Parliamentary Secretary visit

By NSW Dept of Aboriginal Affairs

The opening of new homes for Moree’s Aboriginal community was the highlight of a regional tour of Aboriginal communities by the Parliamentary Secretary for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr Bryce Gaudry MP.

Mr Gaudry said the trip to the northwest communities of Boggabilla/Toomelah, Moree and Brewarrina was an opportunity to meet with local Aboriginal people and assess the progress of work being carried out by the Aboriginal Communities Development Program (ACDP).

"The ACDP is a $240 million housing and infrastructure program that is transforming Aboriginal communities with new homes and infrastructure needs such as water and sewerage."

"The combined work of the three projects will see $41.833 million spent resulting in the building of up to 95 new homes, repairs, maintenance & upgrading of existing homes, improvements to water and sewerage services and other environmental health infrastructure." Mr Gaudry said.

While touring the ACDP sites in the Boggabilla/Toomelah communities Mr Gaudry also met with community members and some of the 15 Aboriginal apprentices, highlighting the fact that local Aboriginal people are employed by the project.

"An important aspect of the ACDP is that it employs and trains local people to carry out the work, keeping the money in the community" Mr Gaudry said.

In Moree Mr Gaudry unveiled a plaque in honour of Betty French to commemorate the opening of several new homes.

"The local community are excited about the changes taking place with the completion of the new homes" he said.

Mr Gaudry also visited Brewarrina where he officially opened the units for the elderly, toured ACDP sites and visited the Brewarrina 'fish traps' which were built by Aboriginal people along the Barwon River.