Aboriginal people visiting Broome from remote communities can now enjoy safe and secure accommodation in state-of-the-art facilities formally opened today by Housing Minister Peter Tinley.
The Broome Aboriginal Short Stay Accommodation (BASSA) complex offers short-term accommodation for up to 100 guests at a time.
BASSA is Western Australia's third short-stay facility for Aboriginal people and was built by the Department of Communities on land owned by traditional owners Nyamba Buru Yawuru.
The State invested $20.1 million to develop and build the BASSA, and has allocated $6.54 million in operational funding for the next three years.
The delivery of the BASSA follows the success of WA's first short-stay facility which opened in Kalgoorlie in 2012, and its second short-stay facility in Derby in 2014.
Since they were established, the Kalgoorlie and Derby facilities have provided many thousands of bed nights and significantly reduced the number of people sleeping rough in the towns.
The Broome Aboriginal Short Stay Accommodation, which has a zero drug and alcohol tolerance policy for residents, is managed by MercyCare, in collaboration with local organisations Centacare Kimberley, Nirrumbuk and Nyamba Buru Yawuru.
As stated by Housing Minister Peter Tinley:
"The Government has worked closely with the Broome community to ensure the BASSA is a model of best practice and meets the needs of visitors to the town.
"Many people from surrounding communities visit Broome to carry out business relating to their health, welfare, legal and financial requirements.
"But sometimes this causes a certain level of overcrowding in the town and people may be left with inadequate or unsuitable accommodation alternatives.
"This is where a facility like the BASSA can offer a vital service to those who need it most, and I am pleased to see it open today despite the time delays caused by quite substantial cyclone damage last year."
As stated by Community Services Minister Simone McGurk:
"The McGowan Government's Plan for the Kimberley identified the need for safe, short-term accommodation for Aboriginal people visiting Broome.
"The BASSA complex delivers on an election promise to provide families and children safe accommodation when they visit town to access health, welfare or other important services.
"Since opening in 2014 the Derby short-stay facility has provided Aboriginal visitors to the town with more than 44,000 bed nights of accommodation, and we expect the BASSA will do much to reduce the hardship experienced by short-term visitors, particularly families and children."
As stated by Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
"The BASSA is a fine example of a community working in partnership with the State Government to bring a much-needed facility to fruition.
"It will provide a safe and comfortable place to stay for Aboriginal people from remote towns and communities who need to travel to Broome for short-term family, health, business or cultural purposes."
