FRIDAY JULY 10 2015 NEWS 07 V1 - CAVE01Z01MA A NEW community centre, in- spired by the inclusiveness of libraries, has opened up behind Adelaide House on Todd Mall. The Meeting Place is a pro- ject of four volunteers, who have worked to transform the old Uniting Church op shop – which moved premises re- cently – into a drop-in com- munity space. Facilitator Ryan Castle said he had been working towards the project for a year and took the opportunity to use the empty hall when it was offered by his friend Steve Bevis from the Uniting Church. “It’s inspired by the library – not targeted to one group but accessible to everyone,” he said of the facility. Camel Cup crew lope in for race Volunteers Else Kennedy, Pathi Raj, Steve Bevis and Ryan Castle have opened a new community centre called the Meeting Place at the old Uniting Church Op Shop. Picture: REX NICHOLSON FROM PAGE 1 MR Hawke is now advising the govern- ment on additional safeguards. Mr Tollner said he expected to re- ceive a new set of recommendations within a couple of months. He said a successful onshore gas in- dustry in the Territory would lead to lower fuel prices and create jobs, but the government recognised the need “to take the community with us”. “There are currently no hydraulic fracturing applications in the NT,” Mr Tollner said. “Fracking has occurred safely in Central Australia for more than 40 years without any incident. “To put a moratorium in place when there’s no activity planned is unnecess- ary. “It also sends a message to resource companies that is not a good one; they’ll look elsewhere and we’ll lose jobs, investment and royalties.” Mr Tollner said there had been “a lot of misinformation about the danger to aquifers”. Central Australian Frack Free Al- liance spokesman Tanya Hall said the Hawke report was contradictory and the terms of reference were too narrow. “From our perspective it’s negligent not to put a moratorium in place until the regulatory framework in the NT has been greatly improved,” she said. “The alliance considers that a mora- torium should be put in place on the issuing of exploration licences for shale gas and the process of fracking until it can be proven to be safe for the envi- ronment and society, both now and for generations to come.” The peak industry body, Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association, said calls for a moratorium were not supported by science or prac- tical experience. “There is a vast worldwide body of credible, peer-reviewed science that has determined fracking can be done safe- ly,” chief operating officer Stedman Ellis said. “This is confirmed by decades of ex- perience across Australia, where thou- sands of wells have already been fracked without incident. “Shale and tight gas has the poten- tial to become a new industry for the Territory, creating jobs and economic opportunities for local communities, revenues for government and a safe, clean and abundant new energy source Battle over fracking for the domestic and export markets.” Arid Lands Environment Centre di- rector Jimmy Cocking supports a moratorium, but said a robust regulat- ory system in the Northern Territory would minimise the impact of all re- source-intensive industries. Mr Cocking called for bipartisan policy reform. “The NT Government will find itself on the wrong side of history with frack- ing,” he said. “We are at least 20 years behind the United States, and although they may have reduced their oil imports, they are still dependent on fossil fuels more than ever and dealing with the numerous health and environmental issues re- lated to shale gas fracking.” The issue is shaping as a political battleground for the Territory election in August 2016. Labor’s mining and energy spokes- man Ken Vowles said people don’t trust the CLP to make important decisions around fracking. “Labor supports a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing in the Northern Territory so the work can be done to know where, if anywhere, is suitable for fracking and if we can, the appropriate environmental oversights be put in place,” he said. “We need to build trust and cer- tainty with industry and the local com- munity so the right decisions can be made about our country.” NT mining minister Dave Tollner’s (left) views on the need for a fracking moratorium are at odds with opposition member Ken Vowles (right). FROM PAGE 1 Drop-in centre draws on library vibes Mr Castle said the library environment was a unique space that was enjoyed by peo- ple of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds. Currently open on Wednes- days, they would work towards being open three or four nights a week, hosting film nights, of- fering tea, coffee, food and book and computer services. Facilitator Else Kennedy said they were seeking dona- tions of children’s toys, books and magazines. The hall will also be used for Food Not Bombs and a youth drop-in night. The Meeting Place is be- hind Adelaide House on Todd Mall and is open Wednesdays 4pm to 9pm. For more information call 8952 1856. Toyah Shakespeare THE heroes of the Alice Springs Camel Cup are hoof- ing their way into town for the 46th running of the annual event tomorrow. With the Apex Club of Alice Springs taking the reins as organisers for 2015, punters can look forward to a range of eccentric activities including rickshaw races, an ironman challenge, a bucking bull, the Mr and Mrs Camel Cup com- petition, races for kids and much more. Nine nine camel races will be the centrepiece. Each year Stuarts Well camel farmer and former Camel Cup winner Neil Waters loyally trucks his camels in for the Cup. “I just do me usual: bring the camels in, do the day and come home,” Mr Waters said. Although he speaks of the event quite casually, Mr Waters and his camels are pivotal to the Camel Cup as they are used in races through- out the day. “We come in to support it, because we get so much out of the tourism industry,” he said. The gates to Blatherskite Park open for the event at 10.30am, with the first race jumping at noon. More event details and feature from P18 >> Police fear for missing man THERE are grave concerns for the welfare of a 71-year-old man who went missing in Alice Springs on Wednesday. Watch Commander Dave Hamlyn, said the missing man, Ray Ken, was last seen walking on Elliot Street toward the Northside Shops sometime after 10am. Mr Ken is described as indi- genous, between 170cm and 180cm tall, skinny with short, white shaved hair. “Ray walks with a limp and may also be carrying a walking stick,” Supt Hamlyn said. Anyone with information ring Police on 131444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.