Mr HAMPTON - 2008-06-12
I understand that you recently opened a new walkway adjacent to the Alice Springs Railway Station. How will this enhance the experience for travellers on The Ghan, and what level of support was provided by the government?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question and I agree with the member, it is a great walkway.
Two weeks ago, I visited Alice Springs for two days and they were a very productive two days. I had the opportunity to launch three projects. First, of course, was the water reuse in Alice Springs. As you probably have seen in the newspapers, the architect who designed the reuse process received one of the architectural awards. It is a fantastic building and project because it leads the way in Australia in how to use and reuse water, rather than let it evaporate up in the sky. It is a valuable resource, and I am very pleased that Alice Springs is the first town in the Northern Territory to reuse its effluent. They use it for production of trees, fruit trees or vegetables at AZRI.
I was also able to launch the fence that separates the rail station from the main avenue - a fantastic project designed and installed by a local company. It pictures the trip you do from South Australia all the way up to Darwin. However, what I was really impressed with - and I congratulate the person who designed it - it has the gap in the fence that follows the natural route of the highway. As you can see, on the back of the fence, you face it and at the car park end you can see the rippling effect like the waves.
One of the things that really impressed me in Alice Springs was the Discovery Walkway. We know very well that many people who get off the train walked along the railway lines to the main avenue, crossed at the lights to the central business district, and it was a well beaten path. We thought we could do something to show something about Alice Springs. I was very pleased to provide $330 000 to Great Southern Railway to design and construct a pathway. They put money in themselves. I was in Alice Springs with Mr Tony Braxton-Smith, the CEO of Great Southern Railway, and I have to tell you, I was very impressed.
The footpath follows the original footpath along the railway line, but is designed in such a way as to imitate the landscape of Alice Springs, with the red soil, the dry river beds, and the trees that grow in the region. Some of it is bush tucker and some is of the history of Alice Springs - big boards that state the history of Alice Springs from the very beginning to today. All of it was constructed and designed by local people. The walkway design was by Atomiq Design Group; Sitzler Brothers constructed the pathway; Ilparpa Nursery did all the landscaping; the signage and artwork was by Adam Levot of AA Signs and Designs. The wording on the interpretive signs was written and developed by Linda Wells, Philip Drake and Shahieda Drake. The camel sculpture was by artist, Janine Stanton, and the signage graphic design by Rose Hannigan.
One thing that Mr Braxton-Smith told me was that they wanted to put an aeroplane there for the Royal Flying Doctors, but they could not because of the size of the aeroplane. I suggested that the famous spitfires, that became famous when the member for …
Dr Burns: The ones that got stolen.
Mr VATSKALIS: They were stolen, I remember.
Members interjecting.
Mr VATSKALIS: I was in Perth when I heard that. He was freaking out because someone stole the spitfires but, a few hours later, it was, ‘Sorry, we took them to renovate’.
By coincidence, a train had arrived that day and a number of tourists walked from the train. The media approached two tourists from England who had already gone through the footpath, and come back. They gave the best third party endorsement because they were absolutely rapt about the pathway that was constructed, and what they learned about Alice Springs. It was their first time in Alice Springs and, within 400 m, they read the history of Alice Springs from the very beginning to today, and they were absolutely thrilled. I am very pleased about the project, $330 000 bought a lot of goodwill for Alice Springs.
Of course, it is going to get bigger and better, because Great Southern Railway are going to introduce the Platinum Class, which will go up to Alice Springs all the way to Darwin. It is going to bring the people who can afford to pay a high price ticket and, of course, they will be able to stay in Alice Springs for a period of time and spend more money.
Congratulations to all the local manufacturers and designers. It was a project well done. Now, we are looking forward to actually seeing the last part of the sculpture and the pictures that will be put in the pathway.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question and I agree with the member, it is a great walkway.
Two weeks ago, I visited Alice Springs for two days and they were a very productive two days. I had the opportunity to launch three projects. First, of course, was the water reuse in Alice Springs. As you probably have seen in the newspapers, the architect who designed the reuse process received one of the architectural awards. It is a fantastic building and project because it leads the way in Australia in how to use and reuse water, rather than let it evaporate up in the sky. It is a valuable resource, and I am very pleased that Alice Springs is the first town in the Northern Territory to reuse its effluent. They use it for production of trees, fruit trees or vegetables at AZRI.
I was also able to launch the fence that separates the rail station from the main avenue - a fantastic project designed and installed by a local company. It pictures the trip you do from South Australia all the way up to Darwin. However, what I was really impressed with - and I congratulate the person who designed it - it has the gap in the fence that follows the natural route of the highway. As you can see, on the back of the fence, you face it and at the car park end you can see the rippling effect like the waves.
One of the things that really impressed me in Alice Springs was the Discovery Walkway. We know very well that many people who get off the train walked along the railway lines to the main avenue, crossed at the lights to the central business district, and it was a well beaten path. We thought we could do something to show something about Alice Springs. I was very pleased to provide $330 000 to Great Southern Railway to design and construct a pathway. They put money in themselves. I was in Alice Springs with Mr Tony Braxton-Smith, the CEO of Great Southern Railway, and I have to tell you, I was very impressed.
The footpath follows the original footpath along the railway line, but is designed in such a way as to imitate the landscape of Alice Springs, with the red soil, the dry river beds, and the trees that grow in the region. Some of it is bush tucker and some is of the history of Alice Springs - big boards that state the history of Alice Springs from the very beginning to today. All of it was constructed and designed by local people. The walkway design was by Atomiq Design Group; Sitzler Brothers constructed the pathway; Ilparpa Nursery did all the landscaping; the signage and artwork was by Adam Levot of AA Signs and Designs. The wording on the interpretive signs was written and developed by Linda Wells, Philip Drake and Shahieda Drake. The camel sculpture was by artist, Janine Stanton, and the signage graphic design by Rose Hannigan.
One thing that Mr Braxton-Smith told me was that they wanted to put an aeroplane there for the Royal Flying Doctors, but they could not because of the size of the aeroplane. I suggested that the famous spitfires, that became famous when the member for …
Dr Burns: The ones that got stolen.
Mr VATSKALIS: They were stolen, I remember.
Members interjecting.
Mr VATSKALIS: I was in Perth when I heard that. He was freaking out because someone stole the spitfires but, a few hours later, it was, ‘Sorry, we took them to renovate’.
By coincidence, a train had arrived that day and a number of tourists walked from the train. The media approached two tourists from England who had already gone through the footpath, and come back. They gave the best third party endorsement because they were absolutely rapt about the pathway that was constructed, and what they learned about Alice Springs. It was their first time in Alice Springs and, within 400 m, they read the history of Alice Springs from the very beginning to today, and they were absolutely thrilled. I am very pleased about the project, $330 000 bought a lot of goodwill for Alice Springs.
Of course, it is going to get bigger and better, because Great Southern Railway are going to introduce the Platinum Class, which will go up to Alice Springs all the way to Darwin. It is going to bring the people who can afford to pay a high price ticket and, of course, they will be able to stay in Alice Springs for a period of time and spend more money.
Congratulations to all the local manufacturers and designers. It was a project well done. Now, we are looking forward to actually seeing the last part of the sculpture and the pictures that will be put in the pathway.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016