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Darwin
housing complex open
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Vantage
Point, the new three tower DHA complex on Darwin harbour,
is open to all three services and all ranks.
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A new
multi-million dollar defence housing complex opened in Darwin last
month.
Minister for Defence Senator Robert Hill officially opened Vantage
Point, a three tower complex containing 95 apartments.
“Housing for defence personnel is a key issue for the Government
and the ADF. Each year nearly 30,000 Navy, Army and Air Force personnel
move to new locations across the nation and more than half of these
have families,” Senator Hill said.
He said the ADF aimed to ensure that defence personnel assigned
to duties away from home, including overseas, could be confident
their families were living in secure, high quality accommodation
during their absence.
“Importantly, ADF members can seek a placement at Vantage Point
whether they are serving in the Navy, Army and Air Force and regardless
of their rank,” Minister Hill said.
Surveys conducted by DHA show that a significant number of ADF members
would prefer living in a high-rise apartment complex with appropriate
lifestyle amenities.
DHA’s Vantage Point consists of 55 three-bedroom, 20 two-bedroom
and 20 one-bedroom apartments. The buildings were designed to take
optimum advantage of the onshore cooling breeze to better deal with
the climatic conditions of the tropical north.
The complex also includes a gymnasium, 25-metre swimming pool with
sundeck, two secure car parking spots for each tenant and extensive
landscaping.
As a tribute to Australian war veterans, Vantage Point’s three
towers are named after distinguished servicemen with a strong Darwin
connection. The White, Emms and Arthur towers each feature a plaque
with a biographical acknowledgement of their military achievements
in the Navy, Army and Air Force.
“By recalling the exploits of heroes of our Navy, Army and
Air Force and commemorating their bravery by naming the three towers
in their honour, DHA is helping to ensure that none of us forget
the lessons of the past,” Minister Hill said.
Family members of the White, Emms and Arthur family were present
at the opening where they were presented with a framed line drawing
of the honoured sailor, soldier and airman.
LSCK Francis Emms was killed during the first air raid on Darwin
in 1942 while defending his ship, the anti-submarine boom defence
vessel, HMAS Kara Kara.
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