Alice Springs Town Camp Plan Recognises Needs

"The announcement this morning that the Federal Government will make available up to $70 million for expenditure on Town Camps in Alice Springs is welcome but a belated recognition of the need that exists.” Warren Snowdon, Member for Lingiari and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Indigenous Affairs said today.

"However, I am concerned that the conditions imposed on the funding by the Federal Government reflect the ideological priorities of the Federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs rather than the needs of the Town Camps and may be an impediment to change.”

"The Minister should also accept that regardless of his own view, the money allocated, is long overdue and reflects the negligence of governments over past years and must be spent whether or not his preconditions are met”.

"The poverty and overcrowding in Town Camps has been obvious to all for many years. One estimate in the last couple of years was that an additional 225 bedrooms or 56 new houses were needed to address the need for the housing of residents.”

"Another estimate in 2005 was that based on population need and the condition of existing stock at the time another 99 new houses were required.” Mr Snowdon said.

"Despite the preconditions that the Federal Government is seeking to impose, today's announcement is overdue recognition of the need not only for new housing but to ensure that other infrastructure is up to scratch.”

"What is not clear from today's announcement is what is being done to address needs in areas such as Aged and Disability Care and Early Childhood Education and other such services for Town Camps.”

"The impact that the decision to proceed to establish short term accommodation, at two sites in Alice, will have on overcrowding in Town Camps is hard to ascertain, although the decision itself will be of concern to many in the Alice.” Mr Snowdon said.

"What we do know is that a Tangentyere mobility study found that at any one time one quarter of the Town Camp population comprised visitors from remote communities and that there is definite need for alternate accommodation .”

"We also know that there is nothing in today's announcement which addresses the need for housing, infrastructure and other services for remote communities in the Central Australian region.” Mr Snowdon said.

2007-03-14