Petition against Alice Springs’ Todd Mall roadway to be presented to council

As Alice Springs residents fight council plans to open Todd Mall to traffic, the city’s mayor has revealed why he supports the plan.

Almost 1000 Alice Springs locals are backing a push against council plans to develop Todd Mall into a shared roadway.

A petition with more than 960 signatures opposing the move will be presented at an Alice Springs Town Council general meeting on Tuesday.

It comes after the council started seeking tenders in December on a multimillion CBD revitalisation, which highlighted opening the mall as “a shared car, pedestrian and cyclist roadway” as a possibility, among other upgrades.

Between $18m and $23m is expected to be budgeted for the construction alone.

Sophie Marriott, owner of Sugar and Spice Children's Boutique in Todd Mall, has collected almost 1000 signatures on a petition against turning the mall into a shared roadway. Picture: Supplied

Sophie Marriott, owner of Sugar and Spice Children’s Boutique in Todd Mall and organiser of the petition, said a shared roadway would be “detrimental” to traders and the wider community.

“This idea made no sense to me – the Todd Mall is the only pedestrian-safe space in our town,” she said.

“Not only as a business owner in Todd Mall but someone with a young family, I don’t think this option is the right way to go.

While Alice Springs’ is currently in its tourism off-season, Todd Mall can usually be found with only a few people wandering around. Picture: Annabel Bowles

“Todd Mall is really iconic – it’s a place where my kids can run freely around, where community can gather in a friendly space.

“But if this goes ahead shops will have to think seriously about putting up bollards to avoid ram raids.

“With cars driving around recklessly, especially with what we saw late last year, council and police were actually talking about closing CBD roads to prevent crime.”

Alice Springs Mayor Matt Paterson said while he supported opening the mall to traffic, any development would be open to public consultation.

“Other places in Australia with similar demographics are using more shared roadways,” he said in Tuesday’s meeting.

“Places like Newcastle, Wollongong, Ballarat - they’ve opened up their malls up and it’s created a much more inviting space.

Alice Springs Mayor Matt Paterson said it was his preference to open Todd Mall up to traffic. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“This is an opportunity for us to have that conversation … about what Todd Mall can look like.

“Whilst there is a very blank canvas, no decision has been made.”

However, Ms Marriott was not convinced a shared road would increase foot traffic for businesses.

“We have seen the dismal results of the road put in the northern end of the Todd Mall, let’s not make the same mistake twice,” she said.

“Everyone I have talked to feel just as baffled as me.”

An NT News poll found about half of 100 respondents agreed Todd Mall should open to traffic, at least partially, while the other half voted against it.

Chamber of Commerce Alice Springs chief operating officer Nicole Walsh said if the mall was turned into a roadway, the community would need to see clear evidence behind it.

“We always welcome more development and strongly support the CBD beautification,” she said.

“Malls have changed so much in the last 20 to 30 years as people’s shopping habits have changed.

“And in Alice Springs, as well as Darwin, there’s been no doubt crime and anti-social behaviour is impacting on people’s movements in the CBDs.

Many of Todd Mall’s shops and businesses are boarded up and closeds. Picture: Annabel Bowles

“We know that shops are closing earlier and locking their doors.

“This is where we very much welcome the wider beautification project – we have to look at our malls differently.”

Tenders on the CBD redevelopment close on February 2, with the final concept design and all consultations to be complete by November 2023.

The project is expected to be largely funded by the commonwealth, with contributions by the Territory and local governments.