00:00The need for housing in Catherine has become desperate.
00:07We have 100 families and 70 young people at any one time seeking housing, safe housing,
00:14affordable housing and someone to stay at night.
00:17But today a potential fix.
00:19We're investing $7 million here in Catherine East alongside the Northern Territory Government
00:25and work with the Council to unlock further housing.
00:28The investment will see infrastructure put in place, paving the way for new neighbourhoods
00:33and over 700 new homes.
00:36This investment is for the physical infrastructure, not the building of homes,
00:40but the physical infrastructure.
00:42Roads, kerbing, culverts, sewerage, water connectivity, electricity connectivity.
00:47A portion is set aside for social and affordable housing,
00:51but it could be years before homes rise from the ground
00:55and service providers say there's a need for a more immediate solution.
01:00It needs to be happening now.
01:02The region has been calling for a number of years for investment into short-stay accommodation
01:06so when people come to town or there's overcrowding, there is somewhere safe to go.
01:11The federal funding package will also commit $4 million towards upgrading Nipmaluk Tourism Services,
01:18$1 million for the Urupunja Community Water Park
01:21and almost $2 million for upgrading access roads.
01:25As we know, Catherine Gorge attracts over 250,000 people a year.
01:30We certainly need that development and we appreciate and thank the federal government
01:35for their input into our town.
01:38Welcome attention for a town too often overlooked.
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