Griffith paves the way for roads to home
The Aboriginal community at Griffith is partnering with the NSW Government on more than $4.3 million in infrastructure upgrades to provide social, economic and employment benefits for the area.
The NSW Government has committed a total of $173.8 million under Roads to Home to support infrastructure upgrades in 34 discrete Aboriginal communities across the state, including $4,367,961 for the Three Ways Aboriginal Reserve upgrade.
The Roads to Home program in the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) is working with Griffith Local Aboriginal Land Council to upgrade the Three Ways Aboriginal Reserve.
The Griffith project will include construction and upgrading of roads, pathways, car parking, driveways and fencing. Stormwater infrastructure will also be improved together with electricity infrastructure, including the upgrading of power supply and installation of new street lighting.
Landscaping work will also be undertaken to beautify the area.
Four residents will gain employment and another a traineeship as part of the project with Aboriginal contractor Wamarra, with training undertaken in conjunction with TAFE NSW to obtain skills qualifications in construction induction, traffic control and roller skid-steer operation.
Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:
“Roads to Home is a grassroots program that empowers Aboriginal communities to make decisions about infrastructure upgrades to enhance quality of life and improve access to services, including waste collection, postal delivery, emergency access and community transport.
“Significant benefits can be created for communities when they have fit-for-purpose infrastructure, and this project will support social, employment and training benefits for local Aboriginal residents.”
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris said:
“Roads to Home will help to Close the Gap by improving the skills and economic prosperity of Aboriginal people and Communities, which is fundamental to supporting better life outcomes overall.
“Importantly, Aboriginal people are shared decision-makers in this project, which is a key focus for The NSW Government as Aboriginal people know what works best for their communities.”
Member for Murray Helen Dalton said:
“I welcome this investment to improve essential infrastructure and support a better quality of life for the residents of the Three Ways Aboriginal Reserve.
“Roads to Home is correcting an historic injustice where Aboriginal communities on former missions and reserves were left without the types of infrastructure other communities take for granted.”
Griffith Local Aboriginal Land Council Community CEO Stephen Young said:
“There was a legacy of Aboriginal reserves being originally developed without proper building standards and poor-quality infrastructure resulting in a legacy of problems, but the government recognises the issue and has committed funding to provide civil infrastructure upgrades that are really needed.
“Quality infrastructure enhances quality of life and can even extend life spans as poor Aboriginal health outcomes can result from poor infrastructure.”