Western Australia's Kiwirrkurra community welcomed home

12/9/02
People from the remote Aboriginal community of Kiwirrkurra in Western Australia have begun returning to their homes in the Western Desert, thanks to the combined efforts of the State and Federal Governments and ATSIC.
Indigenous Affairs Minister Alan Carpenter travelled to Kiwirrkurra today, 2,500km north of Kalgoorlie, to officially welcome the community back to their traditional lands, 19 months after severe flooding resulted in their evacuation to other parts of the country.
"The Kiwirrkurra Aboriginal community has been through difficult times since being evacuated in March last year," Mr Carpenter said.
"They have shown great patience and tolerance about being away from their homes, and to be able to return finally to their community and their land is a great moment for them."
The State Government, through the Department of Indigenous Affairs and the Department of Housing and Works has provided $610,000 towards the restoration of the Kiwirrkurra community's housing and infrastructure. This funding forms part of the total $1.7million financial assistance package provided by the Government, the Commonwealth and ATSIC.
"I commend the collaborative efforts of the State and Federal Governments and ATSIC in working together to ensure the Kiwirrkurra community can safely return to their land," Mr Carpenter said.
The Minister thanked the communities of Kintore (in the Northern Territory), Balgo, Tjurkurla and Warakurna for accommodating the Kiwirrkurra community during difficult times. He also acknowledged the support of the Shire of East Pilbara, particularly in ensuring the restoration of the access road to the community.
Housing and Works Minister Tom Stephens welcomed the opening of the Kiwirrkurra community and the safe return of community members to their traditional lands.
"The Department of Housing and Works' remote area essential services program, which is responsible for maintaining essential services to more than 70 remote communities across the State, has provided valuable funding to restore power and water to Kiwirrkurra," Mr Stephens said.
"In addition, the department has made it a high priority to restore damaged and abandoned public houses in the community to dwellings that offered basic utilities such as power and hot water, something which we take for granted living in the metropolitan areas."
Mr Carpenter said the Kiwirrkurra flooding had highlighted issues relating to emergency management in remote communities.
"As a result of some of the outcomes of the Kiwirrkurra evacuation, we have formed a committee which will examine how emergency management procedures to indigenous communities can be enhanced," he said.
"We need to clearly identify roles and responsibilities at all levels of Government - local, State and Federal."
Close to 25 of the 170 Kiwirrkurra people have returned to the community, with the remaining 145 members expected to return in the coming weeks.
Minister Carpenter's office: 9213 6800
Minister Stephens' office: 9213 6500