City agreesto healing centre site

The Aboriginal Men’s Healing Centre in Newman has made its first step forward in securing land for the centre’s new domestic violence rehabilitation program.

In a unanimous vote, councillors have agreed to lease 8.1ha of the reserve opposite Newman Airport directly to the Aboriginal Men’s Healing Centre.

At the Shire of East Pilbara October ordinary council meeting, the council approved a request to be sent to Minister for Lands Terry Redman to update the purpose of the reserve to include “community purposes”.

The Department of Lands considered the request and stated that it would be prepared to include the new “community rehabilitation centre” on the management order of the reserve on the condition that the Shire and healing centre enter into an agreement on the lease of the land. The reserve was originally planned for a freight and logistics hub but with the economic downturn demand had fallen.

The Healing Centre is the vision of Newman resident Devon Cuimara and is believed to have strong support among Martu elders, police, legal services and domestic violence workers.