Ngallagunda Community wins Homeswest competition

23/3/97

Ngallagunda Community has won the inaugural Homeswest 'Clean Communities are Healthy Communities' competition.

Housing Minister Dr Kim Hames said enormous pride in their isolated homes had been demonstrated by remote Aboriginal communities who entered the competition.

The competition offered prizes totalling $20,000 for communities with high standards of environmental health and management.

"The competition is an attempt to tackle the link between health problems and poorly managed living environments," Dr Hames said.

"Ngallagunda Community has convincingly shown it is possible to create a clean and healthy living environment in particularly harsh surrounds where dust is a constant problem."

Ngallagunda Community is east of Derby on the Gibb River Road.

"It is obvious this community takes great pride in its appearance and it will receive the $10,000 first prize," the Minister said.

Dr Hames said the competition was a good way of letting the general public see that, despite the often adverse publicity received by remote communities, there were many which worked successfully to provide safe and clean living environments in often difficult and isolated terrain.

"Due to the climate and terrain, maintaining acceptable living standards in any remote town or community requires ceaseless work," Dr Hames said.

Criteria used to assess the winners included dog control, water management, landscaping, maintenance of community facilities and general beautification of surroundings.

The winning applicants presented the judges with a visual display of their communities telling of the work and management which had contributed to the high standards enjoyed by residents.

The prize money would be used for community facilities or improvements such as trees and gardens, playground equipment, reticulation, visitors areas, tools and equipment and cultural events.

Second prize of $5,000 was won by the Barrell Well community near Kalbarri.

Runners up with prizes worth $2,000 each were Lombadina Community near Broome and Burringurrah east of Carnarvon.

The judges' $1,000 encouragement award for effort went to Irrungadji east of Karratha.

"The judges found it extremely difficult to select winners because of the very high standards presented by all entrants and congratulated everybody for their efforts," Dr Hames said.

Homeswest would like to see the competition become a yearly event.

Media contact: Caroline Lacy 322 6521 or 0417 917 891

E-mail address: "clacy@mail.mpc.wa.gov.au"