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Architect & Heritage Campaigner to run in Araluen for Federation Party

Professional architect and passionate heritage campaigner, Domenico Pecorari will run for the Federation Party in the seat of Araluen.

Mr Pecorari is a long-time resident of Araluen, first coming to town in 1984 during the tourism boom years.

He has gained keen insights into The Alice’s development and a deep appreciation of town planning issues as they affect the economic prosperity of the town and region.

His work experience includes ten years of administering building programs in central Australian Aboriginal communities, as well as managing heritage conservation work on many of central Australia’s historic places.  He held the NT Government’s Heritage Advisor position for the southern region for twenty years until its dissolution in 2015.

Mr Pecorari is also one of the founders of Heritage Alice Springs in 2003, an association dedicated to the protection and promotion of heritage places in Alice Springs and the central Australian region. 

He has a significant personal investment in the town’s future through his purchase and on-going restoration of one of the town’s most intact heritage-listed railway cottages, located in Railway Terrace.

Being of Italian descent, he also has an acute understanding of multi-cultural issues and the role that culture can play in the revitalisation of Alice Springs.  His many extended stays in Italy have provided him the opportunity to see our town from a distance, and experience first hand ideas that may be adapted in revitalising The Alice.

A community-minded family man, with two grown-up and very independent daughters, Mr Pecorari now has the time to share the many town planning ideas that he has developed over the last thirty years:

“On nearing the end of a busy professional working life and having seen how Alice Springs has been shamelessly neglected and betrayed by both major Territorian political parties, I have decided to dedicate time to being part of a team who want change and ensure that our town has a future through good planning, community involvement inspired by the attitude inherited from our region’s pioneers and Indigenous community,”  he says.

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Council resignations to avoid Conflict

Councillors Catherine Satour (left) and Marli Banks (right), who last Friday both announced that they will contest the upcoming NT election, gave notice of their resignation from council tonight, effective 9 July.

Both are running as members of new player on the scene, the Federation Party, led in the NT by Cr Eli Melky.

Cr Banks will contest the seat of Braitling; Cr Satour, the seat of Namatjira.

Two other Elected Members of council are contesting the election: Mayor Damien Ryan (in Araluen) and Deputy Mayor Matt Paterson (also in Namatjira). Neither have yet announced their resignation from council.

Crs Banks and Satour both cited Section 39(6) of the Local Government Act 2008, which, in the timeframe they are in, allows them to be reinstated to council if they’re unsuccessful in August.

Cr Banks also referred to wanting to “alleviate any public scrutiny” around a perceived conflict of interest in balancing her role as councillor and as candidate.

“Having been a strong advocate for governance improvements and management of conflict of interests, I understand the importance of ensuring that conflicts are managed so to not interfere with the integrity of council,” she said, reading from her letter of resignation.

“It is not surprising that so many Elected Members have chosen to contest the upcoming [elections],” she continued.

“This push back by Elected Members on this council is due to the palaver of the dealings surrounding the National Aboriginal Art Gallery and the misinformation that continues to be propagandised by the current government.

“The views and good work of [council] are being treated with contempt and have been tainted by the current NT Government who are unwilling to work towards shared outcomes for the best interest of the community as a whole.”

She noted with pride a long list of achievements by council and of future projects (some of them in collaboration with the Nt Government). These are reproduced at the bottom of this report.

Cr Satour was briefer – she too was resigning “to uphold the integrity of council”.

She also made a point of the way that she sees her representative role: “I have often been on record that any time I walk into chamber, I walk in not by myself, I walk in with all of family, all of my friends, all of my supporters, all of my constituents and all of my ancestors.”

In a gratifying exit for her, the motion proposing a $200,000 Arts Industry COVID19 Recovery Package, after protracted debate a fortnight ago, was passed unanimously.

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Federation Party announces candidates: more councillors joining the fray

As members of the Federation Party, whose NT leader is Eli Melky, also a Town Councillor, Catherine Satour will stand in the seat of Namatjira and Marli Banks in Braitling.

That brings to five the members of council with a declared party interest in the Territory election, with four actually contesting seats.

The Federation Party has also announced Kenny Lechleitner as its candidate in the seat of Gwoya.

In a media release, the team committed to “making sure central Australia becomes the centre of Government focus again, protecting our community and repairing our broken economy”. 

“2020 is the make or break year with added pressure of managing the COVID 19 pandemic which continues to be a priority for all Territorians and Australians,” said the release.

The candidates are “well positioned to provide strong and proven leadership”, the release said. 

Catherine Satour is an Alice Springs local, singer, mentor and home owner who cares about families and the electorate of Namatijira. 

Having a working background in the arts, media, business administration and governance she has extensive experience in working on social and community issues. Her priorities are housing, essential services, health, community justice and safety for the region.

“It would be my privilege to take the concerns of the Namatjira residents directly to Parliament House in Darwin and ensure your voice is heard. 

“I am proud of my contribution in Alice Springs Town Council, the highlight being part of the leadership managing COVID-19 while delivering a budget with a zero rate rise for the next financial year.  I am also proud to have led with support the raising the Aboriginal flag on Anzac Hill.”

Marli Banks is a mother of three and established local businesswoman with a diverse cross section of professional experience in retail, tourism, hospitality, gaming, sports betting, NGOs and at Local Government.   

“I am committed to making SAFE Alice Springs and protecting against the compulsory acquisition of ANZAC Oval.

“Our community needs an urgent refresh of leadership that will make sure your voice is heard in Parliament and that decisions are made in the best interest of our community.

“The motivation behind my decision to run comes from the frustration of dealing with the poor decisions and unacceptable neglect of our town by this government.”

Kenny Japangardi Lechleitner brings many years of working with communities who are desperately in need of a strong voice that will help shape a collective future.

The electorate of Gwoya now has real choice for change, with Mr Lechleitner focused on bringing social and economic inclusion for all participants and driving regional economic change for the bush. He will also advocate for an inclusive law and order policy with shared cultural principles of civics.

“The Communities of Gwoya need an inclusive educational pathway to higher learning for our young people and I would love to see real rehabilitation for our people in correctional services,”  said Mr Lechleitner.

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