Alice Springs Council opens tender for library redevelopment as TCA to ‘co-share’ existing space
A tourism body is moving into a library in the Red Centre, while mystery surrounds where Alice Springs’ new library will be located. Read the latest.
A tourism body will “co-share” the Alice Springs library, the government says, as the local council takes the first step in redeveloping the community facility into a tourist centre.
The Alice Springs Town Council has now opened a tender for turning the council-owned library into a Tourism Central Australia information centre.
The tender for the project, released last week, has an indicative timeline, which states work on the project could start as early as January 5 – if the tender is awarded December 19.
TCA, a not-for-profit tourism advocacy group, will move from its Todd Mall office into the existing council library upon completion of works.
But until works are fully completed, the NT Government states TCA will “co-share” the library building with the council.
As part of the co-sharing arrangement, this masthead understands TCA will take the collections space on the left hand side of the library, while the special collections will be housed in the Alice Springs Charles Darwin University library.
The Alice Springs library will remain open to the public.
A year ago, the NT Government committed $14.9 million towards the town getting a new library in a new location, and is also committing $4.8m towards TCA’s relocation, as part of a $27 million budget redirection to Alice Springs.
The latest development comes as the Alice Springs council held a confidential meeting in November where one item was on the agenda.
“New Alice Springs Public Library – Update on NT Government Correspondence and Project Progression” was the confidential meeting’s discussion point, but so far, no information has been released about where Alice Springs’ library could be relocated to after TCA takes over the existing building.
But, this masthead understands the library will stay in the town’s CBD.
In the latest council budget, adopted in June, the council set aside $750,000 to find an interim home for the library until the new library is constructed.
TCA chief executive Danial Rochford, who secured himself a seat on the Alice Springs council at the latest local government elections, said he had recused himself from any council discussions around the library given his conflict of interest.
“We certainly understand there’s some really tight timelines, but our hope is to be in this facility before the start of the tourism season in 2026,” Mr Rochford said.
Territory Treasurer Bill Yan said the government was “getting on with the job, backing and delivering real projects that support Alice Springs and local jobs and businesses”.
The tender for the project closes December 3.
Alice Springs Mayor Asta Hill was contacted for comment.
Originally published as Alice Springs Council opens tender for library redevelopment as TCA to ‘co-share’ existing space
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