Don't ever think you're powerless. Don't ever. Because you are not.

In this episode the founder and President of the Alice Springs Ratepayers Association outlines a new motion calling on the Alice Springs Town Council to conduct a full safety audit of street and public trees ahead of the upcoming storm season. The speaker recounts a recent September 8 storm that brought down two trees in the CBD and stresses that while no lives were lost, proactive measures are needed to prevent future tragedies.

The conversation covers concrete safety steps — securing or removing trees deemed unsafe, exploring alternative securing methods, and conducting timely maintenance — as well as a public call for the dredging of the Todd River as part of flood mitigation planning. The river is described as looking “more like a bowl than a river,” highlighting the urgency of preparing for potential heavy summer rains.

Listeners hear about civic empowerment: how residents can form organisations like the Ratepayers Association to influence local government, the role of community reporting, and the value of being proactive rather than reactive. The episode also references an interview on ABC Radio and emphasizes that saving even one life validates the effort.

Throughout, the host stresses the balance between protecting urban trees and protecting people: "I love trees... but I love people even more." The episode urges practical preparedness (flood, storm, fire and snake readiness), community engagement, and simple, tangible actions citizens can take to help make Alice Springs safer.

This is episode 1,446 of Blind Magic Communications Production.