The State’s town-based reserves share many similarities with remote Aboriginal communities. Up to 3,000 Aboriginal residents live in 37 town-based reserves across 20 towns. These reserves are inside or next to a gazetted town. Almost universally, residents do not receive the same services, and are not subject to the same responsibilities, as other town residents.

For example, in the reserves and in contrast to all other parts of the relevant towns:

• many households do not receive a utility- standard electricity or water service, or pay against an individual household meter
• few households receive local government services or pay local government rates
• residents cannot own their homes (and must rent)
• there are usually no individual household lots and no gazetted roads or parks.

The key difference between these reserves and most remote communities is that the reserves are within or alongside a gazetted town with economic and educational opportunities.

On this basis, the State Government’s position is that reserve residents should receive the same services, and be subject to the same payment responsibilities, as the other residents of the relevant town. This outcome can be achieved by extending services and obligations to residents in their current homes. However it may be achieved by residents relocating to other parts of the town that receive all relevant services and have all relevant responsibilities. For example, the State Government has offered residents of Nulleywah, a town-based reserve in Kununurra, public housing in the town and a number of residents have taken up this offer.

Applying the State Government’s policy position in town-based reserves will require effective consultation with current residents and relevant agencies, and likely changes to land tenure and planning arrangements, housing, essential services and local government service delivery. Some changes would have future implications under the Native Title Act 1993 (Cwlth) and require negotiations with native title holders or applicants.

The State Government will commence implementation in a small number of towns so that lessons and costs can inform implementation across the State. To this end, the State Government has committed $20 million towards the eight town-based reserves in the Pilbara. This project will be a joint initiative between the Pilbara Development Commission and Regional Services Reform Unit, and see consultations with residents and other stakeholders commence in mid-2016. The State Government has also begun discussions about an early-implementation site in the West Kimberley town of Derby, which has four town-based reserves.