Arrernte TO’s continue to push for the National Aboriginal Art Gallery south of the Gap

Owen Cole and Harold Furber
Owen Cole (left) and Harold Furber both oppose the compulsory acquisition of the ANZAC Hill Precinct to build the National Aboriginal Art Gallery. Photo credit: Philippe Perez / CAAMA

A rally is being planned this Thursday to object to the Northern Territory’s plan to compulsory acquire the ANZAC Oval precinct for the proposed National Aboriginal Art Gallery in Mbantwe Alice Springs.

A tribunal hearing at Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal is set to be heard on Thursday and Friday (August 26 and 27) which will hear arguments for and against the compulsory acquisition decision.

Harold Furber, who is part of the Save ANZAC Oval Group, says the ANZAC Hill precinct was built and owned by the community, and the wishes of the Arrernte custodians of the region still are to have the gallery built south of Heavitree Gap.

Owen Cole is also part of the group and will make a presentation at the hearing opposing the acquisition. He questioned a strategy to link the proposed redevelopment of the Alice Plaza which was conditional upon the gallery being built at the ANZAC Hill precinct.

Mr Cole – who is the managing director of Yeperenye Pty Ltd overseeing the Yeperenye Shopping centre – says the private sector should also look to fund their own developments.

Both Owen Cole and Harold Furber spoke to CAAMA’s Philippe Perez (audio below).

Feature photo: Owen Cole and Harold Furber, who both oppose the compulsory acquisition of the ANZAC Hill Precinct to build the National Aboriginal Art Gallery. Photo credit: Philippe Perez/CAAMA

Audio: Owen Cole and Harold Furber speaking to CAAMA’s Philippe Perez