‘Greener, safer, cooler’ CBD designs released

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Even more CCTV and lighting in central Alice Springs but also street trees and shade structures are features of the NT Government’s design concepts, released today.

They are part of what will make the CBD “a greener, safer, cooler and more modern place”, says Member for Braitling Dale Wakefield.

The four packages of works to be tendered separately and spread over the next two financial years do not include the Kwatja (Water) Play Space. This will become part of a second stage, as will a car parking review.

Plans ready to go include construction of a large shaded space (at top and below) on Leichhardt Terrace: “This space will take advantage of the Todd River outlook and include good visibility with clear lines of sight, shading, seating, CCTV, Wi-Fi during the day and will be well-lit at night.”

Other works are:

Shade structures and native trees placed strategically around the Alice Springs CBD to assist in developing cooler pathways for pedestrians.

Streetlights upgraded to brighter LED lights within the CBD with additional lights and CCTV cameras installed to light up Billy Goat Hill, Trevor Reid Park, Stott Terrace Bridge, Leichhardt Terrace and Todd Street (CCTV only).

An extended network of pedestrian and cyclist wayfinding routes into the CBD from the Heritage area south of the CBD and from the train station. Pedestrian linkages around key walking paths will also be covered by CCTV.

The designs were developed by GHD Woodhead architects and engineers, and incorporate findings from the recent heat mapping studies, the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design report and wayfinding strategy for Alice Springs.

The project will support more than 70 local jobs during the construction phase.

It is part of a $20m investment, with $15m allocated for CBD revitalisation, and $5m put towards the Breaking the Cycle of Crime plan.

The Town Council has endorsed the designs and backed the project with a $2.2m allocation.

Says Ms Wakefield: “This is an important economic rebound project that will create jobs and ensures the long-term growth and liveability of our town.”

The project comes in addition to other CBD initiatives, she says, including the Alice Street Art Project, Street Art Festival, extension of Parrtjima into Todd Mall, and the establishment of the Alcoota Megafauna Central.

Mayor Damien Ryan is quoted in the release as saying: “We have some wonderful visitor venues already located around the CBD, but improved shading, safety, pathways, and greater connectivity will benefit our residential community as well.”

RELATED READING:

Your CBD, their plans – comment on the process by KIERAN FINNANE.

6 COMMENTS

  1. Certainly more attractive than the Hartley Street lights. In fact I quite like the look of these.

    My issue however is “They are part of what will make the CBD “a greener, safer…..”, The Safer, is only achieved by assuming (probably correctly) that the crims don’t want to be on CCTV or in the light. The logic is sound, but the consequence is the while the CBD may be safer, the suburbs will not.

    So, how about the law, making suitable and EFFECTIVE deterrents for the crims, instead of shifting the crime?

    There’s an innovative idea! Why can’t the Pollies do that ?

  2. Looks good, but wonder if some of the seating arrangements will need to be altered in this new post pandemic era we now find ourselves in.

  3. What a monumental let-down.
    Following the heightened anticipation, the design presented to us has all the hallmarks of a rushed, half-baked, engineered solution.
    We have two steel posts holding up what looks like a folded metal “canopy” with cut-out bits most probably meant to give a “dappled effect”, and fine misters to humidify the air.
    Hmmm … sounds awfully like a couple of trees – only in metal.
    Completing the design is hard-angled seating that looks as comfortable as Hell, arranged alongside a pedestrian / cycling / dog-walking thoroughfare.
    Call me old-fashioned, but I think I’d prefer to spread a blanket in a quiet corner of lawn, under some REAL trees.
    Seriously, though, what a missed opportunity.
    This important location deserves an iconic, design-rich installation; one that promotes active, not passive public use and which, through its uniqueness, its artistic quality and celebration of cultural values, plays a part in attracting locals and visitors back into the town centre, with obvious social and economic benefits for nearby businesses.
    Imagine if this was the site of the proposed WaterPlay park.
    It would be close to the town’s central mall, with existing conveniences nearby, ample car-parking and the possibility for hosting food trucks serving food and drink.
    A water-centred sculptural design, reflecting the local indigenous culture, carefully sited to take advantage of existing trees, a cooling “waterhole” that would help make our increasingly warming summers more bearable.
    We have some brilliant examples of public installations that reflect our local indigenous culture, two that spring to mind being the Gathering Place at the Town Council Civic Centre and the rusty caterpillar at the Araluen Centre.
    For the sake of our town’s future, I say: “Back to the drawing boards, boys.”
    Alice Springs deserves something much, much better than this.

  4. Planting trees everywhere requires irrigation, how about we put irrigation to trees already in the mall near the hotel and watch those trees grow.
    Parking for caravans has shrunk in the last couple of years making tourists not want to stop.
    Disability parking is also inadequate around the town and at Coles carpark. Hospital carpark is incredibly bad and surrounding area is disgusting and dirty. The mall is also very dirty and walls near the church need to be painted.
    It looks like an abandoned mall.
    I don’t like the pictures of hot metal trees around and the concrete chairs look like a catch all for spit.
    Any chance of a redo? I love Alice Springs and would love to join in to a volunteer tree planting, irrigation placing, flower growing, painting group.
    We need to do more.

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