Eight new homes built in 18 weeks in Ngukurr ‘no small feat’, NT housing minister says

The first of more than 20 homes have been completed in one Top End community – and it was ‘no small feat,’ the Territory’s housing minister says. Find out why.

Ngukurr, nestled near the Roper River, more than 600km south east of Darwin. Picture: File

The construction of around half a dozen homes in a Top End community is being labelled as “no small feat” by the Northern Territory’s housing minister, who says there’s also more to come.

Ngukurr, roughly 633km south east of Darwin, has eight new homes in the community, delivered through a $4 billion remote housing partnership agreement between the federal and Territory governments.

NJ Homes was behind the construction of the new dwellings, completing the builds in 18 weeks – “no small feat,” according to NT housing, local government, and community development minister Steve Edgington.

Felicia, Juane and their kids are moving into their new Ngukurr home. Picture: Supplied

“It’s also pleasing to see the construction of remote housing creating more jobs for locals, with NJ Homes achieving an average Indigenous workforce participation rate of 25 per cent, peaking at 44 per cent during the most recent phase,” Mr Edgington said.

The minister also said there was more to come, as the builder was due to start the next two packages of the project.

NJ would build another eight homes in the community, two of which would be three-bedroom duplexes, Mr Edgington said.

“Stable housing is the foundation for tackling the root causes of crime and lifting outcomes in health, education and employment,” Mr Edgington said.

A further subdivision planned for the community on vacant blocks would see another nine homes constructed in the community, Mr Edginton said.

In total, the community would get 25 new homes, but construction on the vacant blocks was not due to start until the next financial year, Mr Edgington said.

The remote housing partnership runs for 10 years, with an intent to halve overcrowding in remote homes.

Originally published as Eight new homes built in 18 weeks in Ngukurr ‘no small feat’, NT housing minister says