New ABA funding providing benefits for Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory
Affordable community housing, community store infrastructure and equipment to help maintain remote roads to outstations are some of the thirteen projects to receive funding totaling more than $19 million from the Aboriginals Benefit Account (ABA).
The communities of Groote Eylandt will also benefit from a $7.5 million grant for a new development to house the Anindilyakwa Land Council (ALC) offices and a training centre for its commercial arm.
The Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, said the new facilities will help the ALC to provide services for the community.
“The ALC have long outgrown their current premises,” Ms Macklin said.
“These new facilities will help the ALC and its commercial arm continue and strengthen their work as major partners in the delivery of infrastructure, training and economic development in the region.
“The construction of the new facilities will also provide local Aboriginal people with further employment and training opportunities.”
Funding of $1.1 million will help to improve community stores in Wugularr and Bulman, through the construction of staff housing.
“Supplying remote communities with healthy food is vital to improving the health of local people,” Ms Macklin said.
“Professional staff are integral to the good operation of remote stores and having decent housing available will help to retain professional employees.”
The Minister for Indigenous Health and Member for Lingiari, Warren Snowdon, said the ABA would also provide support for the Yantjarrwu Outstation Resource Centre for the purchase of a truck and grader.
“This will help to maintain airstrips and roads in their region and enable them to bid for locally tendered work, providing employment opportunities for the small communities serviced by Yantjarrwu,” Mr Snowdon said.
“I am particularly pleased that this will benefit the people of Emu Point, who for many years have worked hard to improve their community and provide opportunities for local people.
“The Central Australian Affordable Housing Company will also receive a $3.98 million grant to access commercial loans to establish a pool of affordable homes in Alice Springs.
“This will alleviate some of the pressures of a tight rental market in Alice Springs, and also provide the opportunity to grow and develop a local Aboriginal business.”
Other projects include $600,000 for works on the Manthathpe Road; a $150,000 trial to introduce water bubblers to some Central Australian communities; and $841,000 for development and staging of the 2013 Mparntwe Aboriginal Cultural Festival.
The ABA was established under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (the ALRA Act).
The account is funded by payments from the Commonwealth Government, equivalent to the value of royalties paid by mining interests on Aboriginal land in the Northern Territory.
“ABA grants are awarded to projects which will help improve the lives of Aboriginal people living in the Northern Territory,” Ms Macklin said.
“I thank the ABA Advisory Committee and in particular the chair, Mrs Pat Brahim, for the ongoing work and advice they provide on applications.
“The ABA has received an unprecedented increase in the number and complexity of applications over the past 12 months and the Committee is helping to ensure the sustainability of the fund.
“The recent establishment of a minimum account balance and a guideline that annual expenditure is not to exceed receipts means the ABA will continue to be managed in a strategic and sustainable manner for future generations.”
Organisation
Project
Approved Amount
Anindilyakwa Land Council
ALC and GEBIE Office and Training Complex – construction and equipping
$7,566,100
Central Australian Affordable Housing Corporation Ltd
Medium Density Redevelopment over 3 years to purchase and build a pool of 12 dwellings in Alice Springs
$3,976,766
Centrefarm Aboriginal Horticulture Ltd
Strategic new development of Indigenous lands across NT over 2 years
$2,182,980
Anindilyakwa Land Council
Funeral and ceremonial 2011-12 and 2012-13
$1,200,000
Stores Program
Construct store managers’ houses at Wugularr (Beswick) and Bulman
$1,100,000
Arrulka Business Aboriginal Corporation
Development and staging of 2013 Mparntwe Aboriginal Cultural Festival
$841,000
Central Land Council
Funeral and ceremonial 2011-2014
$810,000
Yantjarrwu Outstation Resource Centre AC
Yantjarrwu Resource Centre Organisation Road Management
$610,377
Thamarrur Development Corporation Limited
Manthathpe Road – main culvert construction
$600,000
FaHCSIA
Water Bubblers pilot project: installation to Utopia, Kaltukatjara, Kintore, Areyonga and Atitjere
$150,000
Hoops 4 Health Aboriginal Corporation
Operational costs Hoops 4 Health Challenge Event – Alice Springs
$59,500
Yantjarrwu Outstation Resource Centre AC
Wudikapildiyerr Community purchase of Kubota F3680 4WD Front Mower
$30,949
Yantjarrwu Outstation Resource Centre AC
Emu Point Community Kubota purchase of F3680 4WD Front Mower
$30,949
Total
$19,158,621