By ERWIN CHLANDA
The Royal Flying Doctor Service will invite tenders from local firms to build 11 two-bedrooms units and two three-bedroom units for its staff.
Michael Toomey, the RFDS General Manager Tourism & Retail in Alice Springs says the complex will be built at the rear of its Flying Doctor Service museum, one of the town’s major tourist attractions.
Mr Toomey says the new building, worth $6m, will replace four old units and an old house demolished during the recent expansion of the tourism facilities.
Construction will start in April.
He says the expanding service now has about 50 staff in The Alice, and the additional accommodation will help retain and attract good staff and reduce the need for fly-in, fly-out arrangements.
Excellent initiative, if only the new museum was not pained red and blue against the original “heritage” yellow and green building! Let’s hope that the new accommodation project will keep the tone of that part of town, the cultural precinct style.
I commend the RFDS for their continual support of the local construction industry, keep up the great work.
Paul Graham, Asbuild.
What’s wrong with a bit of colour? Colour creates a bright vibrant atmosphere / ambience, when used correctly, as opposed to the hot, lifeless, drab feel created by the overuse of ochres and unpainted iron.
Brighten the place up a bit, it’s uplifting! Yeh, and good on you, RFDS, you’re a shinning light in very tough times.
Given RFDS staff live in private residences in Alice and no fly in fly out takes place this money could have been put to better use.
As the proposed rent being charged is at a premium it is only affordable by the top end of the market (which doesn’t include RFDS staff). There won’t be any staff paying that sort of money for a roof over their head. Neither will it be an attraction or incentive for staff to stay.