- Cook Government commits $2.9 million funding to remediate and commission former Warmun aged care facility into workers hostel
- Warmun Community identified workers accommodation as the best future use for the facility during community consultation
- Hostel will house up to 12 workers in community, and include space for social enterprise development and service hubs
Regional Development Minister Don Punch has today announced $2.9 million funding to repurpose the former aged care facility in Warmun into workers accommodation, helping deliver affordable housing options for the remote Indigenous community in the East Kimberley.
The facility, which is owned by Warmun Community, was built in 2014 as part of the reconstruction efforts following a devastating flood event. However, it has never become fully operational due to challenges securing an operator and increasing Federal regulatory requirements for aged care facilities.
The Cook Government, through the Kimberley Development Commission, has been working closely with Warmun Community to develop and implement a new vision for the building, which has fallen into disrepair and become a target for vandalism.
The funding announced today will be used to remediate defects and deterioration in the plumbing, as well as internal layout modifications, solar panels, and support the Warmun Community to manage the facility.
This investment comes off the back a $500,000 grant from the State Government for the Warmun Community to engage the Fulcrum Agency to assist with community consultation to identify the best future use for the facility, as well as undertaking immediate steps to clean up and remediate the building.
In addition to workers accommodation, the hostel will become a hub for community enterprises and support services. This will include options for a commercial laundry, commercial kitchen, office space for visiting services, and a service hub for the Warmun Elder's group and for Kimberley Aged and Community Service.
As stated by Regional Development Minister Don Punch:
"This investment is a triple win for Warmun - it will deliver better housing, a place for people to come together around cooking and laundry and services, and it will transform a building that had become a liability into a community asset.
"The Cook Government is delighted to support the Community's direction for this facility, and I'm impressed by their dedication and tenacity to find a suitable solution to this long-standing problem.
"Quality of life and Aboriginal economic empowerment are central to regional development in the Kimberley, and this investment will help deliver both."
As stated by Kimberley MLA Divina D'Anna:
"This $2.9 million funding announcement is a momentous milestone for Warmun Community, who have faced many challenges trying to get this project back on track.
"Thank you to the Cook Government for working in partnership with the community to breathe new life into this disused facility and deliver affordable housing solutions for Warmun."
