Alice Springs, Palmerston to share in $25m for essential housing infrastructure

The federal government has given the green light for essential infrastructure to support up to 400 new homes across the Northern Territory. Find out where.

The federal government has given the green light for essential infrastructure to support up to 400 new homes across the Northern Territory.

It will release $25m for two projects in Central Australia and the Top End as part of the Housing Support Program.

In Alice Springs, $14 million will go towards the construction of enabling infrastructure – such as power, water, sewerage and roads – site preparation works, demolition and remediation to facilitate the development of up to 120 social dwellings at the St Mary’s site.

The site offers the potential to accommodate housing and other community spaces, while preserving the historic chapel and the mural within it, as well as other sites of cultural significance.

In Palmerston East, $11m will provide upgrades to existing power, water and sewerage networks in the Farrar West development, with the potential to unlock 290 residential lots.

This development includes a mix of residential, community purpose and commercial uses in a well located area, is close to local amenities and is well serviced by public transport and social infrastructure, including schools and community services.

Catherine King MP – Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. Picture: NewsWire / Roy VanDerVegt

Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said the government was “turbocharging housing supply by delivering the infrastructure Australia needs”.

“A place to call home is not a luxury or a nice-to-have, but a fundamental need, and our government is making this a reality for more Australians,” she said.

The funding is part of the Albanese government’s $32 billion Home of Your Own Plan to meet the ambitious national target of building 1.2 million new, well-located homes over the next five years.

Northern Territory Planning Minister Joshua Burgoyne welcomed the money as “a significant and exciting investment into critical enabling infrastructure in both the Top End and Central Australia”.

“We have committed to rebuilding the Territory economy and commitments such as these are vital stepping stones to achieving that,” he said.

Originally published as Alice Springs, Palmerston to share in $25m for essential housing infrastructure