Chief minister says 'we don't have to' consult elders on new build

Construction began last week on a multi-million-dollar multicultural centre in Alice Springs.

The local Arrernte people say they were not consulted, but the NT government says it is covered under prior sacred site approval.

Construction is due to be complete by late next year.

The Northern Territory government has rejected criticism that it should have consulted with traditional custodians over the development of a culturally sensitive site at the Anzac Hill precinct in Alice Springs.

In February, the government made public its plan to locate an $8.8 million multicultural centre at the old Alice Springs High School site.

But senior Arrernte elder Doris Stuart Kngwarreye said the first she heard of the project was when bulldozers started their engines last week.

"No-one said to me 'come to hear'," she said.

Jodie Clarkson was one of group of concerned residents who broke the news to Ms Stuart and her family, and has been visiting the area since to "bear witness to what's happening".

"Two of the senior [Aboriginal] women had no idea this was happening until we told them," she said.

"I spoke to the foreman and he showed me his AAPA [Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority] certificate, which is a 2018 certificate for the ATSIAGA [Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Gallery of Australia].

"So they're working to a certificate that's not for this multicultural centre, it's not been updated," she said.

Announced in 2017, the National Aboriginal Art Gallery, later rebadged ATSIAGA, was at the centre of controversy over a proposal to locate it in the same precinct as the multicultural centre and demolish the local Anzac Oval sports ground in the process.

The AAPA certificate lists rocky outcrops, corkwood trees and vegetation that must be protected.

In Alice Springs on Wednesday, NT Chief Minister Lia Finnochiaro said it was "perfectly fine" to recycle the certificate for the multicultural centre and argued there was no need to consult with custodians.

"That's the process — we don't have to, why would we?" she asked.

"There was a high school there. It's now demolished.

"We are not impinging on any sacred sites in the area and we need to build a multicultural hall on Northern Territory government land, of which that is."

Ms Finocchiaro said the development would go ahead despite the women's concerns.

"This is a great construction investment, let alone a community asset, so we're not going to let people stop progress — this has got to happen.

"And we're not talking about a greenfield site here — this is literally a demolished piece of land," Ms Finocchiaro said.

Ms Stuart said Arrernte people were upset when Alice Springs High School was built in between Anzac Hill and the Todd River in 1953.

"Of course we were … [there was] no permission [from traditional owners]," she said.

"All they [the government] want is what they can get out of it, they're not listening to what I'm saying.

"They're going ahead with whatever they want to do.

Multicultural Community Services Central Australia (MCSCA), which is one of the groups that will make use of the new centre once construction is complete, declined to be interviewed.

In a statement, an MCSCA spokesperson said the organisation was concerned to learn the location chosen was "in the same area as a women's sacred site".

"We are engaging with traditional custodians to clarify any misunderstandings about MCSCA's role as an advocate, to listen and learn and to discuss how we can work together to promote harmony in our community," they said.

An NT government spokesperson said construction would be complete in 2027.