$1.1 million upgrade for Narwan Village at Armidale

03 Jul 2023

The NSW Government is partnering with Armidale Local Aboriginal Land Council to implement a range of infrastructure upgrades to the Aboriginal community of Narwan Village, formerly gazetted as East Armidale Aboriginal Reserve.

The Department of Planning and Environment is investing $1.1 million under its Roads to Home program into the Narwan Village project.

Narwan Village will benefit from upgrades to infrastructure including repaved roads, curb and guttering, street lighting, stormwater drainage, road widening and vehicle turning bays.

Lyes Earthmoving and Civil have been contracted to undertake the upgrades which will improve access to services such as waste collection, emergency services and community transport. The addition of stormwater drains, curb and guttering will reduce flood risk to support better health and social outcomes and the new park will provide a safe place for local children to play.

Work has commenced at the bottom of Mann Street and will progress up Morris Street to Longswamp Road. Smith Street, Desilva and Archibald Streets are also included in the scope of works with the new park to be located at the end of Mossman Street.

Narwan Village Upgrade 1 — Lye Earthmoving and Civil’s Greg Lye with Rebekah Livermore and Lena Vale who are among the local women getting training.

Armidale Local Aboriginal Land Council partnered with Lye Earthmoving, Training NSW and New England Training and Assessment to provide training opportunities to Aboriginal women. At least 16 women will be employed as labourers and traffic controllers throughout the 6 months of the program.

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said Roads to Home aims to support self-determination by empowering Aboriginal communities to make decisions about infrastructure upgrades that can help improve quality of life, access to services and economic opportunities by improving amenity and access to services.

“Upgraded roads and individual lots will improve access for Narwan Village’s residents and emergency services, waste collection, mail delivery and community transport, while stormwater, curb and guttering will reduce flood risk to support better health and social outcomes,” Mr Kamper said.

Armidale Local Aboriginal Land Council CEO Clive Ahoy said: “Most importantly the work will put our streets on GPS mapping systems which means emergency services will be able to easily locate addresses. This could end up saving lives.”

Head contractor Lye Earthmoving and Civil’s Greg Lye of Lye Earthmoving and Civil said: “We're enjoying working with the community, being involved in providing training and employment opportunities for the women is a real highlight.”

Narwan Village 2 — Kayla Kim, Karen Morris and Shanelle Morris are among local women getting training from the Narwan Village project.

Armidale Local Aboriginal Land Council Chairperson Melissa Moran said: “We need to acknowledge the legacy and history of our mission and how it represents our ancestors' fight for a better life for us. As a community we need to keep working together towards goals for Narwan Village so we don't let our ancestors or future generations down.”

Armidale Local Aboriginal Land Council Project Officer Jen Stanford said: “The Land Council's been working on this program for 3 years so it's exciting to see work hitting the ground and the girls on site in their hi-vis gear. What I really can't wait to see is a beautiful new park for the children.”