PHOTOS: The old Melanka hostel, bulldozed five years ago. On the site a complex eight storeys high may now be built. A previous proposal to go to five storeys caused uproar.
By ERWIN CHLANDA
Building height limits have long been a hotly debated issue in Alice Springs, and so is the now desperate need for major projects to crank up our economy.
You’d think that our governments – local and NT – would leave no stone unturned to involve the public in discussion of these seemingly contradictory objectives. You’d be wrong.
Chief Minister Adam Giles on August 30 made a passing reference to an imminent development on the old Melanka hostel site.
Then nothing penetrated into the public sphere until Mayor Damien Ryan reported plans for an eight storey building at the council meting last week.
He did so in the “confidential” part of the meeting.
That means far from equipping the elected members with information they could communicate to the people, including those who elected them, the councillors – and everyone else in the room – could face a term or imprisonment if they breathed so much as a word about this outside the chamber.
The bastardisation of our democratic processes didn’t stop there.
The Alice Springs News Online has learned that the closed town council meeting was shown a computer generated video. It simulated views of how the proposed eight storey building would look from from various angles, as seen from a helicopter, or from the top of Anzac Hill, for example, as our sources explained.
It showed what views the building would or would not obstruct.
Our sources say the impact on the vista from Anzac Hill, for example, would be negligible, judging from that “imagery/video flyover”.
Its existence was confirmed by a media minder of the Planning Commission when we asked her for a copy for publication ahead of the meeting.
We explained that we would publish it as an illustration of further coverage of this subject, so vital to the town, possibly as a YouTube video embedded into a report, as we have done many times before.
The request was rejected with the only explanation being that commission chairman Gary Nairn had decided that “at this stage, the imagery is for internal use only”. Mr Nairn did not respond to our request to contact us. We could watch the “imagery” at the meeting, the minder said.
Mr Nairn is a powerful backroom operator within the CLP, arriving in Darwin from Sydney in the late 1980s and soon becoming a “favourite individual” within the CLP presided over by Shane Stone at the time, according to long-time CLP watcher Alex Nelson.
Mr Nairn soon took over from Mr Stone who became Chief Minister. Mr Nairn returned to New South Wales and in March 1996 was elected a Liberal Party member of the House of Representatives, representing the seat of Eden-Monaro.
After losing his seat in the 2007 Federal election he returned to the NT. He was appointed as the Planning Commission’s chairman as soon as the CLP regained power two years ago.
The commission’s advertising for the public meeting labels the occasion as an “information session” where the public can learn about the commission’s “work in developing strategic plans and planning policies for the Territory”.
The advertising does not make it clear whether the commission would listen to or act on anything that the Alice Springs public may put to it.
The Melanka land, the eight storey height and the “imagery/video flyover” do not get a mention in the advertising.
A media release today says the commission “will meet in Alice Springs for the first time this week” and Mr Nairn “aims to hold at least one meeting outside Darwin every year, to keep members better informed about regional developments and issues”.
It’s clear that the one commission meeting a year outside Darwin may not be in Alice Springs.
UPDATE: Since posting we have received the following email from Mr Nairn:
Dear Erwin,
Thank you for your email to the Minister for Lands, Planning and the Environment regarding amongst other things, building heights. The Minister has advised me of your request to obtain a copy of the 3D modelling that is being used by the Planning Commission to inform its discussions with the community.
As you will be aware I will be in Alice Springs tomorrow to talk with the community primarily on the role and responsibilities of the planning commission which will also include a demonstration on a 3D modelling tool and how this technology can be used to inform community discussion on such matters as building heights. I am of the view that being able to animate a 3D model by inserting spatially accurate proposed developments will prove a great planning tool particularly when it comes to community consultation.
I extend a personal invitation to you to attend the presentation tomorrow whereby I can elaborate on the work of the commission and the 3D modelling. Given the size of the presentation and the modelling I would be more than pleased to provide you with a USB at the presentation and answer any further queries that you may have.
Regards, Gary Nairn
My reply:
Hi Gary,
I don’t need to see simulated views of how the proposed eight storey building would look from from various angles, as seen from a helicopter, or from the top of Anzac Hill etc.
Spare me the spin.
An eight story building is obviously out of character with our town and sets a very bad precedent for the future.
Tourists don’t come here expecting to see tall buildings. They expect to see an iconic town and our tourist industry depends on their patronage.
Much as we need development and jobs, this proposal creates short term gain but long term pain.
Re John. So long as the buildings have landscaping and adequate car parking I see no problem with 8 storeys. As for an iconic town, could you please point out the so called iconic buildings? Where?
Good point Paul, We do have some of our original buildings not far from the Melanka site but we have pretty much trashed our iconic town heritage.
But is it too late? Do we just say, *let it rip*?
The Melanka site is a prime, highly visible location. Image what the likes of Troppo Architects or someone sympathetic to the outback theme could do with it.
We do need to repackage our town and this could be a good start.
It’s not just iconic buildings that tourists come to see.
The Melanka site features a couple of highly significant sites. These need to be treated with respect and celebrated.
I can imagine however, that they are seen as a serious impediment to any development of the site.
The tourism industry has been touting the unique cultural heritage of this place for years and at the same time various governments and councils, and the tourism industry for that matter, have been treating it with disdain.
Visitors to town often ask me about where to go for a cultural experience in town.
I say sorry, but with little or no respect for the local indigenous people and their culture from the government and industry there is little or no opportunity for the unique cultural experience that so many tourists want.
While the primary focus on this site has been the height, little attention has been given to the purpose.
It seems that the owners can build up to eight stories, with the proviso that an economic return on their investment be met.
With the 3D virtual reality model, perhaps many see a lost cause, but when the site was razed, I saw a low-rise, three story building curving through the sacred trees, with accommodation amongst the tree canopy on the top two and shopping below – maybe even a boutique hotel.
This ancient pedestrian-centred way into the modern CBD deserves careful planning. Maybe it’s not too late for the owners to consult local architects and artists so that something amazing can rise to the future of a town that needs creative dreaming. The QANTAS Dreaming-painted super-jets were out of the box. We have the history to build on.
Say no to our landscape being blocked by high rise. This is what Alice Springs is all about.
The beauty of seeing the ranges and the clear blue sky.
I believe this 3D flyover was on display at the government stand at the recent Alice Springs Show? Not a big deal. And definitely not a secret!
[ED – yes, it was, according to Gary Nairn, but hardly promoted vigorously. Did you see it? When it was shown to the council last month it was in a secret meeting.]