ID :
72865
Thu, 07/30/2009 - 12:43
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/72865
The shortlink copeid
Deal to upgrade town camps in Alice
(AAP) - The federal government has reached a breakthrough agreement on Alice Springs town camps that will result in $100 million being spent on housing in exchange for 40-year leases.
Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin said 16 of the 18 Alice Springs town camps
had taken up the federal government's offer to build new houses and carry out major
renovations on existing homes.
The government had threatened to compulsorily acquire the troubled town camps in
May, after the camps' housing associations rejected the $100 million investment
which was contingent upon them signing 40-year leases.
Ms Macklin on Wednesday said the town camp housing associations and the Tangentyere
Council had now written to her, agreeing to the deal.
"This is a major breakthrough, especially for the residents of these Alice Springs
town camps," she told reporters.
"All of us know, particularly the residents in the town camp ... just how serious
the need is for additional housing and improvements to the conditions for people
living in these town camps."
Ms Macklin said current conditions in the camps were appalling due to acute
overcrowding and substandard housing combined with alcohol abuse.
She said work would soon start on cleaning up and repairing the houses as well as
the construction of demountables in two town camps to house people who are sleeping
rough.
On top of the $100 million, an additional $38 million would be provided to assist
with "new and expanded services" and other accommodation facilities.
"Together we can work to give children in the camps a better chance at a safe,
healthy and happy life," Ms Macklin said.
She said the other two town camps, Nywente and Iliype Iliype, were involved in
separate discussions with the government.
The organisation representing the traditional owners and residents in those camps
would like compulsory acquisition to proceed to allow home ownership and commercial
development, Ms Macklin said.
Ms Macklin said the government would start improving conditions for people living in
the town camps "as quickly as possible".
Initially the focus would be on cleaning up the camps, urgent repair work and
delivering demountables for emergency accommodation.
"It will take a little bit longer but we want to get the major work, that's the
construction of new houses and upgrades, underway as quickly as we possibly can
(too)," Ms Macklin told ABC Radio.
She dismissed concerns raised earlier this week by NT Indigenous Affairs Minister
Alison Anderson, who said not one new house would be built under the arrangement.
"There certainly will be new houses built in the town camps.
"It will be certainly more than 20."
Tangentyere Council's housing spokesman declined to comment when contacted by AAP.
Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin said 16 of the 18 Alice Springs town camps
had taken up the federal government's offer to build new houses and carry out major
renovations on existing homes.
The government had threatened to compulsorily acquire the troubled town camps in
May, after the camps' housing associations rejected the $100 million investment
which was contingent upon them signing 40-year leases.
Ms Macklin on Wednesday said the town camp housing associations and the Tangentyere
Council had now written to her, agreeing to the deal.
"This is a major breakthrough, especially for the residents of these Alice Springs
town camps," she told reporters.
"All of us know, particularly the residents in the town camp ... just how serious
the need is for additional housing and improvements to the conditions for people
living in these town camps."
Ms Macklin said current conditions in the camps were appalling due to acute
overcrowding and substandard housing combined with alcohol abuse.
She said work would soon start on cleaning up and repairing the houses as well as
the construction of demountables in two town camps to house people who are sleeping
rough.
On top of the $100 million, an additional $38 million would be provided to assist
with "new and expanded services" and other accommodation facilities.
"Together we can work to give children in the camps a better chance at a safe,
healthy and happy life," Ms Macklin said.
She said the other two town camps, Nywente and Iliype Iliype, were involved in
separate discussions with the government.
The organisation representing the traditional owners and residents in those camps
would like compulsory acquisition to proceed to allow home ownership and commercial
development, Ms Macklin said.
Ms Macklin said the government would start improving conditions for people living in
the town camps "as quickly as possible".
Initially the focus would be on cleaning up the camps, urgent repair work and
delivering demountables for emergency accommodation.
"It will take a little bit longer but we want to get the major work, that's the
construction of new houses and upgrades, underway as quickly as we possibly can
(too)," Ms Macklin told ABC Radio.
She dismissed concerns raised earlier this week by NT Indigenous Affairs Minister
Alison Anderson, who said not one new house would be built under the arrangement.
"There certainly will be new houses built in the town camps.
"It will be certainly more than 20."
Tangentyere Council's housing spokesman declined to comment when contacted by AAP.
