Council clarifies position on COVID-19 desks

MAYOR Damien Ryan questioned whether council should spend so much money on special desks, even if they came with features such as COVID-safe screens

• Council to discuss spending almost $100k on new social-distancing desks

ALICE SPRINGS Town Council will not, in fact, spend $90,000 on social-distancing desks, despite the figure listed in its technical services report.

Mayor Damien Ryan queried whether council should be spending so much money on extra desks at Tuesday night’s council meeting.

Mr Ryan asked the technical services acting director Takudzwa Charlie to explain the figure.

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Mr Charlie explained that $90,000 was a preliminary figure, subject to review.

“We looked at various options because of the ever-changing COVID guidelines … but we have reviewed that and it’s going to be far less than that figure,” Mr Charlie said.

Mr Charlie said the possible requirement for special features like COVID-safe screens explained the initial high costing.

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Mr Ryan asked Mr Charlie to return a more detailed and updated costing at the next council meeting.