‘We need a rebrand’: Todd Mall Traders Association president hopeful dark clouds will clear

The Todd Mall Retailers Association says the curfew has brought about a decline in anti-social behaviour on the Mall, but many are still struggling as tourists are yet to flock back to the town.

Todd Mall on a Monday morning.

The recent youth curfew in Alice Springs has led to a decline in anti-social behaviour, according to Todd Mall retailers, but it hasn’t meant that tourists have come back to the town either.

Todd Mall Traders Association President Venita Poblocki said the increased police presence in town was welcomed, but what Alice Springs needs now is a “rebrand.”

“Since the curfew, and since the (increased) police presence, there has certainly been a decline in anti-social behaviour, which I’ve seen – which is great,” she said.

Damage at one of the buildings on Todd Mall.

“But now we need the tourism to resume, so really we need a rebrand for the town … because it is a great town, it’s a unique town.

“There’s nothing like it in Australia and it was such a flourishing town just before Covid and it can continue to do so, it just needs a few key things in place.”

Ms Poblocki said the recent announcement of a new community safety hub is welcomed step in the right direction.

“This is an idea we put to (Eva Lawler) that there needs to be constant police presence in the mall,” she said.

“It will get rid of the anti-social behaviour. Often the behaviour isn’t that bad during the day, but it is things like shoplifting or anti-social behaviour, this kind of thing, that oftens frightens tourists.”

German tourists Florian, Emma, Lasse and Jago on said they thought Alice Springs and Todd Mall were interesting places.

German tourists Florian, Emma, Lasse and Jago had only been in Alice Springs for a few days after visiting Uluru and seemed more impressed that a city can be built in the middle of a desert, above all else.

“It’s all right – compared to Sydney, but Sydney’s better. But we like it,” Emma said.

“I wouldn’t move here, but.”

“It’s interesting to see a city in the middle of Australia,” Jago said.

“I think it’s funny when you mention that there was just desert here but now they’ve built something like this,” Lasse said.