By ERWIN CHLANDA There are about twice the number of houses for sale in Alice Springs when compared with what is regarded as a strong market. Realestate.com has 284 properties listed, nearly double the number when the market is strong, according to Lindsay Carey, the local representative of Real Estate Institute NT. “This is a […] The post Double the number of houses on the market first appeared on Alice Springs News ..read more

LETTER TO THE EDITOR  The latest prison data release by the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that the Eva Lawler Labor Government has lost control of both our streets and our prisons. The Territory’s prison population continues to grow, increasing by 9% from 30 June 2022 to 30 June 2023. We know that the prisons […] The post Prison population grew 9% in Fiscal 23 first appeared on Alice Springs News ..read more

Emus and a roo carcass. By MIKE GILLAM Travelling south, I leave Alice Springs before first light and I’m rewarded and indeed frustrated by a brilliant meteor plummeting to earth in the south west. The heavenly body is primarily bright green with an orange tail and I fail to capture it even though the camera […] The post Night Drive first appeared on Alice Springs News ..read more

By ERWIN CHLANDA The Territory’s $40 billon economy by 2030 “won’t happen without the growth of this sector” said NT Minister Mark Monaghan (at right), addressing more than 300 members of the extractive industry yesterday. The other target with the same deadline – 50% renewables – never crossed his lips when he opened AGES 2024, […] The post Beetaloo gas to ‘change NT forever’ first appeared on Alice Springs News ..read more

By ERWIN CHLANDA “Mobile phone connectivity is not included in Telstra’s Universal Service Obligation. That relates solely to landline services and payphones,” Telstra told us when we asked. So what? Well, here is the deal. Universal Service Obligation (USO) is best illustrated by a story involving Molly Clarke (at left), a feisty elderly lady who […] The post Telstra’s Universal Service Obligation doesn’t cover mobile phones first appeared on Alice Springs News ..read more

By ERWIN CHLANDA You’re a journalist in Alice Springs and you get a media handout from the Chief Minister, Eva Lawler (pictured), the supposed paragon of transparent government. The release doesn’t provide a phone number. You can get a list of minders but there is a brisk turnover of spin doctors and updated lists are […] The post Open government first appeared on Alice Springs News ..read more

By ERWIN CHLANDA The directors of Melanka Pty Ltd, which will “deliver” 174 multi-level dwellings in Todd Street, are Michael Sitzler, David Ross and Randle Walker. Mr Sitzler is a member of a builders dynasty that started in Alice Springs but moved to Darwin. Its recent Alice Springs projects are the Supreme Court and the […] The post Sitzler, Aboriginal interests in huge dwellings project first appeared on Alice Springs News ..read more

Buffel on the bank of the Todd. By ERWIN CHLANDA The Bradshaw Walk is one of The Centre’s small gems. Starting at the Overland Telegraph Station, five minutes from the CBD, the slim track winds its way south, along a low range of hills at right. On the opposite side, from elevated positions, walkers can […] The post Only biological control can eradicate buffel first appeared on Alice Springs News ..read more

By ERWIN CHLANDA Monetary compensation and self-government are major issues in the NT Treaty Commission’s final report which was given broad attention during a two day Indigenous convention in Alice Springs this week. Treaty Minister Chansey Paech, who addressed the convention on both days, made it clear he agreed with the recommendations in the June […] The post Treaty gets push at Alice conference first appeared on Alice Springs News ..read more

Marion Scrymgour, MP Member for Lingiari, bush campaigning in December 2022. Letter to the Editor Alice Springs residents are all guests of the holders of its native title, confirmed by the Federal Court on May 23, 2000. That applies not just to non-Aboriginal people but also to Aboriginal people whose country is somewhere else, and […] The post Youth crime: Continuing the status quo isn’t an option. first appeared on Alice Springs News ..read more