Media Release by The Hon Jenny Macklin MP

Alice Springs Transforming One Year On

Joint Media Release with:

  • The Hon Karl Hampton MLA, NT Minister for Central Australia
    The Hon Warren Snowdon MP, Minister for Indigenous Health - Member for Lingiari

Today marks one year since the Australian and Northern Territory Governments began work on transforming the Alice Springs town camps.

On 7 December last year the ‘fix and make safe’ program began in Hoppy’s Camp and Little Sisters Camp under the $150 million Alice Springs Transformation Plan.

The Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin said work on the Alice Springs Transformation Plan was progressing well.

Ms Macklin said the Alice Springs Transformation Plan will reduce overcrowding and disadvantage in town camps and improve services throughout the town.

The Transformation Plan will deliver 85 new houses, essential infrastructure and significant rebuilds and refurbishments of existing houses in poor condition.

“So far eight new houses have been built and 22 homes that were in poor condition have been refurbished. Ten new houses are currently under construction and seven rebuilds and refurbishments are underway,” Ms Macklin said.

“We are also building new accommodation facilities and extending existing services to provide more than 500 additional beds to help address overcrowding and homelessness in Alice Springs.

“Town camp residents are living in healthier conditions, with a regular rubbish collection service and strong dog control program now in place. The town council has been a key partner in transforming the town camps,” Ms Macklin said.

Ms Macklin said the Australian and Northern Territory Governments were also implementing tenancy reforms to ensure fair and consistent procedures are followed when allocating homes, charging rent and conducting regular repairs and maintenance.

The Northern Territory Minister for Central Australia, Karl Hampton, said providing jobs and training for local Indigenous people was a key part of the Alice Springs Transformation Plan.

“To date, Indigenous employees on the housing program have made up almost 50 per cent of the total workforce,” Mr Hampton said.

“Building houses and fixing infrastructure demonstrates our commitment to improving the health and safety of families living on town camps.

“The transformation plan is not just about bricks and mortar – the Australian and Northern Territory Governments are also committed to improving the lives of local people through improved services and support.”

The Minister for Indigenous Health, Warren Snowdon, said the transformation plan has seen a welcome boost to local housing infrastructure.

“This is a terrific initiative in Alice Springs and it’s great to see it progressing. The $150m transformation is an investment which is unmatched in many other regional towns of similar size. It’s also important to note that this investment will help improve the health outcomes of the community,” Mr Snowdon said.

Mr Snowdon said the Australian Government was delivering more than $7 million under the Alice Springs Transformation Plan to enhance alcohol rehabilitation and treatment programs in Alice Springs.

Ms Macklin said the transformation plan was also focused on strengthening local families.

“We are investing more than $10 million in early childhood, family violence and family support programs across Alice Springs, including the Communities for Children service and Personal Helpers and Mentors program,” Ms Macklin said.