Mr MITCHELL - 1995-11-23
There has been a great deal of speculation over the future of Dundas House in Weddell Street, Fannie Bay. Has the government finalised plans for the building?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, this question would have been asked more appropriately by the member for Fannie Bay if she were really interested in what was happening in her electorate. Given that the member for Millner is more interested in the concerns of Territorians, and in particular community-based organisations that provide an important service to the Territory community, I am happy to provide some information. Recently, Dundas House has been the subject of some discussion in the community. It had been placed, with a number of other properties, on a list of properties to be auctioned by the government. In fact, it was withdrawn recently from that list.
Ms Martin: Have you changed your mind?
Mr REED: Dundas House will be used for community purposes.
The member for Fannie Bay interjects and asks whether we have changed our minds.
Ms Martin: You put it up for auction.
Mr REED: Do not get upset. Listen and I will tell you the story. It was withdrawn from auction. The government changed its mind because it was approached by a community-based organisation which it believed could make very good use of the facility. Indeed, the member for Fannie Bay may even take a little of the credit. She wrote to me on 27 October and asked specifically whether Dundas House could be retained for community purpose use. At least at that time, she displayed a little interest in what was happening in her electorate.
The government will be offering a 5-year lease at peppercorn rental on Dundas House to the Christian Outreach Centre which operates currently in premises on the Stuart Highway to provide services to people in need. The centre will use the facility as a supported accommodation hostel for disadvantaged families, young people and sole parents in crisis. The centre provides supported accommodation, meals and food parcels, clothing and laundry facilities, and counselling services. It also provides accommodation for school children visiting
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Darwin on excursions from remote parts of the Northern Territory. It is interesting to see some of the people to whom the centre has provided assistance over the past year. It is, of course, a non-profit agency but, from July last year to June this year, the centre assisted 960 people in crisis with supported accommodation. The clients included young homeless people, women escaping violence, homeless adults and new arrivals to Darwin. Also provided with assistance were 89 people who required accommodation while their relatives were receiving hospital or community health care services, and 1193 school children who were accommodated and cared for whilst on excursion to Darwin.
The lease to the Christian Outreach Centre is in keeping with the government's intention to provide assistance, where possible, to organisations of this kind. I am sure that the Christian Outreach Centre will make good use of Dundas House. It will provide an excellent service to people in need who are seeking the sort of services that will be provided. In addition, it will provide an excellent venue for the accommodation of school children visiting Darwin for excursions. From that location, they will be able to access easily the activities that they seek to enjoy whilst they are here.
The Christian Outreach Centre will receive the keys of Dundas House today. I know that it is keen to establish its operations in the centre. By the middle of next month, it has to vacate the premises which it occupies currently on the Stuart Highway. Thus, it is timely that the government is able to offer it a lease over Dundas House. I look forward to speaking with members of this organisation in the future as I have a number of times over the past few years, particularly when I was Minister for Health and Community Services, to gain a first-hand impression of the excellent job that it does for Territorians.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, this question would have been asked more appropriately by the member for Fannie Bay if she were really interested in what was happening in her electorate. Given that the member for Millner is more interested in the concerns of Territorians, and in particular community-based organisations that provide an important service to the Territory community, I am happy to provide some information. Recently, Dundas House has been the subject of some discussion in the community. It had been placed, with a number of other properties, on a list of properties to be auctioned by the government. In fact, it was withdrawn recently from that list.
Ms Martin: Have you changed your mind?
Mr REED: Dundas House will be used for community purposes.
The member for Fannie Bay interjects and asks whether we have changed our minds.
Ms Martin: You put it up for auction.
Mr REED: Do not get upset. Listen and I will tell you the story. It was withdrawn from auction. The government changed its mind because it was approached by a community-based organisation which it believed could make very good use of the facility. Indeed, the member for Fannie Bay may even take a little of the credit. She wrote to me on 27 October and asked specifically whether Dundas House could be retained for community purpose use. At least at that time, she displayed a little interest in what was happening in her electorate.
The government will be offering a 5-year lease at peppercorn rental on Dundas House to the Christian Outreach Centre which operates currently in premises on the Stuart Highway to provide services to people in need. The centre will use the facility as a supported accommodation hostel for disadvantaged families, young people and sole parents in crisis. The centre provides supported accommodation, meals and food parcels, clothing and laundry facilities, and counselling services. It also provides accommodation for school children visiting
Page 1044
Darwin on excursions from remote parts of the Northern Territory. It is interesting to see some of the people to whom the centre has provided assistance over the past year. It is, of course, a non-profit agency but, from July last year to June this year, the centre assisted 960 people in crisis with supported accommodation. The clients included young homeless people, women escaping violence, homeless adults and new arrivals to Darwin. Also provided with assistance were 89 people who required accommodation while their relatives were receiving hospital or community health care services, and 1193 school children who were accommodated and cared for whilst on excursion to Darwin.
The lease to the Christian Outreach Centre is in keeping with the government's intention to provide assistance, where possible, to organisations of this kind. I am sure that the Christian Outreach Centre will make good use of Dundas House. It will provide an excellent service to people in need who are seeking the sort of services that will be provided. In addition, it will provide an excellent venue for the accommodation of school children visiting Darwin for excursions. From that location, they will be able to access easily the activities that they seek to enjoy whilst they are here.
The Christian Outreach Centre will receive the keys of Dundas House today. I know that it is keen to establish its operations in the centre. By the middle of next month, it has to vacate the premises which it occupies currently on the Stuart Highway. Thus, it is timely that the government is able to offer it a lease over Dundas House. I look forward to speaking with members of this organisation in the future as I have a number of times over the past few years, particularly when I was Minister for Health and Community Services, to gain a first-hand impression of the excellent job that it does for Territorians.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016