The community is strongly supporting a move by Alice Springs Town Council to be the safest and tidiest town in the Northern Territory.
The proposal is for a unified campaign focusing on the following key strategies:
- raising awareness of anti litter legislation
- appropriate planning for more public housing
- support for young people to continue their education or gain employment
- safer and tidier town camps
- appropriate infrastructure to support communities and curtail the urban drift.
Deputy Chairperson of the Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation, Betty Pearce, said the overwhelming turnout at last week’s public meeting was an indication of the strength behind this movement. The Corporation represents Aboriginal interests in the area.
Alice Springs Mayor, Fran Kilgariff, said there was some very positive feedback on work already being carried out in the community, but it was time to take it one step further.
“I was pleased to hear feedback from our residents about the progress we have made to date, with improved lighting in the mall and planning work completed by the Eastside group,” she said. “Now we need to look at what needs to be done from a strategic perspective to achieve positive change in this community.”
Mayor Kilgariff said the meeting brought the people of Alice Springs together, and this combined approach would need to continue to address the issues.
“Council will work with Lhere Artepe, Northern Territory Government and the community to improve conditions.”
