CLP support ‘temporary’ relocation of Ozanam House to Coconut Grove

Plans to relocate Ozanam House out of Stuart Park has been given a boost with a surprise political backer. Read who’s behind it.

Plans to relocate Ozanam House from Stuart Park to Coconut Grove have won the reluctant endorsement of the Country Liberal Party.

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said Ozanam House operator St Vincent de Paul’s had “no choice” but to temporarily relocate the Stuart Park facility to Coconut Grove.

Providing respite services including food and shower facilities to itinerants, the Stuart Park community supports Ozanam House’s relocation as much as the Coconut Grove traders and residents oppose the move.

The CLP’s support comes after the Gwalwa Daraniki Association, owners of the land where the centre will be built, backed the proposed relocation.

Gwalway Daraniki Association chair Helen Secretary is the CLP’s candidate for Nightcliff at the August NT election.

Larrakia Elder and CLP candidate for Nightcliff Helen Secretary, with Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro. Picture: Supplied.

Ms Finoccciaro said Labor government failure had forced the temporary relocation from one suburban location to another.

“Labor’s Member for Fong Lim made the commitment to move Ozanam House last election, despite ongoing calls from his community – he’s done nothing,” Ms Finocchiaro said.

“Now desperate to fool the residents he failed for the last four years he’s caught in an internal point scoring fight within the Labor Party with Natasha Fyles and the disgraced Police Minister Brent Potter.

Ozanam House in Stuart Park. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“Labor has had eight years to relocate Ozanam House and it has failed to deliver, leaving St Vinnies with no choice but to temporarily relocate to its existing Coconut Grove facility.

“Eva Lawler has been missing in action on the issue, knowing full well as the Treasurer and previous Lands Minister her failure to find a permanent suitable location have led to this very situation.”

Ms Lawler said the move to Coconut Grove would be temporary “while a more suitable long term site is found”.

“Work is underway to temporarily move Ozanam house. It is because of the Territory Labor Government that we have gotten to the position where the St Vincent de Paul’s plans are being reviewed by the independent Development Consent Authority,” she said.

Scheduled for hearing at Friday’s Development Consent Authority hearing in Darwin, the relocation has divided the Labor government with Urban Housing Minister Ngaree Ah Kit backing the move and Nightcliff MLA Natasha Fyles and Fannie Bay MLA Brent Potter opposing relocation.

Member for Nightcliff Natasha Fyles. Picture: Liam Mendes / The Australian

Ms Finocchiaro’s hand might have been forced by Helen Secretary, the CLP’s Nightcliff candidate at the August election, supporting the relocation.

In her capacity as chairperson of Gwalwa Daraniki Association, Ms Secretary signed off on the board’s letter to the DCA offering “conditional” support for the project on the basis it was only temporary.

“Temporary must mean 3-5 years no more!” GDA’s letter said.

It said GDA’s Kulaluk lease at Minmarama Park community along Dick Ward Drive was initially set up as a transitioning camp.

It said St Vincent de Paul’s plans “for an interim accommodation facility until a permanent site is found for its day services aligns with GDA’s plans to continue supporting visitors from remote communities through the provision of a range of culturally appropriate accommodations, supported by wrap around services”.

The letter concluded that GDA would work with St Vincent to find a suitable permanent site for the relocated centre.