1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,480 Speaker 1: A real change of pace now after what we've just 2 00:00:02,520 --> 00:00:04,800 Speaker 1: heard there from Carry the Beauty Bar and Catherine, and 3 00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:07,880 Speaker 1: we are going to head back to Catherine again hopefully 4 00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:11,280 Speaker 1: before eleven o'clock. But well, the car section of the 5 00:00:11,280 --> 00:00:13,360 Speaker 1: Think Desert Race it is set to go ahead with 6 00:00:13,440 --> 00:00:17,400 Speaker 1: some new safety measures being introduced, so Motorsport Australia held 7 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:20,279 Speaker 1: off from issuing that permit for the car component of 8 00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:22,840 Speaker 1: the event while the inquest into the death of spectator 9 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:26,400 Speaker 1: Nigel Harris was under way. The new safety measures, some 10 00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 1: of them include a minimum spectator setback from the track 11 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:33,720 Speaker 1: of thirty meters. It does render some areas along the 12 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:37,160 Speaker 1: track that have traditionally been quite popular camping areas now 13 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:39,920 Speaker 1: off limits. There are going to be landing zones over 14 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:44,600 Speaker 1: crests and rises along the track will have significant spectator setbacks, 15 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:48,000 Speaker 1: but there will also be supervised public viewpoints throughout the 16 00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 1: track and spectator exclusion zones, off limit zones at high 17 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:55,600 Speaker 1: risk corners throughout the track. Now, joining me on the 18 00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:57,720 Speaker 1: line to talk a little bit more about what this 19 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:01,880 Speaker 1: means from a tourism perspective, and particularly the fact that 20 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:05,280 Speaker 1: it's able to go ahead is Daniel Rochford who's the 21 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:07,959 Speaker 1: CEO of Tourism Central Australia. 22 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:11,399 Speaker 2: Good morning, Daniel, Good morning Katie, and good morning to 23 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:11,959 Speaker 2: you listeners. 24 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:15,639 Speaker 1: Daniel. I'm assuming that this was positive news for you guys. 25 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:19,399 Speaker 2: This is not positive. This is bloody awesome year's Katie, 26 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 2: and you know, hats off to all those involved. I 27 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 2: understand the Northern Territory Government really got in in fact 28 00:01:26,959 --> 00:01:31,600 Speaker 2: the Think Organizing Committee and really worked together collaboratively with 29 00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:34,679 Speaker 2: Motors Wort Australia to make this happen. And you know, 30 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:37,200 Speaker 2: the whole community here in our springs, you know, we 31 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:41,480 Speaker 2: mean had the proverbial pineapple up our arsen for the 32 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:45,479 Speaker 2: last few years. And this is good news. 33 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 1: Daniels. There's so much to like about you, mate, but 34 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 1: you don't mintion your words. 35 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:57,080 Speaker 2: I love that indeed, and look, you know it's and 36 00:01:57,360 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 2: the other good news around it is, you know, you know, 37 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 2: with obviously some of the challenges that the committee had 38 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:07,240 Speaker 2: over the last few weeks, you know, we were expecting cancelations, 39 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:09,400 Speaker 2: but that doesn't seem to be happening. Our members are 40 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 2: reporting their bookings are holding. Yes, there will be some 41 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 2: changes to how people will be able to camp and 42 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:19,680 Speaker 2: where they can camp. But I think most people enjoy 43 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:22,920 Speaker 2: the spectacle of the race and are really key to 44 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:26,640 Speaker 2: back it, and there is overwhelming support here in Alice 45 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:29,959 Speaker 2: for I think, and it is such an important part 46 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:32,079 Speaker 2: of our event calendar. 47 00:02:32,320 --> 00:02:35,280 Speaker 1: It is a massive event, isn't it on the event calendar? Like? 48 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 1: How many people do you expect to get there? 49 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:41,639 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's thousands, you know, it's you know, I think 50 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:43,560 Speaker 2: a couple of years ago I was a reporter that 51 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:47,200 Speaker 2: was the values of our economy was between eights ten 52 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 2: million dollars. So it's a massive ejection to it to 53 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:52,600 Speaker 2: our local region and it's such a great event. And 54 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 2: hats off to the committee. They do have done an 55 00:02:55,560 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 2: amazing job. And yes, you know there's been some challenges 56 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:03,280 Speaker 2: that that I have, it's a face, but they've taken 57 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 2: that with great gusto to work with all those involved 58 00:03:07,639 --> 00:03:09,280 Speaker 2: to get this event happening this year. 59 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:12,280 Speaker 1: Mate, how big a blow would it have been if 60 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:15,160 Speaker 1: that car section of the thing couldn't have gone ahead? 61 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:20,720 Speaker 2: Well, I think, to use my analogy earlier, that Pineapple 62 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:24,000 Speaker 2: would have been a very i think we're talking nandbore 63 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:24,960 Speaker 2: sized big. 64 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 1: Playh wow, So it would have been absolutely devastating If 65 00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:29,480 Speaker 1: it couldn't. 66 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:33,520 Speaker 2: It would have not only been devastating from an economic perspective, 67 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 2: but the morale of the town. It would have been 68 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:39,720 Speaker 2: just a death bidon Daniel. 69 00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:42,560 Speaker 1: Speaking of that morale, how is how is the town 70 00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 1: going at the moment? 71 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 2: Well, it's quiet and down. You know, I've been hearing 72 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 2: some of the challenges you've got up at the top 73 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:54,680 Speaker 2: end of the moment, but it's far from that's here. 74 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:59,440 Speaker 2: It has actually very much quieted down and that's you know, 75 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:03,920 Speaker 2: we're seeing the introduction recently at the Lara Tipper nightly patrols, 76 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:07,400 Speaker 2: which is bolstering of the already existing support services we 77 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:11,200 Speaker 2: have on the streets. So my members are reporting that 78 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 2: you can hear a pin drop in Todd Mall at 79 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:17,479 Speaker 2: night time, so look along. May that last and you know, 80 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:21,000 Speaker 2: cutos to all those involved. But yeah, it seems to 81 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:22,200 Speaker 2: be heading in the right direction. 82 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:24,360 Speaker 1: And Daniel, do you reckon that's as a result of 83 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:28,600 Speaker 1: the Laura Tipper increased patrols or do you think it's 84 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:31,680 Speaker 1: as a result of additional police What do you attribute 85 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:31,880 Speaker 1: it to? 86 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:36,479 Speaker 2: I think a lot. It's all mixed up, and you know, 87 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:40,280 Speaker 2: certainly the changes to our whole policy in our town camps. 88 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:43,440 Speaker 2: You know, all that mixed together. But you know what, 89 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:46,320 Speaker 2: I've got a member who actually who owned that art 90 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:48,640 Speaker 2: gallery in the Todd Mall and lives in the Todd 91 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:52,520 Speaker 2: Mall and they reported in local media yesterday that the 92 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 2: moment that Lara Tipper patrol commenced, things turned one hundred 93 00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:57,600 Speaker 2: and eighty degrees. 94 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:00,760 Speaker 1: Wow, that's a that's massive. 95 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 2: In fact, I'd encourage it maybe at some states to 96 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:07,159 Speaker 2: have attached to these guys because it's certainly you know, 97 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:10,719 Speaker 2: that's you know, we have been quite direct of good news, 98 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 2: but here's some good news finally. 99 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:16,239 Speaker 1: Finally, I think if all you deserve it, you guys 100 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:19,479 Speaker 1: absolutely deserve it. Then on the tourism front, then Daniel, 101 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:21,320 Speaker 1: you know, how long do you think it's going to 102 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 1: take before that news kind of starts to flow through 103 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 1: that you know that Alice Springs is a safe place 104 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 1: to visit again. 105 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:31,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, about a month and a half we were tracking 106 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 2: on all the major tourism sites around the Australia was running 107 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:41,400 Speaker 2: about seventy percent to thirty negative to positive. But that's 108 00:05:41,480 --> 00:05:44,120 Speaker 2: really come back to fifty to fifty and most of 109 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:47,599 Speaker 2: that's driven by people making comment of actually after they 110 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:51,440 Speaker 2: visited here making positive comment, So you know, that's the 111 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:54,000 Speaker 2: best word of that form of advertising, of course, is 112 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:56,680 Speaker 2: word of mouth. And as visitors come and experience what 113 00:05:56,760 --> 00:05:59,919 Speaker 2: we have here and certainly encourages many people from the 114 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:04,240 Speaker 2: top end maybe get our come down and experience our 115 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:07,880 Speaker 2: cool weather over the next few weeks and months and 116 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:11,560 Speaker 2: come and see the Red Center. Because the moment you 117 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:13,919 Speaker 2: do and you the experience that you know, everyone seems 118 00:06:13,920 --> 00:06:15,640 Speaker 2: to be talking it up, which is what we need. 119 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:18,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, one hundred percent, it is certainly what you need. 120 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:22,039 Speaker 1: I made on a separate topic, we've been hearing quite 121 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:24,680 Speaker 1: a bit actually on the phone and techt lines about 122 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:29,159 Speaker 1: some massive potholes that are craaticized on the Berkley Highway. 123 00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:32,359 Speaker 1: Are people raising those concerns with you guys in the 124 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:34,680 Speaker 1: tourism sense, I know you've got plenty of gray nomads 125 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:35,480 Speaker 1: traveling around. 126 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:41,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely, certainly. Certainly the Barkley Highway and sort of 127 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:45,000 Speaker 2: the northern aspects of the of northern north of Tenant Creek. 128 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:48,000 Speaker 2: We're also hearing that as well, So you know, we 129 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:52,159 Speaker 2: certainly very much support any push by the government to 130 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:55,400 Speaker 2: get this sorted sooner rather than later. Yes, I appreciate 131 00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:57,760 Speaker 2: there was this is obviously as a result of flood 132 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:00,680 Speaker 2: damaging flood damage over the summer, but you know, we 133 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:03,920 Speaker 2: need to start making things happen sooner rather than later, 134 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:06,760 Speaker 2: because we are getting feedback here in the Alice Springs 135 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:09,720 Speaker 2: Information Center that those potholes are pretty big. 136 00:07:10,040 --> 00:07:13,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, we've been told the same and yeah, you know, 137 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:15,680 Speaker 1: it is a concern because you want to make sure 138 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:19,080 Speaker 1: that people are safe on those roads. So those are 139 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:21,760 Speaker 1: the biggest hot spots really the Barkley Highway but just 140 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:22,800 Speaker 1: north of Tenant. 141 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 2: Creek there, yeah, absolutely, and on the Barclay it's in 142 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 2: and around the Avon Downs area. It's all the key 143 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:34,360 Speaker 2: flood play areas that were flooding went over the road. 144 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 2: So you know, yes, appreciate that that was obviously a 145 00:07:38,480 --> 00:07:41,400 Speaker 2: huge issue over summer, but you know, we do need 146 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:43,160 Speaker 2: to pick up the game there and get that sort 147 00:07:43,280 --> 00:07:45,960 Speaker 2: sooner rather than later. And from my understanding, Katie, the 148 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:49,760 Speaker 2: government actually had seventy odd million four Buckley Highway upgrades 149 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:52,520 Speaker 2: in the last week's budget, so you know, the money 150 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:55,160 Speaker 2: is there, like everything, the money is there, but you 151 00:07:55,160 --> 00:07:56,840 Speaker 2: know we need to get shovels in the ground. 152 00:07:57,120 --> 00:08:02,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, Well, Daniel Rochford from Tourism Central Australia. The CEO mate, 153 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:04,320 Speaker 1: always good to catch up with you, but really good 154 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:06,960 Speaker 1: to hear some good news out of Central Australia today. 155 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 2: No, that sounds good, Katie. And yeah, I'm not doing 156 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:13,720 Speaker 2: cartweels down the Toddsmall yet, but I might be. I 157 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:15,880 Speaker 2: might be having a bit of fly pineapple suit. 158 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 1: Good on you, Daniel, Thank you, We'll talk to you soon. 159 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:21,240 Speaker 2: Cheer Katty. 160 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:21,840 Speaker 1: Thank you.