A community on the northern edge of the Tanami Desert has become the latest focus of the Territory Labor Government's $2.1 billion remote housing program, with a public tender recently released to build and upgrade dozens of homes.
The public tender is for housing works in Lajamanu, which has a population of around 700.
Closing on 17 May, the tender is part of a current pipeline of housing works in remote communities worth $454 million. This includes a $50 million contract awarded to Centrebuild NT to build and upgrade homes across Yuendumu, Yuelamu, Laramba and Nyirripi in Central Australia.
Further, a $10 million tender for construction works in Minjilang has been announced, with works set to begin soon.
WTD Constructions will build at least seven new homes and extend 16 existing homes under the Room to Breathe program at the Croker Island community.
A period contract was awarded for three years with an option to extend for two years. The first tranche of works is worth $4 million.
The Territory company, which has previously built and upgraded homes in Minjilang, plans to bring local workers on board the project, including six trainees who will complete apprenticeships over the course of works.
WTD plans to source materials from Territory suppliers and support Croker Island businesses.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Remote Housing and Town Camps Chansey Paech:
"The Territory Labor Government knows that safe, secure housing is the cornerstone of better futures for people living in our remote communities.
"Our unprecedented investment in remote housing, which is supported by the Australian Government, has already changed the housing landscape right across the Territory, and there's more good news to come.
"Works will soon rollout in many more communities with locals included in every stage from planning and design through to construction and allocation of the housing because we're not just building better homes, we're building sustainable communities."
