The Finocchiaro CLP Government is delivering on its commitment to build the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Gallery of Australia (ATSIAGA) in Mparntwe (Alice Springs), with 50% of the design now complete.
Minister for Logistics and Infrastructure Bill Yan, said this milestone is another example of the CLP turning words into action after years of Labor's botched management and blown budgets.
"Labor mismanaged this project from day one. What started as a $50 million commitment under Labor spiralled to more than $300 million before the CLP stepped in, took control, and re-scoped the gallery to deliver a project that's affordable, achievable and world-class," Minister Yan said.
"This gallery will be a world-class cultural landmark that celebrates the world's oldest living cultures, while driving jobs, tourism, and economic growth for Alice Springs."
Located in the heart of Alice Springs CBD on the southern portion of the Anzac Oval precinct, the redesigned Gallery will include:
A three-storey, 4,000sqm building, including 1,300sqm of exhibition space for major touring and international exhibitions.Public café and community forecourt with seating and landscaping.Specialist facilities, including a secure loading dock, conservation and registration spaces, and staff areas.Significant parking upgrades, including:Secure car park for the Over 50's community with four additional spaces.89 gallery car spaces plus four disability spaces.A new northern car park for Anzac Oval with 79 spaces and five caravan bays.
Minister Yan said the CLP Government's investment will transform Alice Springs into a national cultural hub while generating real economic and social benefits.
"ATSIAGA is about more than art, it's about jobs, private investment, cultural tourism, and strengthening our national identity," Minister Yan said.
"It will empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices through co-curation with artists and communities and position the Northern Territory as a global leader in showcasing First Nations culture."
A development consent application was submitted this month and will be on public exhibition from today, and construction is expected to take 18 to 24 months, with the gallery anticipated to open in late 2027.
"This project sat idle under Labor, but under the CLP, we are delivering real progress and certainty for Alice Springs," Minister Yan said.
"In our year of action, certainty and security, we are building the infrastructure Central Australia needs and deserves."
View the ATSIAGA design and flythrough here: dli.nt.gov.au/projects/atsiaga
