Government acquisition of Anzac Oval puts $3m+ in town council’s pocket

A Central Australian MLA has hit out at the government for what it spent acquiring Anzac Oval in Alice Springs for the National Aboriginal Art Gallery.

Alice Springs Town Council has received more than $3m through the NT government’s acquisition of Anzac Oval, the site of the long awaited National Aboriginal Art Gallery.

According to council financial reports to February 28, 2023, the NT government made a $3,294,000 payment to the council in relation to Anzac Oval in the town’s CBD.

On March 17, the government announced negotiations with the Alice Springs Town Council on compensation to acquire Anzac Oval were now successfully finalised.

It said the oval would be “transformed into an open, family-friendly community green space with the gallery as the centre piece”.

Anzac Oval will make way for the National Aboriginal Art Gallery Precinct. The site has been the subject of debate, with the NT Government referring the matter to NTCAT. Picture: Supplied.

The gallery would be part of a broader plan for the Anzac Hill precinct, which would include a visitor information centre, a new Tourism Centre Australia on the old Shell Depot site.

Construction of the gallery is expected to start in early 2024 and Anzac Oval will remain accessible to the public until then.

The project has received $80m and $50m commitments from the federal and Territory governments respectively.

Araluen MLA Robyn Lambley said the government had short-changed the people of Alice Springs in the compulsory acquisition of the oval, calling the $3m “relative pittance”.

“In seven years they have made zero progress on the art gallery,” she said.

Independent Araluen MLA Robyn Lambley said the art gallery had “only ever been divisive and destructive to the history, culture and social norms of this town”.

“After demolishing the old Anzac Hill High School and soon to demolish Anzac Oval to make way for the art gallery, we can only hope that it eventuates.

“At this stage the art gallery has only ever been divisive and destructive to the history, culture and social norms of this town.”

Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Minister Eva Lawler said compensation for the acquisition of Anzac Oval was made following extensive negotiations with the Alice Springs town council.

She said the settlement value was determined following an independent assessment of compensation, pursuant to the Lands Acquisition Act.

“The National Aboriginal Art Gallery will be a world class arts and culture destination, which will deliver wide ranging economic and social benefits for Central Australia,” she said.

The site of the gallery has been a controversial topic. Anzac Oval was initially rejected by Arrernte Elder Doris Stuart Kngwarreye because of its spiritual significance to Mparntwe custodians.

In 2021, the NT Civil and Administrative Tribunal ruled the government’s consultation with Mparntwe custodians over the proposed compulsory acquisition of Anzac Oval for the Gallery were not adequate.

It followed the NT government referring Alice Springs Town Council’s objection to the acquisition of the land to the NTCAT.

In January 2022, the council decided to take no further legal action on the matter, leaving the decision in the government’s hands.

Infrastructure and Planning Minister Eva Lawler said the Anzac Hill project would provide “wide ranging economic and social benefits for Alice Springs.”

Ms Lawler said the Gallery was “one of the biggest investments in the history of Alice Springs.”

“This project will boost the local economy, generate jobs and strengthen the Territory’s position as the preferred destination for Aboriginal cultural tourism experiences in Australia.

“While the broader Anzac Hill project will also provide wide ranging economic and social benefits for Alice Springs.”

The government plans to build a new multi purpose community precinct at the Kilgariff Estate, incorporating two playing surfaces and supporting infrastructure for use by rugby league and union and the general community.