Arid Lands Environment Centre

Arid Lands Environment Centre Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Arid Lands Environment Centre, Environmental conservation organisation, 90 Gap Road, Alice Springs.

The Arid Lands Environment Centre (ALEC) is Central Australia's peak environmental organisation that has been advocating for the protection of nature and ecologically sustainable development in the arid lands since 1980.

Wildflowers not buffel grass! Join us at ALEC 90 Gap rd Tuesday 16th June 4.30 - 6.30pm for a craft-a-noon , we'll be ma...
09/06/2026

Wildflowers not buffel grass! Join us at ALEC 90 Gap rd Tuesday 16th June 4.30 - 6.30pm for a craft-a-noon , we'll be making some buffel grass wreaths and other fab props for upcoming street theatre opportunities. Some materials and snacks provided and welcome to byo and would love to jamm some creative ideas with you.

The Nolan’s Bore neodymium and praseodymium open-cut mine with complex on-site processing 130kms north of Mparntwe Alice...
04/06/2026

The Nolan’s Bore neodymium and praseodymium open-cut mine with complex on-site processing 130kms north of Mparntwe Alice Springs at Aileron has been designated as the Northern Territory’s first Significant Project under section 23 of the extreme and far-reaching Territory Coordinator Act 2025.

The $1.6 Billion rare earth mine is receiving significant Federal Government subsidisation. The mine is receiving nearly $850 million in Federal Government funding and loans, including $150 million in equity via Export Finance Australia, $200 million via the National Reconstruction Fund, and $495 million in loans from the Australian Government. The project has been in the news and spotlighted as part of the $13 Billion Trump-Albanese Critical Minerals deal announced in October 2025, and the Federal Government’s $1.2 Billion Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve. The $1.6 billion rare earth mine is also backed by Gina Rinehart, Australia’s wealthiest person who owns a 17.5 percent stake in the company Arafura Rare Earths. The mine aims to produce 4-5 percent of global rare earth demand.

ALEC is concerned and closely scrutinising the decision to designate Arafura Rare Earths mine as the first “Significant Project” in the Northern Territory under the extreme Territory Coordinator Act.

This consult will shape the next 5 years of policy + research - it will impact what action can be taken on buffel grass....
02/06/2026

This consult will shape the next 5 years of policy + research - it will impact what action can be taken on buffel grass.

 

Come along to our submission writing workshop

Tuesday 2nd June 5 - 6pm

at the Arid Lands Environment Centre, 90 Gap Rd

BYO device

 

If you are new to this or if you are an old hand

all welcome - the more the better.

More info on the reforms here:
https://haveyoursay.agriculture.gov.au/nationalbiosecurityreform

25 years of community-led Buffel Grass Advocacy. Help us to continue this EOFY!Recently, at the ALEC office on Gap Road,...
02/06/2026

25 years of community-led Buffel Grass Advocacy.
Help us to continue this EOFY!

Recently, at the ALEC office on Gap Road, we asked ourselves: how long have we been speaking up about buffel grass?

Digging through old Annual Reports and editions of The Devil’s Advocate, we found buffel grass mentioned in our November 2001 newsletter, and formally listed as one of ALEC’s campaign areas in our 2003 Annual Report.

Many of us have felt the heartbreak of watching buffel grass transform the landscape. This heartbreak is a reminder of how deeply we value this place and why caring for it matters. It also strengthens our commitment to protecting it and restoring what we can.

Recognising the scale of the issue, our campaign is focussed on achieving national coordination, preventing further spread, supporting on-ground management capability, and advocating for research solutions that can make a difference at the landscape scale.

OUR EOFY APPEAL IS LIVE

A generous ALEC supporter has pledged a $20,000 matched gift, meaning every dollar you give is DOUBLED.
Our goal: $140,000 to protect nature, water and communities across the arid lands.

As a small, independent organisation based in Central Australia, we exist because of our donors. Every staff wage is funded by our donor community. Your gift covers the direct costs of the work we do, including community engagement and events, remote travel, paying First Nations knowledge holders for their expertise, venue hire, speaker fees, and the advocacy that keeps these issues visible.

Most of our annual donations land in this short EOFY window. What you give between now and June 30 directly funds the year ahead.

25 years in. Still here. Still fighting.
Will you stand with us to keep the fight going?

What your donation to ALEC's EOFY appeal will support:
* The production and launch of a National Buffel GrassReport
* Continued campaigning for federal listings of Buffel Grass
* A new storytelling and testimonial project
* Running bush trips with remote communities
* Hosting the Australian Conservation Foundation, supporting national collaboration

All donations above $2 are tax deductible. Donate via the link in our bio 🔗

Join us and Compassionate Connections on Saturday 30th of May from 10am until 2pm at Westside Community Garden for a co...
29/05/2026

Join us and Compassionate Connections on Saturday 30th of May from 10am until 2pm at Westside Community Garden for a community tree planting event. Entry is $20, and all entrants receive a curry lunch and their very own tree to take home and plant.

We've run this event before, and had such a great time getting together as a community, learning about the earth and body connection. Come along, bring a friend, and take home a tree and a full belly.

See you then!

Tonight at RWCP!
28/05/2026

Tonight at RWCP!

We all know that mining and extractivism can have a significant impact to the environment, and ALEC continues to scrutin...
27/05/2026

We all know that mining and extractivism can have a significant impact to the environment, and ALEC continues to scrutinise mining projects in the Barkly and Central Australia. There is a new wave of potential large-scale mines rolling out across Central Australia that are very close to construction, or in the case of gold mining in TC, have re-started.

Scrutinising mines to mitigate significant environmental harm is critical, as well as any ensuring that any mining that does proceed does not follow the sad history of legacy mines in the NT that have been abandoned, not rehabilitated, and it is nearby communities and environments that are left to deal with the consequences. ALEC will also pay close attention to mines that are connected to critical minerals used for defence and growing militarism globally! This includes the Gina Rinehart backed Arafura mine that is receiving hundreds of millions of dollars in equity and loans from the Federal Government under the Trump-Albanese critical minerals and defence deal signed in October 2026.

If you hear anything about a mine in Central Australia and the Barkly that is having a significant environmental impact, or seems like corners are being cut, let us know!

26/05/2026

Landcare's May Field Day is coming up this weekend! Sunday 31st May, off Kurrajong drive from 9am-11am. Check out our facebook event for all the details. Hope to see you there!

Address

90 Gap Road
Alice Springs, NT
0870

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm

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