1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,520 Speaker 1: Joining us live in the studio is the Mayor of Palmerston, 2 00:00:02,800 --> 00:00:05,760 Speaker 1: Athena Pasco Bell. Good morning to you, Good morning, good 3 00:00:05,760 --> 00:00:08,000 Speaker 1: to have you in the studio now, Athena, I understand 4 00:00:08,039 --> 00:00:11,119 Speaker 1: council meet last night for your regular meeting. Is that 5 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:14,760 Speaker 1: the last council meeting before we go to the council elections. 6 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:17,320 Speaker 2: No, we will have just one next month because there 7 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:19,360 Speaker 2: are some things under the Act that we have to address, 8 00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:22,479 Speaker 2: such as the monthly financial report. So we will have 9 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:25,320 Speaker 2: a meeting next month, but it'll be the second meeting 10 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:27,440 Speaker 2: that we have mid August. 11 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:31,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, right, okay, So one more I know that in 12 00:00:31,200 --> 00:00:34,279 Speaker 1: the minutes there was well that certainly looked as though 13 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:37,120 Speaker 1: you were looking at the community by laws and that 14 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:40,120 Speaker 1: they're being reviewed. What's being proposed or what are the 15 00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:41,760 Speaker 1: changes potentially being looked. 16 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:43,519 Speaker 3: At in our list of review. 17 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:45,760 Speaker 2: So we just finished the animal management ones and they 18 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:49,800 Speaker 2: are implemented in twenty twenty four. The next one on 19 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:53,199 Speaker 2: the list was our procedures for meetings. But you know, 20 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 2: even though they're old, they function and they're working pretty well. 21 00:00:57,200 --> 00:00:59,720 Speaker 2: So we've decided just to reprioritize and bring forward the 22 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:02,600 Speaker 2: pub place by laws for review. And that will be 23 00:01:02,680 --> 00:01:05,840 Speaker 2: quite extensive because it covers a whole range of issues 24 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:08,200 Speaker 2: and we will need to go out to community consultation 25 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:10,840 Speaker 2: and a whole lot of thoughts and ideas that we've 26 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:12,240 Speaker 2: been considering. 27 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:14,480 Speaker 1: I know two of the ones that get raised with 28 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:16,399 Speaker 1: us quite a bit, and I don't know whether they're 29 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:19,000 Speaker 1: actually by laws. You know that the council can change 30 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:23,200 Speaker 1: in any ways. Obviously public drinking and also rubbish around 31 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:25,800 Speaker 1: the place. You know, people leaving rubbish and crap around 32 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:26,199 Speaker 1: the place. 33 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:29,120 Speaker 2: Well, we will remove rubbish once we're notified that it's there, 34 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:32,040 Speaker 2: so that's not an issue. You know, we do have 35 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:36,679 Speaker 2: something about camping in our public place by laws, but 36 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 2: then you know the technicalities around whether people are camping 37 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:43,399 Speaker 2: and whether or not we're moving on homeless people or 38 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:47,319 Speaker 2: just itinerants who are in for other reasons. We also 39 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:50,800 Speaker 2: found that our by laws in relation to long grass 40 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 2: within people's properties take too long for us to get 41 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 2: on top of and get the owner to do something. Right. 42 00:01:57,080 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 1: Is that commercial or residential homes? 43 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:02,360 Speaker 2: It can be both, but you know, we have a 44 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 2: lot of problems in residential areas where they don't mow 45 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:08,320 Speaker 2: their grass. The other complaint we get a lot about 46 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:12,600 Speaker 2: public places. Is the grass on verges as well, people 47 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:16,360 Speaker 2: not maintaining their verges and the grass gets really high. 48 00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:18,360 Speaker 2: So there could be a whole range of things. I mean, 49 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 2: some of the really outdated stuff is that we need 50 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 2: a council decision about the operational hours for some of 51 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:28,240 Speaker 2: our council facilities. But I really think that should be 52 00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 2: up to the discretion of the CEO. 53 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:34,320 Speaker 1: Instead of so like operational hours for the pool for example, 54 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:35,000 Speaker 1: or something like that. 55 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:37,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think the library is a specific one, but 56 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:40,840 Speaker 2: you know, it really should be with the consideration of 57 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:42,639 Speaker 2: what the operational requirements are. 58 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:44,160 Speaker 3: You know, do you reckon the. 59 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:46,880 Speaker 1: Community should like in some ways be consulted with some 60 00:02:46,919 --> 00:02:47,480 Speaker 1: of those things. 61 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:50,640 Speaker 2: Absolutely, you know, we need to if we're going to 62 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:53,560 Speaker 2: make some changes, we need to understand from the community 63 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:55,640 Speaker 2: what it is they want to see happen and what 64 00:02:55,680 --> 00:02:58,480 Speaker 2: they're prepared to have and what they're not prepared to have, 65 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:02,119 Speaker 2: so that we can actually get some robust by laws 66 00:03:02,160 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 2: that will probably have to last for the next twenty years. 67 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:04,800 Speaker 3: Yeah. 68 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 1: Well, and so that will those changes actually come into 69 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:10,800 Speaker 1: effect before the council election or is it something that 70 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:12,920 Speaker 1: you'll sort of your review and it'll take some time 71 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:13,480 Speaker 1: to get through. 72 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:16,560 Speaker 2: The by law reviews can take two to three years, 73 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:19,800 Speaker 2: so that's a very extensive process because we also have 74 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:22,920 Speaker 2: to deal with Parliamentary Council who draft our bylaws yep. 75 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:24,920 Speaker 2: But before we can ask them to do anything, we 76 00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:28,359 Speaker 2: need to do all the community consultation and because public 77 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:30,960 Speaker 2: place is such a broad range of things, Yeah, we 78 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:33,720 Speaker 2: need to do a lot of consultation and have a 79 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 2: good think about it with the community. 80 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:36,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, to decide what. 81 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 1: It sounds like. Some of them might need to be 82 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:40,080 Speaker 1: a bit more contemporary though as well. Right, like if 83 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 1: there's people camping in the city, for example, and you know, 84 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:44,960 Speaker 1: I know it can be argued that they could be 85 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 1: homeless people in the city, but you go, at what 86 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:49,800 Speaker 1: point does the council or others need to sort of 87 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 1: intervene and go this is not appropriate because you're seeing 88 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:56,600 Speaker 1: in a raft of other issues ensue because of people 89 00:03:56,840 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 1: living in different areas where they shouldn't be. 90 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:01,960 Speaker 2: So it needs to be discussion about those people. And 91 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:05,000 Speaker 2: quite often there are homeless people who don't cause any 92 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:08,360 Speaker 2: trouble at all, and we don't want to be displacing 93 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 2: them just because it says we need to displace them. 94 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 2: But the ones that are there drinking, leaving rubbish behind 95 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 2: and causing other problems like fighting and stuff like that, 96 00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:19,600 Speaker 2: you know, we do need to be dealing with them 97 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:22,200 Speaker 2: a bit more. But the other thing is the City 98 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 2: of Palmerston has no services for homeless people, so it's 99 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:27,920 Speaker 2: very limited about what we can do. 100 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:32,719 Speaker 3: And you know where we can refer people to yep. 101 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 2: So it's that's a specific issue. But looking more broadly 102 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:41,640 Speaker 2: at the public place by laws is going to be you. 103 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:44,840 Speaker 1: Know, extensive by the sounds of it. Heyyathina, I've got 104 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:46,840 Speaker 1: a question here that says, good morning, Katie. Can you 105 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:48,720 Speaker 1: please ask the me if she can do something about 106 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:53,360 Speaker 1: the internet in Bellamack. We've got Opticom, which is a 107 00:04:53,400 --> 00:04:57,039 Speaker 1: fiber cable from South Australia. We're having outages all the time. 108 00:04:57,120 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 1: We just want NBN like any other suburb. Have asked 109 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 1: Luke it falls under him too, Does it. 110 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:06,080 Speaker 2: Tell a communications there's entirely the Commwealth government. 111 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:11,279 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's any sort of issues about it for Bella mate. 112 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 2: I've seen the posts up on Facebook and you know 113 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:17,000 Speaker 2: there are some issues there. I'm not exactly sure what 114 00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 2: the issue is, but telecommunications is very specifically in the 115 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 2: Australian Constitution, so it falls under the Australian government. I 116 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:27,919 Speaker 2: can write letters of support, so if you want to 117 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:29,839 Speaker 2: send me an email, I can raise it with Luke. 118 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 2: Now I've left the studio, but yeah, definitely need. 119 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:37,440 Speaker 1: Something to follow up on. Now I've got another one 120 00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:41,159 Speaker 1: here that says the Palmerston bus interchange out the front 121 00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:44,200 Speaker 1: of the main road is a disgrace with people camping 122 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:47,679 Speaker 1: and littering everywhere. Can the council help? 123 00:05:48,320 --> 00:05:50,800 Speaker 2: We can lobby anti government to do something because it's 124 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:51,280 Speaker 2: their land. 125 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 1: It's so wild to me when I know it's not 126 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 1: your land, but it just seems so wild to me, 127 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:58,480 Speaker 1: Like this is where people get the shits with, you know, bureaucracy, 128 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:00,479 Speaker 1: right like where they go, well, come on, can someone 129 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:01,280 Speaker 1: just sort it out? 130 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:04,000 Speaker 2: But if you know, if it gets to that stage, 131 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:07,320 Speaker 2: we push the government like we're pushing with Clinton how 132 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:09,359 Speaker 2: at the moment for the Liquor Commission to do a 133 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:14,560 Speaker 2: public inquiry and gray about alcohol. It's not our realm 134 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:17,680 Speaker 2: of responsibility when it's not our land, but we can 135 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:22,160 Speaker 2: definitely attempt to influence. It's just really tricky because it's 136 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 2: the same as you know, sending a council ranger onto 137 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:26,880 Speaker 2: your property to go and clean up your yard without 138 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:30,359 Speaker 2: your permission. You know you wouldn't accept that some. 139 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:33,760 Speaker 1: People, I get what you're saying. I suppose for the 140 00:06:33,839 --> 00:06:36,840 Speaker 1: general punter, we just think to ourselves, oh goodness, may 141 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 1: let's sort it out. 142 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:40,400 Speaker 2: And there has been some good news though, because you 143 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:43,360 Speaker 2: know they're looking at closing down Casarina Interchange, which we've 144 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:46,320 Speaker 2: heard and I have been informed that Palmerston will you 145 00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:48,680 Speaker 2: know they're looking at that after so we'll learn some 146 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:53,040 Speaker 2: outcomes from the shutdown of the Casarina INTERCHANGEEP hopefully get 147 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:55,640 Speaker 2: all the good lessons learned and apply that into Palmestan 148 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:56,720 Speaker 2: when they look at that space. 149 00:06:56,880 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 1: Hey a quick one on those gray shops around that 150 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:02,240 Speaker 1: area you did just touch on this. Is there any 151 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:03,880 Speaker 1: update at this point in time. No. 152 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:06,320 Speaker 2: I caught up with Clinton Howe last week and there 153 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:08,840 Speaker 2: hasn't been an update from the Liquor Commission about where 154 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:12,240 Speaker 2: they'll hide a public inquiry yet, but hopefully they do. 155 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:15,400 Speaker 2: When they do, I really want to encourage the public 156 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 2: to come out and have a say about it, so 157 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:20,000 Speaker 2: that they can hear it from not just me and 158 00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:24,600 Speaker 2: Clinton you know, not from council, from everyone who's affected 159 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:27,200 Speaker 2: by what's going on there, because sometimes I think they 160 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:30,120 Speaker 2: just don't believe us. And you know, you can ask 161 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:32,320 Speaker 2: them to come in and have a look, walk around 162 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:34,200 Speaker 2: with us, come and see the issues. 163 00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:36,600 Speaker 3: But I don't know, maybe they're a bit chicken. 164 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, I don't know. Well, get them out there and 165 00:07:38,520 --> 00:07:40,640 Speaker 1: get everybody out there to have a look. And if 166 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:42,440 Speaker 1: they do hold a public meeting, I think that'd be 167 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:44,320 Speaker 1: a really good thing, or a public hearing so that 168 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 1: people can have their voices heard, particularly the people that 169 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:49,880 Speaker 1: live nearby that are seeing real issues as a result. 170 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:54,400 Speaker 1: A bit to go on, but we're fast running out 171 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:56,280 Speaker 1: of time. I've got to get to the national news. 172 00:07:56,280 --> 00:07:58,080 Speaker 1: But I do want to ask you. We are just 173 00:07:58,120 --> 00:08:01,920 Speaker 1: I think are we five weeks out from the council elections. 174 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 1: So you're obviously running again for the Palmerston mayor. I 175 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:08,040 Speaker 1: know that we've certainly heard others putting their hand up, 176 00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:11,480 Speaker 1: you know, for different areas. What's the process now from 177 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:15,040 Speaker 1: council's perspective, at what point do you sort of cease operating? 178 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:17,320 Speaker 1: I guess is as normal in terms of all the 179 00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:22,280 Speaker 1: counselors and you know, you don't really go into caretaker mode, 180 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:24,040 Speaker 1: do you, Council, you. 181 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:27,360 Speaker 2: Do, but it's the caretake of modes really around making 182 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:30,400 Speaker 2: significant decisions. So you know, we wouldn't be able to 183 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:34,280 Speaker 2: drop a million dollars on a project in that caretaker period, 184 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:36,800 Speaker 2: which commences on the thirty first of August. Once the 185 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:39,480 Speaker 2: declarations or sorry, once nominations close. 186 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:39,920 Speaker 1: Yep. 187 00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:44,600 Speaker 2: We still have our civic responsibilities, so we still have 188 00:08:44,679 --> 00:08:48,120 Speaker 2: obligations and commitments that we need to meet and that 189 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:48,880 Speaker 2: doesn't change. 190 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:50,880 Speaker 3: We just can't make significant decisions. 191 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:54,360 Speaker 1: When will we know who everybody is that's putting their 192 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 1: hand up? I understand that on was it on Friday 193 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:01,920 Speaker 1: last week that you had to that when the nominations opened? 194 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 2: A nominations close on the thirty first of August, which 195 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:09,280 Speaker 2: is a Thursday, the first sorry, thirty first of July, 196 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:12,719 Speaker 2: the first of August, which is the Fridays, there will 197 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:16,160 Speaker 2: be the declaration of nominations and that's when we find 198 00:09:16,200 --> 00:09:17,400 Speaker 2: out who's nominated. 199 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:21,400 Speaker 1: All right, well, it'll be interesting. It always is. Athena 200 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:23,320 Speaker 1: Pasco Bell, we've run out of time. Thank you as 201 00:09:23,360 --> 00:09:24,840 Speaker 1: always for joining us in the studio. 202 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:26,240 Speaker 3: Thank you, thank you,