Tennant Creek’s only grocery store that was destroyed by a massive fire nearly six months ago is now set to be rebuilt, but the local MLA says the NT Government has dropped the ball by delaying a streetscape project for the town that would improve the local community.

Member for Barkly Steven Edgington took a swipe at the government for putting off the Tennant Creek Streetscape project it promised three years ago.

Mr Edgington, the former mayor of the Barkly Regional Council, said the Gunner Government needed to step up and improve Tennant Creek’s thoroughfares to align with the recently announced refurbishment of the town’s market hub.

“The Northern Territory government committed $2.95 million for a streetscaping project here in Tennant Creek, nearly three years ago, and of course that project has been sitting on the shelf for nearly three years now,” he told ABC Radio Darwin on Thursday.

“I’d like to see the Northern Territory Government, step up to the plate, there’s a real opportunity now.

“When I talk about streetscaping, that money is committed to upgrading Patterson Street, which is the main street that goes through Tennant Creek, Peko Road, and Davidson Walk which are some of the main areas for foot traffic and vehicle traffic.

“Once we’ve got a new supermarket, not only is that going to attract all of the residents here and people from surrounding communities, but I believe that’s a real great opportunity and I think tourists will continue to stop there. Because it’s the hub of Tenant Creek so it’s a real opportunity to improve the facilities there.”

Mr Edgington said that a Territory-based construction firm, Asbuild NT, has been awarded the contract to rebuild the IGA. He added that the supermarket will be rebuilt on its original site.

“My understanding is that they’ll be well and truly underway, possibly, by the end of this week or early next week,” he said.

“I believe, there’ll be some new structural beams, put in place but overall, the main structure isn’t too bad. The whole roof itself was burnt out so no doubt there will be quite a bit of work done on the roof on a new roof as part of the overall build.”

The new IGA is expected to be completed around August this year, he said.

Food security impact on residents after devastating fire

The destruction of the store last July devastated the Tennant Creek community, which had served up to 4,000 people from surrounding areas. It was reported at the time that nearly $1 million worth of grocery stock had been lost in the fire.

Mr Edgington said there has been a different approach to buying groceries in Tennant Creek since the fire but that residents have been coping.

“There’s no doubt that product lines have dropped,” he said. “You know the temporary store is nowhere near as big as the IGA that is being rebuilt at the moment but all of those essentials like bread, milk, eggs, fruit and vegetables, fresh meat, all of those things have clearly been available.

“Certainly not in the same volume as what we saw at the IGA but overall, everybody’s been coping and doing their best.

“Look it’s also created opportunities because there’s other small stores around the place, a couple of the service stations maintain a grocery line. One of the caravan parks has a small store as well so it’s created other opportunities around town.

“I think overall as a town and as businesses have all chipped in, I think we’ve done pretty well.”

Shortly after the fire, the NT police said they had interviewed a 12-year-old and a 13-year-old girl over the fire that destroyed Tennant Creek’s only grocery store, and were investigating the involvement of an 11-year-old boy, but said the suspects would be “subject to the provisions of the Youth Justice Act 2005″.