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Comment on Government fails to protect major tourism asset by Alex Nelson.
My recollection is that the major wildfire years in the earliest period of this century were 2002-03, and again in 2011. Both of those periods closely followed years of exceptionally high rainfall (2000-01 and 2010 respectively).
This isn’t unusual in itself – there were significant wildfire years in 1968 (following the breaking of the drought in 1966) and in 1975 (following 1973-4, the wettest period on record in Alice Springs).
What’s different now is that this major wildfire event has occurred after a very dry year, with a record set at Alice Springs in 2018 for the longest period without rain being recorded, although (as I recall) this wasn’t the case further west of town.
In the last few years, I’ve had the opportunity to travel west and east of Alice Springs a number of times and also to fly frequently to Darwin and back with clear views of the area around town.
The clear impression I’ve gained on every trip is the extent and dominance of the spread of buffel grass in the ranges.
It’s like a blanket hugging the ground as far as the eye can see. It’s spread is overwhelming, and the ecology of this region is forever changed.
There are often comments about the need for protecting Alice Springs from major floods but that’s the least of our worries.
It is major wildfire that poses the most serious risk to our town, and the recent disaster in the West Macs demonstrates this risk can occur at any time.
Recent Comments by Alex Nelson
Gallery fiasco: school heritage process ‘massively flawed’
It’s obvious the majority of voters in Araluen got it right in the last Territory election campaign.
Killerbots, guided by Pine Gap, same as any other weapon?
Humanity is becoming too clever for its own good.
Save Anzac Hill High School: National Trust
@ James T Smerk (Posted March 28, 2019 at 11:48 am): I’ve said it before a number of times, I’ll say it again: The old high school complex on the Anzac Reserve has the richest heritage value of any education campus in the Northern Territory.
Its historical value is very high, and exceeded in Central Australia only by the Alice Springs Telegraph Station, the Hermannsburg Historic Precinct, and Arltunga (which last is actually NOT heritage listed).
Save Anzac Hill High School: National Trust
I am delighted that the National Trust NT has entered the fray in support of saving the old high school.
The timing of the NTG’s announcement calling for expressions of interest for the demolition of the old school is exquisite, to say the least – my understanding is that applications close on April 12, during this year’s annual Heritage Week; and that assessment of the applications will be finalised in May with work to commence late that month – which also happens to coincide with the prestigious Australian Museums and Galleries Association National Conference hosted in Alice Springs May 13 to 17.
What in blazes are the NTG’s ministers and minders smoking on the 5th Floor?
Ways of being: beyond the beauty of Papunya paintings
In a profile on Rex Battarbee published in early May 1970 – preceding the beginning of the Papunya art movement by just a year or so – he was asked “about the future of Aboriginal paintings in the Centre.
“He looked thoughtful under bushy eyebrows and said: I think there is room for another school of painting – but it must be completely different.
“It needs a good teacher to get it going, someone who is prepared to stay, not only in Alice Springs, but perhaps on a mission.
“A new outlook on art would be a good thing. It would not want to be too modern; the public want to buy something they can see in this country”. (“A little does a lot … Don’t teach too much says the artist who made Namatjira,” by Bob Watts, Centralian Advocate, 7/5/70).
