❓ Mr. Redman questions the Minister for Housing, Veterans Issues, and Youth regarding progress on several projects aimed at improving infrastructure and housing in Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley and Pilbara regions. The Minister provides updates on land audits, remediation works, housing construction, and refers to another question for details on the Pilbara project.
AnsweredQoN 4496Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the 2018-19 Economic and Fiscal Outlook and ask: (a) Have any progress reports been prepared for the Kimberley Schools Project which was allocated $5.9m and $9.5m in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 financial years respectively; (b) If so, will the minister make these reports available; (c) What remediation and or replacement work has been undertaken to infrastructure in the first 10 communities identified in the Essential and Municipal Services Upgrade Program (allocated $25m in the 2018-19 financial year); (d) How many houses have been constructed as part of the North West Aboriginal Housing Initiative (allocated $20m in the 2018-19 financial year); and (e) What work has been completed in each of the communities identified in the Pilbara Aboriginal Town-Based Reserves project (allocated $2m in the 2018-19 financial year)?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
13 March 2019
Responded by
Minister for Housing; Veterans Issues; Youth
Response time
7 days
(a)-(b) I am advised the Minister for Regional Development has arranged a briefing for the Member in April to report on progress.
(c) A comprehensive land audit of ten priority communities identified in the Essential and Municipal Services Upgrade Program was completed in May 2018. This audit included preliminary site investigations for contamination, hazardous building materials assessment, and municipal services and infrastructure audits for ten remote Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley and Pilbara. In addition, water and wastewater concept plans have been developed over the past 12 months for Bayulu, Bidyadanga, Mowanjum and Warmun.
The Department of Communities has contracted the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage to oversee land decontamination and remediation works in eight communities (Ardyaloon, Bayulu, Bidyadanga, Djarindjin, Lombadina, Mowanjum, Warmun and Yandeyarra). Remediation activity is expected to commence in April 2019.
The arrangement for water and wastewater upgrades to proceed in Mowanjum, Bidyadanga and Bayulu is being formalised through a funding agreement between the Water Corporation and Department of Communities, with works again expected to commence in April 2019.
(d) To date in the East Kimberley, eight transitional housing dwellings have been constructed, with work underway on another seven dwellings.
The North-West Aboriginal Housing Fund has scheduled the initial East Kimberley program over four years to enable young Aboriginal employees to complete their apprenticeships through Fund projects. There are 22 Aboriginal apprentices working with Aboriginal businesses on the construction of these houses.
An expansion of the transitional housing model is also underway in the Pilbara through the Fund. However, this project will see the repurposing and refurbishment of 40 existing houses owned by the Department of Communities, rather than new construction.
(e) Please refer to Legislative Assembly Question on Notice 4494.
(c) A comprehensive land audit of ten priority communities identified in the Essential and Municipal Services Upgrade Program was completed in May 2018. This audit included preliminary site investigations for contamination, hazardous building materials assessment, and municipal services and infrastructure audits for ten remote Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley and Pilbara. In addition, water and wastewater concept plans have been developed over the past 12 months for Bayulu, Bidyadanga, Mowanjum and Warmun.
The Department of Communities has contracted the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage to oversee land decontamination and remediation works in eight communities (Ardyaloon, Bayulu, Bidyadanga, Djarindjin, Lombadina, Mowanjum, Warmun and Yandeyarra). Remediation activity is expected to commence in April 2019.
The arrangement for water and wastewater upgrades to proceed in Mowanjum, Bidyadanga and Bayulu is being formalised through a funding agreement between the Water Corporation and Department of Communities, with works again expected to commence in April 2019.
(d) To date in the East Kimberley, eight transitional housing dwellings have been constructed, with work underway on another seven dwellings.
The North-West Aboriginal Housing Fund has scheduled the initial East Kimberley program over four years to enable young Aboriginal employees to complete their apprenticeships through Fund projects. There are 22 Aboriginal apprentices working with Aboriginal businesses on the construction of these houses.
An expansion of the transitional housing model is also underway in the Pilbara through the Fund. However, this project will see the repurposing and refurbishment of 40 existing houses owned by the Department of Communities, rather than new construction.
(e) Please refer to Legislative Assembly Question on Notice 4494.
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