1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,080 Speaker 1: Please to say that joining me in the studio right 2 00:00:02,120 --> 00:00:05,560 Speaker 1: now is the Palmerston Mayor, Athena Pasco Bell. Good morning 3 00:00:05,559 --> 00:00:07,720 Speaker 1: to you, Athena, good morning. Great to have you in 4 00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:10,959 Speaker 1: the studio. Now. I know that the Palmeston councils raise 5 00:00:11,039 --> 00:00:14,800 Speaker 1: some concerns about the City of Darwin Council's proposed increase 6 00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:18,759 Speaker 1: to the commercial waste charge at the Shoal Bay facility. 7 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:22,320 Speaker 1: Talk us through exactly what's been proposed here and what 8 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:22,880 Speaker 1: it will mean. 9 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:27,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, so they're proposing that the commercial charge at Shoalbay 10 00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:31,560 Speaker 2: will increase by about thirty percent for next financial year. 11 00:00:32,120 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 2: And the City of Palmeston is categorized as a commercial operator. 12 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 2: So when we our garbage trucks pick up the rubbish 13 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 2: from every household in Palmeston as well as Archer and 14 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:44,920 Speaker 2: it goes to Shoal Bay, and we're currently charged one 15 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:48,080 Speaker 2: hundred and fifteen dollars a ton for that waste. Each 16 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:52,400 Speaker 2: household generates about one ton of rubbish each year, but 17 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:54,520 Speaker 2: with the thirty percent increase, that's going to go up 18 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:57,240 Speaker 2: to one hundred and fifty dollars a ton, which means 19 00:00:57,240 --> 00:01:00,840 Speaker 2: we have to pass that on to our residents for 20 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:04,440 Speaker 2: collecting their waste. But even more concerning is that there's 21 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 2: another category which we're not really clear about at this 22 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:09,920 Speaker 2: stage and they haven't provided any detail on it, and 23 00:01:09,959 --> 00:01:15,000 Speaker 2: that's domestic waste that's contaminated with green waste, and that's 24 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:18,000 Speaker 2: proposed to go up to one hundred and ninety dollars 25 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:21,680 Speaker 2: a ton. So that's an extra seventy five dollars a ton. 26 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 2: If that means that all of our trucks have lawn 27 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:29,760 Speaker 2: clippings and palm fronts and things like that in it, 28 00:01:29,959 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 2: they could mean a huge increase to Palmerston. And not 29 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:35,840 Speaker 2: only that, but everyone who has a commercial operation. We've 30 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:40,199 Speaker 2: got fifteen hundred businesses in Palmerston, all of their commercial 31 00:01:40,319 --> 00:01:43,639 Speaker 2: charges will increase by a minimum of thirty percent as well. 32 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:46,200 Speaker 1: And so essentially what's happened here is the Darwin City 33 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:49,760 Speaker 1: councilor is raising all of those all of those prices 34 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 1: for Palmerston, so passing that cost on obviously to the 35 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:53,760 Speaker 1: Palmeston Council. 36 00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:56,080 Speaker 2: And all of the other councils in the area as well. 37 00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 2: So everyone that uses Shoalbe and that's Lichfield. I think 38 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 2: some of the more regional councils as well like Kmali, 39 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 2: bell Ywn and Wiggui as well, So it's a huge increase. 40 00:02:07,320 --> 00:02:09,799 Speaker 2: We don't have any more capacity in our waste reserved 41 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:12,720 Speaker 2: to absorb that cost, so we're going to have to 42 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:15,880 Speaker 2: pass those costs onto our rate payers this year. But 43 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:18,519 Speaker 2: it's a little bit concerning because if they are considering 44 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:21,000 Speaker 2: green waste as a contaminant, then it would have been 45 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:23,239 Speaker 2: good to have a bit of notice. Even twelve months 46 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:25,240 Speaker 2: would have been good for us to plan what we're 47 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:27,880 Speaker 2: going to do with it, but we didn't realize that 48 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:30,080 Speaker 2: they were going to introduce new categories as well. 49 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:32,679 Speaker 1: Is it quite surprising or is it a surprise to 50 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:36,440 Speaker 1: the Palmeston Council that they're doing this without actually speaking 51 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:37,040 Speaker 1: to you first. 52 00:02:37,919 --> 00:02:40,040 Speaker 2: The CEO did flag with us that there would be 53 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:44,080 Speaker 2: an increase of twenty to thirty percent, so you know, 54 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 2: we acknowledge that that was communicated to us, but we're 55 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 2: still a bit concerned about the contamination charge, which could 56 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:53,120 Speaker 2: be as much as one hundred and ninety dollars a ton, 57 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 2: and we don't have a green waste bin in Palmeston, 58 00:02:56,680 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 2: so anyone who mows their lawn and picks up their 59 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 2: palm fronds are likely just to put them in that 60 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:04,760 Speaker 2: red bin and if that's considered contamination, then we're going 61 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:08,200 Speaker 2: to have to pay that extra one hundred and ninety 62 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:11,320 Speaker 2: dollars a ton fee. So we're trying to get some 63 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 2: indication from the City of Palms for City of Darwin 64 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:18,079 Speaker 2: as to what it actually means. But at a minimum, 65 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:21,680 Speaker 2: we likely to have to increase rate waste charges to 66 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:22,840 Speaker 2: cover those costs. 67 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:27,320 Speaker 1: And so in terms of residents out in Palmerston and 68 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:30,200 Speaker 1: how much that is potentially going to go up, what 69 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 1: are you thinking at this stage? 70 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 2: Look, that on its own is thirty five dollars per 71 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:39,920 Speaker 2: household a year a year, and then we've also got 72 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:45,040 Speaker 2: our other contractual obligations, so there are increases fixed in 73 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:47,880 Speaker 2: the contracts that we have for curbside collection and also 74 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:51,640 Speaker 2: the services that we provided Archer. So it's going to 75 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 2: go up by quite a bit and we are concerned 76 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:58,800 Speaker 2: about doing that, but we won't have any choice this 77 00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:01,680 Speaker 2: coming financial year those charges are implemented. 78 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 1: So when is the Palmerston Council delivering the budget and 79 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:08,600 Speaker 1: when can people expect to get a better understanding of that. 80 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:12,840 Speaker 2: We are considering the budget tonight and if all goes 81 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 2: to plan. It'll be released in the next few days 82 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:19,680 Speaker 2: for community consultation and we'll have a big announcement about 83 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:20,360 Speaker 2: that coming up. 84 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:21,960 Speaker 1: Well, we'll make sure that we get you back on 85 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:24,360 Speaker 1: the show to find out more about that. But I 86 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:26,640 Speaker 1: do want to ask, is this the first increase in 87 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:29,479 Speaker 1: waste fees by the Darwin City Council in recent times 88 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:31,719 Speaker 1: or has there been a bit of a trend on 89 00:04:31,839 --> 00:04:34,400 Speaker 1: the upwards over the last few years. 90 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:37,040 Speaker 2: There has been an increase over the last few years, 91 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:41,280 Speaker 2: increments of between sort of seven and ten percent, and 92 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:43,880 Speaker 2: it has increased by about forty percent over the last 93 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:48,360 Speaker 2: five years. The smaller increases aren't the real concern. It's 94 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:51,520 Speaker 2: this great, big increase at the moment and that uncertainty 95 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:54,920 Speaker 2: about the general waste with green waste contamination that we're 96 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:58,600 Speaker 2: just unsure about at this stage. It could mean an 97 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:02,320 Speaker 2: extra seventy five dollars per household if that does actually 98 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 2: mean that if you put your green waste in your 99 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 2: red bin will be charged extra for it. 100 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:09,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, right, so potentially an additional seventy five dollars a 101 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:13,240 Speaker 1: year in terms of you know, you're rubbish, And then 102 00:05:13,960 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 1: council is still all the Palmerston council is still going 103 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:19,200 Speaker 1: through that budget. It's going to be considered tonight and 104 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:21,880 Speaker 1: we'll be released them for discussion throughout the next couple 105 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 1: of weeks. So I suppose it does mean that there 106 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 1: could be some you know, some some costs going up 107 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:30,640 Speaker 1: for residents out in Palmerston. 108 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:33,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, and we are working very hard. So the staff 109 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:36,200 Speaker 2: have done a really good job so far of trying 110 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:40,240 Speaker 2: to keep the increases to an absolute minimum, looking at 111 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 2: every contract that we have in detail to see how 112 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:45,200 Speaker 2: much it's going to go up next year, and we'll 113 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:48,680 Speaker 2: have to adjust our normal rates by that amount. But 114 00:05:48,720 --> 00:05:52,240 Speaker 2: the waste has been flagged at least thirty percent more. 115 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, right, it is. I mean, it is a big 116 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:57,720 Speaker 1: cost for people. I'm sure. Before I let you go, Athena, 117 00:05:57,760 --> 00:06:00,520 Speaker 1: I know that we had when we'd spoken to the 118 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:03,520 Speaker 1: Darwin City Council last week. I wasn't aware of these changes, 119 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:06,120 Speaker 1: but they had spoken about some of the different things 120 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:08,600 Speaker 1: that they've had to do in their budget due to 121 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 1: the issues that we've seen with anti social behavior and crime. 122 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:15,320 Speaker 1: I know that they are investing some additional money for 123 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 1: the rangers to try and try and sort through some 124 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:23,040 Speaker 1: of the issues closer to town and also cleaning up 125 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 1: some of the rubbish and that's been left around the 126 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 1: place associated with that anti social behavior. Is the Palmerston 127 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:31,960 Speaker 1: Council having to consider anything like that as part of 128 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:32,479 Speaker 1: the budget. 129 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:37,520 Speaker 2: We've already been undertaking a number of initiatives, including a 130 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:41,480 Speaker 2: lot of bottle pickup from people drinking in public places. 131 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:44,760 Speaker 2: We've introduced security patrols at a cost to the rate 132 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:48,080 Speaker 2: payer as well. So these things are already occurring and 133 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:49,040 Speaker 2: they're ongoing. 134 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:52,440 Speaker 1: It's a pretty crappy situation, isn't it that the councils 135 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 1: are having to sort of do that. I get you know, 136 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:56,440 Speaker 1: we all understand that there's different issues that we're having 137 00:06:56,480 --> 00:06:58,400 Speaker 1: to deal with, but it is an added expense and 138 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:00,840 Speaker 1: it is a difficult situation you've got to deal with. 139 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:03,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, look, it is really disappointing. We've never had to 140 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:07,200 Speaker 2: run security patrols in Palmerston previous to the last couple 141 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:09,920 Speaker 2: of years, so it is disappointing that we've had to 142 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:13,520 Speaker 2: introduce them to keep the community safe, especially during the 143 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:15,680 Speaker 2: day when they come into the city center to go 144 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:18,720 Speaker 2: shopping and access all the other services that we have there. 145 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:22,360 Speaker 2: You know, we're always open to working with government and 146 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:25,760 Speaker 2: all the agencies involved. The police have done an absolutely 147 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:28,560 Speaker 2: fantastic job the last month or so. While we've had 148 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:33,640 Speaker 2: visitors in from kal Karini, Dagaragu and Pigeonhole. Yep, you know, 149 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 2: they've been really responsive. So I can't thank the police 150 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 2: enough for helping us out in dealing with a lot 151 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:43,559 Speaker 2: of the issues that we've seen in our city center 152 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:47,360 Speaker 2: over the last few weeks and months or so. But 153 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:50,760 Speaker 2: we are really keen to go back to a fairly 154 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:53,720 Speaker 2: normal situation. It'd be good to not have to have 155 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:58,520 Speaker 2: additional security patrols operating and having additional security in the 156 00:07:58,520 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 2: library and rec center as well, but unfortunately, at this stage, 157 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:04,240 Speaker 2: I think it's just going to have to continue. 158 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:06,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, do you reckon that You'll see a quietening down 159 00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:08,840 Speaker 1: of things a little bit as some of those residents 160 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:10,360 Speaker 1: do head back to their communities. 161 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 2: We did see a drop off in some of that 162 00:08:13,640 --> 00:08:17,240 Speaker 2: behavior the last couple of weeks as they've started to return. 163 00:08:18,320 --> 00:08:21,160 Speaker 2: I will be speaking with the Chief Minister about when 164 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:24,880 Speaker 2: the remaining people be returning, because I know that that 165 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:27,480 Speaker 2: not all of them have opted to return voluntarily, so 166 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:31,120 Speaker 2: obviously there's still some sleeping rough around the place and 167 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 2: be good to know what government's plan is to return 168 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:37,440 Speaker 2: those additional people who've decided that they didn't want to 169 00:08:37,480 --> 00:08:39,560 Speaker 2: return on the bus services that were returning. 170 00:08:39,800 --> 00:08:43,320 Speaker 1: Yes, the community spot on, because you know, you don't 171 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:47,320 Speaker 1: want those people sleeping around Palmerston and sleeping around, sleeping 172 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:49,760 Speaker 1: rough around the city when they do have homes in 173 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:52,160 Speaker 1: the communities. And I get that people are entitled to 174 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:56,559 Speaker 1: travel around freely, but you also don't want associated issues 175 00:08:56,960 --> 00:08:59,600 Speaker 1: in terms of people publicly drinking or doing the wrong thing. 176 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:02,200 Speaker 2: That's right. And I also have to thank the liquor 177 00:09:02,200 --> 00:09:05,560 Speaker 2: outlets in our city center for reducing their operating hours, 178 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:09,240 Speaker 2: which has made a significant difference because once that alcohol 179 00:09:09,280 --> 00:09:12,000 Speaker 2: is not available after about eight pm, it really does 180 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:12,600 Speaker 2: settle down. 181 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:16,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, that is good to hear. Lathena Pasco Bell, the 182 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:19,000 Speaker 1: Mayor of Palmerston. Always appreciate your time and we'll get 183 00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:20,760 Speaker 1: you back in the studio. Will certainly get you back 184 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 1: on the show once that budget is delivered. So thanks 185 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:26,880 Speaker 1: so much for having a chat with us today. 186 00:09:26,960 --> 00:09:27,960 Speaker 2: Thank you, thank you.