The Northern Territory Government has revealed where residents displaced by the closure of Darwin’s largest homelessness accommodation service will be relocated, announcing a new Respite and Recovery Facility in Batchelor.
The facility will provide transitional accommodation for YiSSA residents ahead of the closure of the Marrara short-stay accommodation centre on Batten Road on October 11, while also serving as an emergency evacuation hub during the Territory’s cyclone season.
The Finocchiaro Government announced it would establish the Northern Territory Respite and Recovery Facility next to the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education, with separate areas dedicated to former YiSSA residents and emergency evacuees.
The Government will invest $7 million from its $100 million Flood Recovery Fund to develop emergency evacuation capability at the site, alongside a further $2 million grant to the Coomalie Community Government Council for local road upgrades, signage and street lighting.
Transitional accommodation for YiSSA residents will be funded through the existing $9.215 million Batten Road allocation, with relocations expected to happen before the current facility closes next month.
The announcement provides the clearest indication yet of the Government’s transition plans following months of uncertainty surrounding the future of YiSSA.
In July, the CLP Government gave YiSSA operators Yilli Rreung Housing Aboriginal Corporation and Mission Australia 90 days to vacate the Batten Road site after negotiations with facility owner Ausco failed.
The decision left more than 230 adults and 160 children facing an uncertain future, sparking criticism from homelessness advocates and prompting intervention from the Federal Government.
In August, Northern Territory Senator Malarndirri McCarthy confirmed the Commonwealth had offered funding support to help the Territory Government purchase the facility and keep it operating.
However, Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro ruled out reopening negotiations with Ausco, arguing taxpayers should not be forced to pay what the Government considers an excessive asking price for the ageing facility.
Speaking on Mix 104.9, Ms Finocchiaro said Territory and Federal representatives had discussed the proposal, but no agreement had been reached.
“We’ve been very clear that those adults and children in the facility need somewhere to go and we will find it, but we are not going to pay well and truly more than what should be paid to keep that facility open,” she said.
The Government has previously revealed its offer of $3 million for the buildings was rejected by Ausco, which is reportedly seeking $6.5 million.
Children and Families Minister Robyn Cahill said the Batchelor facility would provide immediate accommodation while helping residents transition into long-term housing.
“We will relocate existing demountable buildings from Cutler Place and upgrade them to provide safe transitional accommodation to support Territorians doing it tough to move towards longer-term housing,” Ms Cahill said.
“The new transitional accommodation will focus on assessing residents’ long-term needs through structured case management.”
Ms Cahill said the project would not only support vulnerable residents but also strengthen Batchelor’s role as a regional services hub and improve the Territory’s emergency response capabilities.
YiSSA provides short-term accommodation for people travelling from remote communities to Darwin, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and families experiencing homelessness or escaping domestic and family violence.
The service also delivers culturally appropriate accommodation and outreach support across Darwin and Palmerston.
