FITZROY FLOOD UNITS BACK IN PLAY FOR LOCAL USE

BY ASAD KHAN

Community groups, businesses, and individuals across the Kimberley are being encouraged to put forward ideas for how to reuse 110 temporary accommodation units that once housed flood-affected families in the Fitzroy Valley.

The Western Australian Government has opened a registration of interest (ROI) process, aiming to identify the best local uses for the demountable-style buildings, which are no longer needed as emergency housing.

Housing and Works Minister John Carey said the repurposing of the units is a chance to keep their benefit in the region.

“We’re now inviting community to share their interest on how we can put these 110 modules to good use in the future and ensure they continue to provide benefits to the Kimberley, particularly in the Fitzroy Valley,” he said.

The modules were initially used after the 2023 Kimberley floods, which displaced many residents and damaged homes across the region. As permanent rebuilds are completed, the temporary units are being decommissioned.

The government is not prescribing how they should be reused—instead, it wants community-led proposals. The ROI is open until 25 July 2025.

Kimberley MLA Divina D’Anna said the move signals a continued investment in the region’s recovery.

“The temporary accommodation units were vital in supporting the people in the Fitzroy Valley who were displaced by the devastating 2023 floods,” she said.

“I am excited that the benefits these units provide will continue to be distributed throughout the Kimberley region for a variety of purposes.”

The registration process is open to government agencies, Aboriginal corporations, charities, local governments, sporting clubs, and individuals, with priority to be given to those in the Fitzroy Valley.

To register, visit the Department of Communities website or contact KimberleyModulesROI@communities.wa.gov.au.

Listen to Ngaarda Media’s Asad Khan speak with Kimberley MLA Divina D’Anna: