Wadeye - building for the future

One of the houses at the Manthathpe subdivision

The sleek lines of the new houses rise up out of the green bush in the morning light, looking every inch like subjects fit for an architectural sales brochure. Sprinklers play on the fast-growing lawns, courtesy of a recently-installed town water supply. No, this isn't Fairway Waters or Bayview - welcome to Manthathpe, a new $1.5 million subdivision on the outskirts of Wadeye that opened in February.

This is our own plan designed for our needs.

This is all about land rights and self-determination in action. Long after I'm gone the benefits of this place for our children and their children will still be flowing through.

Community Leader Leon Melpi

At present there are eight houses - four bungalows and four elevated - in the subdivision, with room for another 16. The development was jointly funded by the National Aboriginal Health Strategy, the Indigenous Housing Authority NT and the Power and Water Authority, and is the third stage in a $6 million program to upgrade township infrastructure in Wadeye.

We first started talking about this back in 1985. This was my grandfather's land. I used to come here with my wife and kids, just sit out here in a family group.

Leon Melpi

All the residents of Manthathpe come from either the RakManinh or Wentak-Nganayi clans. Mr Melpi says members of both clans see the subdivision as a blueprint for a future, decentralised Wadeye.

Here we have opportunities, like tourism. We are taking the best of the past with us to the future.

Leon Melpi