Nine families collect keys to new homes under Remote Housing Investment Package

Nine families moved into newly built or renovated homes ahead of the Easter weekend, but hundreds more are still waiting for an overcrowding lifeline.

Gail and Deontay with the keys to their new Warruwi home thanks to the NT Remote Housing Investment Package.

Life-changing renovations made nine NT families’ Easter a little sweeter but hundreds more are still waiting to move into liveable homes.

The Northern Territory Housing Strategy 2019 estimated an additional 8000–12,000 dwellings across the NT would be required by 2025, with 75 per cent needed for the social housing sector, particularly in remote regions.

“It is estimated that over 5000 three-bedroom homes are required in order to alleviate the undersupply in remote communities,” the report stated.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics found 56.6 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the NT lived in overcrowded homes in 2021.

Stella and her son Terrance in front of their new Galiwinku home thanks to the NT Remote Housing Investment Package.

Remote Housing and Homelands Minister Selena Uibo said building new homes and extending existing homes would lead to better health, education, and employment outcomes.

“Eight out of 10 Aboriginal children develop scabies before they reach their first birthday,” she said.

“That is something that more and bigger homes have a direct impact on improving the lives of Territorians.”

Ms Uibo said the NT government had delivered 3750 new and upgraded homes since 2016, including homes under way across all remote housing programs.

“This translates to 4295 bedrooms across 73 remote communities,” she said.

“The harsh reality of overcrowding is that families are in higher risk of being sick or contracting diseases that in urban areas are non-existent or easily treatable.

“Our new $4 billion partnership with the federal government will halve overcrowding from 54 per cent to 25 per cent.”

Sonya and Mikayla in front of their improved home in Warruwi thanks to the NT Remote Housing Investment Package.

Warruwi woman Gail Ngalwungirr said the extensions to her home meant three generations of her family could live together under one roof without overstepping boundaries.

Ms Ngalwungirr said her family’s home now had two additional bedrooms and a second bathroom.

“It will also provide space for my grandmother who lives in Darwin and comes to visit us often,” she said.

“My children will have their own bedrooms, so they are looking forward to that.

“I have teenage boys, and they are forever hogging the showers – the extra bathroom means we don’t have to wait to use the shower.

“My kids used to take off and stay with family just to give my daughter some space because of the cultural boundaries within our community. Now with the extra space they can stay here.”

Ms Ngalwungirr’s home was one of the final two dwellings scheduled for extensions that have now been completed under the $200 million Room to Breathe program.

Two Galiwinku families have moved into new and larger replacement homes and two Rockhole families saw upgrades to their homes completed.

A Binjari family has moved into a triplex, allowing the family to live closely without giving up their own space.

Gail with her family and Arafura MLA Manuel Brown in Warruwi thanks to the NT Remote Housing Investment Package.

Arafura MLA Manuel Brown said it was great to see some of the housing upgrades completed.

“It makes such a difference to the families and the community,” Mr Brown said.

“I have heard great feedback from the community that the works had a quick two-month turn around, and families were able to move back into their homes sooner than expected.

“It is so important for teenagers in families to have their own rooms – growing adults need a culturally appropriate space to live comfortably.”