The Territory Labor Government is focussed on building more remote homes.
Since 2016 almost 3800 have been built and upgraded, and last week a landmark $4 billion remote housing package was announced.
Ngukurr has been bustling with housing and land development works since 2016, reaching many milestones, with housing construction by Katherine and Darwin based companies NJ Homes, SH Build and WTD Constructions.
Now, Aboriginal Business Enterprise Binjari Community Aboriginal Corporation (BCAC) is renovating and expanding five homes to support the needs of the community.
The works have transformed the lives of many locals on multiple fronts, including Ngukurr born and bred Tommy Wurramara and two families with disability access needs who recently moved into their new homes.
Tommy is a Ngukurr Traditional Owner and father of four boys, who has been employed by BCAC for nine years. In the last four years he has completed his apprenticeship, emerging as a qualified painter and decorator in December 2023.
The most recent home owners in Ngukurr are the Robertsons and who have accessibility needs and their carer who now live in a two-bedroom home, and Mr Daniels who has Machado-Joseph Disease (MJDIII) and receives regular support from MJD Foundation.
BCAC has a team of 20 workers, 15 of which are Aboriginal Territorians, plus two local Aboriginal women at the office.
Works like these means business right across the Territory, with the $3.5 million awarded contract spreading over suppliers, service providers and subcontractors.
Half of the funding goes to over 35 suppliers from Darwin and Katherine that provide steel, concrete, paints, bricks, windows, doors and even plants from the local Katherine shop. The other half spreads across Meales, a service provider who deliver cranes, concrete pumps and their operators, and 15 subcontractors from Darwin that do plumbing and electrical works.
Materials need to travel, incurring freight costs, and workers need to live near the building site, incurring business for demountable hirer Darwin Transportables, and fulltime work for a chef and cleaners for camp operations. Even the Roper Gulf Council receives investment for the land the camp is on.
Similarly, the previous 18 homes built by NJ Homes, SH Build and WTD Construction meant employment and training for Aboriginal Territorians, work for Katherine and Darwin locals, and business for Katherine and Darwin supply companies.
The remote housing program has also transformed the housing and social landscape in Ngukurr, with the completion of a new 20 lot subdivision. A1 Plant and Civil Pty Limited had six Aboriginal Territorians delivering the subdivision that will later see 12 new homes built on it.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Remote Housing and Homelands Selena Uibo
“Our Territory Labor Government is delivering work and *improved housing for remote communities. These are key priorities of our Government.
“Our investment in homes goes straight into the hands of our hard working Territorians, across our cities, regional towns and remote communities.
“We are not only building homes in remote communities, but providing work, income and skills for Territorians, and Territory businesses by providing opportunities that help to build resilient communities.”
Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney
“Our partnership with the NT Government is delivering better housing in remote communities and easing overcrowding.
“I am also pleased to see it’s also providing opportunities for Indigenous businesses.”
Quotes attributable to Binjari Community Aboriginal Corporation painter and decorator, Tommy Wurramara
"I grew up here in Ngukurr, then left to Binjari 20 years ago, and that's where I got this job. At first I wanted to be a chippie, but I'm glad I chose painting because I'm pretty good at it.
"I was doing my apprenticeship for four years, through COVID when classes were often cancelled, but I didn’t give up and now I'm a qualified painter. I painted all these houses; the inside and the outside, and even the steel works.
"I'm glad to see other local countrymen to get jobs so they can find their feet too. In every job we try and get a couple of locals to work on the houses, as we need proper jobs in communities.
"Projects like these are really important to have work in the community."