The Northern Territory Government is matching the Federal Government’s $2 billion commitment to deliver the Our Community. Our Future. Our Homes. project. 

The massive investment focuses on: 

• Reducing overcrowding and improving living conditions 
• Community-led decision-making and engagement with communities 
• Developing Aboriginal Business Enterprises 
• Sustainable local employment 
• Economic development 

The investment will see up to 2700 homes built in the bush to halve overcrowding and improve housing quality in remote communities over a 10-year period. 

As well as supporting improved housing, the program is creating local employment opportunities and supporting the sustainability of Aboriginal Business Enterprises. 

For the financial year 2024-25, 222 new or replacement homes have been completed in remote communities, with 219 homes also underway. 

Ampilatwatja, 320 kilometres north-east of Alice Springs, is enjoying the first new homes built in the community in 10 years. 

New homes have also been built in the southern communities of Amoonguna, Apatula, Haasts Bluff, Kintore, Laramba, Mount Liebig, Mutitjulu, Nyrripi, Papunya, Santa Teresa, Titjikala, Willowra, Yuelamu, Yuendumu, Ali Curung, Ampilatwatja, Canteen Creek and Wutungurra. 

Tegan Berg, General Manager Regions at the NT Government’s Department of Logistics and Infrastructure, says: “New, safe homes mean stronger communities — and that’s what this investment is delivering. 

“The Department of Logistics and Infrastructure team is proud to play a part in delivering new homes in some of the most beautiful and unique locations in the Territory with diverse opportunities and challenges. 

“This program isn’t just about walls and doors — it’s about listening to local voices, creating jobs on Country and helping Aboriginal businesses to thrive. 

“Our work is improving living conditions, reducing overcrowding and creating employment opportunities in some of the most unique parts of the Territory.” 

The department’s teams work in partnership with communities and Aboriginal-owned businesses, such as Bukmak Constructions, so that benefits stay in the bush. 

Bukmak Constructions, which is a 100 percent Indigenous-owned construction company and a subsidiary business under ALPA, the Arnhem Land Progress Association, won a $51.5 million, five-year contract to build 87 homes in Galiwin’ku. 

The company has so far completed 65. 

The remaining 22 homes are under various stages of completion with all 87 to be finished by March 2026. 

Bukmak Constructions is maintaining a core team of 10 local Aboriginal workers throughout the life of the project. 

Seven Aboriginal workers have completed their Certificate ll in Indigenous Housing Repair and Maintenance under the company’s training program. 

Other training opportunities include licences in front-end loader and telescopic materials handler operations, load and unload plant, construction white cards and work safely at heights. 

“Everything is going particularly well,” says Bukmak commercial manager Steve Roberts. 

“It was a positive approach by the NT Government to award a long-term contract because that allows us to identify what skills are needed, which in turn allows us to develop specific training methods and support. 

“One of our challenges is language and numeracy. English is the fourth language for many of our team. 

“So we’ve adapted and adopted. And we’re having great results. Many of our team can now take their certificates. White people go to school, take exams and then go to work. We’re doing it the other way round. And it’s working. 

“Our Indigenous workers are doing us proud.” TQ 

THE HOUSING PROJECT AT GALIWIN’KU