New Alice Springs homes near completion as Housing and Homelands Minister jets in

The Northern Territory Government has announced the imminent completion of 11 homes as part of ‘the largest investment package on town camps in over a decade’.

Housing and Homelands Minister Selena Uibo touched down in the Red Centre on Thursday to announce the impending completion of 11 new homes for town camp residents in Alice Springs.

Ms Uibo made the announcement at Trucking Yards town camp in Ciccone, where construction on one of the new houses built by local company, Blueprint, is due to be finished by the end of the month.

The houses are part of a $40m Territory government investment, with works continuing in Karnte, Larapinta Valley, Little Sisters, Morris Soak, Charles Creek, Hoppys, Hidden Valley, Ilpeye Ilpeye, Warlpiri and Mount Nancy town camps after tenders were awarded in May.

The project will see the construction of 64 homes, boosting the number of bedrooms by 238, with around 30 homes to be demolished after being deemed no longer fit-for-purpose.

Selena Uibo says the funding is “the largest investment package on town camps in over a decade’. Picture: Jason Walls

Four other NT companies, including two Aboriginal business enterprises, will be involved in the project, as part of a broader $2.1b remote housing program throughout the Territory.

Ms Uibo said the funding was “the largest investment package on town camps in over a decade”

“Tenants have already moved into one home at Hidden Valley and by the end of October another 10 homes will be ready,” she said.

“This is a job-creating project that provides sustainable employment and training opportunities for locals, including many who live in these town camps and will be helping to build homes for their families.

“The local business sector has also welcomed this economic injection which is generating hundreds of building, subcontracting and retail opportunities.”

Blueprint owner, Matt Cunningham said the project had provided a major boost for the local construction industry, providing “a good pipeline of work over the next several years”.
“Which gives us a good springboard to invest in local employment in Alice Springs and also in remote communities in the eastern cluster,” he said.

Local member Chansey Paech praised the ‘extraordinary quality’ of the new homes. Picture: Jason Walls

Mr Cunningham said the business had been successful in recruiting local Aboriginal people, including to work on their own future homes.

“In Hoppys camp and other town camps, even hiring people whose houses we’re building, which has been a good step,” he said.

Member for Gwoja, Chansey Paech, praised the “extraordinary quality” of the new homes.

“We know that people having a quality home means that families can be better supported, children can get a good night’s sleep, and go to school and that the health outcomes of Territorians is improved when they have a quality house,” he said.