1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:03,119 Speaker 1: The Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security. You're currently 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:08,160 Speaker 1: seeking expressions of interest from interested commercial operators to manage 3 00:00:08,280 --> 00:00:13,000 Speaker 1: the eighteen point five hectare site Window on the Wetlands. 4 00:00:13,039 --> 00:00:14,960 Speaker 1: Now joining me on the line to tell us a 5 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:18,640 Speaker 1: little bit more about the situation. Department of Environment, Parks 6 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:22,960 Speaker 1: and Water Security, Parks and Wildlife Division, Senior Director Commercial 7 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:26,799 Speaker 1: and Community Partnerships, Doctor Aggie Wegner, Good morning to you. 8 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:28,600 Speaker 2: Hello, Good morning Katie. 9 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:31,400 Speaker 1: How are you very well? Aggie? Tell us a little 10 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 1: bit about this expression of interest and well how people 11 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:38,560 Speaker 1: can maybe find out more. 12 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 2: So, Yes, we do have an exciting opportunity to take 13 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:46,840 Speaker 2: on the commercial operation of Windows on the Wetlands. As 14 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:50,800 Speaker 2: many of our listeners know and follow us to Parks 15 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:54,000 Speaker 2: and Wildlife. There was an expression of interest out last 16 00:00:54,080 --> 00:00:58,440 Speaker 2: year which unfortunately was unsuccessful, but since then we widened 17 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 2: the objective of the expression of interest to seek the 18 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:05,160 Speaker 2: commercial operation of the site of the whole Windows on 19 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:09,640 Speaker 2: the Wetland side. It is an amazing venue. It has 20 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:12,399 Speaker 2: it's right on top the highest point of the Adelaide, 21 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:15,320 Speaker 2: real floodplains with amazing views as we know, but also 22 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 2: in easy access to Darwin within a whole area of 23 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:24,240 Speaker 2: tourism attractions, jumping crocodiles, coroberry billibong on the way to 24 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 2: Cuco Doo, the Purple Mango Cafe in close proximity, and 25 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:33,640 Speaker 2: it was always a treasured stopover for Darwinians going to 26 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:36,959 Speaker 2: Cucko Doo, but also just for day trips. So the 27 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:41,679 Speaker 2: opportunity provided for an operator to come in to present 28 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:45,039 Speaker 2: us with some ideas, with their vision, what can be done, 29 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 2: what they think the site can delivers. It's an amazing 30 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:55,160 Speaker 2: opportunital experience within that area. Yeah, very rich culture. 31 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 1: It certainly sounds Yeah, it certainly sounds like it could be, Aggie, 32 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 1: Why do you think that the previous expression of interest 33 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 1: was unsuccessful? 34 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:08,840 Speaker 2: The previous one last year? What we did is we 35 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:11,320 Speaker 2: had it open as to run as a visitor center, 36 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:15,160 Speaker 2: so exactly as we used to run it beforehand, and 37 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:17,440 Speaker 2: we changed that to have it a lot broader to 38 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:19,760 Speaker 2: come here, come in with new ideas, so it doesn't 39 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:22,200 Speaker 2: necessarily have to be run as a visitor center. Okay, 40 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:24,360 Speaker 2: so what are there? 41 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:26,680 Speaker 1: What are the other options I suppose for people if 42 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:28,960 Speaker 1: if they don't run it as a visitor center, what 43 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 1: could the other options be? 44 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:35,040 Speaker 2: That's why we're looking forward to hear from operators operate it. 45 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 2: But it might be a combination of some form of 46 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:44,160 Speaker 2: visitor viewing, some cafes potentially in restaurants, some education facilities, 47 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:47,760 Speaker 2: cultural center and these are just ideas we kind of 48 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:51,840 Speaker 2: throw around. Ideally eve an operator has a fantastic idea 49 00:02:51,919 --> 00:02:54,960 Speaker 2: knowing the site. We do have a site visit on 50 00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:57,079 Speaker 2: site as well, so people can come and have a 51 00:02:57,120 --> 00:02:59,680 Speaker 2: look at it, have some ideas we haven't even thought about. 52 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:02,760 Speaker 2: That's the exciting bit it really is. 53 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:05,720 Speaker 1: And look, I think it's wonderful. You know that that 54 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:09,840 Speaker 1: hopefully we wind up in a situation here where you know, 55 00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:12,440 Speaker 1: it gets a real sort of new lease on life. 56 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:15,320 Speaker 1: When is that site visit going to happen? If there 57 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:18,160 Speaker 1: is anybody out there listening today who thinks, oh hang on, 58 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:20,880 Speaker 1: this might be something that could we could take part in. 59 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 2: That's right. So the site visit is scheduled for the 60 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 2: sixteenth of April at eleven o'clock. We do have some 61 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:31,440 Speaker 2: posts on our Facebook site as well with a little 62 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:34,200 Speaker 2: video clip which helps to get a sense of how 63 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 2: the site looks like. The ten days open through our 64 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 2: anti government tender website. So please log on, register your interest, 65 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:47,200 Speaker 2: come out to the side. If viewers are listening, viewers 66 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:48,240 Speaker 2: rather list it. 67 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:50,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, And. 68 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:55,080 Speaker 2: So the expression of interest is open for the full month, 69 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 2: so closes on the fifth of May. Hoot. Plenty of 70 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:00,560 Speaker 2: time in particularly having a couple of public holiday yeah, 71 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:03,280 Speaker 2: coming up, there's plenty of opportunity to drive out and 72 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:04,040 Speaker 2: have a look around. 73 00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 1: And Aggie, is the preference here that it's a local 74 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:10,400 Speaker 1: operator or is there actually an opportunity for you know, 75 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:15,360 Speaker 1: for somebody interstate to move to the territory and run 76 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:16,719 Speaker 1: window on the wetlands. 77 00:04:17,760 --> 00:04:22,039 Speaker 2: There's always the opportunity. We do follow value for territory. Yeah, 78 00:04:22,080 --> 00:04:24,720 Speaker 2: so that is one of our key drivers, and we 79 00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 2: are very aware and really would like to obviously take 80 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:33,080 Speaker 2: into consideration the cultural aspect, our local cultural aspect of it. 81 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:37,480 Speaker 1: Absolutely. Now, if anybody listening at the moment does want 82 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:40,359 Speaker 1: to check out that facility, like you said, there is 83 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:43,480 Speaker 1: a link on Facebook. What's the Facebook. 84 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:47,040 Speaker 2: Page that is on the Parks and Wildlife Awesome with 85 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:48,440 Speaker 2: Parks and White Life Awesome. 86 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:51,480 Speaker 1: Well, I really appreciate your time this morning, doctor Aggie Wegner. 87 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:54,039 Speaker 1: Lovely to speak with you, and thank you so much 88 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 1: for giving us a bit more information about this expression 89 00:04:56,320 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 1: of interest. 90 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:00,800 Speaker 2: Wonderful Katie, Thank you walking forward to many excited opportunities 91 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 2: and the expression of interest coming in. 92 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:04,599 Speaker 1: Yeah, I hope so. And we might catch up with 93 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:07,000 Speaker 1: you again down the track to find out how it's gone, 94 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:08,800 Speaker 1: because I think that's what we're all hoping is that 95 00:05:08,839 --> 00:05:11,400 Speaker 1: we do have some great expressions of interest. 96 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:13,839 Speaker 2: Absolutely, I would be more than happy. 97 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:17,600 Speaker 1: To thank you. Thanks Aggie, and thank you and that 98 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 1: number if you would like to call through today eight 99 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:22,159 Speaker 1: nine four one one O four nine. And look, I 100 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:24,600 Speaker 1: reckon there's going to be a lot of very relieved 101 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:27,039 Speaker 1: people listening this morning, because there were so many of 102 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:29,440 Speaker 1: you who were really quite concerned when the window on 103 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 1: the Wetlands closed and had sort of questioned why we 104 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:36,720 Speaker 1: wound up in this situation where, you know, where it 105 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:39,279 Speaker 1: wasn't able to continue operating. But as you heard there 106 00:05:39,279 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 1: from Aggie, they did conduct that previous EOI, that expression 107 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:47,240 Speaker 1: of interest, and it was not successful. And they've obviously 108 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:51,559 Speaker 1: identified the fact that you know, that they had wanted 109 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:54,360 Speaker 1: it to operate pretty similarly to what it had previously 110 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:59,480 Speaker 1: operated and that maybe wasn't commercially viable for people who 111 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:02,840 Speaker 1: were considering it, but yeah, by the sound of it, 112 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:06,440 Speaker 1: they're hoping that maybe somebody's going to come forward with 113 00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:07,640 Speaker 1: something a little bit different.