More than $270m in remote housing tenders to be released within months

Better remote housing, up-skilling residents and jobs are the Government’s priorities in massive infrastructure spend.

TENDERS worth more than $276m will be awarded in the coming months in a major escalation of the Northern Territory government’s remote housing program.

This follows around $110m worth of works already underway in the Groote Archipelago and Maningrida since November last year and a $51m tender to build 87 houses in Galiwin’ku, awarded in April 2021.

Communities where major housing construction, upgrades and refurbishment works are scheduled include Beswick, Minjilang, Lajamanu, Ngukurr, Gunbalanya, Wurrumiyanga, Gapuwiyak, Milikapiti.

There will also be works in the Gove Peninsula and the Daly River Basin.

The Central Australian communities of Hermannsburg, Yuendumu, Yuelamu, Laramba and Nyirripi will also be major beneficiaries of the unprecedented investment.

Additionally, town camps in Alice Springs will also soon be the scene of a housing boom, with tenders released for works in 10 community living areas.

Remote Housing and Town Camps Minister Chansey Paech said the step-up in the rollout of housing works followed construction of serviced lots and related infrastructure, including several subdivisions.

“Our investment in housing is fundamental to better outcomes across the board and the cornerstone of economically viable, skilled communities,” he said.

“So far we have delivered more than $969m in housing works and this year we are accelerating works right across the Territory.

“Contract periods between three and five years enable sustainable jobs including apprenticeships and certifications for local workers.

“In many cases we offer select tenders to locally based Aboriginal business enterprises as part of our commitment to building the capacity of these communities.”

The NT government’s $2.1bn remote housing investment includes a Commonwealth government contribution of $550m and is additional to works delivered under previous programs.

There are presently $454.7m in current and future remote housing tenders in the pipeline that are either underway or about to commence.

The Northern Territory government has 17 tenders for delivery of new housing constructions, refurbishments and upgrades to houses and other infrastructure in remote communities.

Out of that 17, 10 have been released, five awarded and the remaining two will be released shortly. The housing program aims to build skills and capacity in remote communities