Comments for Alice Springs News

Comment on Unseating an incumbent: not easy but not impossible by Alex Nelson

Alex Nelson — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:29:23 +0000

In response to Marlene McNeill, I wrote in my original draft of this article that Andy McNeill approached me on the advice he received from then Member for Braitling, Roger Vale. Andy did so on the occasion of Clean Up Australia day in 1992, for which he was one of the principal organisers that year, the main focus of the event being on Anzac Hill. I went along to help out on Anzac Hill. Somebody had pointed me out to Andy who then came and introduced himself to me and asked if I would be interested in helping in his campaign to become mayor. It was Andy who informed me at that time that Roger Vale had told him to approach me.
I stated in my article that Andy always insisted he was independent of party influence; however, along with many other people, I was a member of the CLP in Alice Springs, and his campaign was viewed as an opportunity to end Leslie Oldfield’s career as Mayor of Alice Springs. She had “crossed the Rubicon” in 1990, running as an independent candidate in the NT elections of 1990 against Roger Vale, at a time when the CLP was seriously facing the prospect of losing office for the first time. The CLP increased its majority to 14 seats in the Legislative Assembly but that was still a narrow majority. Between 1990 and the next elections of 1994, the CLP was assiduous in its dealings with Central Australia during this time (including a far more consultative approach to the revitalization of the town’s CBD than is occurring now). After 1994, however, the CLP won 17 seats – a comfortable majority – and there was an immediate drop-off in attention focussed on Central Australia as a result.
Andy McNeill’s election campaign for mayor in 1992 may well have been run independently from direct political party control but it very much slotted in with the overall strategic approach the CLP adopted during that period.

Comment on Downward spiral or shuddering readjustment? by Trevor Shiell

Trevor Shiell — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:03:30 +0000

The short-sighted planning evident in this town is deplorable. The Federal Government has just received a report from the Professional Planners Association on national food security and foreign ownership of agricultural land. It found that five times more agricultural land was being lost to urban sprawl than to foreign ownership. Food security will become a national issue. So what do we do? We cover what should be a prime facility and national showcase for producing more food with “low cost” housing and bow down to the real estate industry. Don’t get over-excited when you are buying Italian tomatoes, rice from Laos and beef from Africa, and sugar from China because we were too short-sighted in our planning to look into the future. It’s no co incidence that big companies (BHP Billiton) are buying into fertilizer production all over the world to meet the need for increased food production, wile we cover a huge asset that should be productive with houses. The planners must have had dust in their eyes, or approaching an election, where pollies were only looking for votes from unthinking people.
That whole area should have been a brand new tourist precinct showing what can be down with arid land, starting with a Mt Isa style tourist display area at the welcome rock South of town. Tourists won’t come here to see a replica of Adelaide’s Northern suburbs.

Comment on Downward spiral or shuddering readjustment? by Saffron Russell

Saffron Russell — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:52:05 +0000

Maybe commerical rent prices should start to come down? It seems regardless of the state of the town rents continue to go up. Are landlords really that greedy they would rather an empty building than reduce the rent prices? Businesses just cannot afford the overheads in times like this. We are paying the same rents as if we were in downtown Melbourne, something needs to be done before there are no shops open at all!

Comment on Downward spiral or shuddering readjustment? by Janet Brown

Janet Brown — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 23:30:39 +0000

What, Dom, you move subjects and charge direction. What is the point of the meetings, pie in sky talks, nothing ever comes from them and if anything does, as with Kilgariff, you and your lot of progress stoppers move the ideas to ensure the costs are so expensive that working families cannot get in.
And your movement with the support of some current elected members in council to stop Territitory Housing getting in there. I was part of the first planning meeting. We were searching for affordable land for low income and working families to enjoy home ownership. And what did you deliberately do, you ensured that land was no longer available to our working families. That along with massive costs for home purchase and rents, most of those working families have moved to the coast.
I am sick of the blame game on businesses not providing good customer service. Businesses need good staff [but lack of] affordable housing or rents leave business with no option but to employ who applies.
How dare you write that you have concerns for the decline in our town when you have been in the front line ensuring this decline happened.

Comment on Bottoms up: A sign of the times by Helen Geri

Helen Geri — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:00:43 +0000

As I am from the NT the sign seems quite normal. I was surprised it didn’t mention anything about women playing cards being there, or being able to sell smokes individually in the drinking paddock!

Comment on Unseating an incumbent: not easy but not impossible by Marlene McNeill

Marlene McNeill — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:51:36 +0000

Alex, your memory is obviously different from mine as Andy definitely had no ties with the CLP when running for Mayor. He was offered assistance from the CLP (photocopying etc) but declined and ALL expenses for both campaigns came out of our own pocket. And if I remember correctly, he didn’t specifically pick you because you were a CLP [person], you just happened to be useful. Of course the members of his campaign committee were CLP, most of our friends were and that is why they were asked to help because they were friends and NOT BECAUSE THEY WERE CLP MEMBERS. So please, Alex, get your facts straight before putting them to print.

Comment on LETTER: Attack on film crew – should we defer to criminals? by Russell Guy

Russell Guy — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 06:46:58 +0000

Janet, you have blindsided yourself to the obvious fact that excessive alcohol consumption and bad behaviour are linked. Your vision has diminishing returns for the tourist industry on which the prosperity of Alice Springs relies, not to mention property values and quality of life.
We have many museums, some privately owned, some public and some community operated, all of which tell the history of Central Australia. Do we need another culture centre to do this? Your idea needs a re-think, like just about all the social policies you have posted to date.

Comment on Defects at pool ‘major problem’ by Steve Brown

Steve Brown — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 06:39:23 +0000

Without having access to the report I suppose I shouldn’t comment too much on the ills of our swimming complex. However is it just me and my competitive spirit or is there something strangely poetic about that wonderful photo of our Mayor, as published on the front of the town’s other paper, our Mayor floating in a bubble of [I like to think hot] air on our troubled pool, apparently blissfully unaware of the deterioration – non performing facilities surrounding him.
Personally, if I’d been asked to summarise Damien’s reign as Mayor I couldn’t think of a better way to portray it! Jokes aside, what the hell is subject matter like this doing locked up in “confidential”? I am always very concerned when mayors, pollies and bureaucrats of any kind become secretive. It’s arrogant snout in trough behaviour. It’s always about shielding incompetence and the precursor to hiding things much worse. Council acts pretty much as the body corporate for the town’s ratepayers. The business of council “is” the business of the ratepayers! There should be very few issues discussed that cannot be aired before the owners of the body corporate, the ratepayers! Should I win this contest and become the town’s next Mayor I will immediately instruct the CEO that all matters will be-placed before council in open session unless instructed otherwise, not the reverse as appears to be the current practice.

Comment on Central Australia is perishing for a drink by Diana Whitehouse

Diana Whitehouse — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 06:25:13 +0000

Good on you, Russell. You will triumph is this debate as you are a strong and thoughtful character who respects the country and its people.
You also seem to have developed a winning way of focusing on the issues before the personalities involved.
It is a hard road though and we wish you well, we acknowledge there are some benefits of the intervention but please, DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE REAL HUMAN COST OF THE NTER policies.
Regards, Diana Whitehouse.

Comment on Cheap booze causes mountain of problems by Arthur Bell

Arthur Bell — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 06:23:08 +0000

It would be good and very convenient if it was merely cheap booze that was the problem.
So we eliminate the cheap booze and the problem disappears!
Unfortunately, this will not happen.
And the many people that expect it would, or even discuss it, are, living in the Dream-Time.
Increasing the price of booze in Alice Springs will not impact one iota on the problems that alcohol abuse is causing. Prohibition in America didn’t work.
And as has happened many times over many years all around this Country, cost is no deterrent to alcohol abuse.
The cartons of VB and of rum and coke the bottles of Jim Beam and Bundaberg will simply be exchanged for and converted to, cask wine and flagons.
And if they become to expensive? Well, many of the very, determined, committed and chronic drinkers in and around Alice Springs (as elsewhere) will revert back to old faithful – Metho!
And lead the way. Then the circle (circus?) will begin all over again re. the price and availability.
And people may well say, what a joke.
Only it won’t be a joke, but a continuing tragedy.
And all will continue to suffer, Black, White and Brindle.