Concerns over national art gallery site

WIDESPREAD concern about the sites proposed for a future national indigenous art gallery in Alice Springs could threaten to “derail” the project, say two Centralian MLAs

WIDESPREAD concern about the sites proposed for a future national indigenous art gallery in Alice Springs could threaten to “derail” the project, say two Centralian MLAs.

Red Centre politicians Robyn Lambley and Scott McConnell – the latter who has been involved with the ­gallery concept for many years – have both expressed frustration with how the Gunner Government has carried out consultation about the project with the community.

Ms Lambley claimed the “only community consultation that the Government has done, at all, for the national ­indigenous art gallery has been an online survey they conducted for four weeks”.

Two sites have been ­proposed for the art gallery to be constructed: one near the Alice Springs Desert Park, and the other near Anzac Hill.

Robyn Lambley

Scott McConnell

“Over the last (two weeks) people have been almost ­hysterical, concerned, that the Government is possibly going to use the iconic Anzac Oval as a possible site for a national ­indigenous art gallery,” Ms Lambley said.

“ ... Anzac Oval is the only rugby league and rugby union sporting ground in Alice Springs ... so obviously the community is not going to support Anzac Oval being repurposed for anything, unless they know the Government is going to provide alternative rugby league and rugby union fields.”

Mr McConnell said he ­believed “the community is quite confused” about the ­proposal, and “the consultation could have been better”.

“I’m a Member of Parliament and an MLA on the ­Government’s benches, and I don’t really understand what we’re doing,” Mr McConnell said.

“I think it’s indicative of how the consultation has been done ... I’m a really strong ­advocate for the need for a ­national cultural institution celebrating indigenous culture in Alice Springs ... (but) what we have to do to make something like that fly is make sure we have buy-in from all sorts of different sectors of the ­community.

“So if we do have members of the community that are talking back to us and saying that they feel like they haven’t been involved in the consultation ... that’s a deep concern.

“I think we just need to just ensure we don’t get ­derailed.”

Territory Families Minister and Braitling MLA Dale Wakefield defended the ­government’s consultation ­efforts so far.

“It’s been a comprehensive opportunity for people to have a broad say.

“It’s really a first step around what the community thinks about the two sites that were put together by the ­expert steering committee,” Ms Wakefield said.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing the results. I know a lot of people are engaged in it, and I think it is really important that this art gallery is part of our community and people feel like they’ve been a part of the process.”