Demountable ‘pods’ used as ‘temporary’ accommodation for Kalkarindji, Daguragu flood victims

Demountable ‘pods’, priced at $400,000 a piece, are being used as temporary accommodation for remote NT flood victims. Check out the makeshift homes here.

Residents from remote communities impacted by severe flooding will move closer to Country into temporary ‘pod’ accommodation as the rebuilding of homes nears completion.

More than 500 residents from Kalkarindji, Daguragu, Pigeon Hole communities were evacuated to the Centre for National Resilience in Howard Springs in early March after severe flooding in the remote NT.

Residents from Kalkarindji and Daguragu, whose homes require either major repairs or complete replacement, have now begun moving into temporary pod-like accommodation after almost two months in the facility.

Each pod costs about $400,000, including purchase, transportation, installation, service connection, demobilisation and refurbishment, and has been co-funded by the Federal and NT governments Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

The 16 pods contain lockable bedrooms, cooking, laundry space, covered breezeways and a shared living space.

The demountable buildings to be used as accommodation for residents of Kalkarindji and Daguragu. Picture: supplied.

In Pigeon Hole, which experienced the brunt of severe flooding, 140 residents will be moved to temporary accommodation in nearby Yarralin.

They will be housed in Western Shelters sourced from the New South Wales Rural Fire Service on the community oval until repairs in Pigeon Hole are complete.

Additional services, including health and education, are expected to be provided to the community to manage extra demand on the small community, which usually has a population of about 280.

A Northern Territory government spokeswoman said the pods would be used in Kalkarindji and Daguragu until the residents’ homes were either fully repaired or replaced.

“In Daguragu, recovery of all homes is almost complete and residents will move back home soon, in Kalkarindji, several more houses need flood repairs – and in some cases must be replaced – and residents may be accommodated in the pods for some weeks while these works occur,” she said.

She said once conditions allowed for it, pods no longer required in Daguragu may be moved to Pigeon Hole to allow residents to return home while restoration or replacement work took place.

She said as the pods were demountable buildings they did not have an expiry date and could now be deployed by the government for future accommodation needs.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said the Pigeon Hole and Yaralin communities had close ties and were happy with the relocation arrangements.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said the pods would be an NT government asset to be used in future emergency situations. Picture: Supplied.

“The Territory Government has been working with stakeholders including Walangeri Ngumpinku Aboriginal Corporation to ensure that the arrangement is acceptable to all involved,” she said.

Federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said both levels of government wanted to make sure all displaced residents were able to get back on Country as quickly and safely as possible.

Ms Fyles said the demountables deployed in Kalkarindji and Daguragu would become NT government assets that could be reused in future emergency events.

“There are always challenges with rebuilding in remote areas and I’d like to extend a huge thanks to all those stakeholders, particularly acknowledging the generosity of local businesses who have contributed to relief efforts during this time.”

Windows were smashed and boarded up at the Howard Springs facility after it housed flood evacuees from Kalkarindji, Pigeon Hole and Daguragu. Picture: Supplied

The news comes as the government admitted on Tuesday that domestic violence incidents had led to damage at the Howard Springs facility.

The CLP opposition had claimed there was “complete chaos” at the facility for weeks.

Ms Fyles said a full assessment of the facility would be undertaken once all evacuees had left, but said there was “not millions of dollars worth of damage”.

“But absolutely, there has been some incidents where there has been more than wear and tear,” she said.