1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:03,080 Speaker 1: If you've been out to Casarina recently, you'll no doubt. 2 00:00:03,160 --> 00:00:05,880 Speaker 1: I've been wondering how long the renovations are going to 3 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:09,080 Speaker 1: take and what is in store for us at the center. 4 00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:12,680 Speaker 1: It does look to be a significant amount of work. 5 00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:15,319 Speaker 1: And joining us on the show is the CEO of 6 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:19,320 Speaker 1: Sentinel Property Group, the owners of Casarina Square, Warren Ebberst. 7 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:20,680 Speaker 1: Good morning to you, Warren. 8 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:23,960 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie, another beautiful sunny day in Darwin. 9 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:26,320 Speaker 1: Hey, good to have you in Darwin and always good 10 00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:28,040 Speaker 1: to get a bit of an update on how things 11 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:32,920 Speaker 1: are going at Casarina. The works look to be significant. 12 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:35,000 Speaker 1: Whenever I'm out there, I think, oh goodness me, there's 13 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:39,000 Speaker 1: a lot going on. Talk us through what the process 14 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:40,760 Speaker 1: is at the moment. Is it a few stages. 15 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 2: We've got two main areas that we're doing there, Katie, 16 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:47,000 Speaker 2: So we're spending ninety million to ninety million. Will always 17 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:52,680 Speaker 2: create a bit of activity. The cas quarter. When that 18 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 2: was done by GPT, it was never fit for purpose. 19 00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:58,480 Speaker 2: It wasn't enclosed, it wasn't air conditioned. So we're completely 20 00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:02,600 Speaker 2: enclosing that. It will be part of the total center, 21 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:06,039 Speaker 2: be air conditioned. It'll have a white set ceiling lot 22 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:09,040 Speaker 2: you have here rather now dark one. We've got rid 23 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 2: of all the cobblestones where you couldn't push a trolley 24 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 2: on it. That's all being tiled over. At Woolworth's. We're 25 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:19,039 Speaker 2: putting in another deck of parking so you'll be able 26 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:21,679 Speaker 2: to walk straight in from car park level on the 27 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:23,560 Speaker 2: same level Worth, so you won't have that ramp to 28 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:26,919 Speaker 2: go up to good When you were in Woollas before 29 00:01:26,959 --> 00:01:28,959 Speaker 2: there would just be a blank war we've now we've 30 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:33,240 Speaker 2: widened that. There'll be a cafe. We've got an optometrist there. 31 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:36,280 Speaker 2: We've got a price line pharmacy, a couple of eateries, 32 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:38,399 Speaker 2: so you'll be able to go into Woolworth's end as 33 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:41,559 Speaker 2: a little convenience center if all your shopping there straight out. 34 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:43,720 Speaker 2: We've got a director to boot which will be under 35 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:45,880 Speaker 2: cover so it can go and ordered online straight into 36 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:50,960 Speaker 2: the boot. In kas Lane, we've got some first to 37 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:54,800 Speaker 2: market tenants. They'll be the only stores in Northern Territory. 38 00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:58,960 Speaker 2: We can't until the lease aside. I can tell you 39 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 2: the parents will curse us. A couple of tenants we've 40 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:06,320 Speaker 2: got there their teenage children. I know someone's telling me 41 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 2: just the other day. One of these particular tenants. They 42 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 2: are in Sydney last week and there was actually a 43 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:15,640 Speaker 2: queue to get into the queue a couple under just 44 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:17,920 Speaker 2: absolutely ridiculous, but that's what kids do and they just 45 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 2: be on their phone for a couple of hours. So, Katie, 46 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:22,920 Speaker 2: while we've got seven hundred car parks out of Commissioner 47 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:26,600 Speaker 2: at the moment, turnover is actually up, so we're very 48 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:31,440 Speaker 2: much appreciate the support of the Darwin community. And seven 49 00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:35,040 Speaker 2: hundred car parks down on Boxing Day, yet foot trackers 50 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:37,799 Speaker 2: up fourteen percent. Yeah right, but I think one thing 51 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:40,240 Speaker 2: since the new government has got in, you know, we 52 00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:44,080 Speaker 2: have crime down forty one percent, sorry eighty one percent, actually. 53 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:47,520 Speaker 1: Eighty one percent less like anti social issues. 54 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:50,240 Speaker 2: We have three hundred and twenty one cameras around the place. 55 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:54,240 Speaker 2: We've just recently installed another twenty cameras which will pick 56 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:57,920 Speaker 2: up anti social behavior. So people are starting to sort 57 00:02:57,919 --> 00:03:00,519 Speaker 2: of face up to each other. This camera identify sense 58 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:02,959 Speaker 2: security there. Ye're right, for people who have been out 59 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:06,200 Speaker 2: there will your listeners, they wouldn't notice, but we are 60 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:10,640 Speaker 2: really enforcing the no shoes, no entry, no exception. Now 61 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 2: on Monday, a camera came in and spent they had 62 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 2: to use ten thousand images to train it up, and 63 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:18,720 Speaker 2: it will identify people who don't have shoes on. 64 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:21,919 Speaker 1: Okay, and so presumably, you know you want the center, 65 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:24,079 Speaker 1: like you're spending an enormous amount of money on the center. 66 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:26,680 Speaker 1: You want things to be at a certain standard. You 67 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 1: want people to you know, to be wearing their shoes, 68 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:31,280 Speaker 1: you want them to be behaving themselves, and you want 69 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 1: to try to attract you know, customers that are wanting 70 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:39,000 Speaker 1: to spend their money and obviously get into those different 71 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:41,600 Speaker 1: shops that you're bringing in from other locations. 72 00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:46,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, all weird things, Katie, exactly those things. Now people, 73 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:48,320 Speaker 2: we know some people just want to come to sit 74 00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:50,720 Speaker 2: in the cool air condition and that's great because it 75 00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:53,280 Speaker 2: is a community center. But we want people be able 76 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:55,920 Speaker 2: to stay there all day without getting hassled. Now, you 77 00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 2: know Kmart, who have been there for over forty years. 78 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 2: In September was the lowest theft on record. Now we 79 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 2: were told yesterday that it's they don't call it that shrinkage. Yeah, 80 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:10,880 Speaker 2: I think I'm the lowest shrinkage in Australia. So that's 81 00:04:10,920 --> 00:04:14,400 Speaker 2: all happened with the new laws the NT government brought 82 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:17,160 Speaker 2: in with your tipping out alcohol. And one thing that 83 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:20,719 Speaker 2: we found out is that a lot of those things 84 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:23,240 Speaker 2: are contracted out, so rather than the police having to 85 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 2: do those jobs, have actually a private contractors that are 86 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:29,520 Speaker 2: trained for it. And it's I think you've been out 87 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:33,440 Speaker 2: there quite regularly with your daughter and people do comment 88 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:35,320 Speaker 2: on just how much better it is. And we're not 89 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:38,200 Speaker 2: letting up. We're staying on top of it just too well. 90 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:40,599 Speaker 1: And it's interesting, you know, speaking to you obviously about 91 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:42,720 Speaker 1: all that security and what you guys are doing. After 92 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 1: speaking to the Northern Territory Police Commander Shawn gil just 93 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 1: a couple of moments ago as well, he'd said that, 94 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:51,000 Speaker 1: you know, over the last since October, they have tipped 95 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:54,040 Speaker 1: out alcohol wise around the Darwin region a quarter of 96 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:56,640 Speaker 1: a backyard swimming pool worth of alcohol. You know, it 97 00:04:56,680 --> 00:04:58,919 Speaker 1: seems like everybody had sort of had enough of some 98 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:01,359 Speaker 1: of the bad behavior that were saying. You know, you 99 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:03,200 Speaker 1: want to make sure that people are able to go 100 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:05,440 Speaker 1: and do their shopping, They're able to go out and 101 00:05:05,520 --> 00:05:07,479 Speaker 1: do whatever, you know, go for a rum, whatever you 102 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:10,719 Speaker 1: want to do, and do it without being worried about, 103 00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:14,200 Speaker 1: you know, about something happening or about your own personal safety. 104 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:17,120 Speaker 2: Well, we take it very serious and of course at 105 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:18,760 Speaker 2: the end of the day, we have to make money. 106 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:20,279 Speaker 2: Otherwise we don't have a said and we don't have 107 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:24,600 Speaker 2: the shops. But people just shouldn't be hassled. They should 108 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:25,800 Speaker 2: be able to get well, they should be able to 109 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:29,440 Speaker 2: go anywhere and op and not be hassled. But you 110 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:32,600 Speaker 2: know one thing that we found and in Queensland as well, 111 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:35,760 Speaker 2: that while the government changes the laws, not all landlords 112 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:38,400 Speaker 2: are prepared to enforce them. That they're two worried that 113 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:42,560 Speaker 2: they'll upset people. Now, my view is we tried to 114 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:44,440 Speaker 2: do the right thing by the ninety eight percent of 115 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:48,160 Speaker 2: people who are good, and we have no hesitation in 116 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:51,400 Speaker 2: targeting that's small percentage where in a lot of places 117 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:54,799 Speaker 2: down south they seem to be more concerned about looking 118 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:57,320 Speaker 2: after the criminals than looking after the good people, where 119 00:05:57,360 --> 00:05:59,240 Speaker 2: that is not our concern at all. 120 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:01,560 Speaker 1: No, it's you know, like it's a behavior thing and 121 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 1: you want everybody in there to be safe to be behaving, 122 00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:07,960 Speaker 1: and I think that that's what other customers expect as 123 00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:10,920 Speaker 1: well as to be able to be somewhere and be safe. Warren, 124 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 1: I've got to ask what's going on you touched on 125 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:16,279 Speaker 1: some of what's happening there at the Quarter. How far 126 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 1: off is that from sort of being complete? Are we 127 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:22,279 Speaker 1: expecting some restaurants in there again? You know, I know 128 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:24,760 Speaker 1: you might not be able to reveal everything, but what 129 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:27,880 Speaker 1: can people sort of expect that area of Casarina to 130 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:29,120 Speaker 1: look like once it's all. 131 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:32,039 Speaker 2: Done, Katie? They won't recognize it. You know that the 132 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:34,560 Speaker 2: previous under spent forty seven million on building it and 133 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:38,760 Speaker 2: just it was designed for Melbourne, So we're spending another 134 00:06:38,839 --> 00:06:41,920 Speaker 2: ninety million designing it for the NT. So it will 135 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:46,039 Speaker 2: be cool, clean, bright. We have I think at this 136 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:49,920 Speaker 2: stage about eight different types of food, you know, from 137 00:06:50,400 --> 00:07:01,080 Speaker 2: the Greek seafood, grilled Nando's, how those tennis tie. So 138 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:03,440 Speaker 2: it really will be a family precinct. You go to 139 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:06,799 Speaker 2: casarin now about five o'clock and the place is pretty 140 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:09,400 Speaker 2: much deserted that there's no reason to stay at night. 141 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:12,480 Speaker 2: The traders we have it will be a place to 142 00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:15,600 Speaker 2: go at night, and we have something for the adults 143 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:16,600 Speaker 2: and something for the children. 144 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:19,240 Speaker 1: Is it still going to be called the Quarter or are. 145 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:21,640 Speaker 2: You looking No, we're looking for a new name, Katie. 146 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:25,640 Speaker 2: So some of your listeners have a suggestion. We welcome 147 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 2: a new name because it is it'll be completely different, 148 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:30,520 Speaker 2: so it does need to have a new name. So 149 00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:33,680 Speaker 2: if someone in Darwin has an idea for a name, 150 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:36,720 Speaker 2: we'll be listening to your radio show as we always 151 00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:38,000 Speaker 2: hear it. We're keen to hear it. 152 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:40,400 Speaker 1: Well, Lawren. It's been good to catch up with you 153 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 1: as always. I always appreciate your time, but good to 154 00:07:43,360 --> 00:07:45,840 Speaker 1: get a bit of an update just on the new quarter. 155 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:47,280 Speaker 1: When's it going to be complete? 156 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:49,480 Speaker 2: When's arrain going to stop? 157 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:50,440 Speaker 1: Yeah? Good question. 158 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 2: So we've had in finishing the conditions we've had to 159 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:58,960 Speaker 2: deal with up here the last month or more. Our 160 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 2: construction and manager said in Bruce and the people just 161 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:06,120 Speaker 2: would not work. Where we've had workers, you know in 162 00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:09,720 Speaker 2: Ankle deep Water still working because we're territory to no no, 163 00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 2: and we appreciate it, but it has put it back. 164 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:15,200 Speaker 2: We were targeting June, we're now thinking September and maybe 165 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:17,440 Speaker 2: you do it for the official opening. You might do 166 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:18,960 Speaker 2: a live show out there. 167 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 1: Oh, we'll see. You've got to pay big money for that. 168 00:08:21,520 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 2: I know I've got five bucks here. I'll leave it. 169 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:27,679 Speaker 1: But it's good to catch up with you as always. 170 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:30,880 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for your time. We appreciate the update. 171 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 2: Thanks very much, Thanks so much.