Short-stay Katherine accommodation a priority for NT Budget: NT Shelter

In its Pre-Budget Submissions, obtained by the Katherine Times and released publicly on Tuesday, NT Shelter has made 13 key requests of the NT Government ahead of the 2022-23 Budget - one of them being for an accommodation facility for people visiting Katherine for a range of reasons, including medical appointments.

It comes after 19 leading organisations in Katherine - including Wurli-Wurlinjang Health Service, the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJ), Save the Children and Katherine Town Council - signed a letter ahead of the 2020 NT election making the same request of the elected government.

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NT Shelter's Executive Officer, Peter McMillan, said Katherine had been "overlooked" and "neglected" when it comes to short-stay accommodation options, with Katherine being the only major regional centre in the NT that does not currently have short-stay accommodation for visitors or a plan to provide it.

"It took a crisis in Tennant Creek to get all three levels of Government together to strike a regional deal which, among other things, committed to culturally appropriate short-stay accommodation for visitors to Tennant Creek," Mr McMillan said.

"It shouldn't take another crisis to get similar safe and secure infrastructure built in Katherine, which would be value for money and the least we can do for people who need to come to town."

A survey undertaken in 2020 by management at the Katherine Salvation Army Doorways Hub found 94 per cent of people who had come to Katherine for a medical appointment were sleeping rough due to the absence of any affordable and appropriate short-stay accommodation options.

Mr McMillan said the lack of short-term accommodation in Katherine was highlighted during the COVID-19 lockdowns in the town in recent years, with government-funded hotels being the only option for rough sleepers.

"Katherine is a major regional hub that covers a footprint the size of Victoria and Tasmania combined. It is completely unacceptable that people coming to town for medical help and surgery from outlying communities have nowhere to stay", Mr McMillan said.

NT Shelter is also calling on parties contesting the upcoming Federal Election to commit to funding the construction of a short-stay accommodation facility, with a request that the NT Government fund any ongoing operational costs.

"This is exactly the sort of social infrastructure project that Infrastructure Australia and Infrastructure NT have both stressed is critically important for ensuring vibrant and livable communities. We simply can't afford to let this opportunity slip through the cracks," Mr McMillan said.

Among the other key asks for the Budget are; a reduction in the average number of days to occupy an urban public housing asset by 25 per cent by 2023, and by 50 per cent by 20204, as well as the implementation of safeguards against unreasonable rent increases for NT tennants.

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