HomeBuild NT meeting unique needs

Aaron and Miranda are long-time residents of Weemol – a community located north east of Katherine.

They’re excited to be one of three families to have their homes replaced soon under HomeBuild NT, as part of the $1.1 billion remote housing investment package Our Community. Our Future. Our Homes.

HomeBuild NT recognises there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution, and Aaron and Miranda worked with department staff to determine the most important features for their home through the use of an interactive model.

Regional project manager Raquel Timney said the couple helped to finalise the design and colour of their new home.

“They ended up settling on a three-bedroom home with a partially enclosed sleep-out room,” Raquel said.

“It helps when their families come in for footy carnivals, they’ve got that extra room for them to sleep in.

“They chose to have the second toilet up that end of the house so that when visitors do come, they’re not tracking all the way through the house to use the main bathroom.

It was a really positive outcome.”

Flooding is also a concern during periods of heavy rain, so the land around the home will also be re-scoped as part of the works, and the home will be raised.

Working with the couple to design a home that fits their individual needs has given them a sense of pride and ownership, according to Raquel.

“They were really excited, over the moon,” she said.

“You couldn’t get the smiles off their faces, they were absolutely beaming.”