Alice Springs’ Todd Mall shared roadway project open to tenders
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Moves are under way to turn Alice Springs’ Todd Mall into a shared roadway in a bid to “revitalise” the town centre.
Alice Springs Town Council is currently taking tenders on the first stage of a CBD revitalisation masterplan.
Between $18m and $23m is expected to be budgeted for the construction alone.
Alongside opening the mall as a shared car, pedestrian and cyclist roadway, the council is seeking a “whole of CBD review with a focus on experience.”
It comes after the town centre was shut down due to “extremely dangerous” driving in November.
Police were forced to evacuate the scene after the offenders attempted to ram marked police cars.
The revitalisation project is also likely to include a “river activation” along Leichhardt Terrace, from Gregory Terrace roundabout to Wills Terrace.
Turning the Hartley St carpark into an open public space is another development within the proposed masterplan.
Alice Springs Mayor Matt Paterson said while he supported opening the mall to traffic, any development would be open to public consultation.
“If you go 100m down Todd Mall today you’ll find nine or so shops with their roller shutters down,” Mr Paterson said.
“What we’re doing now is not working. We need to be brave.
“The CBD is the heartbeat of your town and right now we don’t have a pulse.
“When we bring people into the CBD – for example we get up to 5000 people at our markets – there is no anti-social behaviour, it’s passive surveillance.
“What this is really about is creating a place where people want to go, where people feel safe.”
The project is expected to be largely funded by the commonwealth, with contributions by the Territory and local governments.
NT Property Council executive director Ruth Palmer in October said more needed to be done to transform Todd Mall.
“Alice Springs’ Todd Mall was recognised for its culture, colour, and lively strip flanked with vibrant shopfronts, clubs, and social life,” Ms Palmer said.
“So, what exactly happened? What can we do to bring the mall back to life? Is it true that shopping malls have died?
“There have been calls to reopen the mall to vehicle traffic and to landlords to decrease rents to attract retailers to take up space.
“Walking through the mall, it is evident that there are many vacancies, but it is not as simple as just lowering rates.
“Buildings are frequently unoccupied for a reason and this is what must be addressed first and foremost.”
Ms Palmer said businesses had closed their doors due to dwindling economic activity and “increased frustration“ with anti-social behaviour.
“Members of the community do not feel safe, and the plain reality is that if people do not feel safe and secure, they will not come,” she said.
“Not only in for shopping, but in for investment.”
NT Police sent 40 additional officers to Alice Springs in late November after the CBD shut down.
The task force, named Operation Drina, took more than 100 people into protective custody and made 24 arrests in the first week of deployment.
The emergency response is expected to run until early February.
Tenders on the CBD redevelopment close on February 2, with the final concept design and all consultations to be complete by November 2023.
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