Territory Families Minister Kate Worden said government was ‘‘Completely honest’ about Howard Springs damage

Ministers are questioning the future use of Howard Springs emergency responses, saying the centre may not have been ‘fit for purpose’.

Howard Springs’ viability as an emergency response centre has been questioned as the government defends its conflicting reports over the damage bill.

This week Chief Minister Natasha Fyles was forced to walk back comments that damage in the emergency accommodation centre was “just wear and tear”.

Ms Fyles admitted on Tuesday that there were violent incidents that resulted in damage, but added “there’s not millions of dollars worth of damage”.

Around 600 residents from Kalkarindji, Daguragu, Pigeon Hole communities were evacuated to the Centre for National Resilience in Howard Springs after severe flooding ripped through homes and communities in early March.

As families return home, fresh videos from inside the emergency camp have shown up to 40 windows boarded up and mattresses dragged from rooms.

Territory Families Minister Kate Worden said on reflection the single-person dorms may not have been fit-for-purpose as emergency accommodation for families escaping a remote disaster zone.

Territory Families Minister Kate Worden said, on reflection, the single-person dorms may not have been fit-for-purpose as emergency accommodation.

“When we started out, needing to find a space for people, Howard Springs seemed like a very, very good solution.”

“It was never suitable. It was very difficult using it during Covid … but we managed through.

“Using it as an evacuation centre is a very different need for families that are mobile.

“Had we had to be planning for another evacuation tomorrow, would we consider around the fit for purpose of a facility? Absolutely.

“But we did our best.”

Ms Worden confirmed there was damage to the centre, and “a number of call outs for domestic violence”.

“But overall, I will say that the vast, vast majority of people that have been in there … have been very respectful and very grateful.”

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles speaking to flood-impacted residents at the Howard Springs facility near Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang

When asked about the number of domestic violence reports from Howard Springs, Ms Worden urged caution about narrowing the blame on a single community for an issue that was widespread across the Territory.

“We have seen that at the centre — as we have seen in Palmerston, as we have seen in Alice Springs, ongoing across the Northern Territory,” she said.

“These are issues that we need to completely confront as a community.”

Ms Worden also addressed the conflicting reports about the damage, with the Government accused of downplaying issues inside the centre.

“I absolutely can 100 per cent say that we have all been completely honest, right the way through the process,” she said.

“(But) we get different advice at different times about particular issues.

“I became aware after of the damage, actually even later than the Chief Minister.

“It’s not a matter that we at any given time that any of us is making things up. We’re absolutely being completely honest.”