The Central Land Council has welcomed the commitment of Aboriginal Benefit Account (ABA) funds to its community development initiatives in two of Central Australia’s most neglected communities.
Today the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Jenny Macklin announced that $2,257,500 had been granted for a recreation precinct at Mutitjulu and $2,602,374 for construction of an early childhood centre and accommodation for staff and visitors at Willowra.
CLC Director David Ross said that these funds supplemented the investments already put in by the communities.
“Traditional owners of the Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park committed $500,000 of their share of the rent from the Park to building a pool at Mutitjulu and upgrading the recreation hall in that community,” Mr Ross said.
“With $105,000 from the Mutitjulu Foundation and the ABA funds, this project is going to make a huge difference to the lives of the people there, especially the children’” he said.
“The Willowra Early Childhood and Learning Centre is a critical project that has very strong community support.
“Willowra has suffered a disgraceful level of government neglect and has virtually nothing in terms of infrastructure despite being home to 300 people.
“Through the Warlpiri Education and Training Trust (WETT), Warlpiri traditional owners committed $660,000 of their mining royalties to building a centre but needed more to get the project up and running.
“WETT already pays for World Vision to run early childhood programs on Warlpiri lands and their commitment of further funds and the $2,602,374 from the ABA will enable the Willowra project to go ahead.
“Operational funding is still unclear, even after months of negotiation with the Australian Government.
“Willowra isn’t designated as a ‘Growth Town’ under the Northern Territory and Australian Government’s Indigenous funding policies and therefore like some 25 other communities in our region, not eligible for much at all.
“But in Willowra alone there are at least 30 children under five who are set to benefit from an early childhood centre,” Mr Ross said.
“Under the Growth Towns policy the only alternative for these children would have been to spend four hours a day travelling to Yuendumu and back every day.
“These types of community development projects which have community involvement and support make positive and tangible differences to peoples lives.
19 November 2009
