Last Week Bukmak Constructions was awarded a major contract by the Northern Territory Government to build 87 new houses on Galiwin’ku community in North East Arnhem Land over the next 5 years.

This welcome news was announced as part of the Northern Territory Government’s $1.1-billion-dollar Home Build Program and The National Partnership Agreement of Remote Indigenous Housing (2018-2023).

The contract will allow Bukmak Constructions to build:

• 16 x 2 Bedroom Houses
• 48 x 3 Bedroom Houses
• 19 x 4 Bedroom Houses
• 4 x 5 Bedroom Houses

Additional funding will allow Bukmak Constructions to also enact the Northern Territory Government’s Room to Breathe Project. Allowing 60 expansions on current living spaces of houses in the community.

As a wholly-owned Aboriginal Company, Bukmak Constructions is excited to have been awarded this major contract and its Chairman Micky Wunungmurra says that this contract demonstrates that the Northern Territory Government is showing trust in Aboriginal-owned businesses and are listening to Aboriginal people’s wants and needs in remote communities. This is not just about new houses but jobs, skills, and training.

“We are pleased that the Government has awarded this contract as it now allows us to increase employment in our communities for Yolngu people. This will see Galiwin’ku have local employment for 5 years. This will house dozens of families, reducing overcrowding and this contract will create a legacy for our people to have houses built by us for us.”

 “This will support Bukmak to expand our business, to create sustainable local employment, and to empower our people and move away from welfare dependency in remote communities.”

Bukmak Constructions General Manager, Steve Roberts, is equally excited about this contract and says this contract will see Aboriginal people become qualified tradesmen in this 5-year period.

“To have Government acknowledge Bukmak’s capability and capacity to deliver major works has given us the opportunity to not only upskill our workforce but to create further work opportunities for Yolngu people outside of the community, once they graduate their qualifications. This contract is only the start of what Aboriginal Construction Companies can do.”

Bukmak Constructions workforce will increase by 100 percent as a result of this contract and will create an extra 42 jobs including the following Aboriginal Identified positions:

 5 Carpentry Apprenticeships

• 1 Plumbing Apprenticeship
• 15 Trainees Positions in various positions such as Trades Assistants, Catering, Housekeeping, and Commercial Cleaning.
• A further 15 casual positions.

Site works will begin in late April 2021 and continue through construction until project delivery in March 2026.