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The Torres Strait housing and infrastructure revolution

26 March 2003 - TORRES STRAIT REGIONAL AUTHORITY Media Release - The Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) today highlighted how a housing and infrastructure revolution is improving the basic standard of living in Torres Strait island communities and boosting the North Queensland economy.

Speaking on Radio 4 MW, TSRA Deputy Chairperson, Margaret Mau said the effect of housing and infrastructure development in the region was considered a revolution because it was changing the way people lived and how governments dealt with the local needs in these two areas.

“What is happening is a three-pronged process, firstly the basic standard of living for our people is improving because we are attacking our health problems at its core - that is making sure people have quality houses to live in and proper infrastructure to support their community,” Mrs Mau said.

“In 1993, the Torres Strait health strategy identified poor quantity and quality of water and the sewerage and waste disposal system at the time as contributing factors to our region’s high hospital admission numbers.

“Many people don’t realise it, but it was only five years ago when nearly all communities in the Torres Strait, except Thursday Island, had no proper water supply, flushing toilets or sewerage - water had to be barged into islands each year.

“There has been a dramatic improvement in these infrastructure regionally since the Major Infrastructure Program (MIP) was introduced, but there is still a great deal to be done until we have a quality of life comparable to Australians on the mainland.

“The second thing that is happening in our region is that the State, Commonwealth and local governments are working together to target specific problems through inter-agency agreements and operational committees.

“One example is the Joint Torres Strait Housing and Infrastructure Committee (JTSHIC) which among other things develops strategic policy, reviews the region’s infrastructure plan and coordinates the allocation of resources for housing and infrastructure projects.

“Historically, there were a number of agencies operating in the region that were trying to address the same problems, but using their limited resources they each attempted to develop individual projects that were not feasible in the mid to long term or linked to each other.

“Now through JTSHIC, agencies such as the TSRA, the Department of Families and Community Services, the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy, the Department of Housing and the Island Coordinating Council are able to pool resources and concentrate on fixing the priority areas with a long-term view.

“The third and often overlooked effect that this development is having is on the local and regional North Queensland economy.

“Not only do the housing and infrastructure projects provide employment and training opportunities for locals in the Torres Strait, but it is generating substantial income for regional businesses.

“Remember each time a sewerage line is put in or a water desalination plant is installed or houses are built, the materials have to come from somewhere.

“In 90 percent of the projects, materials and equipment are purchased from Cairns-based companies.

“A recent example is Sharplift Cairns who gained publicity in the Cairns Post for their supplying of a desalination plant to the Masig (Yorke Island) community.

“When you look at the Major Infrastructure Program (MIP) alone we are talking about a total of $66 million over a six year period - that’s a significant contribution to the Far North’s economy, especially when you consider the size and population of the Torres Strait.

“There is a general perception that what is happening in our areas is common place, but if you consider the impact of these projects on people’s lifestyle, the way these projects are being conducted pooling limited resources, its impact on the wider economy and its forcing of governments to re-think the way they do business in our area - this is a revolution.

“Having said all of this, until the life expectancy for Torres Strait Islanders is on par with non-indigenous Australians and we are able to reduce the rates of overcrowding in local housing there is still a lot of work to be done - but this is a very good start.

“I think the people of Queensland and Australia need to know what is happening in the Torres Strait, because this is an example of indigenous and non-indigenous people work together to address a common problem over the long-term - it is an example of practical reconciliation with real results,” Mrs Mau said.

Source: TORRES STRAIT REGIONAL AUTHORITY

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