1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,520 Speaker 1: We have spoken at length on the show about some 2 00:00:02,560 --> 00:00:06,040 Speaker 1: of the issues being experienced in Central Australia in Alice 3 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:09,120 Speaker 1: Springs when it comes to crime and anti social behavior. 4 00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:13,480 Speaker 1: Now my understanding is that yesterday the sort the new Well, 5 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:16,560 Speaker 1: the new team, the Social Order Response team that they 6 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:20,000 Speaker 1: had met for the second time and joining me on 7 00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:21,760 Speaker 1: the line to tell us a little bit more about 8 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:24,840 Speaker 1: how things went is the Mayor of Alice Springs and 9 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:28,680 Speaker 1: also the chair of Well of that sort it is 10 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:30,280 Speaker 1: Matt Patterson. Good morning to you. 11 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:33,320 Speaker 2: Good morning, Katie, Good morning listeners. Matt. 12 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:34,599 Speaker 1: How did it go yesterday? 13 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:38,479 Speaker 2: Yeah, look, it was good. They're always robust discussions, so 14 00:00:38,560 --> 00:00:42,479 Speaker 2: it's something that you know, as the mayor, I look 15 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:46,479 Speaker 2: forward to sitting on and it's really about the immediate 16 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:48,199 Speaker 2: stuff that we can do on the ground here to 17 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:53,360 Speaker 2: try to address some issues. You know, one of the 18 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:56,040 Speaker 2: things that has been flagged in the report is the 19 00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:59,240 Speaker 2: patrollers group. So we've just got a collaboration of everyone 20 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 2: doing patrol, collaborating and integrating the system so they're not 21 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:05,920 Speaker 2: doing the same thing, so we're not having four or 22 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:08,560 Speaker 2: five different patrol groups go down one street. I know 23 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:12,400 Speaker 2: it sounds simple, but it's obviously welcome. And people are 24 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:15,000 Speaker 2: seeing those patrols out on the street and therefore, you know, 25 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:17,440 Speaker 2: a bit more passive surveillance. Everyone's feeling a little bit safer. 26 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:20,039 Speaker 1: Well, that is good, that's certainly a good thing to hear. 27 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 1: Has there been much more discussion about whether you know 28 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:24,840 Speaker 1: whether the patrol dogs are going to be part of 29 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:26,479 Speaker 1: it in any way or no one asked you about 30 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:27,600 Speaker 1: this last week as well? 31 00:01:28,800 --> 00:01:32,560 Speaker 2: Well, we've seen the police dog, the police dogs out 32 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:35,720 Speaker 2: which they're training on the council lawns and we did 33 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:37,840 Speaker 2: have an incident on Tuesday night where the police dog 34 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:40,680 Speaker 2: was called. So you know, we're seeing the police dogs out. 35 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 2: I'm not sure if the government have the private security 36 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:47,639 Speaker 2: with the dogs is still on their agenda. But look, 37 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:49,760 Speaker 2: as I said, we just want more patrols and we're 38 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:50,680 Speaker 2: getting that at the moment. 39 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:53,760 Speaker 1: And have you seen with those more patrols, have you 40 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:56,120 Speaker 1: seen a decrease in the number of incidents that you 41 00:01:56,320 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 1: had been seeing on the streets? Hi? 42 00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:03,720 Speaker 2: Look, yes, but at the moment it's hard to get 43 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:06,240 Speaker 2: those raw numbers, kdie just because it's sort of not 44 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:10,360 Speaker 2: done in real time. But as I'll say that the 45 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:13,400 Speaker 2: feedback from some businesses within the CBD is that they 46 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:16,520 Speaker 2: are welcoming to see the patrols. Another thing that we'll do, 47 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:19,880 Speaker 2: we'll try to do immediately is lighting and it'll be 48 00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:23,079 Speaker 2: temporary floodlights to get it up while we go out 49 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 2: to tender to get the lighting completed in Alice Springs 50 00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:29,760 Speaker 2: in the CBD. So obviously the scepted report has been 51 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 2: done and governments sort of said on that for a 52 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:33,799 Speaker 2: little while, but now we want to get to the 53 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 2: next stage and start seeing lights and crime prevention implemented. 54 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:40,880 Speaker 1: Matt, have you had like, has it been a good 55 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 1: week in Alice Springs? Are you sort of you know, 56 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 1: has it been as much crime like anecdotally sort of 57 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:48,800 Speaker 1: you know, reported, or have you noticed things have calmed 58 00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:50,440 Speaker 1: down a little bit as a result of some of 59 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:51,160 Speaker 1: these changes. 60 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:57,320 Speaker 2: It's hard, I mean maybe in the CBD, yes, But 61 00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:01,720 Speaker 2: we had on radio down here yesterday you heard a 62 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:03,960 Speaker 2: lady talking about an eighty four year old mother who's 63 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:07,200 Speaker 2: getting broken into every day and she's scared to be there. 64 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:12,440 Speaker 2: So you know, that's still raw in the minds of 65 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 2: other springs. And you know, at the end of the day, 66 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 2: I've said it multiple times, Katie, people will always sometimes 67 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:23,200 Speaker 2: feel unsafe in walking from like the restaurant to the 68 00:03:23,240 --> 00:03:25,680 Speaker 2: car or whatever it may be. But when you start 69 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 2: feeling unsafe in your own home, it's really hard to 70 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 2: come back from that. And we're seeing that, whether it 71 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:35,880 Speaker 2: be young women because their partner's working remotely, or elderly 72 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:39,120 Speaker 2: people as well. So we need to address those concerns 73 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:39,840 Speaker 2: pretty quickly. 74 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:42,320 Speaker 1: One hundred percent. You have to feel safe in your 75 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 1: own home, and if you don't feel safe in your 76 00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:46,680 Speaker 1: own home, well it makes your question you know whether 77 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:48,840 Speaker 1: you can live somewhere and whether you know whether it's 78 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:54,680 Speaker 1: a viable long term option, Matt. Any movement though, when 79 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 1: we talk about this location, the government had said that 80 00:03:57,080 --> 00:04:00,480 Speaker 1: they've identified two different locations where they may be able 81 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 1: to have youth go out and stay at night if 82 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:05,120 Speaker 1: they're roaming the streets. Any update on that. 83 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:09,880 Speaker 2: The Chief Minister did speak about it this morning and 84 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:12,600 Speaker 2: they're looking at sights. So my ears are certainly peeled 85 00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:17,080 Speaker 2: with that, and you know, I've got an open phone 86 00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:20,560 Speaker 2: line to the Chief so when hopefully those progress, we'll 87 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:22,520 Speaker 2: be in the discussion. But it's certainly something that I 88 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:24,680 Speaker 2: welcome and I know it's certainly something that the community 89 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:28,600 Speaker 2: down here is welcoming as well. You know, we've got 90 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:32,080 Speaker 2: these kids a safer on the street than at home, 91 00:04:32,120 --> 00:04:33,040 Speaker 2: and that's the problem. 92 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 1: It's a massive problem. It's quite unbelievable to think that 93 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:39,280 Speaker 1: that's the case. And so then really, if they've got 94 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:41,600 Speaker 1: nowhere safe to go, there needs to be one found. 95 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 2: Yes, correct, absolutely, and hopefully if that's done by Christmas, 96 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:47,680 Speaker 2: I think that'll be welcomed. 97 00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:51,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, Matt, are you concerned about Christmas and that Christmas 98 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:54,160 Speaker 1: holiday period if something isn't sorted out. 99 00:04:55,640 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think everyone's pretty anxious about Christmas. I mean, 100 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:02,039 Speaker 2: summertime there's always a peak period for us. But in 101 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:04,640 Speaker 2: saying that hasn't really let up this year. So hopefully 102 00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:09,760 Speaker 2: we can see you know, those changes and any ideas 103 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 2: that are put forward. You know, we certainly table because 104 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:16,400 Speaker 2: it's everyone just wants to feel safe, and I don't 105 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:17,480 Speaker 2: think that's too much to us. 106 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 1: No, I don't think it is either. Hey, before I 107 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 1: let you go the Aboriginal Art Gallery, we know that 108 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:24,679 Speaker 1: there was a substantial amount of funding in the federal government. 109 00:05:25,920 --> 00:05:27,160 Speaker 1: How's that progressing. 110 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:32,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, So, I mean there's obviously no building there yet, 111 00:05:32,480 --> 00:05:34,520 Speaker 2: and I don't think there will be. They'll start for 112 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:38,279 Speaker 2: probably twelve months or so. The land has been acquired, 113 00:05:38,279 --> 00:05:41,240 Speaker 2: with still in that negotiation phase within the sixty days 114 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:45,880 Speaker 2: about the money that we get from government. So that 115 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:48,880 Speaker 2: was a commitment obviously from the FEDS that we welcome 116 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 2: part of one hundred and seventy five million dollar package 117 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:53,919 Speaker 2: for oil the spring. So look, I think that it 118 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 2: will be a game changer, but it's probably been a 119 00:05:55,920 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 2: little bit tarnished of how we've got there in the end. 120 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:02,839 Speaker 1: Oh, it's been a long time coming, hasn't it. Oh goodness, 121 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:07,200 Speaker 1: taken the real long road, taking the real long road 122 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 1: to get there. 123 00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:10,800 Speaker 2: And I think that there'll be a lessons learned from 124 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:14,040 Speaker 2: a lot of people about how to do consultation and 125 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:18,080 Speaker 2: know how to deliver a project. I think people like 126 00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:22,880 Speaker 2: to see things on paper for your vision before it happens. 127 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:24,920 Speaker 2: And you know, there's a whole lot of concern about 128 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:28,080 Speaker 2: the over getting taken and X y Z, and once 129 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:31,159 Speaker 2: people have that in their minds might not be fact, 130 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:33,800 Speaker 2: but it's really hard to change people's minds if they 131 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:34,800 Speaker 2: can't see the project. 132 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, are you confident that the community is on board 133 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:41,880 Speaker 1: now that everybody's positive and on board with it now. 134 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:45,159 Speaker 2: I think there will be parts of the community that 135 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:47,479 Speaker 2: will always be supportive, and there'll be parts of the 136 00:06:47,520 --> 00:06:50,159 Speaker 2: community that will never be supportive of it. But I 137 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:54,400 Speaker 2: think that's just like anything in general. But I think, 138 00:06:54,520 --> 00:06:56,280 Speaker 2: you know, the feeling is people are sort of just 139 00:06:56,440 --> 00:06:59,360 Speaker 2: over it now and just want it to be built, 140 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:01,599 Speaker 2: sort of what I'm picking up. 141 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:04,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, fair enough. Well, Matt Patterson, the mayor of 142 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:07,040 Speaker 1: Vellae Springs. Always good to catch up. Thanks for your 143 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:07,760 Speaker 1: time this morning. 144 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:09,880 Speaker 2: Thanks, thank you.