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ABA Stores Infrastructure Project

The ABA Stores Infrastructure Project was a special targeted expenditure of $55.8 million to support the construction and upgrade of stores in 18 remote communities across the Northern Territory. All stores included in the Project are licensed and owned by local community corporations registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal) and Torres Strait Islander Act 2006.

The Project provided purpose-designed, robust and efficient community owned stores to enable community access to a range of healthy, reasonably priced food items and other essential goods. The works also contributed to improving the overall viability of the stores and greater local Indigenous employment.

A team of professional architects, engineers and project managers were engaged to design stores that meet the needs of individual communities. Consultations were undertaken with community store corporations and other community members over design and the siting of new stores. Input from store managers was also sought to ensure layouts facilitated efficient management.

New stores were constructed in 12 communities while six communities received upgrades of their existing stores. Ten communities also received new or upgraded houses for store managers to assist in retaining experienced store staff. In total 143 Indigenous workers were employed in the construction phase, with most coming from the local communities. The final package of works under the Project was completed in December 2017.

a photo of 4 local employees standing in front of the new store they helped construct in Peppimenarti

Local employees on the new store build in Peppimenarti

All stores completed under the ABA Stores Infrastructure Project are owned by local community store corporations. The corporations select store managers and engage them under contracts. Any profits from store businesses are used for local community benefit.

Communities and works under the ABA Stores Infrastructure Project

Areyonga

Store & House Upgrade

Store completed July 2013

Milikapiti

Store Upgrade & New House

Store completed December 2013

Willowra

Store Upgrade

Store completed October 2014

Haasts Bluff

New Store & House

Store completed November 2014

Papunya

New Store & House

Store completed November 2014

Engawala

New Store & House Upgrade

Store completed June 2015

Peppimenarti

New Store

Store completed July 2015

Bulman

New Store

Store completed July 2015

Jilkminggan

Store Upgrade

Store completed August 2015

Pirlangimpi

Store Upgrade

Store completed October 2015

Beswick

New Store & House

Store completed November 2015

Canteen Creek

New Store & House

Store completed February 2016

Epenarra

New Store & House Upgrade

Store completed February 2016

Yuendumu

New Store & House

Store completed April 2016

Bulla

New Store & House Upgrade

Store completed October 2016

Gunbalanya

Store Upgrade

Store completed December 2016

Barunga

New Store

Store completed July 2017

Timber Creek

New Store

Store completed December 2017

a photo showing the old Haasts Bluff community store

Old Haasts Bluff store

 a photo showing the new Haasts Bluff community store

New Haasts Bluff store

a photo of the old Beswick community store

Old Beswick store

a photo of the new Beswick community store

New Beswick store

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