The Northern Territory Government has awarded $10 million in grants to fund thirteen infrastructure projects in the territory’s regional and remote areas.
Eight councils and five non-government organisations have been successful in obtaining grants to undertake infrastructure projects that will lead to economic growth, employment opportunities and contribute to building a prosperous Northern Territory.
The grants process was extremely competitive with over twenty applications received.
The projects, which will be supported under round three of the Regional Economic Infrastructure Fund (REIF), are widely varied and demonstrate innovative opportunities for local communities to improve the economic and social viability of their towns.
The grant recipients are:
- West Arnhem Regional Council to continue Murganella Road upgrades
- Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation to improve flood immunity to the access roads around Maningrida
- Roper Gulf Regional Council for the construction of a heavy vehicle route around Barunga Outback Store and to seal the store car park to complement the new store
- East Arnhem Regional Council to seal additional sections of the barge access road to complement the Council’s 2017 Roads Renewal Program in Gapuwiyak
- Coomalie Community Council to seal Milton/Coach Road, an arterial connection between Batchelor and Adelaide River to service cattle stations, hay producers, farms, gravel quarries etc
- Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education to improve parking facilities for Coomalie Arts Centre which is a popular tourist attraction and supports economic development
- Katherine Town Council to revitalise existing infrastructure at Katherine Hot Springs to improve access to the site and create a leisure park with grassed terraces, a playground and opportunities for small business ventures
- Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT Aboriginal Corporation to provide Telehealth services to reduce costs associated with patient travel, minimise time spent away from communities and provide critical health diagnostic capabilities to this remote community – resulting in improved health conditions of local residents
- Ngurratjuta/Pmara Ntjarra Aboriginal Corporation to construct new ablution block at popular tourist destination, Glen Helen, to complement current works that are underway to attract more tourists and thereby improving the economic viability of existing business
- Alice Springs Town Council to establish a hazardous waste compound in Alice Springs to replace an existing non-compliant compound to cater for Alice Springs along with the regional area
- MacDonnell Regional Council to establish a new Service Hub to fulfil the need for office accommodation for Council and other government staff in Papunya
- Litchfield Council for pavement strengthening of Finn Road
- Laynhapuy Homelands Aboriginal Corporation to develop visitor management plan for homelands, design online permit management system and infrastructure to support tourism and other businesses
The diverse range of projects will bring about many social benefits for regional and remote Territorians such as health and safety outcomes through the creation of safer roads and even the implementation of telehealth infrastructure, bringing critical health diagnostic capabilities to the Laynhapuy Homelands.
Other projects which focus on the upgrading and sealing of roads will improve the economic viability of existing Territory businesses by providing all-weather access to markets, all year round.
The grants program also supports the enhancement of tourism ventures which are often critical to the long term viability of regional and remote communities.
The Northern Territory Government said it recognised the importance of harnessing local resources to deliver projects which would address needs identified by the local community.
The Regional Economic Infrastructure Fund is an important grants program which enables local government and other community organisations to bring about positive changes in their communities.
