By: pol_pak
23/03/2009
7:38 am Yahoo! Profile:
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http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/5422511/aborig inal-communities-billions/
AAP
March 23, 2009, 5:59 am
In a dramatic policy shift, 26 of Australia's largest remote Aboriginal communities will receive almost all of the federal government funds set aside for new housing and the upgrading of municipal services such as health clinics and schools.
These communities will receive billions of dollars in new federal funding as part of the Rudd government's push to close the gap between blacks and whites.
Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin told The Australian the 26 communities have been selected for intensive help because of their potential to be turned into hubs of "economic development".
"We've got to get it right in these 26 and demonstrate that you can close the gap," she said.
So far, 15 communities have been selected in the Northern Territory and four in the Cape York region of Queensland, with the remaining seven to be selected from Western Australia , South Australia and NSW.
Ms Macklin said if the targeted approach showed signs of working, the government would then roll out proven initiatives to other communities.
The controversial plan follows the government's decision to appoint a director-general to cut through red tape and get action on the ground in remote areas to close the 17-year gap in life expectancy. |
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By: pol_pak
23/03/2009
7:43 am Yahoo! Profile:
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We look forward to hearing which are the 15 communities selected for this in the NT ;-)
Might this large commitment also requires leases from the Land Trusts/Land Councils etc ?
Let's hope so.
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By: pol_pak
23/03/2009
7:49 am Yahoo! Profile:
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http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/internet/facsinternet.ns f/indigenous/remote_housing_system.htm
New Remote Housing System
The Australian Government recognises that housing standards need to be improved to help close the gap on Indigenous disadvantage in the Northern Territory.
A priority area over the next five years is to improve living conditions in 73 remote Indigenous communities across the Northern Territory through the $813 million New Remote Housing System.
The new system will be delivered by the Northern Territory Government in partnership with the Australian Government and will comprise four key elements:
* Stronger construction investment through the Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program (SIHIP), a $672 million joint Australian and Northern Territory Government capital works program that aims to deliver:
o approximately 750 new houses including new subdivisions
o approximately 230 new houses to replace houses to be demolished
o approximately 2500 housing refurbishments
o essential infrastructure to support new houses
o improvements to living conditions in town camps.
* The introduction of a new and improved housing management system that will see houses in Indigenous communities managed under a public housing model that will include:
o a routine repairs and maintenance program
o waiting lists based on need
o tenants signing a tenancy agreement and paying fair rent for their houses
o a program of tenant support services that ensure tenants understand their rights and responsibilities and are supported to meet their obligations, including paying rent and maintaining their home.
...continued... |
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By: pol_pak
23/03/2009
7:51 am Yahoo! Profile:
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...continued:
* Ensuring appropriate land tenure agreements are in place. This includes:
o securing long terms leases in the 16 communities that have been identified for construction investment under the SIHIP; and
o negotiating sub leases in urban community living areas also known as town camps.
* The transfer of responsibility for the delivery of all municipal and essential services from the Australian Government to the Northern Territory Government.
For more information on the New Remote Housing System, see the Northern Territory Government Department of Local Government and Housing website.
http://www.territoryhousing.nt.gov.au/remotehousin g/sihip
(NOTE remove the spaces in housing link) |
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By: dallone.ranger
23/03/2009
12:54 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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| Seems things are finally on the move. |
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By: pol_pak
23/03/2009
3:31 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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We are still not sure who owns many of the houses...
Legalistic view is that in the absence of a lease, the landowner owns the buildings, until there is a lease... though the landowning land trusts can bill whoever constructed them to take them away and restore the sites to their previous condition, and perhaps be entitled to claim damages for the damage to the environment ;-)
Seems the Land Trusts are avoiding their responsibilities as the land owners ;-)
This is up until that A* word is uttered, at which magically all that advice goes into freefall...
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By: pol_pak
23/03/2009
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Govt delivers town camp lease ultimatum
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/03/23/2523 722.htm
The Federal Government says it will not build any more houses in town camps in Alice Springs unless Indigenous communities agree to sign a Government lease over their land by May.
The Government is extending a deadline for negotiations on the leases with the Tangentyere Council until May after neither side could agree by the previous deadline of December last year.
The federal and NT governments are offering to build $50 million worth of houses and public infrastructure if town camp communities sign over some control of their land.
Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin says she does not want to extend the negotiation deadline again.
"I have agreed to extend negotiations until the fourth of May," she said.
"This will be the date by which we really need to get these leases signed.
"If we don't get the leases signed by the fourth of May, construction will not be able to begin in the Tangentyere or the Alice Springs town camps." |
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By: pol_pak
25/03/2009
2:47 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/03/25/2525 720.htm
A crisis meeting is being held in Alice Springs this afternoon to discuss the town's temporary accommodation needs.
NT Shelter's Jill Mead says the closure of two facilities since September has left the town with inadequate accommodation.
She says it is causing a bed shortage at the Alice Springs Hospital and forcing more people to sleep rough.
Ms Mead says she is disappointed an Alice Springs planning document launched by the Northern Territory Government earlier this week does not deal with the issue.
"It talked of a 10 year, 20 year and 30 year plan," she said.
"That's all well and good, but right now here in Alice Springs we have an absolute crisis.
"It just seems that there's a lot of future planning and a lot of future direction going on, but there is no immediate resolutions or funding or outcomes being addressed at this point in time."
Ms Mead says the Government needs to deal with a short-term accommodation crisis before it plans for future growth.
"There have been facilities that have come up for sale, such as the Mount Nancy Motel - there was a whole debacle in relation to Melankas being razed," she said.
"We need action - we need properties developed.
"If lodges are to close then in fact Government need to engage in consultation about ... the whys and wherefores." |
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By: steve_ropa
25/03/2009
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one aspect of the dreadful conditions of housing in aboriginal communities is demonstrated in the allocation of housing to non-indigenous staff members.
in my community a four bedroom house is home to four separate families, averaging around twenty people.
one or two non-indigenous staff member are living in three or four bedroom houses. |
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By: dallone.ranger
25/03/2009
9:48 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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As you know Ropes, white people are used to different housing conditions than those black people live in/are used to. The simple fact is that white employees will not live in similar conditions, and they should not be expected to. The 3 and 4 bedroom houses are no doubt for staff with families. If they do not have a family and there is no suitable single accommodation, then there is no other option but for them to use it.
Do you have a solution to this problem, because I can't think of one at present using the available resources. |
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By: pol_pak
26/03/2009
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Different housing conditions... why ?
Recall our first housing project was curved rain tank corrugated iron for humpies ;-) then garden sheds, then trying to apply town planning laws... so DAA would need fund the building of houses :-)
First houses to be built were two bedrooms. Was away when this project ran through design and construction, back out to visit just before the pollies came out to tour around and congratulate all. Was not impressed.
When they arrived back in town asked the Minister and his people what they thought of our toilets. Trouble remembering them... until I explained none were included in the plans so none were included in the construction... The Minister was furious how could you build a house without a dunny ! Worried he may get caught out - by the press, he fast made sure money was found for our dunnies ;-)
The dunnies we obtained ;-)
However next project was another novel design experiment, sort of breeding project for maggots and/or thunderbox under house floors... took years, and convincing the regional health inspector to condemn them to get them fixed...
Long frustrated at the constant building of houses then filling them with families - whilst certainly we needed a lot more houses for families.
Frustrated when unable get council allocate money to build some blocks of smaller single units for singles, particularly teenagers.
We wanted some housing blocks available for NT Housing however the land council objected... short sighted, petty, stopping options being available...
Young ones growing up often unable to secure their few possessions...
Made sure lockable doors available, however with cell like security screens on windows raises safety issues.
Some designs for security screens with quick release from inside were not seriously offered as options.
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By: pol_pak
28/03/2009
7:31 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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Housing for single youth.
Housing for couples.
Housing for families with small children.
Housing for families with school age children.
Housing for older people - single and shared.
.
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By: dallone.ranger
28/03/2009
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| Crikey Pol, there is not even enough of all that in the major centres where many can pay a premium for it. |
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By: pol_pak
28/03/2009
10:45 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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ABC News http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/03/27/2528 513.htm
Indigenous communities 'bribed' to sign leases
Posted Fri Mar 27, 2009 7:38pm AEDT
Indigenous mayors and presidents of the Northern Territory's shires have accused the Federal Government of unfairly bribing communities to sign land leases.
The shire presidents had the chance to question Federal Government officials in Darwin today about the refusal to build any more houses in communities unless the communities agree to lease their land to the Commonwealth.
Tiwi Islands mayor Lynette Desantis says she did not like the answers.
"It's just a bribery thing," she said.
The Barkly Shire president Rosalie Kunoth Monks agreed, saying "the hardest [thing] was the leasing of Aboriginal land back to the Government."
West Arnhem Shire's CEO Mark Griffeon said "a lot of our community members feel they've been pressured into these leases."
The Government says it wants the leases so it can control the maintenance of its public houses and offer secure tenure for private businesses. |
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By: pol_pak
28/03/2009
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Comment: The land is owned by corporations AND those corporations should be paying for the houses.
These corporations and management know they are not able to get the money through conventional loans unless the land - or other assets, can provide security on loans such as through the issuing of leases.
When the land owners do not want the money for the houses, as will not agree to reasonable terms and conditions, the obvious conclusion is they do NOT want people to live in houses...
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By: pol_pak
28/03/2009
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Sadly is true, there is not even enough accomodation in our major centres where many already pay premiums... says a lot about our political neglect towards our not so wealthy...
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By: pol_pak
28/03/2009
10:58 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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West Arnhem Shire's CEO Mark Griffeon may well say "a lot of our community members feel they've been pressured into these leases."
...a lot of other community members have been denied balanced presentations of these issues, balanced presentations of the reasoning behind the issuing of leases, and the balanced presentations of the opportunity for all to have full and proper meetings on these issues.
Seems many councils meet still in broom cupboards... sure as heck do not reply to written requests for details of these discussions.
The NTG is not exactly forthcoming on information either:
http://www.territoryhousing.nt.gov.au/remotehousin g/sihip/indigenous_housing_in_the_northern_territo ry
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By: pol_pak
28/03/2009
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Tiwi Islands mayor Lynette Desantis does not like the answers, crying out: "It's just a bribery thing"
Bribery, a form of pecuniary corruption, is an act implying money or gift given that alters the behaviour of the recipient. Bribery constitutes a crime and is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or other person in discharge of a public or legal duty. The bribe is the gift bestowed to influence the recipient's conduct. It may be any money, good, right in action, property, preferment, privilege, emolument, object of value, advantage, or merely a promise or undertaking to induce or influence the action, vote, or influence of a person in an official or public capacity.
Go read the rest :https://secure.wikimedia .org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Br ibe
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By: pol_pak
28/03/2009
11:15 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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Prior and current Australian Government want the leases so the tenants and those paying for the houses have some degree of control over the usage and maintenance of these publicly funded houses... including the ability to offer secure tenure for all tenants and to those who wish to operate private businesses.
Progress comes from people trying to improve things, not building barriers to prevent them from trying...
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By: dallone.ranger
28/03/2009
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| As usual those running the show, usually well paid part Aboriginals or whites, are against anything which takes away some of their thunder. Stuff them. The government needs to just go ahead and do it, Another intervention if needed. |
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By: pol_pak
29/03/2009
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The problem for a long time was "special measures".
The problem continues to be "special measures".
We need get rid of the "special measures"/
Getting rid of the "special measures: is what we all campaigning for in the 60's, but still we have them...
"special measures" bring misery...
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By: pol_pak
1/04/2009
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The governments need just go ahead and enforce the existing terms and conditions for housing.
The Commonwealth should quickly amend those bits of legislation presented as justifications for existing standards terms and conditions from being applied and enforced, to ensure the protection of people elsewhere are also protecting people - and landlords, in the homelands areas.
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By: pol_pak
7/04/2009
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http://au.biz.yahoo.com/090407/31/25mdf.html
Power surge: bills to rise by $800 a year
Tuesday April 7, 2009, 12:54 pm
Power bills for large households across the Northern Territory are set to rise by an estimated $800 a year.
The Government-backed Reeves report had recommended a 40 percent increase in the cost of power and a 60 percent increase in water and sewerage charges over the next three years to allow Power and Water to replace its ageing assets and ensure its financial viability.
But the Treasurer, Delia Lawrie, says the Government will not be passing on the full recommendation.
"Because electricity is the largest component of average utility bills, to reduce the impact on bills as much as possible, the Government will be increasing electricity tariffs by 18 per cent in the first year and 5 per cent in 2010/11 inclusive of CPI," Ms Lawrie said.
It means that from July 1, weekly bills for large households will rise by $9 for power, $5 for water and $1 for sewerage.
The Government says this equates to $58 million less over three years than what was recommended in the report.
"We will be keeping the increases as low as possible, while also securing Power and Water's financial sustainability to ensure it can deliver reliable services and meet growing demand," she said. |
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By: pol_pak
7/04/2009
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Wonder how this will work with our prepay power cards ?
IF they are likely just to increase the cost of the prepaid cards, perhaps can save some money by purchasing more now before the price increases ?-)
Ask them ? Keep quiet try save some money :-)
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By: pol_pak
9/04/2009
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Reading yesterdays press release from Carnegie Corporation Limited (ASX: CNM) (the Wave Energy Developer) concerning their being awarded a $156,567 Climate Ready ($1 for $1 matched funding basis) grant for their green heat exchange technology for testing the feasibility of their system over the next year.
Their project aims to develop an advanced tubeless heat recovery system for flue gases which would be used to pre-heat incoming combustion air. The system captures and transfers heat from the hot flue exhaust gases to preheat inflowing cold air using an inert substance. If successful, the technology will be readily employable for energy recovery in coal fired power stations as well as other fossil fuel power generation (gas, biomass, etc..) and general gas heat transfer applications, saving costs, improving system efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Any increased efficiency would be of considerable interest to NT Power and Water, given how much is spent on diesel for power stations... which is why they are increasing the charges.
Some other technologies perhaps of interest:
Geodynamics Limited (ASX: GDY) developing heat from hot rocks
Dyesol (ASC:DYE) developing corrugated iron roofing, fabrics, and windows that generate electricity. |
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