1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,559 Speaker 1: Joining me in the studio right now is the Lord 2 00:00:02,600 --> 00:00:05,400 Speaker 1: Mayor of Darwin, Convat Scarlets. Good morning to Yukon. 3 00:00:05,519 --> 00:00:06,200 Speaker 2: Good morning Katy. 4 00:00:06,360 --> 00:00:08,799 Speaker 1: Now, con first off, I understand that there has been 5 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:11,639 Speaker 1: one of the mahogany trees which has fallen in the city. 6 00:00:11,680 --> 00:00:14,200 Speaker 1: The African mahogany will part of it, so one of 7 00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:17,680 Speaker 1: the branches earlier this week. We know that these trades 8 00:00:17,680 --> 00:00:19,840 Speaker 1: have obviously caused issues in the past. You and I 9 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:22,759 Speaker 1: have spoken about it before. What's the situation with this 10 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:23,880 Speaker 1: particular trade. 11 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 2: Well, it was assessed by an arborist before and it 12 00:00:27,640 --> 00:00:30,640 Speaker 2: was not detected because some of them actually become rotten inside, 13 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:33,520 Speaker 2: but they don't show any signs outside. And they said 14 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:36,159 Speaker 2: that they are branches. They're not the only trees. I 15 00:00:36,159 --> 00:00:38,880 Speaker 2: mean the white gums. They call them widow killers because 16 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 2: they dropped branches too. Now, we inherited quite a few 17 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:45,239 Speaker 2: of these trees. We examine them every six months to 18 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:48,640 Speaker 2: find out what's happening. Recently we removed another mahogany at 19 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:51,760 Speaker 2: the cenotaph near the Eternal Flame because the arbory said 20 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 2: it was dangerous, so we cut it down completely. What 21 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:56,920 Speaker 2: I do ask my CEO to do now, is to 22 00:00:56,920 --> 00:01:00,600 Speaker 2: reconvene the tree Committee to assess what we've got. Now, 23 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 2: I find a way to actually get a regulous assessment 24 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:07,160 Speaker 2: of these remaining trees, about three hundred, I believe, and 25 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:09,880 Speaker 2: if necessary, we'll be removing the ones that saw signs 26 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:14,319 Speaker 2: of fatigue. We already down that one in Nightcliff. If 27 00:01:14,319 --> 00:01:17,720 Speaker 2: you remember, there was a huge mahogany tree near the playground. 28 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:21,560 Speaker 2: Somebody heard crack noises. Immediately we removed it because you 29 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:25,000 Speaker 2: can't trust them if you need only a movement by 30 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:27,640 Speaker 2: the wind and something will come down. We have to 31 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 2: live with them at the moment, but certainly we take 32 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:32,160 Speaker 2: any precautions to make sure they're safe. 33 00:01:32,240 --> 00:01:34,840 Speaker 1: So at this point in time, it's not time to 34 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:37,839 Speaker 1: go out and remove all three hundred of those African mahoganies. 35 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 2: There's no reason for that one if they are not 36 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:42,520 Speaker 2: showing any signs, but certainly are ARBORI is the qualified, 37 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:46,120 Speaker 2: fully qualified will go and we'll remove the one that risk. 38 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:48,480 Speaker 2: The other thing, you have to remember, if they said 39 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:52,720 Speaker 2: one big branch, then the tree becomes unbalanced, they might say. Others. 40 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:56,000 Speaker 2: The mahogany that said the branch in Wood Street today 41 00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:58,360 Speaker 2: is actually removed and I know very well because I 42 00:01:58,440 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 2: drove there and I had to look the guys around 43 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:01,640 Speaker 2: Big change us cutting it down. 44 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:03,840 Speaker 1: So no need for us to rush out though and 45 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:06,080 Speaker 1: get rid of all these African mahoganies. We've just got 46 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:07,080 Speaker 1: to make sure that we're monitoring. 47 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 2: Got any concern, please talk to us and we certainly 48 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 2: we'll go immediately to assess them and find out what's 49 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 2: happening now. 50 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:15,640 Speaker 1: Con the other thing that is on the agenda again, 51 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:18,120 Speaker 1: I know there's a couple of council aldermen, Rebecca want 52 00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 1: to Row and also Alderman justin Glover fighting against the 53 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:24,560 Speaker 1: development at lee Point. We heard from justin Glover just 54 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:27,359 Speaker 1: last week. We know that Miss want Duau is calling 55 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 1: for counsel to write to the Environment Minister Evil Lawler 56 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:34,799 Speaker 1: asking to freeze construction until the Northern Territory Planning Commission 57 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:40,040 Speaker 1: will completes a thorough area plan. Con does the council 58 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 1: need to do this? 59 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:45,080 Speaker 2: Look, every councilor or alderman is entitled to bring a 60 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:47,320 Speaker 2: motion to counsul, but it has to be debated and 61 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:50,000 Speaker 2: he has to be decided by the majority of the aldermen. 62 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:52,520 Speaker 2: Now let me point out that this one was brought 63 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 2: to council in twenty fourteen and was approved by council unanimously. 64 00:02:56,960 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 2: Actually one of the aldermen was a person who seconded 65 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:03,480 Speaker 2: to be to be accepted. Then it was brought back 66 00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:07,639 Speaker 2: again twice and always it was accepted. It was passed 67 00:03:07,639 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 2: by council. We even discussed the leap point when we're 68 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:14,000 Speaker 2: discussing the cat situation in the area, and that it 69 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:17,960 Speaker 2: brought any issues about Leep Point. The reality is Leepoint 70 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:20,480 Speaker 2: now has been done and dusty to be signed off 71 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:22,919 Speaker 2: by the Minister, and I doubt very much the Minister 72 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:25,240 Speaker 2: will go back and actually do anything at all. But 73 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:27,800 Speaker 2: let me put it that way. People live currently in 74 00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:30,720 Speaker 2: Lions protesting for leap point, I would like to remind 75 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:33,639 Speaker 2: them that Lions were exactly the same situation like Leepoint. 76 00:03:33,919 --> 00:03:36,520 Speaker 2: They was bush and was cleared up for new houses. 77 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:39,480 Speaker 2: Leannia was the same, New hit was the same. Any 78 00:03:39,480 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 2: Sabbabi Darwin was exactly the same. Because there's nowhere else 79 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:44,840 Speaker 2: to go. You can't go north and west because the 80 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:50,080 Speaker 2: sea you can only go down south. It's Palmerston. Well, look, 81 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:53,400 Speaker 2: I think it's unfair for us. We've done Reva houses 82 00:03:53,440 --> 00:03:56,640 Speaker 2: were all right, thank you very much, Jack, And don't 83 00:03:56,680 --> 00:03:58,640 Speaker 2: worry about the young people. Where are we going to 84 00:03:58,640 --> 00:04:01,280 Speaker 2: build houses for young people? Think about it. These are 85 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 2: your children, my children, everybody else. Children need houses. And 86 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 2: the other thing, of course, is this misinformation about rainforest. 87 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 2: There was never a rainforest there, Kate. I used to 88 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:13,600 Speaker 2: be in the Air Force as an officer and I 89 00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:16,480 Speaker 2: used to visit the facility that was there that took 90 00:04:16,520 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 2: Karoo for many many years. It was scrub It was 91 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:21,840 Speaker 2: degraded for the same reason because the Air Force did 92 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 2: not need and did not work. Think thick vegetation if. 93 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:27,960 Speaker 1: You go there virtue signaling? Do you think by a 94 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:30,280 Speaker 1: couple of aldermen? Or like? When? Is I mean? 95 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:31,040 Speaker 2: Like? 96 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:34,039 Speaker 1: Really it sounds though, it sounds as though nothing much 97 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:34,839 Speaker 1: can change. 98 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:37,000 Speaker 2: Here, will not change. I think the term to put 99 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:38,719 Speaker 2: it blund in a grandstanding. 100 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:41,800 Speaker 1: Corn When is that council made in Judah happen? Is 101 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:42,520 Speaker 1: it next week? 102 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:43,120 Speaker 2: Next week? 103 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 1: There might be others on the council, though, I guess 104 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:46,680 Speaker 1: who agree with the two oldermen. 105 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 2: Well, from what I send from the council, I mean 106 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:53,159 Speaker 2: most people say, well, hold on twenty fourteen it was approved. 107 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:55,240 Speaker 2: Come back seven years later and ask to disapprove it. 108 00:04:55,520 --> 00:04:57,440 Speaker 2: Why do you stop there? How about would this approved 109 00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:00,839 Speaker 2: Perrap or Leania or Nightcliffe? I mean where do we stop? 110 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:03,800 Speaker 2: I mean if you approved it, that means either your 111 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:05,840 Speaker 2: dinner with your paper and you didn't know what you're 112 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:08,080 Speaker 2: voting for, or you agreed with it and you voted 113 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:08,400 Speaker 2: for it. 114 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:11,679 Speaker 1: Well, both of those people were on council previously as well, though. 115 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:14,800 Speaker 2: Did that well? Obviously because of the minutes it sows 116 00:05:14,839 --> 00:05:17,880 Speaker 2: that it was voted in Unanis mostly so every single 117 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:21,080 Speaker 2: councilor in the council at the time voted for Lippoint 118 00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 2: to go ahead. 119 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:24,359 Speaker 1: And were they both on council then. 120 00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:27,880 Speaker 2: Yes they were. Now people might disagree with the development personally, 121 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:30,960 Speaker 2: I've got some problems and I expressed my opinion that look, 122 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 2: I don't like this development because it's got too many 123 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 2: blocks that are too small. You can't have three hundred 124 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:38,839 Speaker 2: and four hundred. I think they're too small. But people 125 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:41,000 Speaker 2: like small blocks, like a big house in a small block. 126 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:42,839 Speaker 2: Who am I to argue about it. I would like 127 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:45,840 Speaker 2: to see something minimum six hundred. It doesn't happen. But 128 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:48,159 Speaker 2: people make choices. People choose what they want to buy 129 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 2: where they want to buy con. 130 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:51,479 Speaker 1: I want to ask you let's move along, because the 131 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:53,839 Speaker 1: City of Darwin is going to be hosting an historical 132 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:57,520 Speaker 1: exercise of exercise of freedom of entry parade throughout the 133 00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:02,280 Speaker 1: city for the one hundred anniversary of rapt based Darwin. 134 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:05,799 Speaker 1: It's happening on Saturday, isn't it This Saturday? 135 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:08,520 Speaker 2: This Saturday morning? And I'll be very very pleased to 136 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 2: be there because it would be the City of Darwin 137 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:14,440 Speaker 2: thirteen Squadron parading exercisely film to Edery and I have 138 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:16,600 Speaker 2: to say with a great pride, I was a member 139 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:19,239 Speaker 2: of thirteen Squadron from nineteen ninety four to two thousand 140 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:23,159 Speaker 2: and one, and I'll be wearing my insignia on my 141 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:27,040 Speaker 2: robes to honor the thirteen Squadron doing the freedom to 142 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:30,880 Speaker 2: Editary Aldable. I've been here for a long, long long time, 143 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:33,880 Speaker 2: the exercising and old tradition the end of the city, 144 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:35,760 Speaker 2: and I'm looking forward to it. And I'm pretty sure 145 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:37,719 Speaker 2: a lot of people will actually come down and have 146 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:38,599 Speaker 2: a look at the parade. 147 00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:40,640 Speaker 1: I'm sure they will be. Now I can't let you 148 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:44,320 Speaker 1: go without asking you very quickly. Andrew and Sarah, who 149 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:47,160 Speaker 1: cover Breakfast on Mix in the mornings. They want to 150 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:49,720 Speaker 1: be to ask you what work did you do all 151 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:52,400 Speaker 1: those years ago to get Elton John to Darwin because 152 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:55,120 Speaker 1: they want to try and get the Kiss concert here 153 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:57,200 Speaker 1: in Darwin and they're wondering if he can help them out. 154 00:06:57,560 --> 00:07:00,359 Speaker 2: Now, Alan James at the time, he was actually working 155 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:03,320 Speaker 2: with a promotion group. He came to my office and 156 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:05,800 Speaker 2: they said, I need your help. I said why, I said, 157 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:07,640 Speaker 2: I went to the treasurer and asked for some money 158 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:09,560 Speaker 2: to bring elto John here and then wouldn't give him 159 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:12,720 Speaker 2: the money. I said, Elton John, I said, yes, the 160 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:15,520 Speaker 2: real Elder John. Yes, how much do you need? Said 161 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:17,560 Speaker 2: I need about one hundred and thirty seven thousand dollars. 162 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 2: I said done. Minister of Tourist, I asked my deparm 163 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:24,320 Speaker 2: to find a hundred and seven But a Minister, what 164 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:27,520 Speaker 2: happens is bringing elto John to town? Are you serious? Yes? 165 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:29,480 Speaker 1: I was, and did give you a good return in 166 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 1: terms of people traveling today and obviously. 167 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:36,480 Speaker 2: To cut people from Brisbane and Perth coming to Darwin 168 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:39,280 Speaker 2: to actually see Elton John. It was held at the 169 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:43,000 Speaker 2: Marara Stadium. It was awesome and it was full. So 170 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:45,960 Speaker 2: one hundred and thirty seven thousand dollars investment by the government. 171 00:07:46,320 --> 00:07:48,840 Speaker 2: Our record brought a return of more than a million 172 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:50,000 Speaker 2: and a half. What do you reckon? 173 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:52,760 Speaker 1: Should I be lobbying the current tourism minister to get 174 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:54,440 Speaker 1: kissed Tod go for it. 175 00:07:54,480 --> 00:07:56,679 Speaker 2: I don't know about kiss but if it was something different, 176 00:07:56,720 --> 00:07:58,240 Speaker 2: it might be I might be able to help you, 177 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 2: like you know, avar reunion in Darwin and something like that. 178 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:04,240 Speaker 2: But I think if you don't ask, you don't get again. 179 00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:06,600 Speaker 2: Do your homework, find out how many people like he, 180 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:09,040 Speaker 2: how many people come here and go for it? 181 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:11,840 Speaker 1: Oh well, conbat scarlets, the Lord Mayor of Darwin always 182 00:08:11,880 --> 00:08:13,400 Speaker 1: good to catch up with you. Thanks so much for 183 00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:15,280 Speaker 1: your time this morning, you two. It is