The federal government has given a $10 million boost for a project in the Northern Territory to provide flexible lodging options to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
A new Darwin visitor accommodation precinct at Batten Road will be expanded with the $10 million, giving more people from remote and very remote parts of the territory somewhere to stay when they visit town.
The extra funding adds to the NT government’s $30.15 million investment, with construction due for completion by December 2023.
In a statement, minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt said the facility would support a large transient population in Darwin who were in need of safe, short-term accommodation.
“Darwin is a significant regional centre and a lot of people come into town for medical appointments, meetings, visiting family and often can’t find suitable places to stay,” Wyatt said.
“The precinct will include motel-style rooms, self-contained units, a classroom/learning area and common dining and kitchen facilities. There will also be administrative support and meeting rooms to offer services such as counselling, therapy or housing services.”
The precinct will include family-sized units and onsite services to help visitors during their stay and support them with their next steps, whether that be returning to Country or accessing more permanent accommodation.
The NT government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the federal government so building can start in July this year.
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