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for decision on tenure for residents at One Mile Dam
Attention: Clare Martin, Chief Minister Northern Territory
Dear Clare We the Residents of One Mile Dam (OMD) community -- 16 Dinah Beach Rd, Stuart Park, Northern territory -- are in an impossible situation due to the unwillingness of Northern Territory governments to communicate with us regarding tenure at One Mile Dam. A basic human right - to be aware of our government's plans involving our future - is being denied to people already suffering decades of neglect. That the government could compound such long term neglect by forcibly moving people from the OMD community is an ever present fear to the people here. - This “long term neglect” is not a fact contested by anyone (and that includes yourself and Government ministers) involved with One Mile Dam. On Friday 10th September 2004, Senator Amanda Vanstone - Federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs voiced her belief that the residents needed to know exactly where they stood regarding tenure, before any substantial work could be undertaken. This is a commonsensical view that we have voiced for some time. Support for the continuation and consolidation of the One Mile Dam community was expressed by Country Liberal Party (CLP) MP David Tollner who accompanied Senator Vanstone. While this support was appreciated, it was pointed out to Mr. Tollner that the Clare Martin - Australian Labor Party (ALP) government had "inherited" this situation after 26 years of continuous CLP government. We would also point out that Mick Lambe (Kumbutjil Association's Project Officer) made a request to the NT ALP regarding the status of 'town camps' shortly after you won the election in 2001. He is still awaiting a reply.
We are pleased that some very basic maintenance is finally being carried out by Yilli Rreung Housing Association, after decades of criminal neglect by the Aboriginal Development Foundation (ADF). However our feelings are tempered with the knowledge of just how little and how late such activity is -- particularly in the context of the services and conditions in surrounding suburbs -- and especially when some of these non-Aboriginal 'communities' have only been created recently. Obviously they do not have our problems with security of tenure. We (Kumbutjil Association) intend to apply for the lease at OMD currently held by the ADF when it becomes available. We would appreciate (and formally request) assistance in making such an application. Yilli Rreung is now charged with the unenviable task of essentially ‘maintaining’ sub-standard housing at OMD. We are sure you can see the ethical and operational problems such a role presents for a purported Aboriginal housing corporation. An example of this unsuitable cosmetic approach would be the cleaning of the ablution blocks by Yilli Rreung, just prior to the visit by Senator Vanstone. Development should include One Mile Dam mob The status of One Mile Dam as an Aboriginal community and the results of the aforementioned neglect would seem the only factors militating against a simple answer to our requests for clarification on our future tenure. The pressure of nearby development (given the increased and now substantial real estate value of OMD) is another factor that was raised by David Tollner. We would rather assume -- for the purposes of negotiation with your government -- that the well-being and security of long term residents far outweighs such minor (given the extent of potential commercial holdings) economic considerations. In fact we see the consolidation and reconstruction of the One Mile Dam community as complementing the development in our area. Further delay to an already long overdue decision about One Mile Dam's tenure must be seen as continuing a discriminatory and unjust regime against people who still have the lowest social outcomes of all ‘Australians’. We want an answer to this just request Clare – We want it now. yours respectfully Kumbutjil Association
Information / background -- One Mile dam - http://onemiledam.org/ Articles -- One Mile Dam - http://country-liberal-party.com/One-Mile-Dam/pages/Articles.htm - We would appreciate any assistance with legal and other matters from the recipients of this widely circulated request for secure tenure for the residents at One Mile Dam community. Letters of support can be emailed to us at kumbutjil@bushtech.com.au – Thank you |
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