Community clean ups

As part of the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER), launched by the former Australian Government in June 2007, a program to clean up communities and make urgent repairs to houses was conducted largely during the first year.

Community people have been encouraged to pick up rubbish, paint or sweep out houses, clean up common areas, or assist tradespeople by digging trenches for pipes or holes for posts.

The Government has provided materials and qualified tradespeople to do more complex repairs.

As a first step the tradespeople visited communities to go through each house and work out what needed to be done. The tradespeople undertook any immediate repairs, ‘locked down’ or ‘tagged’ other repairs, and returned with the required materials to complete these repairs at a later date.

The tradespeople undertook only the special work they were qualified to do—such as electrical work and plumbing. Simpler repairs have been done by community members, including participants in the Structured Training and Employment Program and CDEP.

‘Make safe works’ and ‘minor vital repairs’ have been completed in all target communities.

All NTER communities have also been surveyed for asbestos containing material. On 29 May 2008 the Minister announced that the Australian Government will remove all asbestos containing material recommended for removal within 12 months by the companies that undertook the surveys.