Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Arnhem Land cyclone shelters ‘critical’
An Albanese Labor government has committed to help build two cyclone shelters for remote Aboriginal communities in cyclone-prone Arnhem Land if it is elected.
March 15, 2022
Federal Labor has promised to help build two cyclone shelters for remote Aboriginal communities in cyclone-prone Arnhem Land if it is elected.
Candidate for Lingiari Marion Scrymgour says an Albanese government would partner with the Northern Territory government to build shelters in Maningrida and Milingimbi.
“It is infrastructure that has been needed for a long time,” she told reporters in Darwin on Tuesday.
“These shelters are critical and essential pieces of infrastructure.”
Tropical cyclone Monica caused significant damage to Maningrida in April 2006 when it passed within 40km of the town as a category five system.
Maningrida is one of the largest remote towns in the NT with about 2600 residents. It is located 500 km east of Darwin in the heart of the Arnhem Land.
Milingimbi Island is part of the Crocodile Islands in the Arafura Sea and has a population of about 600. It is about half a kilometre off the coast of central Arnhem Land and 440 km east of Darwin.
Long-serving Labor MP Warren Snowdon is set to vacate the seat of Lingiari when he retires at the upcoming federal election.