By ERWIN CHLANDA A campaigner and hands-on combatant of buffel for a quarter century, Alex Nelson, says the government’s initiative about the imported grass taking over much of The Centre is a time wasting exercise. “There is no reason for not declaring it a noxious weed. They have all the information they need. This is […] The post Buffel not declared a weed: Why not? first appeared on Alice Springs News ..read more

When you throw a couple of gold coins into the buckets at the Bangtail Muster you’re probably thinking the money will go to a worthy charity. Think again. The $1400 or so donated by the 3500 delighted spectators each May Day makes up barely 10% of the event’s cost. Of course the couple of dozen […] The post Red tape strangles Bangtail Muster first appeared on Alice Springs News ..read more

By ERWIN CHLANDA The Australian Government has announced projects to be funded immediately or over four years with the $250m grant and other Federal contributions allocated by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in a bid to stem youth crime in Central Australia. A statement to the Alice Springs News today says consultation is taking place across […] The post Albanese’s $250m: Where it will go first appeared on Alice Springs News ..read more

Photos and text by ERWIN CHLANDA It wasn’t hard to follow the theme for this morning’s parade: Smile. Blue sky, bright sun, zero pollution, the four degrees night soon making way for a perfect 20C day, thousands in the town centre taking part in the Bangtail Muster parade or watching it pass through Todd Mall […] The post Alice shines in Bangtail Muster first appeared on Alice Springs News ..read more

By ERWIN CHLANDA Bottle shop cops may be replaced by unarmed officers from another department while the Mayor, an ardent supporter of the Point of Sale Intervention (POSI) provided by the police, declines to comment. He will also not discuss his claims that the recent curfew was a success. A current trial involves the deployment […] The post Good-bye to bottle shop cops? first appeared on Alice Springs News ..read more

By MIKE GILLAM Every six weeks or so I drive between Alice Springs and the southern reaches of the Lake Eyre basin. A few months after meeting the French tourist (Night Drive) who suffered from acute anxiety but had the courage to drive an unreliable bomb across the continent, I had an inspiring encounter with […] The post Survivor of atomic crimes in The Centre first appeared on Alice Springs News ..read more

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