PLANNED DIVERSIONARY FACILITY LOCATION RETHOUGHT DUE TO FLOODS

The Diversionary Program in the Kimberley will teach land care skills. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

In the Kimberley, the location of a planned youth diversionary facility is being reconsidered after flooding that took place earlier this year.

Aboriginal organisation KRED Enterprises will collaborate with the State Government to create the facility which is designed to support at-risk youth and families.

KRED CEO Damien Perriman said collaboration with the Government is ongoing. 

‘‘We’ve had to rethink the location to some extent,’’ he said.

‘‘Even though the sites that we had earmarked were unaffected by the floods, it’s the access and other things around that we need to reconsider whether it’s going to be appropriate or not.’’

A Government spokesperson said no decisions have been made to change the location, and that the state is looking at all site location options.

The State Government has confirmed that the Marlamanu Project is not “on hold’’ and has not had its funding diverted to flood recovery.

The State Government intends to negotiate a funding agreement in the second quarter of 2023 and will not provide project milestones or a specific start date before a funding agreement is signed.

The flooding has made the site inaccessible due to damaged and destroyed road infrastructure.

Update 1/03/23: This article has been amended to include comment from a State Government spokesperson.