Kowanyama housing improvement program

Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council was given funding for 4 more houses in 2007/08. In 2008/09 it will get another $5 million to respond to high levels of overcrowding in the community.

Based on identified community need, funds were used to buy factory-built housing to deliver housing quickly into the community. Each house will include concrete paths, carport and paved driveway, washing lines and fencing. Houses will be designed to enable access for tenants with physical mobility difficulties.

Kowanyama has also been selected as to participate in the Australian Government's Fixing Houses for Better Health (FHBH) project. So far the FHBH project has provided 350 immediate repairs and issued 3,317 work orders for electrical, plumbing general maintenance and gas works. This stage of the project employed 15 local Community Development Employment Project (CDEP) workers.

Stage 2 was completed in coordination with the Queensland Department of Housing's maintenance program. It delivered health and safety improvements including smoke detectors, residual currency devices and gas compliance. Stage 2 employed 26 local CDEP workers and 1 Newstart participant full-time.

Other work included:

• repairing or replacing taps and shower fixtures
• unblocking drains, sinks and toilets
• reporting on all solar hot water systems
• installing isolation valves
• electrical work