$300,000 boost for APY church

The Australian Government today announced a $300,000 grant for the restoration of the heritage-listed Pukatja Church in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands.

The church is at the heart of the community, with much of the work, including the making of the bricks, completed by Anangu in 1952. More than 400 people attended the official opening of the church in November 1952.

The Government has also offered $25 million for housing on the APY Lands. The housing deal and projects like the restoration of the church will provide more opportunities for employment and training in Pukatja community for young Anangu people and CDEP workers.

The church funding will supplement $124,000 funding from the APY Executive, the Pukatja Council, the Uniting Church and private donors.

The church was listed on the State Heritage Register in 2001. Over the last decade the church has fallen into disrepair.

The Pukatja community will participate in the restoration, including planning, building works, landscaping and ongoing care and maintenance.

The Australian Government funding is conditional on a lease being issued to the Uniting Church once the church is restored.

The Uniting Church will be responsible for the ongoing maintenance and care of the church once the lease is issued.

The Government is committed to fostering local partnerships for closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.