrkala, Ramingining, Beswick, Gunbalanya, Wadeye, Maningrida and Galiwin’ku – paving the way for more new homes in remote communities across the Territory. A subdivision in Ngukurr has been completed.
Since coming to Government, the Territory Labor Government has built and upgraded more than 1400 homes.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Local Government, Housing and Community Development, Gerry McCarthy:
“The construction work in Gapuwiyak has created jobs for locals and Territory businesses and has delivered safe and secure homes for the community. The good news is, there are more to come.
“The work we are rolling out in the Territory’s remote communities is changing the housing and social landscape by alleviating overcrowding and improving living conditions.
“Our Government has completely outpaced the CLP’s investment in remote housing. Their woeful track-record proves their care-factor for bush communities is zero.
“We know that better homes lead to better health, education and employment outcomes and that’s why we continue to build, extend and upgrade record numbers of remote area homes that are improving the lives of our most vulnerable Territorians.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Arnhem, Selena Uibo.
“This new subdivision is a transformative project for Gapuwiyak that is greatly improving the lives of families living in the community.
“It has been wonderful to see how excited families have been after they have moved in to their completed homes.
“I am proud to be part of a government that is delivering such life-changing projects in remote communities and, in doing so, is also ensuring community members are taking the lead in the planning, design and building of their homes.”
Media contact – Jasmin Afianos m: 0419 361 127 e: jasmin.afianos@nt.gov.au