BETTER TRANSPORT CONNECTIONS FOR BRISBANE’S SOON-TO-BE BIGGEST PARKLAND

BETTER TRANSPORT CONNECTIONS

FOR BRISBANE’S SOON-TO-BE BIGGEST PARKLAND

Metropolitan councils know that liveable cities are made through accessible and safe public transport and corridors, which is why Brisbane City Council outlined the creation of better connections to its largest parkland – to be located in the inner-city suburbs of the iconic Australian city – as a key priority in the innovative Victoria Park / Barrambin Draft Master Plan.

For Brisbane City Council, creating a lush greenspace for residents to relax, socialise and exercise in is just the beginning of its enormous new urban greenspace Victoria Park, with the City not just planning the space itself, but how to ensure it is accessible for locals. Creating better connections to Brisbane’s largest inner-city parkland is a key priority for Brisbane City Council, as outlined in the Victoria Park / Barrambin Draft Master Plan, which was released in mid-2022.

The 64ha Victoria Park is currently the largest inner-urban parkland being planned in Australia, coming with the potential to create a globally significant destination.

Located within Brisbane’s inner city, it represents a once-ina-generation opportunity to shape Brisbane’s future liveability, accessibility, inclusiveness and economic prosperity.

The transformation of the greenspace began with more than 51,000 ideas and feedback received from the community during the Vision phase of the project in 2019 and 2020.

In 2021, the northern part of the park was officially reopened as public parkland for visitors to explore and enjoy.

CREATING AN ACCESSIBLE SPACE

Brisbane City Council Lord Mayor, Adrian Schrinner, said connectivity and ease of navigation is essential to the longterm success and performance of the park, with a roadmap to achieve this outlined in the Draft Master Plan.

“In a significant city-shaping move, two new bridges have been proposed in the Draft Master Plan to create improved pedestrian and bicycle access between inner-urban precincts and key public transport areas, while also promoting safe and active travel over the Inner City Bypass and rail line,” Mayor Schrinner said.

“Connecting the inner-city pedestrian and cycle bridge to the east of the park was an important step in creating a muchneeded link between the south and north of Brisbane and will mean areas like Fortitude Valley, RNA and Exhibition rail stations are easily accessible from Herston Quarter.

“An upgraded western pedestrian and bikeway bridge would enhance connections between the city centre, Roma Street Parklands and the Grammar schools located on the south to the suburbs and bikeway network to the north.”

Mayor Schrinner said sustainable travel options are already being created, with a brand-new direct access point to the park from the Herston busway having opened in late August 20022.

“With high-frequency turn-up-and-go public transport services planned as part of the Brisbane Metro and highquality walking and cycling paths available, public and active transport will be an attractive choice for many visitors,” Mayor Schrinner said.

“Council has addressed the strong community support for more direct cycle routes through the park that connect to existing cycle networks, in a move that should improve the park’s connectivity between the city centre and suburbs.

“Electric scooters and bikes are another travel option for visitors, with e-mobility hubs planned for the Busway, Brisbane Metro stations and other key locations.”

Artist impression of the Victoria Park parkway loop. Image: Brisbane City Council.

NATURE INSPIRED LINKS

The park also features a parkway loop and boardwalks, for locals looking to travel at a more leisurely pace.

Mayor Schrinner said the 2km-long and 7m-wide parkway loop will have a gentle slope, making it accessible and easy to use for people with all abilities.

“Weaving its way through important attractions like the Visitor Centre and the Tree House lookout and café, the parkway loop has been designed to mimic the pattern found on the trunk and bark of the native paperbark tree,” Mayor Schrinner said.

“In essence, the parkway loop and key destinations such as the Tree House lookout provides an opportunity for visitors to stop and take in the beautiful views of the surrounding landscape including the Brisbane CBD and Mount Coot-tha.”

Mayor Schrinner said investigations into travel demand and patterns has shown upgraded parking facilities will be important, particularly in the early establishment of the park.

“Our research has shown that not everyone has access to public or active transport options, so it’s important to have a suitable plan for car access and parking in the future,” he said. “Our proposed strategy to meet future needs focuses on the main car park with additional small car parks and an enhanced car park at Centenary Pool, providing an additional 31 per cent capacity and a maximum of 990 spaces that will be staged over time.

“Importantly, this strategy provides greater access and options for people with a disability and addresses local residents who have raised concerns about increased pressure placed on on-street parking.”

INTERCONNECTING GREENSPACES

Victoria Park doesn’t stand alone, but instead, complements Brisbane’s strategic network of more than 2,100 parks, recreational spaces and ecological systems.

Mayor Schrinner said this network provides a diverse range of recreation and entertainment functions, with Victoria Park recently hosting the Green Heart Fair which drew more than 15,000 people, and the Brisbane Festival Voices in Vic Park event, which was enjoyed by around 2,500 people.

“Victoria Park will establish a rewilded landscape by increasing tree canopy cover from ten to 60 per cent with more than 10,000 trees and shrubs already planted including 80 native species,” he said.

“New experiences in the heart of the park have been proposed including high ropes courses, edible gardens, water play areas, visitor centre and a new adventure playground.

“The park is also an important greenspace for inner-city residents and surrounding suburbs, contributing to the green lungs of the city.”

Mayor Schrinner said that the parkland will also host temporary venues for the equestrian cross country and BMX freestyle events, strengthening Brisbane’s reputation on the world stage as a city where big ideas and opportunities come alive.

The community’s feedback will help to finalise the Master Plan, which will be released and implemented in early 2023.

INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIPS DRIVING SUSTAINABLE FUTURES

By Michéle Pirozzi, National Commercial Director, oOh!media

The last three years has seen a drive towards a more pluralistic approach to positive placemaking, where innovative solutions to address sustainability concerns is a responsibility shared by all.

While the pandemic reinforced the notion of hard geographical borders both at home and abroad, we inversely saw the delineation of the traditional boundaries between government, the corporate sector and community organisations when it comes to creating more conscious and sustainable places for people to live, work and play. Learning that meaningful change can be found in successful partnerships, drawing on the strengths each group brings to the table.

THE MOST PRESSING ISSUE OF OUR TIME

Addressing the needs and concerns of the communities in which we operate has been a key focus for oOh! for over 30 years, and there is no more pressing issue than the impact of climate change.

A recent research report by the Reserve Bank of Australia found that over 1.6 million homes across the country are at moderate or high risk, right now, from climate change-related extreme weather, with that number forecast to increase by more than 60 per cent by 2050.

These numbers mean that for one in six people across Australia today reducing emissions and mitigating the deleterious impacts of a changing climate is essential in order to preserve their current residence.

HELPING TO BUILD RESILIENT COMMUNITIES

Australian suburbs are both contributors to, and at risk from, climate change hazards, and so local councils are necessarily invested in the development of adaptive capacity and increasing the resilience of their communities.

A key pathway to achieving this is building a public transport network that will substitute for a sizeable share of car journeys; removing cars from our roads will go a long way to addressing the source of the third largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Australia.

But Councils cannot be expected to go it alone, and that is where industry comes into play – partnering with local governments to provide innovative solutions for communities.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT FOR THE FUTURE

In September 2022, oOh! launched the first of its Living Roof bus shelters – a scalable project that directly contributes to a healthy urban environment by capturing particulates and absorbing gaseous contaminants, storing rainwater and reducing the peak flow of water into suburban waterways, providing cooling and promoting urban biodiversity.

The Living Roof shelters have been developed and tested with the variable Australian climate in mind and can be customised to feature plants endemic to an area to ensure their success.

Internationally, where ‘green roofs’ on public infrastructure have been used for several years, studies have consistently shown that in addition to the environmental benefits, these installations greatly contribute to a sense of happiness and wellbeing amongst local commuters – a serene piece of the natural world in the urban environment.

More locally, the University of Melbourne has found that looking at a green roof for a mere 40 seconds improved concentration and provided a strong restorative sense of calm. oOh!’s commitment to partnering with councils to address community needs extends across our operations; our maintenance vehicles use a specialised software system which optimises their time on the road, keeping emissions low, and all vehicles use iconic water to clean bus shelters, which means the shelters remain cleaner longer without the need for detergents.

There is no magic bullet for addressing the impact of climate change on our communities. The path forward, however, is clear – listening, learning, being committed to change, and building trust by partnering together.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE:

HOW COUNCILS CAN BUILD A JUST COMMUNITY

By Haydie Gooder and Skye Davey from the Centre for Just Places, Jesuit Social Services Although climate change is affecting people across the globe, it is clear that marginalised and disadvantaged people and communities are often first and worst impacted. Councils already play a role in responding to the more frequent and intense extreme weather events, however the current magnitude of climate impacts require all levels of government to go beyond emergency management to deepen their understanding of what needs to be done to build climate resilient communities for all. The Centre for Just Places is supporting councils to do this work.

Jesuit Social Services’ Centre for Just Places was established with seed funding from the Gandel Foundation and the Victorian Government, to support and enable place-based approaches to social and ecological justice through research, collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Executive Director, Dr Susie Moloney, said the Centre works at the intersection of social and ecological justice, in recognition that highly disadvantaged and marginalised communities are often first, worst, and hardest hit by the environmental risks and harms such as climate change, with fewer resources to cope and adapt.

“If you’re already experiencing a range of social inequities, climate change will compound those problems. During heatwaves, people in low-income housing and poor quality, uninsulated rentals are more likely to suffer heat stress, anxiety and disrupted sleep, which can have a detrimental impact on overall health and wellbeing,” Dr Moloney said.

“We know that social and environmental injustice are linked. We weren’t surprised to see that Jesuit Social Services’ 2021 Dropping Off the Edge1 research into locational disadvantage across the country, found that communities experiencing high levels of social injustice were also experiencing disproportionately high levels of environmental injustice such as heat stress, air pollution and lack of green canopy.”

ENABLING CLIMATE JUST AND RESILIENT COMMUNITIES

The changing climate, including the compounding impacts of bushfires, heatwaves, increased storms and flooding, is forcing communities across Australia to find new ways to adapt. The Centre is working with communities, community service organisations and local governments to increase capacity, co-design responses and build community resilience2 .

Dr Moloney said she believes place-based, community-led approaches to building climate resilience are crucial, because residents and community organisations have lived experience and deep knowledge of the needs, vulnerabilities, strengths and opportunities within their own regions.

“Having local people and organisations that support communities involved in program design and implementation can increase the effectiveness of an initiative, achieving higher levels of community trust and greater flexibility and responsiveness to the real and changing needs of the community,” Dr Moloney said.

WORKING ONE-ON-ONE WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES

In recognising the urgent need to adapt, between 20212022 the Centre delivered a series of climate adaptation and resilience workshops across metropolitan Melbourne.

The workshops aim to strengthen collaboration between community service organisations and local governments, to build resilience to extreme weather and protect the health and wellbeing of those most at risk.

Serving as a critical conversation starter, the workshops built common understandings of climate vulnerability and community needs in each local government area and catalysed future collaborations.

In Darebin – an area of Melbourne with high heat vulnerability – relationships developed through the workshops enabled deep engagement with at-risk community members and their lived experience of climate change.

The Centre worked with the City of Darebin to hear what a diverse range of residents needed to stay safe and well during heatwaves and other extreme weather. This engagement resulted in the identification of a wide range of impacts on health and wellbeing, and how best to respond to remain safe and well during extreme weather, particularly heat wave conditions.2

“We worked with people already vulnerable to climate change through intersecting experiences of marginalisation – finding that while people had a number of solutions already in place to cope with heat, they also felt council had a critical role to play in advocating on behalf of more vulnerable residents and strengthening relationships between council and the community.”

Dr Moloney said the Centre’s engagement with local councils has made it clear that councils must work closely with trusted community leaders and build on community strengths to best address community needs.

THE ROLE OF COUNCILS IN ADAPTATION AND BUILDING RESILIENCE

Communities, and the councils and services that support them, will invariably bear the brunt of climate change impacts, which is why enabling more just and resilient communities requires support from all levels of government.

The recent floods across Australia's east highlight the importance of coordinated and effective responses. Alongside system-wide action, local adaptation plans are crucial to preventing, preparing for, and minimising climate impacts.

This does not mean that responsibility for adapting to climate change rests entirely with councils, but they do play an important role in understanding where, and who, will be most impacted and how best to reduce vulnerability in communities.

This was reinforced in the findings of a recent 12 month initiative undertaken by the Centre in Melbourne's west, funded by the Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation, which identified local government as central to information sharing and leadership on climate justice.3

Managing and mitigating the impacts of climate change is not an easy task and there are some real challenges for councils, particularly around the resources and capacities needed to develop and implement adaptation plans, how to ensure that diverse communities and sectors are involved in shaping those plans, and how to ensure a whole of council approach to implementation.

Dr Moloney said this also means establishing a shared understanding of climate justice across councils and within communities, focusing on the voices and needs of those most vulnerable.

Councils themselves are also vulnerable to climate change. For example, extreme weather events can disrupt some council services due to factors such as unsafe staff working conditions or damage to physical infrastructure. If councils are unprepared, there will be flow on effects to community members who rely on those services, further exacerbating their vulnerability.

Dr Moloney said research shows that, while there is progress in adaptation planning across local governments, there are implementation gaps in terms of leadership and measures to support adaptation.

There is a need for consistent national and state level commitment backed by adequate resourcing, including legislation, frameworks and guidance to ensure that all councils and communities can reduce vulnerability, adapt and build resilience.

PREPARING AND ADAPTING FOR THE SUMMER SEASON

During the summer season communities are increasingly on high alert.

When it comes to heat, we know that those with preexisting health issues, older populations, those in poorer quality housing or outer urban areas with limited greening are likely to suffer more from heat stress.

For the summer of 2022-23, under La Niña conditions, the projected weather forecast of more rainfall combined with the bushfire season raises the urgent need for communities and councils to be better prepared.

For councils, working with community leaders and organisations to ensure targeted and culturally appropriate messaging around heat stress, and strategies to minimise it, is one way to prepare.

Climate change adaptation is an ongoing responsibility and challenge which requires focusing not only on emergency responses but on building on community strengths, reducing vulnerability, and preventing adverse impacts wherever possible.

“In order to successfully adapt and build resilience, placebased, cross-sectoral coalitions which include the voices of those most affected are important. Councils have a key role to play in these collaborative partnerships,” Dr Moloney said.

For more information, go to jss.org.au/what-we-do/centre-for-just-places/ , or email just.places@jss.org.au

1. Tanton, R., Dare, L., Miranti, R., Vidyattama, Y., Yule, A. and McCabe, M. (2021), Dropping Off the Edge 2021: Persistent and multilayered disadvantage in Australia, Jesuit Social Services: Melbourne. 2. Moloney, S. Dunn, K. Gooder, H. and Piper J. (Jesuit Social Services’ Centre for Just Places). (2021), Climate Justice in Practice: Addressing social inequity and climate resilience through place-based capacity building with community service organisations and local governments, State of Australian Cities Conference. 3. Dunn, K., Wolf, A., Moloney, Lansley, D., Hewitt, T., Cigdem-Bayram, M. and Gooder, H. (2022), Mobilising Climate Just and Resilient Communities in Melbourne’s West: Collaborative Action Plan, Jesuit Social Services: Melbourne.

AI IN THE WATER SECTOR: BUILDING SAFER COMMUNITIES

Once considered a threat to people’s jobs, automation is enabling many in the water sector to leave mundane behind and focus on high value work, helping councils to build smarter, safer, faster and more reliable processes and services to communities.

Engineering graduates, and other specialists, are often employed to sit in front of video screens for weeks on end to watch footage from drone mounted cameras being driven through pipes.

These roles exist so councils and utilities can assess where pipe maintenance needs to be carried out and ensure issues are caught easily and before they escalate.

So to save the time of engineers, and hours of tedious work, smart technology is being deployed to create automated solutions using Artificial Intelligence (AI).

WHAT A DIFFERENCE DATA MAKES

Technology fuelled by AI is driving change in the water sector – helping workers do more of what they want to do, while meeting increasingly high expectations.

For example, councils and water authorities have extensive kilometres of underground pipelines for wastewater, stormwater and water.

John Phillips, Business Development Manager at Interflow, a leader in pipeline infrastructure, said, “Many of these pipes are approaching the end of their life and they need to be renewed. Digging them up to replace them all would be extremely expensive and would disrupt communities.”

HOW DO WATER MANAGERS ASSESS WHERE WORK IS NEEDED?

Previously it has been undertaken by sending a camera through the pipes and relying on an operator to conduct an accurate analysis.

“By the time they engage a contractor to do the upgrade work, often the footage is very old,” Mr Phillips said.

“Things could be completely different by the time we go to do the job.”

That’s where a neat, AI-based solution comes to the fore.

THE FUTURE OF WATER MANAGEMENT

A faster and smarter solution is now being utilised by leading councils and authorities to aid in their water asset management.

A solution that removes repetitive and low-value work and liberates engineers and others to do the higher-value tasks that keep communities’ infrastructure running smoothly.

“The analysis of the condition of the pipes can all be done by machine,” John Weaver, Contracts Manager at Interflow, said.

Instead of camera footage being analysed by humans, it is analysed by an AI engine that has been trained on tens of thousands of hours of similar footage.

“It categorises every individual issue found and provides an immediate, real-time report of the entire pipe network,” Mr Weaver said.

“A recommended capital works program, complete with anticipated costs, comes with the analysis. This means the council or water authority can work that program into their budget over the next four or five years.”

The transformative effect of AI is helping to make condition assessment reports and asset maps faster, more objective and more consistent.

This technology removes the often mundane and repetitive work, which in the current environment where the war for talent has become very real, is welcome.

Designing happy and healthy communities may conjure up images of urban greenery, trees draping over sunny parks, lots of amenities close by – which are all correct. However one of the less aesthetic, but critical, building blocks of a healthy community is disposing of, and recycling where possible – the waste that a community creates. This is why Victoria Daly Regional Council, located in a remote area of the Northern Territory, is looking to the future when designing its community’s waste management.

In the last decade, the amount of waste generated in Australia has increased by around 12 per cent, with the nation’s recycling rate below that of most OECD countries and around 40 per cent of Australian waste being landfilled.

Waste management is an essential service provided by local governments, having implications right across council’s duristrictions, such as the health and safety for residents, tourists, and council staff; annual budget; long-term financial sustainability; and respect of natural and sacred environments.

Across much of the remote Northern Territory, waste and recycling systems are difficult and expensive to implement, which is one of the reasons why traditionally, waste has either been burned or buried in landfill sites across the Victoria

Daly Region.

While a landfill site could be seen as a good way to manage waste at a low-budget approach, when looking toward the future of the region, it is not the most responsible approach.

In 2022, Victoria Daly Regional Council (VDRC) began reviewing and rolling out a range of waste management systems that moved on from landfills, to prevent passing on contaminated sites to future generations.

These initiatives include the design and construction of waste transfer stations at the existing Pine Creek and Timber

Creek waste management sites.

These new stations will store general waste, green waste, and recyclable items such as cans, bottles, and cardboard.

The new system is also in line with the National Waste

Strategy 2018, which is co-authored by the Australian Local

Government Association (ALGA).

PROMOTING CIRCULAR ECONOMY

The Strategy and its implementation plan, the National Waste Action Plan (2020), point the way to developing a more circular economy, in which better waste management leads to a greater recovery of valued resources, creates jobs, protects fragile ecosystems and reaps economic rewards.

As per the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Northern Territory guidelines, the facility can’t accept: oil, tyres, batteries, furniture, gas bottles, building waste, soil, commercial waste, animal carcasses and asbestos.

Curbside rubbish collections will continue for residents and businesses, with locals and business owners responsible for sorting their waste into the correct bins.

Council is currently working through options for recycling, as well as companies that collect and pay for the removal of acceptable waste items.

The implementation and building of these new waste transfer stations is especially challenging due to the remoteness of the region, however VDRC Mayor, Brian Pedwell, said it’s a challenge worth overcoming.

“Ensuring the sustainability and viability of our communities is of the utmost importance,” Mayor Pedwell said.

“This is just a small step towards ensuring the health and vitality of not only the people who live in our region, but the land they live on as well.”

PROVIDING A GREEN AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

Pine Creek Council Operations Manager, Tanya Brown, said that the waste transfer station was about moving the town up to speed with the rest of Australia.

“Knowing what we know about the environmental harms of landfill, there’s no excuse for a community to not recycle anymore,” Ms Brown said.

Ms Brown said that establishing a new system among locals was always going to have its bumps, but it was something worth pursuing.

“Consumers must be responsible for their rubbish. When you buy something, it doesn’t just disappear after you’re finished using it. There are responsibilities attached to what you do with the end-product,” Ms Brown said.

In the Council’s 2021-22 Regional Plan, it was highlighted that the health and wellbeing of communities were directly linked with waste management strategies.

By reducing the amount of waste items going into landfill via the waste transfer station, it will minimise Council’s environmental footprint and maximise recycling opportunities.

GETTING THE COMMUNITY ON BOARD

VDRC has engaged with the community throughout the planning and construction phase of the project, listening to feedback and concerns raised in public forums and information sessions.

For Council, a crucial component in getting locals onside is investing in educating the community on the long-lasting environmental and community benefits of shaking up their waste system.

Possible misinformation around the project is not only damaging to its success but to community members, that’s why it has been vital for Council to listen to concerns and distribute correct information when available.

A BLUEPRINT FOR THE REGION

As part of VDRC’s vision of creating sustainable communities across the entire region, the Pine Creek waste transfer station will be used as a guide and blueprint for how these facilities can be rolled out across the region.

Construction in Timber Creek will soon begin, bringing a recycling and sustainable waste management system to the community for the first time, with the challenges of building and implementing such a system in a remote area significant, but necessary for future generations.

In each edition of Council Magazine we choose one local government from across Australia to shine a spotlight on. Whether it's new infrastructure, an innovative technology project, a leading sustainability initiative or a community connection, we want to highlight the best of our local governments and share some valuable knowledge to other place makers across our nation. This edition, we spoke to Alice Springs Town Council to learn more about this unique outback town and history-rich LGA.

ALICE SPRINGS TOWN COUNCIL

The Aboriginal Arrernte (pronounced arrunda) people are the Traditional Custodians of Alice Springs and the surrounding region. Mparntwe (pronounced m’barn-twa) is the Arrernte name of Alice Springs.

WHAT IS THE POPULATION SIZE AND LAND AREA OF ALICE SPRINGS

QUICK TOWN COUNCIL? Alice Springs has a population

FACTS of 26,476 (according to ABS Estimated Population 2021), and the Alice Springs Town Council municipality covers the majority of the town, approximately 328.3km2. There are more than 2,000 local businesses that trade in Alice Springs and Council manages 73 total parks.

HOW MANY EMPLOYEES WORK AT ALICE SPRINGS TOWN COUNCIL?

There are 227 employees working for Alice Springs Town Council across the Civic Centre, Works Depot, Public Library, Regional Waste Management Facility and Aquatic Centre.

WHO IS THE MAYOR?

Alice Springs Town Council Mayor, Matt Paterson, was elected to the role in 2021 when he was 30 years old, making him the youngest Mayor in Alice Springs history.

Qualified as an electrician, Mayor Paterson is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Vice President of LGANT, and sits on the board of Tourism Central Australia, Chamber of Commerce and Regional Capitals Australia.

Mayor Paterson has an extensive history of working in various communities in Central Australia which has given him an intimate knowledge of the community.

Driven to continually improve the liveability of Alice Springs, Mayor Paterson is focused on delivering better infrastructure for Alice Springs families. He served as a Councillor and Deputy Mayor previous to being elected Mayor and is passionate about providing opportunities for all residents in Alice Springs. Being a father to two young children, Mayor Paterson is focused on delivering better infrastructure for families in Alice Springs and making the community a better place for generations to come.

A decorated sports person, Mayor Paterson has also represented Alice Springs and the Northern Territory on the cricket field and has also dedicated time off the field to growing sport in the community. He has served as a Cricket Australia Community Ambassador, committee member of the Alice Springs Turf Club and a long-time president of his local cricket club.

Mayor Paterson is also heavily involved in the community outside of sport, putting a great deal of effort into connecting meaningfully with community members from all walks of life.

WHO IS THE CEO?

Robert Jennings is the CEO of Alice Springs Town Council and prior to this was the CEO of Katherine Town Council for four and a half years. He has served as an executive officer in local government across three states and territories and is a member of the Northern Territory Planning Commission, as well as a former Commissioner of Tourism NT.

Mr Jennings is registered and qualified as an architect and economist and has an extensive international background. Prior to this time, he worked in the private sector for a national

sustainable development company as a Registered Architect and as a partner in private practice.

Mr Jennings has over 22 years of experience across a wide range of fields including government, infrastructure, project management, sustainability and alternative energy, emergency management, land development, urban planning and architecture, construction and community and economic development.

WHAT IS THE COUNCIL’S ANNUAL BUDGET?

Alice Springs Town Council’s annual expenditure for the 2022/23 financial year is $47.3 million.

CAN YOU GIVE US A BREAKDOWN OF SPENDING FOR THE BUDGET YEAR AHEAD?

Alice Springs Town Council is focused on improving infrastructure for the community throughout the 2022/23 financial year, with more than $1.5 million allocated to the Alice Springs Aquatic and Leisure Centre (ASALC) a highlight. This funding will see an Adventure Playground built to increase amenities for families, along with an outdoor gym to promote health and activity.

Key funding commitments have also been made by Council to support community-focused initiatives, including the development of a Multicultural Action Plan that ensures people from all walks of life feel safe and at home in the region.

WHAT IS ALICE SPRINGS TOWN

DIVING COUNCIL’S VISION FOR THE COMMUNITY AND ITS FUTURE? DEEPER Alice Springs Town Council prides itself on the traditional role of ‘rates, roads and rubbish’ it plays in the community, but it has also planned beyond that. Council’s role has developed into a far more holistic one, and with that comes the need for direction that has led the local government to develop a forward-facing plan titled Alice Springs Liveability and Sustainability 2030.

This strategic document identifies five key pillars of focus for Council, corresponding to the needs of the community: ∞ Pillar 1: Liveability ∞ Pillar 2: Safety ∞ Pilar 3: Environment ∞ Pillar 4: Economy ∞ Pillar 5: Governance and Civic

The plan aims at improving Alice Springs across those five major pillars, enriching the lives of residents.

A plan of this length is not something Alice Springs Town Council has done before, however Mayor Paterson believes it’s the right approach in the current climate.

“Much like Council’s role in the community, this plan takes a holistic look at Alice Springs and the needs of residents,” Mayor Paterson said.

Alice Springs Town Council’s Night Markets.

“This plan showcases Council’s vision for Alice Springs, a place that empowers and connects residents. It details how Alice Springs Town Council can assist in tackling the challenges our town faces and help the region to prosper.”

WHAT MAKES THE ALICE SPRINGS TOWN COUNCIL AREA SPECIAL?

Alice Springs is an incredibly special and important part of Australia with a unique history.

Arrernte stories describe how the landscape surrounding Alice, including the MacDonnell Ranges, was created by the actions of their ancestors, the caterpillar beings Ayepe-arenye, Ntyarlke and Utnerrengatye.

Creation stories also explain the traditional connection with more distant areas such as Urlatherrke (Mount Zeil) in the West MacDonnell Ranges, to Port Augusta in South Australia.

Arrernte people living in Mparntwe continue to observe traditional law, look after the country, and teach their children Arrernte language and the importance of culture.

Alice Springs has an Aboriginal population of 17.6 per cent and almost 19 per cent of residents speak a language other than English at home.

This multiculturalism truly makes Alice Springs a special region with people from all walks of life coming together to live.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES THE REGION FACES, AND HOW DOES COUNCIL OVERCOME THESE?

Alice Springs faces a range of unique challenges including being a service hub for remote communities across three states and territories. In addition to the southern half of the Northern Territory, vulnerable people from Western Australia, South Australia and parts of Queensland frequently travel to Alice Springs to utilise essential services such as health care.

This puts a tremendous strain on the town’s service industry and leads to negative situations including overcrowding and reduced living conditions in local housing.

HOW IS ALICE SPRINGS TOWN COUNCIL ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE AND REACHING SUSTAINABILITY GOALS?

Alice Springs Town Council knows the region provides unique climate challenges, due its location in the heart of the nation.

To help combat climate change, Council recently adopted a new Climate and Environment Policy to help embed climate and environmental objectives in everyday business.

The Climate and Environment Policy has the following objectives: ∞ Reduce Council’s emissions and the use of fossil fuel energy sources and water resources ∞ Preserve and improve the natural ecosystems of

Alice Springs ∞ Empower the community’s response to climate change ∞ Advocate and become leaders for climate solutions in Alice

Springs and the Northern Territory ∞ Improve waste management and participation in a circular economy in Alice Springs

Council is also wary of the community’s vulnerability to rising temperatures, leading to planning for a greening strategy that encompasses the entire community. This plan is currently in development and will see Council plant 250 trees across the town to increase shade and improve liveability.

WHAT IS AN EXCITING COMMUNITY PROGRAM OR INITIATIVE COUNCIL HAS COMING UP IN THE FUTURE, OR ALREADY UNDERWAY?

Alice Springs Town Council has recently resolved to build a regional skate park, something that will prove to be a game changer for young families in the community.

Still in the design phase, the new regional skate park will be located at Newland Park after thorough consultation with the Alice Springs community. The park will be a centerpiece for Alice Springs and will include skate elements for people of all ages, but will extend far beyond that.

It will also include all-abilities playground equipment, picnic areas, outdoor learning areas, BMX facilities and much more.

“We know that Alice Springs needs better facilities for families. We need more spaces for young kids and families,” Mayor Paterson said.

“That is why this is such an exciting project that will benefit so many people across our fantastic community. Council are always looking at ways to empower residents and providing a top-class facility we can be proud of certainly helps to achieve that.”

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT AN INTERESTING URBAN DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN THE REGION?

A key project in collaboration with the Northern Territory Government is the development of a National Aboriginal Art Gallery (NAAG is a working title) in Alice Springs. The NAAG will be an iconic initiative that recognises the importance of national reconciliation, truth-telling and Aboriginal leadership, culture and history.

This construction of an iconic gallery in the centre of Alice Springs will be dedicated to the celebration, display and interpretation of Aboriginal art and will be majority governed and curated by Aboriginal people. It will become a vehicle for First Nations people to tell their stories to the world and will chart a new course for connecting with Aboriginal art and culture.

HOW IS ALICE SPRINGS TOWN COUNCIL EMBRACING DIGITISATION AND GROWING ITS TECHNOLOGICAL CAPABILITIES?

Alice Springs Town Council is passionate about supporting residents to stay involved and informed about their local government as much as possible.

The media landscape has changed significantly over time, forcing organisations to adapt and think of new ways to reach the community. This has led Council to live stream each Ordinary Council Meeting so as many locals can stay up to date as possible. Each Ordinary and Special Meeting is hosted online so no matter where residents are, they can still capture the conversation of their Elected Officials.

Council is also passionate about helping residents improve their knowledge and skills when it comes to technology. One of Council’s most popular initiatives is the annual Phoney Film Festival. This unique program sees entrants up to the age of 25 capture short films entirely on their phone, with Council hosting workshops to assist in filming and editing content.

These films are then screened at the Alice Springs Cinema for the wider public.

Alice Springs Town Council Mayor, Matt Paterson, during the 2022 Territory Day Citizenship Ceremony.

FEATURES SCHEDULE & ADVERTISERS INDEX

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Autumn 2023

Water and wastewater treatment

Waste management

Arts and culture

Roads and transport

Health and safety

Winter 2023

Planning and construction

Cultural engagement

Environmental protection

Mobility

Energy efficiency

Spring 2023

Water management

Urban development

Community services

Sustainability

Smart cities Deadline: 3 March 2023

Deadline: 26 May 2023

Deadline: 18 August 2023

Summer 2023/24 Deadline: 3 November 2023

Asset management

Civil construction

Recreation

Transport

Community design Angus Flexible Pipelines ...............................................................11

AWMA Water Control Solutions .......................................56, OBC

Brightly Software.............................................................................41

DAB Pumps Oceania Pty Ltd ........................................................ 17

Dicker Data .......................................................................................51

Ecoteq ...............................................................................................57

Fimer Spa ....................................................................................... IBC

Foton Mobility Distribution Pty Ltd ............................................... 5

Future Engineering & Communication Pty Ltd ........................13

Global Pipeline Equipment Pty Ltd ............................................69

Grochem............................................................................................14

InEight ................................................................................................. 9

Interflow Pty Ltd...............................................................................81

Legacy Lighting............................................................................... 37

Mainmark .........................................................................................30

Metasphere Australia Pty Ltd ......................................................59

Monkey Media ............................................................................... 73

oOh!media........................................................................................ 77

Park Agility .................................................................................15, 72

Reveal................................................................................................ 47

Sewer Equipment Company Australia .....................................35

Spectur Limited...................................................................... 28, IFC

Toolkwip Pumps Pty Ltd .................................................................12

True Water Australia ......................................................................65

Tyre Stewardship Australia ..........................................................63

Xylem.................................................................................................58