Media Release by The Hon Jenny Macklin MP

$12.2 million worth of grants in the NT

Joint Media Release with:

  • The Hon Warren Snowdon MP, Minister for Indigenous Health and Member for Lingiari

The establishment of market gardens to produce fresh vegetables in remote Northern Territory communities, and the construction and renovation of community stores are among local projects receiving $12.2 million in funding from the Aboriginal Benefits Account (ABA).

Of the $12.2 million, $5.2 million will help three community based organisations to renovate or build new community stores.

The Ulpanyali community will receive support to establish a market garden to produce fresh vegetables.

Studies will also be carried out in 15 other Central Australian communities to investigate the potential for market gardens.

Supplying remote communities with healthy food including fresh vegetables is essential to improving the health of local people.

That’s why it is so important that community stores are equipped to provide a good range of fresh, competitively priced food.

Establishing local market gardens to produce fresh vegetables is an ideal way of guaranteeing supplies to the stores.

Another important project to be undertaken in partnership with the NT Government is repairing the causeway at Palumpa, which cuts the community in half each wet season, preventing access to essential community facilities including the store, health clinic and school.

The Aboriginals Benefit Account receives money from the Australian Government equivalent to royalties paid by mining interests on Aboriginal land in the Northern Territory. This is then used to fund projects that directly benefit Aboriginal people living in the Northern Territory.

Approved projects from the ABA

  • $242,400 will go to the Ngurratjuta/ Pmara Ntjarra Aboriginal Corporation to develop a market garden at Ulpanyali (Kings Canyon) to produce fresh fruit and vegetables for the local community and Alice Springs.
  • $2,400,000 will be spent by the Alpirakina Store Aboriginal Corporation to build a new community store at Yuelamu since the last store burnt down in January 2008.
  • $950,285 in additional funds will be provided to the Aboriginal Resource Development Service Regional to construct a regional broadcasting facility to benefit east Arnhem Land communities.
  • $373,000 will go to the Laynhapuy Homelands Aboriginal Association to purchase and implement a 2-Way radio communication system for its outstations residents.
  • $600,000 will go the Nauiyu Nambiyu Inc to upgrade its internal electrical works, refrigeration and shelving of its community store.
  • $58,349 to Groote Eylandt & Bickerton Island Enterprises Aboriginal Corporation to assist local people with vehicle driver training.
  • $65,750 will go to the Groote Eylandt & Bickerton Island Enterprises Aboriginal Corporation to establish a training centre.
  • $250,000 to the Anindilyakwa Land Council to purchase a sea ranger vessel and trailer for the Women’s ranger group.$210,000 to the Ingkerreke Outstation Resource Service Aboriginal Corporation to purchase a coaster bus to ensure outstation students attend school.
  • $88,425 to Centrefarm Aboriginal Horticulture Limited to undertake feasibility studies on potential market gardens in 15 Central Australian communities.
  • $2,200,000 will go to the Kanparrka Store Association Inc (Haast bluff community) to construction a brand new community store.
  • $16,080 to the Lloyd McDermott Rugby Development Team Inc to assist with travel of NT youth participating in (NATSI) Under 16 Tournament on the Gold Coast.
  • $691,000 will be provided to the Thamarrurr Development Corporation to purchase a mobile concrete batching plant to allow the community to tender for SIHIP contracts.
  • $731,000 will also be provided to Thamarrurr Development Corporation to accommodate of several key staff in the community.
  • $750,000 will be provided to the Mutchirr Corporation Limited to fix the Palumpa community’s causeway in a joint proposal with the Northern Territory Government.
  • $600,000 will also be provided to Mutchirr Corporation Limited as an establishment grant.
  • $ 91,085 will go to the Warnbi Aboriginal Corporation to purchase a garbage compactor to provide rubbish removal services to the Jabiru region.
  • $500,000 NT Government Dept Regional Development, Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources to add support to the Indigenous Business Development Program to assist rural and remote Aboriginal people wanting to start up small business enterprises.
  • $496,600 to the Aboriginal Medical Service Alliance of the Northern Territory to provide the building leadership and capacity to the Bagot community and Adelaide River town camps over tow years.
  • $907,526 to go to the Rirratjingu Association Inc. to upgrade electricity meters, seal internal roads and minor renovation to 25 houses at the Aboriginal Housing estate at Wallaby Beach.