In early 2004, the Kumbutjil Association was formed by residents of Darwin's One Mile Dam community to undertake projects in the community and address the profound health and safety issues confronting residents. According to community leader David Timber: "We want to do things for ourselves and to be in control of our own lives. We have started to do just that." The following article is abridged from the Kumbutjil Association's September newsletter.
One Mile Dam is an Aboriginal community situated half a kilometre from Darwin's CBD with a population of 150 people. There are 50 permanent residents living in six dwellings, all made from tin. Up to 20 people live in the wire mesh shelter (originally built as a community hall) and under another tin roof with no walls. A number of family groups also camp in tents and under tarps in and around the One Mile Dam lease area.
One Mile Dam is the only place in central Darwin where Aboriginal people can stay, within their cultural comfort zone and within the law. One Mile Dam provides a sanctuary for Indigenous homeless people, giving an alternative to living on the streets, providing shelter and basic facilities and functions in a way that Aboriginal people feel welcome and accepted. This camping population is much bigger in the dry season when the weather is good. There are only two toilet and shower block facilities. A total of seven toilets are shared between all residents (when they are working). Police, and Community Patrol rely on One Mile Dam as an alternative to sobering up shelters or the police lock-up. The government has yet to recognise One Mile Dam for providing this important service.
In the early days, Indigenous people were not entitled to housing and lived in the undeveloped areas in the coffee bush around the town of Darwin. It was the old people of the now permanent residents who lobbied the government of the time for their place and for a future for their families. The special purpose lease was granted in 1979 to the Aboriginal Development Foundation (ADF) for an Aboriginal living area at One Mile Dam. This fulfilled the overwhelming need for a permanent place where Indigenous people could stay. The lease area was then of no use to the government or developers being situated at the out end of drainage systems for Stuart Park and Darwin, next to mangroves in the low land before the drains entered the sea.
A large area of land above the One Mile Dam Community, known as the tank farm, has been the site of fuel storage from early Darwin days. The relocation of the large fuel tanks and development of the tank farm area for medium to high density inner city living is now a reality for the government and prospective developers. The tanks will be relocated to the new Darwin Port within a few years. In 1997 the Country Liberal Party NT government announced that the One Mile Dam community did not fit in to future development plans for this area and that the people would have to move. General community support for One Mile Dam to stay made the story go quiet.
When in opposition, Labor's Clare Martin and John Ah Kit were strong supporters of the One Mile Dam community. However, it now appears that the Labor Government has been in quiet negotiation with the ADF (as the formal leaseholder of the land). The ADF and the Department of Lands, Planning and Environment (DLPE) have not involved residents of the One Mile Dam community in discussions about future developments. The residents continue to hear stories from government and community agencies that they will be moved. This lack of consultation is entirely undemocratic.
The current proposed development of the One Mile Dam lease is to reduce the lease area by about half by re-zoning this area to open parkland. Two of the better dwellings at One Mile Dam are situated in this area.
These plans for our area are for the benefit of developers. Once again this proposal was made without consultation with the community. A decision by government on this re-zoning is due to be made soon. One Mile Dam residents are determined to stay and have publicly stated many times that "we will not be moved". They have put a submission in to the DLPE opposing the proposed re-zoning and have asked the government for written assurance that the lease will not be changed in any way and will be retained as an Aboriginal living area. No such assurance has been forthcoming.
The residents have plans to develop housing and infrastructure in line with general community standards. The Kumbutjil Association has informed the government of its desire to hold the lease so that in future residents can be assured that the community's interests are represented and that their history and future will not be negotiated by a third party.
Our community sees housing as a priority. Other key issues for the community are: The polluted state of the dam and the out-of-control weed problems; regular and reliable rubbish collection; public telephone and street lights; employment, education and purposeful training for the residents; resources and advice in accessing funding for community projects and consulting with government.
We, the residents at One Mile Dam, have a vision for our future. We want a community that is consulted, informed and has a strong voice; a role model for other Indigenous communities struggling with the old system of having decisions made for and about them, with no consultation.
[To offer your support, or for copies of the Kumbutjil Association newsletter, visit <http://www.onemiledam.org>, phone (08) 8981 0587 or email <kumbutjil@bushtech.com.au>.]
From Green Left Weekly, October 13, 2004.
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