Question regarding inadequate housing for a school principal in a remote Aboriginal community and the need for urgent funding for replacement accommodation. The Minister acknowledges the issue and outlines steps being taken to address it.

AnsweredQoN 33Legislative Council
Asked
15 March 2006
Portfolio
Housing and Works

QuestionView source ↗

NGURRAWAANA COMMUNITY - TEACHERS’ ACCOMMODATION
Further to question 856 of 10 November 2005 to the then Minister for Housing and Works regarding the school principal’s accommodation at Ngurrawaana, a remote “dry” Aboriginal community, two hours’ drive from Karratha - (1) Is the current minister aware that the school principal and his wife live in what equates to a donga, the size and width of a long caravan, and that the previous minister agreed that this is unsatisfactory accommodation? (2) Is the minister aware that the principal is also expected to accommodate visiting teachers in this donga? (3) Is the minister aware that the Department of Education and Training has requested a three-bedroom house to replace this accommodation, but this was subject to the finalisation of the 2006 funding submission and, therefore, also to inclusion in the current state budget, and then to the tendering and construction process? (4) Given that this would make completion of replacement accommodation unlikely before 2008, will the minister provide special funding for urgent provision of a three-bedroom home; and, if not, why not? Hon KATE DOUST

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) The government recognises and appreciates the outstanding commitment of the Ngurrawaana community school principal and his wife. Both the Department of Housing and Works and the Department of Education and Training are giving high priority to the construction of a three-bedroom house for the principal and his family. The option of purchasing a transportable home is being favoured, and a likely site for its location has been identified. The Government Employees Housing Authority is currently liaising with the Ngurrawaana community and the Department of Indigenous Affairs for the necessary approvals to proceed with the project.
(1) Is the current minister aware that the school principal and his wife live in what equates to a donga, the size and width of a long caravan, and that the previous minister agreed that this is unsatisfactory accommodation? (2) Is the minister aware that the principal is also expected to accommodate visiting teachers in this donga? (3) Is the minister aware that the Department of Education and Training has requested a three-bedroom house to replace this accommodation, but this was subject to the finalisation of the 2006 funding submission and, therefore, also to inclusion in the current state budget, and then to the tendering and construction process? (4) Given that this would make completion of replacement accommodation unlikely before 2008, will the minister provide special funding for urgent provision of a three-bedroom home; and, if not, why not? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) The government recognises and appreciates the outstanding commitment of the Ngurrawaana community school principal and his wife. Both the Department of Housing and Works and the Department of Education and Training are giving high priority to the construction of a three-bedroom house for the principal and his family. The option of purchasing a transportable home is being favoured, and a likely site for its location has been identified. The Government Employees Housing Authority is currently liaising with the Ngurrawaana community and the Department of Indigenous Affairs for the necessary approvals to proceed with the project.
(2) Is the minister aware that the principal is also expected to accommodate visiting teachers in this donga? (3) Is the minister aware that the Department of Education and Training has requested a three-bedroom house to replace this accommodation, but this was subject to the finalisation of the 2006 funding submission and, therefore, also to inclusion in the current state budget, and then to the tendering and construction process? (4) Given that this would make completion of replacement accommodation unlikely before 2008, will the minister provide special funding for urgent provision of a three-bedroom home; and, if not, why not? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) The government recognises and appreciates the outstanding commitment of the Ngurrawaana community school principal and his wife. Both the Department of Housing and Works and the Department of Education and Training are giving high priority to the construction of a three-bedroom house for the principal and his family. The option of purchasing a transportable home is being favoured, and a likely site for its location has been identified. The Government Employees Housing Authority is currently liaising with the Ngurrawaana community and the Department of Indigenous Affairs for the necessary approvals to proceed with the project.
(3) Is the minister aware that the Department of Education and Training has requested a three-bedroom house to replace this accommodation, but this was subject to the finalisation of the 2006 funding submission and, therefore, also to inclusion in the current state budget, and then to the tendering and construction process? (4) Given that this would make completion of replacement accommodation unlikely before 2008, will the minister provide special funding for urgent provision of a three-bedroom home; and, if not, why not? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) The government recognises and appreciates the outstanding commitment of the Ngurrawaana community school principal and his wife. Both the Department of Housing and Works and the Department of Education and Training are giving high priority to the construction of a three-bedroom house for the principal and his family. The option of purchasing a transportable home is being favoured, and a likely site for its location has been identified. The Government Employees Housing Authority is currently liaising with the Ngurrawaana community and the Department of Indigenous Affairs for the necessary approvals to proceed with the project.
(4) Given that this would make completion of replacement accommodation unlikely before 2008, will the minister provide special funding for urgent provision of a three-bedroom home; and, if not, why not? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) The government recognises and appreciates the outstanding commitment of the Ngurrawaana community school principal and his wife. Both the Department of Housing and Works and the Department of Education and Training are giving high priority to the construction of a three-bedroom house for the principal and his family. The option of purchasing a transportable home is being favoured, and a likely site for its location has been identified. The Government Employees Housing Authority is currently liaising with the Ngurrawaana community and the Department of Indigenous Affairs for the necessary approvals to proceed with the project.
Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) The government recognises and appreciates the outstanding commitment of the Ngurrawaana community school principal and his wife. Both the Department of Housing and Works and the Department of Education and Training are giving high priority to the construction of a three-bedroom house for the principal and his family. The option of purchasing a transportable home is being favoured, and a likely site for its location has been identified. The Government Employees Housing Authority is currently liaising with the Ngurrawaana community and the Department of Indigenous Affairs for the necessary approvals to proceed with the project.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) The government recognises and appreciates the outstanding commitment of the Ngurrawaana community school principal and his wife. Both the Department of Housing and Works and the Department of Education and Training are giving high priority to the construction of a three-bedroom house for the principal and his family. The option of purchasing a transportable home is being favoured, and a likely site for its location has been identified. The Government Employees Housing Authority is currently liaising with the Ngurrawaana community and the Department of Indigenous Affairs for the necessary approvals to proceed with the project.
(1)-(4) The government recognises and appreciates the outstanding commitment of the Ngurrawaana community school principal and his wife. Both the Department of Housing and Works and the Department of Education and Training are giving high priority to the construction of a three-bedroom house for the principal and his family. The option of purchasing a transportable home is being favoured, and a likely site for its location has been identified. The Government Employees Housing Authority is currently liaising with the Ngurrawaana community and the Department of Indigenous Affairs for the necessary approvals to proceed with the project.

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