The NT Chief Minister has announced it’s scrapping Labors plans to demolish a popular sport oval in Alice Springs to build a multi-million dollar Aboriginal Art Gallery, instead hoping to have both in the vicinity. Sporting groups are today welcoming the news that Anzac Oval will be saved, but traditional custodians who've been calling for the gallery to be built in a different location say they won't give up their fight.
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00:00This popular sport precinct is here to stay.
00:05Under Labor, Anzac Oval was set to be demolished to make way for a multi-million dollar world-class
00:12Aboriginal art gallery.
00:13But now, after weeks of speculation and years of community backlash, the new government
00:19is ripping up those plans.
00:21What we've seen is division in the community over this gallery.
00:25The demolition of Anzac Oval has stopped.
00:28And we will look forward to building a fantastic national Aboriginal art gallery around that
00:34site.
00:35Welcome news for some locals.
00:38We do a lot of community events at the Anzac Oval so it's good that they want to save it.
00:44But custodians who've been fighting to protect the area from any development say they're
00:49still being ignored.
00:51They're disrespecting an important women's site.
00:56Doris has been leading a campaign to get the gallery built in a different location
01:01to preserve history.
01:02It doesn't belong here on our women's site.
01:07We have our stories that's been here for thousands of years.
01:11The years of uncertainty about the development have left sporting groups in limbo.
01:15Today they're celebrating the return of their home ground.
01:19We've gone from 700, 800 participants in our sport down to maybe a combined 300 between
01:24rugby league and rugby union.
01:26It's been a real struggle.
01:27Just the fact that we can say the home of rugby league, the home of rugby union is Anzac
01:32Oval again is going to take 10 steps forward.
01:35The government's plans follow a review of the controversial project.
01:39And while the new government says it will still build the gallery somewhere close to
01:43the Oval, exactly where remains in question.