The Northern Territory Government has taken the final step to acquire land allowing the National Aboriginal Art Gallery to be built in Alice Springs.
The precinct will include open, family-friendly community green space, the Kwatye Water Play Park, and a new purpose-built home for Tourism Central Australia. It will feature shaded pathways, lighting and landscaping to connect the various elements of the precinct together and to the CBD, and take full advantage of the prime location to maximise benefit for local businesses.
Additionally, the next stage of the Kilgariff land release will be brought forward with $40 million to provide housing for growth in Alice Springs and cement its natural place as Australia's Inland Capital.
The Territory Labor Government has outlined significant and historic redevelopment projects to recognise Alice Springs as Australia's Inland Capital - creating jobs, boosting visitation and supporting local businesses.
The combined projects will contribute nearly $250 million in works to the Alice Springs economy. The projects include:
NATIONAL ABORIGINAL ART GALLERY
The Territory Government is acquiring land in Alice Springs for the site of the historic $150 million National Aboriginal Art Gallery precinct. The Territory Government will provide $50 million. Now the acquisition process has been finalised we will work with the Australian Government and Opposition to secure the remaining $100 million to make this truly iconic project a reality. If they don't back the project, the Territory Government will provide the additional funding in stages.
This project will be one of the biggest investments into Alice Springs in decades expected to generate hundreds of jobs and boost the local economy. This project will strengthen the Territory's position as the preferred destination for Aboriginal cultural tourism experiences in Australia.
Once constructed, the Gallery is expected to attract an additional 53,000 visitors to Alice Springs every year.
The decision by the Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics to acquire the site, as an integral part of the vision for the precinct, follows significant engagement with local government, Traditional Owners and the general public.
The National Aboriginal Art Gallery will act as the centrepiece of the precinct.
The current site will be transformed into an open, family-friendly community green space and entrance to the precinct. Construction is expected to commence in late 2023, with completion expected during 2025.
A NEW HOME FOR TOURISM CENTRAL AUSTRALIA
Tourism Central Australia (TCA) will be given a new purpose-built home adjacent to the Stuart Highway and Schwarz Crescent intersection, including parking for large vehicles on the edge of the CBD. This is a strategic location which provides high visibility and access to the Gallery.
The Northern Territory Government is purchasing the old Shell Depot site for the new home of Tourism Central Australia and the Visitor Information Centre creating a purpose-built, central point for tourists next to the gallery.
This location will be connected to the gallery precinct by a short, landscaped walk, provide caravan parking and position TCA as the entry point for drive tourists activating the CBD with significant foot-traffic. Construction is expected to commence early next year.
LIVING, WORKING AND PLAYING IN THE INLAND CAPITAL
To ensure Alice Springs has access to affordable land, the Northern Territory Government and the Land Development Corporation are working together to progressively release residential lots in the Kilgariff Estate.
Construction is underway on Kilgariff Stage 2 incorporating 87 residential lots. Titles will be issued on 54 lots as soon as May 2022, with the remainder to be progressively released for sale from mid-2022, with titles to be issued mid-2023.
The Northern Territory Government is investing in infrastructure to support the fast-tracked development of an additional 350 lots in the future stages of Kilgariff to go to market in 2023 and ensure the supply of titled residential land is available to support population growth in Alice Springs.
This investment in infrastructure will also see the construction of a new multi-purpose community precinct within the Kilgariff Estate that will include a new home for the Rugby codes in the Red Centre.
The multi-purpose precinct will incorporate two playing surfaces and supporting infrastructure for use by rugby, other sports, and the general community.
Government will work with Rugby codes to build a facility that creates a sustainable future for the sport in the Kilgariff Estate. This provides an opportunity for the sport to expand into a new home with purpose built playing surfaces, while providing green community spaces for the community of Kilgariff.
Future stages supported by this investment into bringing forward land release will also support the Kilgariff Neighbourhood Centre, incorporating commercial and community-purpose land, as well as space for education facilities.
MORE JOBS AND MORE HOMES
The Territory Government will also be releasing an Expression of Interest for the development of 60 dwellings for Government Employee Housing in Alice Springs and to stimulate the development of additional accommodation for private sale or rental, preparing for economic growth in the town and region.
The EOI is expected to be released to market by May 2022.
KWATYE WATER PLAY
A $20 million works package has been progressively rolled out by the Northern Territory Government as part of CBD revitalisation in Alice Springs.
The next initiative as part of the revitalisation is the Territory Government's $5 million for the all abilities Kwatye Play project. The previous council had an additional $2 million earmarked for the Water Play Park and Government is happy to work with Council if they decide to be involved.
Kwatye Play will be integrated into the grounds of the National Aboriginal Art Gallery, within the Precinct.
The water splash play area within the precinct will see it seamlessly blend into the landscaping and wider amenity of the Gallery project. The location will also form part of the grand entrance to the Gallery precinct and CBD.
Kwatye Play will celebrate the unique landscape of Central Australia through strengthening the connection with Lhere Mparntwe (the Todd River) to the Gallery itself.
Construction is expected to begin in early 2023.
SCHWARZ CRESCENT REDEVELOPMENT
The Territory Labor Government will be making upgrades to the intersection of Schwarz Crescent and the Stuart Highway with a detailed design expected to be completed mid-year.
The upgrades will create improved access to the precinct, including the National Aboriginal Art Gallery and the new home for Tourism Central Australia.
The Schwarz Crescent intersection upgrade forms part of a commitment by the Northern Territory Government to enhancing road safety, with the upgrades addressing road safety improvements to the Precinct.
Construction is expected to commence at the end of this year. Construction is expected to be completed in early 2023.
Quotes from Chief Minister, Michael Gunner:
"Today's announcement is the single largest investment seen in Alice Springs this century, and the Territory Labor Government is proud to be transforming this already incredible town.
"The Gallery will be a national centrepiece, bringing in 50,000 visitors a year, and creating more than 200 jobs. It will pump over $60 million into the Territory economy and cement Alice as Australia's inland capital."
Quotes from Minister for Central Australia Reconstruction, Chansey Paech:
"The National Aboriginal Art Gallery will be a world-class facility that will attract national and international visitors to Alice Springs, providing wide-ranging social benefits and opportunities for local jobs and economic growth. It is a linchpin in our plan towards revitalising the CBD.
"These projects will create more jobs and support more locals".
Quotes from Minister for Tourism and Hospitality Natasha Fyles:
"This is such an exciting announcement for Alice Springs, and it will attract thousands of new visitors to the town and leverage it as Australia's Inland Capital.
"Alice Springs is a must-do destination and already has so much to offer for tourists, and investing in this new precinct will give many more another reason to visit the Territory, which will have positive flow on benefits for local businesses."
Quotes from Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Eva Lawler:
"Acquiring the land for the National Aboriginal Art Gallery was an integral step in bringing this precinct to life.
"The Territory Labor Government is proud to invest in this multi-million dollar project, which will provide jobs for Territorians, improve facilities and liveability for locals and boost our economy."
Quotes from the Minister for Sport Kate Worden:
"Investing in sporting infrastructure is how our local communities thrive.
"This investment into a new multi-purpose community precinct within the Kilgariff Estate will include a new home for Rugby in the Red Centre. We have already made a commitment to both codes to provide sustainability planning to support them to move and expand at the new purpose built facilities at Kilgariff. This is an exciting project for Rugby in Central Australia."
Northern Territory Government
