| Yungngora Community Western Australia |
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Yungngora Community
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| Population: | 288 (2006 Census)[1] |
| Postcode: | 6765 |
| Location: |
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| LGA: | Shire of Derby-West Kimberley |
| State District: | Kimberley |
| Federal Division: | Durack |
Yungngora is a medium-sized Aboriginal Community in the Kimberley region in northern Western Australia, situated approximately 280 km east-south-east of Broome and 100 km south-west of Fitzroy Crossing. At the 2006 census, Yungngora had a population of 288.[1]
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The community is located on the Noonkanbah Station on the banks of the Fitzroy River between Camballin and Fitzroy Crossing. Yungngora is the gateway to communities further inland such as Kadjina Community and Yakanarra Community. The main access road is unpaved and so becomes inaccessible during the 'wet season'.
Some members of the Yungngora people were removed to Beagle Bay Community as part of the Stolen Generation.
The pastoral lease at Noonkanbah was purchased for the community in 1976. Great controversy surrounded the township when its citizens opposed the exploratory oil drilling at a sacred site on the station by the American oil miner AMAX in 1979.
Yungngora Community has a school, Kulkarriya Community School, which was established in 1978 for students from pre-primary through Year 12 in the Western Australian education system. At present it employs five teachers, a principal and 17 Aboriginal staff. The primary and secondary school population for the year 2007 was 87.[2]
Electricity supply is currently non-regularised and self-managed by the community.
However, the Western Australian State Government has recently commenced plans on a project for its wholly owned integrated regional utility Horizon Power to provide electricity to the Yungngora community located at Noonkanbah through the State’s Aboriginal and Remote Communities Power Supply Program (or ARCPSP). The project will involve constructing a new power station and upgrading the electricity network in Noonkanbah and providing normal retail utility services and support. As with many remote Aboriginal communities, residents and businesses will use pre-payment cards to pay for electricity and will be eligible to receive electricity at government-gazetted uniform tariff rates. Customers are able to access a range of State Government concessions and rebates that were not previously available to them.
ARCPSP is a significant program aimed at improving the quality, safety, reliability and affordability of electricity supplies in remote Aboriginal communities. The program is funded by the State Government (Office of Energy) and the Commonwealth Department of Family, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
There are two bores next to the power station which pump into the ground tank. The bores pump the water from approximately 100 metres from below the ground level, despite the community being situated on the banks of the Fitzroy River. A transfer pump station then pumps the water into the high level tank. The water has been recorded as coming out of the ground at between 50 and 60 degrees C. It is this condition which has prompted the installation of cooling towers. There are occasional interruptions.
There is a sewer system in place in the community which comprises one pump station near the football oval and treatment ponds on the northern outskirts of the community.
The community has basketball courts and a football oval. Yungngora fields a team in the Central Kimberley Football League called the 'Noonkanbah Blues'.
Bush walking, some fishing and camping are the dominant pursuits for tourists visiting. Visitors are required to apply for a permit prior to entering the Community.
There is one store in town, owned and operated by the Community. All items are quite expensive compared to major centres but bear in mind transport costs to remote locations. Mechanical repairs may be effected at the mechanical workshop.