You Said, We Did

✅February - Council Connects at Newland Skate Park & Play Precinct

While wet weather meant our 'official' pop-up at Newland Park didn't go ahead as planned, we did manage to pull together a last minute session on Sat 28 Feb to hand out icy poles while having some great conversations about how the community is taking to the Park.

Not only did we see some epic tricks on the ramps from up-and-coming skating superstars, but got useful feedback for things that Council can do to improve the experience of both skatepark users and residents.

The full summary about what we heard can be found below:

Consultations for Newland Park Skate & Play Precinct

✅March - Council Connects for the New Library Consultation (Phase 1)

We had a fantastic turn out for our Council Connects session at the library on Sat 21 March!

Between 10am - 1pm, there was loads of great conversations with the team from Tangentyere Design, a number of Councillors, and our wonderful casual staff to provide more information about while listening to what the community wants considered within the Concept Design for the New Library. 

To understand more about each phase of the new library project, see the link below:

New Alice Springs Library

✅April - Council Connects at Olive Pink Botanic Garden 

As part of Councils Earth Day - Gathering By The Fire event (Wed 22 April, 4pm - 8pm), we set up the ASTC Ask Me Stall for attendees to talk with our very own Environmental Officer, Baran 'Baz', alongside Councillors to provide information about our current sustainability initiatives.

From what we heard, people are particularly eager to learn more about recycling (and how to do it the Alice Springs way!) and managing Buffel Grass based on best-practice methods.

Did you know we already have some awesome resources on both these topics and more on the ASTC website?

• Recycling > for all the need-to-know info about what you can and can't recycle PLUS where and how you do it!
• Buffel Busting at Home (pdf) > an accessible, easy-to-follow fact sheet about what Buffel Grass is, where it came from, and how to bust it the best way!

For more about what we're doing in the sustainability space, check out:

Council Sustainability Initiatives

✅May - Council Connects for the Municipal Plan and Strategic Plan Pop-Up

For our May Council Connects pop up, Mayor Asta Hill, Deputy Mayor Allison Bitar, and Cnr Larissa Ellis, Cnr Darren Burton, and Cnr Damien Ryan were at Yeperenye Shopping Centre answering questions and hearing what people had to say about the draft Plans.

Speaking with over 30 people directly, they heard -

• the concerns of residents in rural areas who want more access to Council services
• community members eager to see improvements to the town's presentation through weed management, road repairs, and stopping illegal dumping
• Increased footpath infrastructure and shaded playgrounds to make our town more family-friendly
• interest in more promotion of the 'Snap, Send, Solve' app to quickly report issues to Council

With these insights, our Governance team - along with your Elected Members - reviewed all feedback from not only from this Council Connects pop-up but also from all community responses received throughout the 21-day consultation period.

This feedback was considered and used to finalise both documents before they were officially adopted by Council in late June 2026.

To read both the Municipal Plan 2026/27 and Strategic Plan 2026-2023, check out:

Municipal Plan 2026/27 and Strategic Plan 2026-2030

📅June - Council Connects through community events!

From our Reconciliation Week BBQ, to National Simultaneous Story Time, Big Day Out In Harmony, and our iconic Night Markets ft. Finke Desert Race, Council has been busy organising events that bring our diverse community together!

Here are a few happy snaps from each of these awesome events:

✅July - Council Connects at the ASTC 'Conversation Hub', Alice Springs Show 2026

On Friday 3 and Saturday 4 July 2026, the ASTC 'Conversation Hub' was a popular meeting place at the Alice Springs Show, giving councillors and staff the opportunity to connect directly with the community.

Throughout the two-day event, councillors helped promote Council programs, services and school holiday activities, while also building excitement for Council's premier youth event, Newlandia - Skate & Music Festival, which took place the following Friday, 10 July.

Some highlights from the weekend included:

• 350+ Yellow Brick Road maps stamped
• 400+ hot beverages served
• 1,000+ Instagram Story views across the two days
• 1,200 Tim Tams enjoyed by showgoers

Alongside free face painting, music from local acoustic musicians and a comfortable space to relax, the Conversation Hub provided a great opportunity for residents to ask questions, share ideas and learn more about what's happening across Alice Springs / Mparntwe. 

✅August - Council Connects about recycling changes at the Regional Waste Open Day!

Among the many 'novel' events Alice Springs has to offer, the annual Regional Waste Landfill Open Day is loved by many!

Held on Sat 8 Aug (9am to 3pm), this year's Open Day featured all the classics (Lucky dip, free BBQ, and the crowd-favourite bus tour of the facility) but also had Elected Members talking about the 1 July 2026 changes to the NT 10c Container Deposit Scheme (CDS)!

So, what's changed?

Now all drink containers under 3L are a part of the scheme! Milk cartons, cordial / juice containers, wine / spirit bottles - if they've got a 10c label, they're accepted!

For quick fact sheets about the updated CDS and Drop'N'Go Pods, click below:

Fact Sheet, Drop'N'Go Pods

Fact Sheet, Updates to NT Container Deposit Scheme (1 July 2026)

For more information about the NT recycling scheme, follow these links:

• NT Government – Container Deposit Scheme
• NT Government – Expanded Eligible Containers
• Council – Drop'n'Go Pods Information
• Council – Recycling Information

Got containers to cash in? Here's where you can take them:

Drop'N'Go Pods 

• Ross Park Carpark
• Flynn Oval Carpark

• Civic Centre Front Desk
• Alice Springs Public Library
• Rediscovery Centre ('Tip Shop'

Reverse Vending Machine (RVM)

• Hartley Street Carpark 

Envirobank Depot 

• 309 Santa Teresa Road, Connellan NT 0873

For info about Envirobank (the CDS Coordinator for Alice Springs / Mparntwe) -

📧 connellan@envirobank.com.au

🌐 envirobank.com.au/contact-us/

📅 September - Check out our Community Events Calendar!

With so many exciting events happening in September, we're shining a bright light on the amazing community activities happening including -

Red CentreNATS presented by LMCT+ Thursday 3rd September 2026 From Thursday 3 to Sunday 6 September 2026, Alice Springs becomes a rolling car show where the journey is as big as the destination. Expect burnouts, drag racing, Mulletfest, the iconic Yeperenye Street Parade, and Thursday’s Fringe Festival and Night Markets to kick things off in true Territory style.

Bush Bands Bash 2026 Sunday 13th September 2026 Now in its 22nd year, Bush Bands is fast becoming the premier music development program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander bands and artists from remote locations across Australia. From humble beginnings as a space for Indigenous bands from the bush to play in Mparntwe / Alice Springs, Bush Bands now attracts applications from all over remote NT, SA, WA and QLD.

For ALL the things you can get involved with, check out -

ASTC Community Calendar

⏳October - Council Connects over a Cuppa!

We're brewing up something good for October! 🫖💬

Check back soon for updates!

⏳November - Council Connects during the Todd Mall Markets

Nothing like some time outdoors at our favourite local markets to chat with locals! 🛍️

More details to come soon!

⏳December - Council Connects at the Christmas Carnival

It's that time of the year... Christmas will be just around the corner!

While we're sure you'll already be taking a moment to pause and reflect on the years that's been, we'll have a Council Connects Pop Up to talk about the successes of 2026 and the things we can do to carry forward positive community initiatives in 2027!