In Alice Springs today, Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro, with the Members of Namatjira and Braitling, Bill Yan and Joshua Burgoyne.
By ERWIN CHLANDA
“There is a pause in the current Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Gallery of Australia program of work to work through the next steps,” Treasurer Bill Yan announced this morning.
The gallery will be built but “we will make sure people in Alice Springs and associated communities understand next steps and come on the journey with us in developing the best facilities for the Red Centre.
“Unlike Labor, we have listened to the community and taken decisive action to put the demolition of Anzac Oval on hold,” Minister Yan said.
“We will do this right and engage with the community around how we can save ANZAC Oval and deliver an iconic project of social and economic importance to Alice Springs,” Minister Joshua Burgoyne said.
“We will do this right and engage with the community around how we can save ANZAC Oval and deliver an iconic project of social and economic importance to Alice Springs,” Minister Burgoyne said.
At last someone has enough sense to listen to what people of Alice want.
Interesting news, I’ve commenced work on a couple of essays about Alice Springs that will benefit from further twists and turns in this fiasco.
Does the new CLP Government have the integrity to relocate the proposed facility south of The Gap or will the commercial tail of the town continue to wag the dog? I have observed governments of every persuasion use divide and rule tactics to erode the cultural authority and status of Mparntwe custodians for my entire adult life.
Inducements have been quietly provided to some willing to provide some dubious Aboriginal endorsement for the gallery project at the Anzac site. To state the obvious, the situation created by the previous NT Government was socially and profoundly stupid in a great many ways. Its disregard of Mparntwe custodians, contemptible and internationally embarrassing, not an auspicious start to anything with aspirations of greatness.
Locally, the demolition of the school complex at Anzac remains the dumbest economic decision I’ve witnessed in 50 years. To witness Government Ministers stand up and proclaim their formulaic support for custodians at public events while doing everything in their power to undermine them continues a politically unconscionable pattern of disdain.
I truly hope the incoming Government does not waste this reset opportunity and with the ear of business owners, resort to another round of smoke and mirrors. I’m very keen to contribute to the review process.
How about a really radical idea; put the National Art Gallery on the former St Mary’s Children Village site and set aside the Chapel and Cottage as a remembrance place for the former residents.
Build the promised multi-cultural community hall on the site of the old high school and tie it in with the Totem Theatre.
To ensure future security of the ANZAC Oval and Hill precinct build a war memorial museum next to the community hall. The war memorial can tell the stories of the rail head and important logistics Alice Springs and the towns up the track played in protecting Darwin.
If people come for the art gallery … they will still drive into town for the rest of the experience.
Just some thoughts from an amateur.
St Mary’s was such an important place in the lives of Indigenous children.
To incorporate the National Art Gallery within the St Mary’s precinct would be justifiable if the custodians of Mparntwe agree.
If the government took the message from Maggie and further incorporated a War Memorial near the Totem Theatre then they would have to build it on the southern side so as not to encroach upon the women’s sacred site.
There were many Aboriginal soldiers who could be recognised for their contribution in the many world conflicts.
So Ms Chief Minister and others, take note of the wishes of the Mparntwe elders and let’s all get on without the humbugging that is taking place.
ONYA! Mike, Maggie and Ian.