Remote Housing in the Northern Territory

Housing is fundamental to achieving improvements in Indigenous health, education and employment and makes a major contribution towards Closing the Gap in Indigenous disadvantage.

Under the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing (National Partnership) the Australian Government has committed $5.5 billion over ten years to improve housing and living conditions in remote Australia.

The Northern Territory program has been allocated $1.7 billion over 10 years to 2018, as the jurisdiction with the largest remote Indigenous population.

The Commonwealth and the Northern Territory are jointly delivering the National Partnership in the Northern Territory, incorporating the former Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program (SIHIP).  This program will deliver more than 900 new houses and rebuild or refurbish around 2900 existing houses by the end of 2013.

Two construction company consortia known as Alliances have been engaged to deliver the program. The Alliances are working closely with communities and government to deliver better housing for Indigenous people in remote Northern Territory communities.

The Northern Territory Government's Department of Infrastructure, MacDonnell Shire and Central Desert Shire have been engaged to deliver a portion of the refurbishments.

A target of 20 per cent has been set for Indigenous employment across the program.

For information about benefits and progress of the National Partnership in the Northern Territory, visit Territory Housing Homepage.

NT Government factsheets provide information on a range of topics such as leasing, rent, tenancy agreements and repairs and maintenance.

 

View the report: Tenants' experiences of the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing Property and Tenancy Management Reforms

 

Progress on capital works by community – as at 31 March 2013.

There has been a substantial level of activity since the program commenced, 821 new houses have been built and 2,693 rebuilds and refurbishments have been delivered in remote communities.

Active packages
Package Major works community(ies)* Refurbishment communities**
Tiwi Islands Nguiu* Milikapiti*
Pirlangimpi*
Tennant Creek Town Camps  
Southern Region Refurbishments   Ali Curung *
Wilora*
Nturiya*
Pmara Jutunta*
Tara*
Laramba*
Willowra*
Engawala*
Imangara*
Amoonguna*
Areyonga*
Atitjere*
Santa Teresa*
Wallace Rockhole*
Yuelamu*
Imanpa*
Titjikala*
Mount Liebig*
Haasts Bluff*
Nyirripi*
Alpurrurulam*
Kintore*
Canteen Creek*
Wutunugurra*
Kaltukatjara*
Papunya*
Ampilatwatja*
Finke
Mutitjulu
Groote Eylandt Umbakumba*
Angurugu*
Milyakburra*		  
Maningrida Maningrida* Minjilang
Warruwi*
Wadeye Wadeye* Nganmarrinyanga
(Palumpa)*
Peppimenarti*
Gunbalanya Gunbalanya* Belyuen*
Acacia Larrakia*
Galiwinku Galiwinku*  
Ngukurr and other refurbishments Ngukurr*
Lajamanu*

Kalkarindji*
Dagaragu*
Minyerri*
Bulman*
Jilkminggan*
Amanbidji*
Pigeon Hole*
Kybrook Farm*
Beswick*
Eva Valley*
Barunga*
Rittarangu*
Bulla*
Yarralin*
Binjari*
Weemol*
Alice Springs Town Camps Town Camps*  
Numbulwar Numbulwar  
Milingimbi and Ramingining Milingimbi Ramingining
Hermannsburg Hermannsburg  
Department of Infrastructure   Ali Curung*
Binjari*
Nturiya*
Pmara Jutunta*
Laramba*
Willowra*
Yuelamu*
Wilora*
Wurrumyanga (Nguiu)*
Gunbalanya*
Belyuen*
Gunyangara*
Wadeye*
Milikapiti*
Minjilang*
MacDonnell Shire   Haasts Bluff*
Areyonga*
Santa Teresa*
Mount Liebig*
Amoonguna*
Titjikala*
Central Desert Shire   Nturiya*
Pmara Jutunta*
Engawala*

* Completed communities

Program Achievements

SIHIP Review

A review of the former Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program was released by the Australian and Northern Territory Governments on 31 August 2009.
Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program – Review of Program Performance
Media Release - Improving Indigenous housing in the NT

Post Review Assessment

A post review assessment was released on 17 March 2010. It had been commissioned to report against the recommendations made in the SIHIP Review and advise on any issues involved in meeting SIHIP’s targets.
SIHIP Post Review Assessment
Media Release - Further improvements to NT Indigenous housing program

ANAO Audit Report

On 13 May 2010 the Australian Senate requested the Auditor- General (Senate Motion 793) to undertake an investigation into the Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program (SIHIP). The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) commenced field work in late 2010 and the final report was tabled in the Australian Senate on 10 November.

Content Updated: 26 April 2013