Mr KURRUPUWU - 2015-02-24
Yesterday you visited cyclone affected regions of the Top End. Can you please update the House on what you saw and how the schools are working towards returning to their normal operation?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for his question. He lives in an area that faces the perils of cyclones. I had the opportunity yesterday to visit Galiwinku, Milingimbi and Ramingining. What I saw was a reminder of what anyone living in the Top End of Australia should prepare for.
Ms Walker: Did you see all those great houses built under Labor?
Mr CHANDLER: Picking up on the interjection from the member for Nhulunbuy, it was of note to me how some of the newer infrastructure stood up well. Unfortunately, when they had to compete with trees it was another story. It was clear the new building standards used across the Top End will stand up to Category 4 winds and many people can take heart in knowing that. This included elevated homes, older designs and newer designs. Those coded houses stood up well.
One of the main reasons I went there was to look at the schools and see what is required to maintain education services in the region. At Galiwinku – Shepherdson College – they were fortunate there was only one bit of damage to a staff room from a fallen tree. It could have been a lot worse. Driving through the communities and looking around, I could not believe how fortunate they were with trees that had missed homes and infrastructure. Trees fell right next to buildings. There were two buildings, no more than a metre apart, and a tree fell between them; it was extraordinary. Those that did sustain damage were damaged badly.
I have major concerns for the Ramingining School above the other two schools, because of the amount of damage caused by large trees in the area. But, we had teams on the ground there. I must pass this message to the Minister for Essential Services: everywhere I went, not only were the police and emergency services workers praised – as, too, were the community involved – but, kudos was given to the Power and Water crews. They were there early trying to reconnect power to the communities as soon as possible.
They were applauded wherever I went. There is a lot of work ahead, but we must ensure we put the right resources into those areas and, especially regarding education, get those services up and running as soon as possible.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for his question. He lives in an area that faces the perils of cyclones. I had the opportunity yesterday to visit Galiwinku, Milingimbi and Ramingining. What I saw was a reminder of what anyone living in the Top End of Australia should prepare for.
Ms Walker: Did you see all those great houses built under Labor?
Mr CHANDLER: Picking up on the interjection from the member for Nhulunbuy, it was of note to me how some of the newer infrastructure stood up well. Unfortunately, when they had to compete with trees it was another story. It was clear the new building standards used across the Top End will stand up to Category 4 winds and many people can take heart in knowing that. This included elevated homes, older designs and newer designs. Those coded houses stood up well.
One of the main reasons I went there was to look at the schools and see what is required to maintain education services in the region. At Galiwinku – Shepherdson College – they were fortunate there was only one bit of damage to a staff room from a fallen tree. It could have been a lot worse. Driving through the communities and looking around, I could not believe how fortunate they were with trees that had missed homes and infrastructure. Trees fell right next to buildings. There were two buildings, no more than a metre apart, and a tree fell between them; it was extraordinary. Those that did sustain damage were damaged badly.
I have major concerns for the Ramingining School above the other two schools, because of the amount of damage caused by large trees in the area. But, we had teams on the ground there. I must pass this message to the Minister for Essential Services: everywhere I went, not only were the police and emergency services workers praised – as, too, were the community involved – but, kudos was given to the Power and Water crews. They were there early trying to reconnect power to the communities as soon as possible.
They were applauded wherever I went. There is a lot of work ahead, but we must ensure we put the right resources into those areas and, especially regarding education, get those services up and running as soon as possible.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016