‘Desperate’: Remote Far North mayors call for more housing
Far North leaders are calling for bipartisan support for a $20m housing project in eight remote Indigenous communities across Cape York and the Torres Strait, easing overcrowding and encouraging young people to gain independence.
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Far North leaders are calling for bipartisan support for a $20m housing project in eight remote Indigenous communities across Cape York and the Torres Strait, easing overcrowding and encouraging young people to gain independence.
Kowanyama mayor Territa Dick has written to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and opposition leader Peter Dutton seeking to build six stand-alone one-bedroom units in communities for young single workers, in a bid to improve workforce retention.
Ms Dick, who wrote the letter on behalf of the Torres and Cape Indigenous Councils Alliance (TCICA), said communities were in “desperate” need for more housing.
“Housing for remote Indigenous communities should not be a political issue – it is a fundamental need,” the TCICA chair said.
“We are calling on both sides of politics to formally commit to this initiative as part of the upcoming election and ensure its inclusion in future budget considerations.
“We believe that this pilot can be a practical, high-impact and scalable solution to an issue that has persisted for too long.
“With rising cost-of-living pressures and ongoing housing shortages, we cannot afford further delays in providing our people with the housing they need.”
Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch said the plans were a “brilliant concept”.
“I actually handed a copy of this to the Prime Minister,” Mr Entsch said.
“This is what communities need and I think it’s time we listened to them.
“It’s a very small cost. Young people are able to live in their own space and look after it. “They’re never going to do that living in a communal home.”
Last year, Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council chief executive Kiley Hanslow said overcrowding in homes was the biggest problem in the southern Cape York community.
“Our census data doesn’t give accurate numbers,” Ms Hanslow said.
“Some houses have more than 10 people living in a three-bedroom house, but often there’s more.”
Wujal Wujal is still recovering from Tropical Cyclone Jasper in 2023 when around a third of all homes went under in floodwaters.
The community is aiming to build around 30 new houses outside of the flood zone on two cleared lots to the west of the town, previously used for landfill.
Labor candidate for Leichhardt Matt Smith has committed $41.2m to the upgrading of infrastructure relating to wastewater, solid was management and potable water supply in the Torres Strait.
TCICA represents 16 of Queensland’s 17 Indigenous local governments along with Cook Shire Council and Weipa Town Authority advocating for the common interests of local government bodies within the region.
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Originally published as ‘Desperate’: Remote Far North mayors call for more housing
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