1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,280 Speaker 1: We often talk about the issues of crime that we've 2 00:00:02,320 --> 00:00:05,400 Speaker 1: seen in Alice Springs and you know, some of the 3 00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:07,960 Speaker 1: real concerns that locals have had there. But we are 4 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:10,080 Speaker 1: hearing at the moment about one of the solutions. You 5 00:00:10,160 --> 00:00:13,520 Speaker 1: might recall we caught up with the CEO of Tourism 6 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:17,479 Speaker 1: Central Australia, Daniel Rochford, last week and he'd mentioned the 7 00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:20,840 Speaker 1: fact that the patrols by Lura Tippa are having a 8 00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:23,920 Speaker 1: big impact. Now joining me on the line to tell 9 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 1: us a little bit more about the situation is well. 10 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:28,480 Speaker 2: One of the owners of. 11 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:32,120 Speaker 1: An Aboriginal art gallery there. It's in the Todd Mall. 12 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:37,279 Speaker 1: Her name is Vanita Poblocki. Good morning to you, Vanita, Hi, 13 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 1: good morning, lovely to have. 14 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:41,600 Speaker 2: You on the show. Vanita, firstly, can you tell us a. 15 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:44,239 Speaker 1: Little bit about where exactly you are based in the 16 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:46,080 Speaker 1: mall in Alice? 17 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:48,959 Speaker 3: So where based in the mall down the southern end, 18 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:52,720 Speaker 3: kind of diagonally opposite the epilogue bar. 19 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:56,200 Speaker 1: Right, I do know exactly where that is. It's a 20 00:00:56,200 --> 00:01:00,240 Speaker 1: beautiful area of the mall. How have things been over 21 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:02,120 Speaker 1: the last couple of years for you guys? 22 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 3: Firstly, last couple of years have been a little bit 23 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 3: up and down. Certainly over the most recent Christmas period 24 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:19,679 Speaker 3: things were probably in one of the most one of 25 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:23,120 Speaker 3: the worst states we had experienced in terms of incidents 26 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:26,920 Speaker 3: in the mall. But I'm happy to say that in 27 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:28,959 Speaker 3: our experience is someone who lived in the mall. I 28 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:31,080 Speaker 3: think as the only people who live in the mall 29 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:33,679 Speaker 3: and work in the mall. So I am here twenty 30 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:37,800 Speaker 3: four to seven, seven days a week. The last since 31 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:44,080 Speaker 3: late February, things have been incredibly quiet in terms of incidents. 32 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:48,640 Speaker 1: So Anita, talk us through exactly what has really seen 33 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 1: that change, Because you know, we've spoken so much about 34 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 1: the various issues in Central Australia and Dean Alice Springs. 35 00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 1: We've all seen a different vision emerge of massive groups 36 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:02,040 Speaker 1: of young people doing the wrong thing. 37 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:04,440 Speaker 2: So what's changed over that period of time. 38 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:09,240 Speaker 3: Look, what I put it down to is Luratippa is 39 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:12,840 Speaker 3: the luratip group. The toos coming out and patrolling have 40 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 3: made a massive difference. We have never experienced it so 41 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:21,520 Speaker 3: quiet in the evenings and in the afternoons. It's not 42 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:25,720 Speaker 3: to say that every moment is going to be incident free, 43 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:30,480 Speaker 3: but it is radically different and we are surprised as well. 44 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:34,400 Speaker 3: But these toos are doing a fantastic job patrolling them 45 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:38,640 Speaker 3: all and de escalating any situations that are erupting and 46 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:40,560 Speaker 3: deterring ones that are about to kick off. 47 00:02:40,919 --> 00:02:42,359 Speaker 2: Yeah, that is so good to hear. 48 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:45,480 Speaker 1: Like honestly, I think that, you know, for a lot 49 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:47,360 Speaker 1: of people listening this morning, they're going to think that 50 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:51,519 Speaker 1: sounds fantastic. What kind of strategies are they using? And 51 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 1: from what you've seen, Like you said, you're in a 52 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:56,160 Speaker 1: really unique situation where not only do you have a 53 00:02:56,160 --> 00:02:57,799 Speaker 1: business in the mall, but you live in them all 54 00:02:57,840 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 1: as well. 55 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:02,480 Speaker 3: Yes, try so. Look, you know, and I have no 56 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:06,200 Speaker 3: affiliation with these guys by the way, just literally, you know, 57 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 3: as a citizen of Alice Springs and what I see 58 00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:12,600 Speaker 3: in a business owner of Alice Springs. I see them 59 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 3: patrol regularly up and down the mall, either by foot 60 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:21,320 Speaker 3: or by car. I've seen them assist police when things 61 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 3: are when there is an issue. Essentially, I've seen them 62 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 3: assist police and their presence seems to take away a 63 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:32,200 Speaker 3: lot of the tension in that immediate situation that might 64 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:36,520 Speaker 3: be happening. They talk in language to the offenders or 65 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:40,840 Speaker 3: the alleged defenders, and it really has a completely different 66 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 3: feel about it. I've seen them independently outside of the 67 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:51,240 Speaker 3: police as well. For example, one evening, there was a 68 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:55,040 Speaker 3: looks to me like an intoxicated group of adults wanting 69 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:57,520 Speaker 3: to come into the mall in the southern end. The 70 00:03:57,640 --> 00:04:02,120 Speaker 3: lriative of men literally stood in a line across the 71 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:06,400 Speaker 3: mall and told them in language and in English to 72 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:10,040 Speaker 3: go home and did not let these men into the mall. 73 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 3: It was really quite phenomenal, and it was done not 74 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:16,400 Speaker 3: an aggressive way, but in a way again that really 75 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:18,800 Speaker 3: is calming, that is on the same level and de 76 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:22,360 Speaker 3: escalate a situation. So it has a different feel and 77 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:26,560 Speaker 3: a different impact perhaps than some previous interactions. 78 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:30,520 Speaker 1: And Vanita, tell me, you know, from your perspective talking 79 00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:33,200 Speaker 1: to the other retailers, the other operators in the mall, 80 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 1: what are people saying you know about some of these 81 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:39,599 Speaker 1: tactics and the total de escalation that you are seeing 82 00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 1: In some cases. 83 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:44,880 Speaker 3: I think we're all benefiting from it. It's been much 84 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:49,200 Speaker 3: easier to operate a business in many ways. I think 85 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:52,359 Speaker 3: we've all seen quite a change, but especially us in 86 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:55,479 Speaker 3: the evenings, we've seen a change in terms of the 87 00:04:55,520 --> 00:04:59,039 Speaker 3: behavior So what we're really calling out for is for 88 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:01,360 Speaker 3: the other springs communit to come back to the mall, 89 00:05:01,839 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 3: to engage in life in the all, to engage in community, 90 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:09,000 Speaker 3: to you know, support local business, because I'm pretty sure 91 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 3: you're going to see quite a radical change when you're here, and. 92 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:15,560 Speaker 1: It must be tough, you know, in terms of tourism, 93 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:17,960 Speaker 1: not only with locals visiting them all, but in terms 94 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:21,080 Speaker 1: of tourism, how have things been for you guys when 95 00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 1: you talk about trade. 96 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:28,560 Speaker 3: Trade has been very low this year. It's disappointing. I 97 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:31,240 Speaker 3: think everyone had a great year last year after COVID, 98 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 3: you know, consumer confidence was up across the board across Australia. 99 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:40,160 Speaker 3: This year, obviously, they're the confluence of impacting factors including 100 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:44,039 Speaker 3: interest rates and so on, and negative press has certainly 101 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:51,680 Speaker 3: resulted in cancelation booking, tourism booking cancelations, conference cancelations, things 102 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:56,720 Speaker 3: like that. So tourism is definitely down this year, which 103 00:05:56,760 --> 00:06:00,480 Speaker 3: is sad to see because from my opinion, it's never 104 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:03,640 Speaker 3: been from a crime perspective, it's never been safer in 105 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 3: them all. And I've lived here since twenty and seventeen, 106 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 3: so seen a lot of ups and down in that 107 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:10,720 Speaker 3: but never experienced it like this. 108 00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:13,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, well that is really good to hear. 109 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:16,839 Speaker 1: Honestly, it's so pleasing to hear that you've got a 110 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:20,240 Speaker 1: situation where these patrols are making a massive difference and 111 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:24,000 Speaker 1: you know, look, honestly, who'd have thought that it would 112 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:25,280 Speaker 1: make such a big difference. 113 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:29,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, well, look, I know there's been previous patrols before, 114 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:31,400 Speaker 3: and look, you'd have to speak to and I know 115 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:34,440 Speaker 3: you did speak to the Lura typic guy. But whatever 116 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:38,560 Speaker 3: approach they're using so far, it's just, you know, it's 117 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:40,840 Speaker 3: just so pleasing to see, as you say, it's kind 118 00:06:40,839 --> 00:06:44,000 Speaker 3: of the community coming together on both sides. They're working 119 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:47,920 Speaker 3: together to you know, to address a problem that impacts 120 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:52,279 Speaker 3: us all and so far, you know, it's been really successful. 121 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:56,440 Speaker 1: And Vanita, we did hear that there had been some 122 00:06:56,520 --> 00:07:00,560 Speaker 1: concerns from locals about this talk about opening Todd Mall 123 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:04,160 Speaker 1: to traffic after plans were revealed in government documents. 124 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:07,760 Speaker 2: Well, that it could actually happen, all while. 125 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:10,840 Speaker 1: The council said it would conduct public consultation first, Has 126 00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:12,680 Speaker 1: there been much talk on the ground about this and 127 00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:13,680 Speaker 1: what are people are saying? 128 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, Look, it's disappointing to see that that was gazetted. 129 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:22,840 Speaker 3: Extremely disappointing. I think most of the traders in the 130 00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:25,800 Speaker 3: mall are against the idea of the removal of the wall. 131 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 3: We certainly invite the revitalization of the mall, which I 132 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:32,000 Speaker 3: understand the funds were given for, but not turning it 133 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 3: into a road. From our perspective, Look, the Todd Mall 134 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:40,360 Speaker 3: is the hardened soul of this community. It is the lifeblood. 135 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:44,240 Speaker 3: It is where people can gather safely with family and friends, 136 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:48,800 Speaker 3: both locals and tourists, not have to worry about speeding 137 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:51,400 Speaker 3: cars going by, not have to worry about ram raids 138 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:55,480 Speaker 3: at night, things like that, And you know it's every 139 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 3: community deserves a central gathering space. We don't need an 140 00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:03,960 Speaker 3: road because we don't have traffic problems in Alice Springs. 141 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 3: Another road is not going to solve anything. It's simply 142 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:10,760 Speaker 3: going to take away the core that makes Alice Springs 143 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:13,240 Speaker 3: the community. And we need a sense of community. Now 144 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 3: we've been fragmented for quite a while. There's a lot 145 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 3: of issues we've all been battling against. But to see 146 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:22,400 Speaker 3: the mall on a weekend buzzing for the bike riders 147 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:26,480 Speaker 3: full of tourists, you know, families in a safe space 148 00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:30,640 Speaker 3: without speeding traffic going by is really what Alice Springs 149 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:33,439 Speaker 3: is a major attraction of Alice Springs, and I think 150 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:37,480 Speaker 3: if you take away the mall, you are simply turning 151 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:41,000 Speaker 3: Alice Springs into a location rather than a destination. And 152 00:08:41,040 --> 00:08:45,480 Speaker 3: it's really key that we remain a unique destination like 153 00:08:45,559 --> 00:08:48,200 Speaker 3: we are and like people. You know, this is why 154 00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:50,600 Speaker 3: people come to Alice Springs. It's a bit of an 155 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:55,040 Speaker 3: oasis in the mast desert. It's quirky, it's something unique 156 00:08:55,120 --> 00:08:57,079 Speaker 3: and we should all be proud of that. And if 157 00:08:57,080 --> 00:08:59,840 Speaker 3: we just have another road, it's not going to achieve anything. 158 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:02,280 Speaker 1: It seems bizarre to me, like I haven't been to 159 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:04,480 Speaker 1: Alis for a few years, but I used to work 160 00:09:04,520 --> 00:09:07,800 Speaker 1: in the mall many many years ago, and you think, like, 161 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 1: at different times there's been beautiful markets on a Sunday 162 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:14,720 Speaker 1: morning and various different activities to draw people into the mall. 163 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:17,800 Speaker 1: I understand that you know that you have been grappling 164 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:21,000 Speaker 1: with those issues of crime, but it doesn't I wouldn't 165 00:09:21,080 --> 00:09:23,440 Speaker 1: have thought that that then sort of means that you 166 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:25,959 Speaker 1: want to put a road through the mall. 167 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:30,760 Speaker 3: Absolutely not. It's totally counterintuitive and illogical. The more people 168 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:34,000 Speaker 3: that are in the gathering space, enjoying the weekends, enjoying 169 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:37,120 Speaker 3: the evenings, enduring the daytime, the less likely there are 170 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:39,640 Speaker 3: to be incidents. If you just turn it into a 171 00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:44,000 Speaker 3: street like any other street, it's not going to attract people. 172 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:46,200 Speaker 3: We're not going to have that lifeblood or a sense 173 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:49,160 Speaker 3: of community, and it's certainly not going to resolve any 174 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:51,719 Speaker 3: issues with crime. As far as I'm concerned now, what 175 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:55,640 Speaker 3: is happening with Lura Tippa has been excellent, and we 176 00:09:55,679 --> 00:09:57,480 Speaker 3: need to look at things for the community to come 177 00:09:57,520 --> 00:10:01,320 Speaker 3: together and work together successfully and not tear up a 178 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:04,920 Speaker 3: central meeting place, our only meeting place in Alice Springs. 179 00:10:05,280 --> 00:10:08,800 Speaker 3: It's just ludicrous. And I'm really worried that this, you know, this, 180 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:11,120 Speaker 3: you know, could be the nail in the coffin for 181 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:13,319 Speaker 3: Alice Springs and we'll just be a service town like 182 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:14,079 Speaker 3: anywhere else. 183 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:16,880 Speaker 1: So where have Where's it been left? You know, in 184 00:10:16,960 --> 00:10:19,839 Speaker 1: terms of this decision around them all? 185 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:20,720 Speaker 2: Where is it at? 186 00:10:20,760 --> 00:10:23,800 Speaker 1: And you know, I'm assuming that you will all still 187 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:25,880 Speaker 1: have your opportunity to have your voices heard. 188 00:10:26,880 --> 00:10:28,920 Speaker 3: Well, look, I hope we do. We are told that 189 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:33,040 Speaker 3: the tender was awarded to Jensen's plus, and we hope 190 00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:35,400 Speaker 3: that they will be consulting with us and taking our 191 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:40,080 Speaker 3: concerns very seriously. I know the mayor at this point 192 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:42,440 Speaker 3: is just saying, look, it's just one idea, but the 193 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:44,760 Speaker 3: fact that it was gazetted makes me think that things 194 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:48,360 Speaker 3: have been progressed a lot further underhand, and it's just, 195 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:51,800 Speaker 3: you know, it's really I guess when we found out 196 00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:58,160 Speaker 3: this news shaken any confidence in any clear communication that's 197 00:10:58,160 --> 00:11:01,600 Speaker 3: happening with business owners at the moment. So we're all 198 00:11:01,640 --> 00:11:03,959 Speaker 3: a little bit shaken by that. I know the mayor 199 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:06,560 Speaker 3: did write that you know, it shouldn't be there and 200 00:11:06,600 --> 00:11:08,920 Speaker 3: how to you know it shouldn't have been gazetted, but 201 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:13,000 Speaker 3: at the same time, it obviously came from somewhere. Yeah, well, 202 00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:17,280 Speaker 3: so it does make me lose confidence in their communication 203 00:11:17,520 --> 00:11:19,720 Speaker 3: with us and the fact that we might be being taken 204 00:11:19,800 --> 00:11:22,960 Speaker 3: seriously in our concerns, not just as business traders, but 205 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:26,480 Speaker 3: the whole community. The whole community of Alice Spring should 206 00:11:26,559 --> 00:11:29,000 Speaker 3: be concerned about this. This is something that will affect 207 00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 3: us all. 208 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:32,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, Nita, we will certainly see what more we 209 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:34,160 Speaker 1: can find out about it. Thank you so much for 210 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:36,040 Speaker 1: having a chat with us this morning. It's really good 211 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:38,440 Speaker 1: to catch up with you and to hear a little 212 00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:41,720 Speaker 1: bit more about the patrols being conducted by Laura Tippa 213 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:43,280 Speaker 1: and the impact that they are having. 214 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:45,839 Speaker 3: Okay, thank you so much for that. 215 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:46,520 Speaker 2: Thank you