Nguyarramini welcomes families back into upgraded homes under joint housing program

Families in the Northern Territory homeland of Nguyarramini, near Tennant Creek, have moved back into four upgraded houses after long-awaited works delivered through a joint federal–territory housing program.

The upgrades were completed under the Homelands Housing and Infrastructure Program (HHIP), which targets repairs, maintenance and essential upgrades in remote First Nations homelands. In Nguyarramini, the work included new kitchens, new gas stoves and ovens, restored decking, and a range of internal and external repairs aimed at improving safety, comfort and day-to-day functionality.

The Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, said the works were delivered in partnership with residents, local Barkly business Territory Water Solutions, Housing and Homelands staff and the Central Land Council, reflecting local priorities and supporting longer-term sustainability. She said more than 160 homelands across the Territory are receiving repairs and upgrades through the program.

For residents, the changes are immediate and practical. Nguyarramini resident Jorna Murphy said: “It’s really good to have four houses fixed up” describing the new kitchen and gas stove as stand-out improvements.

The project also created local employment. The federal release said Territory Water Solutions supported three residents to obtain White Cards and employed them for the duration of the work, while the Central Land Council said the upgrade finally addressed living-condition concerns that had been raised for years.

The HHIP is part of wider efforts to tackle overcrowding and ageing housing stock in remote communities. The Northern Territory Government says it entered a $100 million homeland agreement with the Australian Government on 25 October 2022 to deliver urgent repairs and upgrades, rolled out over two years. A further $120 million investment was agreed in July 2024 (funded at $40 million per year for three year) to continue urgent upgrades across NT homelands.

McCarthy’s office said the Albanese Government is investing $220 million over five years from 2022-23 through HHIP, while the Northern Territory Government contributes $40 million annually to support essential services in Aboriginal homelands, including water, reliable power and sanitation. At a broader level, the National Indigenous Australians Agency has previously outlined a $4 billion joint investment over 10 years to improve remote NT housing, aimed at reducing overcrowding by about half and delivering up to 2,700 houses. For communities like Nguyarramini, the immediate focus is simpler: safe, functional homes that support families to stay on Country.