❓ The WA government reallocated $13 million in Royalties for Regions funding, originally intended for two Indigenous Visitor Hostels in Broome, to construct facilities in Kalgoorlie/Boulder and Derby after failing to secure a suitable site in Broome. The Department of Housing has also invested significantly in constructing dwellings in the Kimberley region.
AnsweredQoN 2919Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to a proposal to establish two Indigenous Visitor Hostels in Broome through the Royalties for Region Program, for which $13 million was allocated in 2010 to 2013, and I ask: (a) has construction of the hostels commenced: (i) if yes to (a), what stage has the construction reached; and (ii) if no to (a), why not and when will construction commence; (b) if construction of the hostels has not gone ahead, has the Government set aside the $13 million for this purpose: (i) if no to (b), why not and what has the $13 million been used for; (c) what has been the State's expenditure on addressing homelessness in the Kimberley region during the past five years, by department; (d) is the Minister aware that homelessness has been reported by the Human Rights Alliance as being 17 times the national average and that most of those affected are Aboriginal; and (e) could the Minister please indicate the latest consolidated plan for addressing the high levels of homelessness in the Kimberley, and the cost?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 May 2015
Responded by
Minister for Housing
Response time
49 days
The Department of Housing advises:
(a) The Broome Aboriginal short stay visitors centre did not proceed.
(i) Not applicable.
(ii) Efforts to identify a suitable site for construction of the Broome facility could not be agreed with the Shire of Broome. As a consequence, the State Government allocated $13 million of Royalties for Regions funding towards the cost of building the Kalgoorlie/Boulder Aboriginal short stay facility and constructing an Aboriginal visitors centre in Derby.
Of the $13 million, $1.25 million was added to a Commonwealth Government contribution of $2 million to construct a 41 bed Aboriginal short stay facility in Kalgoorlie/Boulder. The facility was completed in August 2012.
The remainder of the $13 million was allocated to fund construction of a 54 bed Aboriginal short stay facility in Derby, which reached completion in July 2014.
(b) I refer to.my answer in (a)(ii).
(i) Not applicable.
(c)-(e) Homelessness falls within the portfolio of the Minister for Child Protection. However, the Department can advise that since 2010-11 it has constructed 326 dwellings at a cost of $110 million in the Kimberley and has plans to complete by the end of 2016/17 a further 75 dwellings at a cost of $32 million.
(a) The Broome Aboriginal short stay visitors centre did not proceed.
(i) Not applicable.
(ii) Efforts to identify a suitable site for construction of the Broome facility could not be agreed with the Shire of Broome. As a consequence, the State Government allocated $13 million of Royalties for Regions funding towards the cost of building the Kalgoorlie/Boulder Aboriginal short stay facility and constructing an Aboriginal visitors centre in Derby.
Of the $13 million, $1.25 million was added to a Commonwealth Government contribution of $2 million to construct a 41 bed Aboriginal short stay facility in Kalgoorlie/Boulder. The facility was completed in August 2012.
The remainder of the $13 million was allocated to fund construction of a 54 bed Aboriginal short stay facility in Derby, which reached completion in July 2014.
(b) I refer to.my answer in (a)(ii).
(i) Not applicable.
(c)-(e) Homelessness falls within the portfolio of the Minister for Child Protection. However, the Department can advise that since 2010-11 it has constructed 326 dwellings at a cost of $110 million in the Kimberley and has plans to complete by the end of 2016/17 a further 75 dwellings at a cost of $32 million.
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