Darwin Seniors Community Funding Welcomed

Member for Solomon, David Tollner MP today welcomed the Federal Government's decision to fully support a Seniors Housing initiative at Tiwi Gardens Seniors Living Community in Darwin, with the extra $500,000 needed for the project to go ahead.

This follows a grant from the Federal Government under the Regional Partnerships programme of $1.1 million in May this year.

"Funding for the project was approved subject to a cash contribution of $500,000 from the Northern Territory Government. Unfortunately, the Territory Government has refused to commit to funding for this vital project,” Mr Tollner said.

"Today's announcement by the Prime Minister to increase funding to the overall $3 million project cost, means that the 12 unit affordable housing development at Tiwi for Territory seniors will go ahead,” Mr Tollner said.
"These 12 single bedroom, self-contained units will provide affordable housing too financially disadvantaged elderly people in the Darwin area,” Mr Tollner said.

"They will be located close to the local hospital and other community services, allowing residents to remain independent while providing them with easy access to medical, nursing, pharmaceutical and meal services,” he said.

Mr Tollner congratulated the local community for working together to access Regional Partnerships programme funding particularly the Northern Territory Area Consultative Committee for helping to bring this project to fruition.

The Regional Partnerships programme continues the Australian Government's approach of working with local communities to support their ideas. A total of $271.2 million is available under the Regional Partnerships programme from 2006–07 to 2009–10.

Mr Tollner said the Regional Partnerships programme would deliver benefits to communities well into the future, not only from programme funding, but from the higher levels of economic activity and improved social amenities which the programme was generating.

2007-08-29