Alice ranks low in flood funds

By ERWIN CHLANDA

Alice Springs is getting the short end of the stick with the $100m Flood Recovery Fund announced by Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro today: The long overdue major structure needed to save the town centre in the event of a big flood is not mentioned.

The Department of Lands, Planning and Environment, with Braitling MLA Joshua Burgoyne as its Minister, has made it clear that minor works, such as improving drains, can be carried out by the NT Government, but the big project – a dam, a flyover through The Gap or a tunnel have been mentioned – would have to be funded by Canberra.

Yet Mrs Finocchiaro and Treasurer Bill Yan returned from Canberra after flood cash talks. Their statements have no trace of a structure for keeping the Todd between its banks. Both declined to be interviewed on the subject.

Their media handouts focussed "rebuilding critical infrastructure including roads, bridges and flood mitigation works.

"As Katherine, Jilkminggan and Beswick begin their recovery, other parts of the Territory remain in the response phase."

Minister Jo Hersey, the Member for Katherine, will be the Minister responsible for the fund.

"Territorians can be assured we are investing in rebuilding broken infrastructure, repairing washed-out roads and bridges, and delivering long-term flood mitigation,” a statement from Mrs Finocchiaro said, without mentioning the Todd River.

PHOTO: Todd Junction Waterhole, where a dam was planned amidst a sacred sites controversy remaining unresolved three decades later.