Darwin homeless shelter residents to be moved 100km south to Batchelor
Up to 150 residents at a Darwin homeless shelter will be relocated 100 kilometres south to Batchelor after the site's owner and the Northern Territory and federal governments could not agree on a funding arrangement.
The Northern Territory government has announced that residents of a Darwin homeless shelter will be relocated 100 kilometres south to the town of Batchelor. This decision comes after negotiations with the site's owner, Ausco, failed to reach a resolution, despite a $3.5 million Commonwealth intervention. Some affected residents expressed concern about the impact of the move on their ability to access jobs and services outside Darwin.
The government confirmed that the new facility will be ready for occupancy when the Darwin shelter closes on October 11, accommodating up to 150 people currently in transitional accommodation. Northern Territory Children and Families Minister Robyn Cahill explained that the decision was made after exploring various options, with the Batten Road site being deemed the best available before Ausco's lease ended.
While the government has been working to transition residents into alternative accommodation, around 100 people remain in need of long-term solutions. Rose Laynbalaynba, a resident living at the Darwin shelter with her children, expressed the challenges of the move, particularly for those requiring medical attention, such as renal patients.
Cahill assured that people with medical needs would be accommodated near their required services, working closely with the Department of Health to ensure proper support.
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