Church and council disagreement pushes Alice Springs CBD regeneration project to the Todd River

A project promising dramatic transformations to the Red Centre capital has been pushed riverside – and it’s due to a disagreement between a church and council. Find out more.

A disagreement between church and council has scaled back a dramatic new vision for the Alice Springs CBD and forced the project riverside – and leaving both sides “disappointed”.

On Thursday, a media release from the Alice Springs Town Council announced the $20 million “Regenerating the Alice Town Centre” project was being scaled back.

The project originally sought to focus on improving the Todd Mall, the Hartley St carpark area, and Leichhardt Tce.

But now the project will focus on Leichhardt Tce.

The Todd Mall segment “will not proceed,” according to the council, as an “agreement could not be reached” with the Alice Springs Uniting Church on how to use the church lawns.

Alice Springs Town Council Mayor Matt Paterson. Picture: Gera Kazakov

“It’s disappointing we could not progress aspects of the project, but we’re excited about adapting key design elements and the opportunities that lie ahead,” Alice Springs Town Council Mayor Matt Paterson said.

“Alternate locations” are now being explored by the council.

The disagreement between church and council comes after the council released a sleek video showcasing its new vision for Todd Mall, which included shade sails, a new footpath and seating areas through the church lawns, and the removal of a slight mound on the lawns.

Alice Spring Uniting Church minister reverend Emily Hayes said the church was “very open” to a new community space on its land, but losing the lawns would have been a “significant loss to the church community”.

The Flynn Memorial Uniting Church lawns, located in the Todd Mall in the Alice Springs CBD. Picture: Gera Kazakov

“But the consultations indicated that this was what the Alice Springs community (of which we are a part) wanted,” she said.

“For a couple of months we have been involved in respectful negotiations with the ASTC about this. At their request, the church community made a number of proposals that included both sale and leasing options in line with valuations we had commissioned.

“The ASTC decided not to proceed with any of the proposed arrangements. They did not outline their reasons.

“Naturally, we are disappointed with this outcome, but the council must have decided it was not in their interests or the interests of the town.

A new community space in the Alice Springs CBD, unveiled when the council released a 50 per cent design of the new look town centre. Picture: Alice Springs Town Council

“We hope the new plans will also see the rejuvenation of the centre of town for the community.”

The latest designs released were only a 50 per cent design, with punters encouraged to share their thoughts on it via a survey, which closed February 25.

The project is funded by both the Australian Government and council.

The council media release said more information on the project will be released in the future.