Mrs BRAHAM - 2005-10-20
The Chief Minister can certainly make businesses happy with a good response to this question. People in Alice Springs loudly applauded the government for the concept of the Desert Knowledge Precinct. It was widely anticipated and generally accepted that the Desert Peoples Centre of this project would be finished for the 2006 year. Can you advise me what the status is of the design for the Desert Peoples Centre and when we can anticipate tenders to be called?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the Desert Knowledge Precinct is a very important one for Alice Springs. The building and formation of the Desert Peoples Centre will include the relocation of the Batchelor Institute in Alice Springs and also part of the Centre for Appropriate Technology.
I have spoken in this House a number of times about the fact that negotiations and discussions about what was required there and the escalating costs of building in the Centre were all factors in the delay. We would have loved to have seen it completed by now. It has taken longer to get where we would like to go. The carriage of this project is now with the Minister for Business and Economic Development and Regional Development and, quite appropriately, I will hand it to him to give you the specific details of this.
Mr HENDERSON (Business and Economic Development): Madam Speaker, I thank the Chief Minister for the handball. Yes, in the new administrative arrangements, I am now the minister for the Desert Knowledge Precinct, which is an exciting initiative. For people in the gallery and people listening …
Mrs Braham: Just the answer to the question, minister, will do.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: I will answer the question. If I am not interrupted, you will get the answer even quicker, member for Braitling.
The Desert Knowledge Precinct is a 73 ha greenfield site strategically located between Alice Springs and the airport. The precinct will be a focal point for Desert Knowledge business and networking activities. Everybody in the House knows that the first stage of the headworks has been completed, and Alice Springs business, Sitzler Bros, has just won a $2.66m contract to build the next stage of the headworks in the precinct. Work is happening.
I was in Alice Springs a couple of weeks ago and actually took a drive there. Previously, where there was a ‘road closed’ sign, there is a heap of work happening with graders and other earthmoving equipment there building the next stage of the headworks. I was certainly very impressed with the work that Sitzler Bros are doing there.
Documentation of the Desert Peoples Centre has been let to the architectural firm, Hassel, including its Alice Springs partner, Tangentyere Design. The design work is happening. Alice Springs local businesses are involved with the design. A contract has also been let to Alice Springs architects, Susan Dugdale and Stephen Lumb, to document the Desert Knowledge business and innovation centre. Work is happening on the ground; the graders and dozers are out there doing their bit. Unfortunately, a few trees have been knocked about. However, design and documentation is happening for the Desert Peoples Centre. The project is under way and I look forward to having carriage of it in this government.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the Desert Knowledge Precinct is a very important one for Alice Springs. The building and formation of the Desert Peoples Centre will include the relocation of the Batchelor Institute in Alice Springs and also part of the Centre for Appropriate Technology.
I have spoken in this House a number of times about the fact that negotiations and discussions about what was required there and the escalating costs of building in the Centre were all factors in the delay. We would have loved to have seen it completed by now. It has taken longer to get where we would like to go. The carriage of this project is now with the Minister for Business and Economic Development and Regional Development and, quite appropriately, I will hand it to him to give you the specific details of this.
Mr HENDERSON (Business and Economic Development): Madam Speaker, I thank the Chief Minister for the handball. Yes, in the new administrative arrangements, I am now the minister for the Desert Knowledge Precinct, which is an exciting initiative. For people in the gallery and people listening …
Mrs Braham: Just the answer to the question, minister, will do.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: I will answer the question. If I am not interrupted, you will get the answer even quicker, member for Braitling.
The Desert Knowledge Precinct is a 73 ha greenfield site strategically located between Alice Springs and the airport. The precinct will be a focal point for Desert Knowledge business and networking activities. Everybody in the House knows that the first stage of the headworks has been completed, and Alice Springs business, Sitzler Bros, has just won a $2.66m contract to build the next stage of the headworks in the precinct. Work is happening.
I was in Alice Springs a couple of weeks ago and actually took a drive there. Previously, where there was a ‘road closed’ sign, there is a heap of work happening with graders and other earthmoving equipment there building the next stage of the headworks. I was certainly very impressed with the work that Sitzler Bros are doing there.
Documentation of the Desert Peoples Centre has been let to the architectural firm, Hassel, including its Alice Springs partner, Tangentyere Design. The design work is happening. Alice Springs local businesses are involved with the design. A contract has also been let to Alice Springs architects, Susan Dugdale and Stephen Lumb, to document the Desert Knowledge business and innovation centre. Work is happening on the ground; the graders and dozers are out there doing their bit. Unfortunately, a few trees have been knocked about. However, design and documentation is happening for the Desert Peoples Centre. The project is under way and I look forward to having carriage of it in this government.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016