Salvos granted $7.8m for new emergency homes in Alice Springs
The federal government has granted $7.8m for up to 56 new domestic violence safe places in Alice Springs, but the chosen site is not without controversy. Here’s why.
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The federal government has funded up to 56 new safe places for women and children experiencing domestic violence in Alice Springs, but some locals are concerned its location near busy liquor outlets could lead to a spike in anti-social behaviour.
The Salvation Army will receive $7.8m in Safe Places Inclusion Round grants to develop 14 new emergency homes in the town.
Two apartment blocks will be refurbished to deliver four one-bedroom apartments, six two-bedroom apartments and four three-bedroom apartments.
Federal Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth visited the site on Wednesday, and said the building work would provide a much-needed safe space for women and families seeking refuge from violence.
“It is important that access to culturally appropriate emergency accommodation is available across the nation, including regional and remote areas, so that every woman and child affected by family and domestic violence has a path to safety,” Ms Rishworth said.
Local member for Araluen Robyn Lambley welcomed more crisis housing for Alice Springs, but expressed concerns the Salvation Army may not realise how difficult it would be to manage the chosen site.
This masthead has chosen not to publish the location of the shelter to help protect future residents’ safety.
“It’s very exposed to the street, and it’s already a thoroughfare, people are always walking up and down to (buy and drink alcohol),” Ms Lambley said.
Ms Lambley said she had been approached by several residents concerned the planning proposal had not undergone adequate community consultation and might bring an increase in crime, anti-social and violent behaviour to an already “volatile” area.
“No one is saying we don’t need this,” Ms Lambley said.
“But it will be a big challenge for people at the Salvation Army to keep people safe at that location because of how exposed it is.”
Salvation Army NT family violence programs manager Hannah Stephen said they were well prepared and equipped to run the shelter.
“We successfully run 16 discreet shelters across the country, including one on a main street across from a pub, and we have very experienced staff who know how to manage this,” she said.
“We did not come to the proposal lightly, a lot of research went into it.
“We’ll be staffed 24/7 and if anything, this will add to the safety of the area because you won’t have victim-survivors running down the street – they’ll have somewhere to go.”
Federal MP Marion Scrymgour said the bulk of the anti-social behaviour around the site stemmed from the liquor outlets, calling on the businesses to take more responsibility.
“We’re talking about really vulnerable women and children … we can’t continually keep pushing these women around because people have a fear that having a shelter near them is going to cause a problem,” Ms Scrymgour said.
“Well, the cause of a lot of these problems is grog, and I think that we can’t make excuses for (the liquor outlets).
“They’re selling a product, and that product is causing problems on the street.”
She said more community consultation would occur as the planning process progressed in the coming months.
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Originally published as Salvos granted $7.8m for new emergency homes in Alice Springs
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