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South Australian Indigenous communities to get street names South Australian Indigenous communities to get street names
(4 months later)
Some Aboriginal communities in South Australia are unmarked in records or maps, but that is about to change.Some Aboriginal communities in South Australia are unmarked in records or maps, but that is about to change.
When you don’t have a house number or street name, filling in forms to access welfare payments, apply for a driver’s licence or register a car can be particularly problematic.When you don’t have a house number or street name, filling in forms to access welfare payments, apply for a driver’s licence or register a car can be particularly problematic.
This is especially so when using online services and has proved a real problem for communities on South Australia’s Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands and a number of other Aboriginal communities.This is especially so when using online services and has proved a real problem for communities on South Australia’s Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands and a number of other Aboriginal communities.
But the South Australian government has recently completed a $272,000 program to allocate house block numbers and to name 143 roads across 13 communities covering about 100,000 sq kms.But the South Australian government has recently completed a $272,000 program to allocate house block numbers and to name 143 roads across 13 communities covering about 100,000 sq kms.
About 2500 people live in these communities and, while local knowledge of where people live is often sufficient, the allocation of street names and numbers is also about providing services and programs which others across Australia take for granted – and allowing those communities to be better serviced.About 2500 people live in these communities and, while local knowledge of where people live is often sufficient, the allocation of street names and numbers is also about providing services and programs which others across Australia take for granted – and allowing those communities to be better serviced.
“With no recognised addressing system, Aboriginal people living on the lands were unable to provide a valid address when interacting with the wider world,” infrastructure minister Stephen Mullighan said.“With no recognised addressing system, Aboriginal people living on the lands were unable to provide a valid address when interacting with the wider world,” infrastructure minister Stephen Mullighan said.
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“Online forms for everyday use, such as registration, banking and Centrelink access, were out of reach.”“Online forms for everyday use, such as registration, banking and Centrelink access, were out of reach.”
The program is also a benefit for people coming onto the lands, including emergency services, who can have access to maps which will allow individual streets, houses and businesses to be located.The program is also a benefit for people coming onto the lands, including emergency services, who can have access to maps which will allow individual streets, houses and businesses to be located.
Copies of those maps have been distributed throughout the communities.Copies of those maps have been distributed throughout the communities.
Streets have been named using local landmarks and sites and also Aboriginal words for Australian animals.Streets have been named using local landmarks and sites and also Aboriginal words for Australian animals.
The program was completed in about 12 months, while others in Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory have been ongoing for several years.The program was completed in about 12 months, while others in Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory have been ongoing for several years.
Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure spokesman Sean Frost told the Paper Tracker radio program that APY community members were engaged throughout and the final list of street names was approved by local officials.Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure spokesman Sean Frost told the Paper Tracker radio program that APY community members were engaged throughout and the final list of street names was approved by local officials.
He said a key element of the project was about ongoing recognition of Aboriginal communities in mainstream Australia.He said a key element of the project was about ongoing recognition of Aboriginal communities in mainstream Australia.
But the project has stopped short of actually installing street signs on the lands, which has drawn criticism from the South Australian opposition.But the project has stopped short of actually installing street signs on the lands, which has drawn criticism from the South Australian opposition.
Health spokesman Stephen Wade also questioned if the money spent was the best use of taxpayer funds, given other issues facing the APY communities, including health concerns.Health spokesman Stephen Wade also questioned if the money spent was the best use of taxpayer funds, given other issues facing the APY communities, including health concerns.
“APY communities are relatively small and residents generally know each other and where they live, as do the local policing and support services,” Wade told parliament in February.“APY communities are relatively small and residents generally know each other and where they live, as do the local policing and support services,” Wade told parliament in February.
“In the event that an external service provider visits a community to make contact with an individual or household and has their house number and street name, they will be unable to locate the house in the absence of any road signs.”“In the event that an external service provider visits a community to make contact with an individual or household and has their house number and street name, they will be unable to locate the house in the absence of any road signs.”
The Aboriginal affairs minister, Kyam Maher, said the project should not be seen as limiting other work on the APY Lands.The Aboriginal affairs minister, Kyam Maher, said the project should not be seen as limiting other work on the APY Lands.
“I don’t think it is a case of by doing one thing you are necessarily detracting from everything else you do,” he said.“I don’t think it is a case of by doing one thing you are necessarily detracting from everything else you do,” he said.
“I think the more we can provide services and deliver programs that everyone else around Australia has come to expect, is a good thing.”“I think the more we can provide services and deliver programs that everyone else around Australia has come to expect, is a good thing.”