Standardising Town Camps
Redeveloping town camps to become part of suburban Alice Springs, improving living conditions and addressing visitor and resident accommodation needs.
Negotiations are continuing about proposed significant new investment by the Northern Territory and Australian Governments, with the principal goal of improving living conditions in Alice Springs town camps.
A matter of principal importance is to ensure that benefits are delivered for all stakeholders – town camp residents, all levels of government, non-government organisations that deliver services to town camps and the broader Alice community.
There are some specific outcomes that government wants to achieve in Alice Springs. These include:
- a genuine improvement in living conditions for Aboriginal people;
- an ability to deliver services to town camps of an equivalent standard as in other areas of Alice Springs;
- better access to education, employment, housing and health services; and
- alternative short and long term accommodation options to be available to resolve overcrowding issues.
How it will happen
- Continuing to drive change through the Alice Springs Town Camps Implementation Steering Committee, a multi-agency group which meets on a regular basis to progress the 15 recommendations of the Alice Springs Town Camps Task Force.
- Standardising municipal services in town camps including rubbish collection, dog management and rates payments.
- Upgrading and maintaining essential services, municipal and telecommunications infrastructure.
- Addressing visitor accommodation needs.
- Upgrading existing housing and implementing a sustained maintenance program.
What it will mean
For residents
- Residents of town camps will have significantly improved living conditions.
- Improved living conditions in town camps will also impact positively on the wider Alice Springs community.
- People visiting Alice Springs from remote communities will continue to have access to a number of accommodation options including public and private housing and increased short term accommodation options.
- Short-term accommodation will be safer and less likely to be subject to alcohol problems.
- Significant employment opportunities during the upgrade and construction phases.
For business
- Significant business opportunities during the upgrade and construction phase.
- Significant investment in the town.
- Improved social conditions.
What we have already done
- Completion of $2 million redevelopment of Stuart Lodge to provide short term accommodation.
- Provision of a grant for $1.3 million to Aboriginal Hostels Limited to construct six new cabins at the Ayiparinya Hostel to provide an additional 24 beds.
- Approval of two short term accommodation sites located at the old Tyeweretye Club and Dalgety Road.
What will happen next
*** Federal and Northern Territory Governments will continue discussions with Tangentyere Council in an effort to secure funding to upgrade town camps.
For more information
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