Short stay shelter cops hit from Territory Alliance, Larrakia Nation

TERRITORY Alliance leader Terry Mills has accused the Gunner Government of doing ‘policy on the run’, after failing to provide cost details about a new short stay shelter in Marrara

The Stayover Darwin facility will offer up to 50 beds for Territorians in need when it opens next week. Picture: Che Chorley

TERRITORY Alliance leader Terry Mills has accused the Gunner Government of doing ‘policy on the run’, after failing to provide cost details about a new short stay shelter in Marrara.

The government revealed this week the Stayover Darwin facility on Batten Rd will open next Friday and offer up to 50 short-stay beds for Territorians in need.

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Mr Mills said the Government seemed to be rushing the announcement and he criticised it for being so thin on detail.

“We still don’t know how much a night’s stay at the accommodation will cost,” he said.

Larrakia Nation chief executive Robert Cooper said he also had concerns.

“It has been our consistent view that to consider the facility as another accommodation option will address neither the short term concerns around increased visitation in Darwin after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, nor the need to learn from the lessons of the past two months and not allow management of community visitors to return to the old normal,” he said.

The NT News understands the government could be estimated to pay about $28 per bed a night.

However the a spokeswoman from the Department of Local Government, Housing and Community said the final cost will be determined by the Yilli Rreung Aboriginal Housing Corporation who have a two-month lease to be the facility’s manager.

Yilli Rreung Managing Director Leeanne Caton said a tariff was still being determined.

The Department spokeswoman also said the spending budget for the new centre could not be disclosed yet either.

“The budget for the centre, for the longer term model will depend on the Integrated Service Model, which is being co-designed by the NGO sector in collaboration with government,” she said.

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It comes as a neighbouring club on Batten Rd raises concerns about the new centre. Kalymnian Brotherhood vice president Tammy Magoulias said she was worried the homelessness centre would add to the growing crime problem in the area.

“We’ve already got a big crime problem in Karama and Malak,” she said.

“I’m not happy that they didn’t consult with us earlier instead of just going ahead with it and asking us when it’s already too late.”