1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:02,920 Speaker 1: Just taking your cross to a story in the NT 2 00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:05,560 Speaker 1: News today and it's one that I am really not 3 00:00:05,720 --> 00:00:09,200 Speaker 1: surprised by, one by Thomas MacLean and fear Walsh. Now 4 00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:13,880 Speaker 1: they've spoken to a number of the retailers and shop 5 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:19,760 Speaker 1: owners along Smith Street and those owners and operators are 6 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:23,160 Speaker 1: not happy with the City of Darwin's three million dollars 7 00:00:23,239 --> 00:00:26,840 Speaker 1: Smith Street Streetscape project. It is something that we spoke 8 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:30,560 Speaker 1: quite extensively about when it was underway, spoken on a 9 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:35,000 Speaker 1: couple of occasions to jewels at mccarnstop whose business was 10 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 1: severely disrupted by the work that was underway. But it 11 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 1: sounds as though things really aren't any better. Joining me 12 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:45,840 Speaker 1: on the line right now is Sean from Salvatore's Get 13 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:46,400 Speaker 1: a Sean. 14 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:49,960 Speaker 2: Good morning, Katie, How are you really good? 15 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 1: Lovely to have you on the show, Sean. I tell 16 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 1: you what these works that have happened along Smith Street. 17 00:00:57,680 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 1: I mean, first off, what do you think of it? 18 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:03,200 Speaker 2: Well? I think, and I may hate my days wrong, 19 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:04,759 Speaker 2: but I thought we were supposed to be completed around 20 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:07,880 Speaker 2: until June sometime May. We would have lost sort of 21 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:11,640 Speaker 2: one third or of our dry season trade with the disruptions. 22 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:14,479 Speaker 2: But you know, what could we have done? And now 23 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 2: we're you know, we're still kind of mucking around with it, 24 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:20,319 Speaker 2: and we're in October. And there was lots of times, 25 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:22,360 Speaker 2: you know, and I have to bet our retail association 26 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:25,080 Speaker 2: kept reaching out to the city Council voicing our concerns. 27 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:30,160 Speaker 2: So there was that feedback happening that it felt like 28 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:34,199 Speaker 2: there was never anybody. It was very low attendance of workers. 29 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 2: Some days the fences were all up, but there wasn't 30 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:40,360 Speaker 2: a lot of action happening. It kept getting delays and delays, 31 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:43,200 Speaker 2: you know, even from the onset. I mean, I was up. 32 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:44,720 Speaker 2: I'm not the one to winge about something and not 33 00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:46,400 Speaker 2: try to be proactive. I was up the mall when 34 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:49,280 Speaker 2: they had the original presentation on the two outlines, and 35 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 2: I said, you know, my personal opinion was both of 36 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:53,840 Speaker 2: them were kind of ridiculous, not what I would do, 37 00:01:55,160 --> 00:01:57,440 Speaker 2: and I let them know that. I also let them 38 00:01:57,440 --> 00:02:00,240 Speaker 2: know that doing this anytime in the dry season would 39 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:02,640 Speaker 2: be detrimental to any business around this area, if not 40 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:06,280 Speaker 2: in the CVD, because this is our time. Yeah, And 41 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:10,640 Speaker 2: so anyway, it went ahead, And of course I can't 42 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:12,560 Speaker 2: confirm this, but I'm pretty sure in the drawings. There 43 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:15,120 Speaker 2: wasn't a lot of car parks lost, but we've lost 44 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:17,680 Speaker 2: a lot of car parks. Yeah, and you know, I 45 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 2: even gave it the benefit. Okay, maybe when everything comes 46 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:22,359 Speaker 2: down and all the paints dried, maybe there's going to 47 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 2: be some benefits. While I'm still not seeing the benefits. 48 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:27,400 Speaker 2: And for anyone that's driving up from the roundabout on 49 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 2: the Smith Street roundabout all the way up to Knuckie Street, 50 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:32,000 Speaker 2: I mean, just have a look some of the things 51 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:34,959 Speaker 2: that have come about this. If nothing else, there's three 52 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:37,640 Speaker 2: boulders in front of City Hotel that have taken up 53 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:39,919 Speaker 2: a couple of parks, and I just can't figure out 54 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:41,800 Speaker 2: why we need those boulders, not the car. 55 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:44,959 Speaker 1: Parks same here. Look, I noticed those a long, long 56 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:47,839 Speaker 1: while ago, and I actually asked the former Lord Mayor 57 00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:50,240 Speaker 1: about them, and also asked the CEO. I was told 58 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:54,680 Speaker 1: it's artwork. I was. I was in Smith Straight last 59 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 1: weekend with my family, and you know, I was like, 60 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:01,240 Speaker 1: I was having a bit of a laugh about it. 61 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:04,919 Speaker 1: In the role why not only you know the fact 62 00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:08,919 Speaker 1: that they're there, but also the green strips along the 63 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:11,800 Speaker 1: road that are meant to I was like, what is this? 64 00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:16,239 Speaker 2: I Look, I've watched people park over top of the 65 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:19,520 Speaker 2: so called bike lane. I've watched people open the doors 66 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:22,519 Speaker 2: onto the bike lane. I've watched people run over those 67 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:25,239 Speaker 2: new whatever they're going to be, planter boxes or whatever 68 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:27,359 Speaker 2: they're going to be. Because the way they're set out 69 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:29,919 Speaker 2: in the car parks, it's kind of tight that people 70 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:33,720 Speaker 2: I'm watching them just run over the things. I'm concerned 71 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 2: about those boulders. I mean, you imagine some people kind 72 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:38,760 Speaker 2: of coming in between the boulders ready to go across 73 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:40,320 Speaker 2: to where Edmond Street is, and they're going to get 74 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:42,240 Speaker 2: cleaned up because there's not a lot of you for 75 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:44,920 Speaker 2: drivers to see someone sneak out from the boulder. Yeah, 76 00:03:45,760 --> 00:03:47,640 Speaker 2: so I can see that being a problem. But at 77 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:49,840 Speaker 2: the end of the day, I just think we've lost 78 00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 2: the plot as far as what does the CBD need. 79 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:56,360 Speaker 2: It needs, it needs attendance, it needs shoppers. Yeah right, Yes, 80 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:58,839 Speaker 2: we are a residential CBD. We have a beautiful mall 81 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:02,160 Speaker 2: that we would have spent where it was budget on 82 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:04,280 Speaker 2: this thing. Two to three million could have been spent 83 00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 2: on the mall. And I understand there may be some 84 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:10,760 Speaker 2: friction between the actual landowners and the mall and the 85 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 2: council and they're just not able to do things they 86 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:14,600 Speaker 2: want to do well. The councilor is just going to 87 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:17,080 Speaker 2: move forward and do some stuff because ye spending it 88 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:20,599 Speaker 2: on something like this is just counter productive. And I 89 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:23,200 Speaker 2: just as a business owner, I know what the value 90 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:24,920 Speaker 2: of money is and I would have you know, I 91 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:26,600 Speaker 2: would have thought that someone might have said, listen, you 92 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:27,840 Speaker 2: know what, if this is the only thing we can 93 00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:29,760 Speaker 2: do with these funds, then you can have it. It's 94 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 2: not going to make us better, I mean making us 95 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:34,240 Speaker 2: you know, hypothetically one way from from the roundabout up 96 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:37,040 Speaker 2: to Knuckie Street and providing some angle parking might have 97 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:40,840 Speaker 2: been a better option, giving us more parking, But this 98 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:42,919 Speaker 2: is just And as I said, anyone drives up they 99 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:43,960 Speaker 2: can see it for themselves. 100 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:47,920 Speaker 1: Well, this is the thing, and I have I would 101 00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 1: imagine that it's had an impact for you in terms 102 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:53,800 Speaker 1: of business. I mean, have you, like over the last 103 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 1: several months, what kind of impact has it had. 104 00:04:57,200 --> 00:04:59,280 Speaker 2: Well we've asked obviously, we you know, we reach out 105 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:01,000 Speaker 2: and say, you know, this is bothered you. It could 106 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:03,000 Speaker 2: be anything from even myself. If I've got to quickly 107 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 2: drop something into the cafe, I've got to struggle to 108 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:09,200 Speaker 2: find the place. We've got our delivery drivers and Uber 109 00:05:09,279 --> 00:05:11,920 Speaker 2: drivers that just have trouble finding a place. Then we've 110 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 2: got just your customers. And just even yesterday, I had 111 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:16,839 Speaker 2: a fellow. He's a he wears the high Viz stuff. 112 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:19,080 Speaker 2: I'm some sort of job like that. He pops in 113 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:21,279 Speaker 2: three or four mornings a week, grabs a coffee and 114 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:23,279 Speaker 2: a sandwich. He said, Look, I don't always come in 115 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:25,159 Speaker 2: because I'll have to drive around two or three times. 116 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:26,960 Speaker 2: I can't. I don't have the time to park on 117 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:29,960 Speaker 2: Kavanaugh Street or in one of the car parks. I've 118 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 2: got to pull in within you know, day a few 119 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:34,359 Speaker 2: hundred meters and I can come in, but I can't 120 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 2: park that far away. And even my bookkeeper who works 121 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:39,200 Speaker 2: out and Winnell, he said, I went in there and 122 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:42,039 Speaker 2: I had to drive around three or four times. Yeah, 123 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:43,839 Speaker 2: and I just didn't have time to park and say 124 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:45,800 Speaker 2: the Mitchell Parker or the West Lane, and so I 125 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 2: have to come back and get my paperwork later. So 126 00:05:47,640 --> 00:05:51,920 Speaker 2: that's that's just some of the feedback we're getting, and 127 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:54,680 Speaker 2: it's you know, over the drive season, we dare say 128 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:58,400 Speaker 2: it had a decent effect on us. We can't get it. 129 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:02,000 Speaker 1: Back absolutely in terms of you know, the work that 130 00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:04,760 Speaker 1: he is underway. I'm just reading in the NT News 131 00:06:04,760 --> 00:06:07,559 Speaker 1: report this morning that you know that the other area 132 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 1: that obviously is receiving work at the Moment's Chapel Lane. 133 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:13,000 Speaker 1: Now again, you know, I know that a lot of 134 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:15,080 Speaker 1: the retailers sort of or a lot of the business 135 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:17,280 Speaker 1: owners go Okay, well, this seems like a great idea 136 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:20,479 Speaker 1: in theory, but the owner had said that while he 137 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:24,120 Speaker 1: supports the project, he was frustrated to see just two 138 00:06:24,279 --> 00:06:27,880 Speaker 1: days of work being done while the business had suffered 139 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:29,960 Speaker 1: for weeks. Now, this is something that i'd spoken to 140 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:33,560 Speaker 1: Jules from McCarn stop about as well. You know, she 141 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 1: was saying, Katie, we've got a situation here where businesses 142 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:40,960 Speaker 1: are impacted and then you've got you know, the workers 143 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:43,480 Speaker 1: only there for certain hours of the day. They're not 144 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:46,640 Speaker 1: there on the weekends. Now, I would assume that when 145 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:49,360 Speaker 1: they've tended for those projects, they've been maybe able to 146 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:51,560 Speaker 1: go in at a bit of a lower cost because 147 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:54,280 Speaker 1: they're not going to do weekends. But for the council, 148 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:56,680 Speaker 1: you've got to go what impact is this having on 149 00:06:56,720 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 1: the businesses and do we actually need to pay a 150 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:01,159 Speaker 1: little bit more money so it happens faster. 151 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:05,920 Speaker 2: Well, I'd even argue that, saying, yeah, I get that, 152 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 2: and maybe I can even subscribe to that thinking. But 153 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 2: during the monthday to Friday, then we need to see 154 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 2: we need to see shovels and boots and things. And 155 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 2: we weren't seeing that in the time that we were here. 156 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:18,760 Speaker 2: And you know, I must say, I got I got 157 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 2: a bit frustrated. There was there was decent communication back 158 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:24,680 Speaker 2: and forth from our retailers and the city council people. 159 00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 2: But one of the one of the delays, and I 160 00:07:27,640 --> 00:07:30,120 Speaker 2: kept arguing, why did you choose to do this right 161 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:31,680 Speaker 2: at the beginning of the drive. Why didn't we wait 162 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:34,000 Speaker 2: till at least late August or early September, all because 163 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:36,400 Speaker 2: the wet season would have impacted us. Well, if it 164 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:38,320 Speaker 2: had been done in the timeframe we were talking about, 165 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:40,640 Speaker 2: we wouldn't have had a worry about that. And here 166 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 2: we are. And they said, one of the and I'm 167 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 2: quoting this exactly, one of the delays was remember the election, 168 00:07:46,840 --> 00:07:48,320 Speaker 2: A couple of shops down for me. We had that 169 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:51,000 Speaker 2: it was a polling boot yep that was claimed to 170 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 2: be one of the disruptions, and I'm saying, hey, on 171 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:55,360 Speaker 2: a second, it's a shop. Yeah, it got tenanted. It 172 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:58,160 Speaker 2: doesn't matter what's in it. It's not like the shop 173 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:00,680 Speaker 2: needed to spill out onto the row, didn't block you. 174 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 2: It was a shop, So please don't use silly things 175 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:08,600 Speaker 2: like this to justify the delay. Yeah. Yeah, And I'm 176 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:11,160 Speaker 2: sure there has to be somebody, a project manager, someone 177 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:14,880 Speaker 2: who has to be saying we had a timeframe set aside. Yeah, 178 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:16,720 Speaker 2: and if this is going to go over, there's got 179 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:18,680 Speaker 2: to be someone's got to be held accountable for this. 180 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 2: And I don't know who that person is, but someone 181 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:23,160 Speaker 2: should be saying, hey, listen, i'm catching the flag here. 182 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:26,160 Speaker 2: I need some answers as to how come it's taken. 183 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:28,119 Speaker 2: What are we now? Maybe three months later or something 184 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:28,440 Speaker 2: like that. 185 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:32,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, so surean have they've given you an idea of 186 00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:35,200 Speaker 1: when this is going to be totally complete? Now? I 187 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:37,160 Speaker 1: mean we're months late, but when is it going to 188 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:38,400 Speaker 1: be totally complete? 189 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:41,959 Speaker 2: Honestly, the bar keeps getting moved, though, I couldn't tell you. 190 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:46,559 Speaker 2: Every time I asked the question Athena from our retailers, 191 00:08:46,559 --> 00:08:48,520 Speaker 2: I said, hey, listen, have you heard anything. Yes, it's 192 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:50,040 Speaker 2: been to this play and then it's been to this 193 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:52,160 Speaker 2: and so to be honest, even if they told us 194 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:56,640 Speaker 2: right now October thirtieth, I wouldn't necessarily believe it yet. 195 00:08:57,280 --> 00:09:00,600 Speaker 2: I just don't know it. It keeps moving, but I 196 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:02,600 Speaker 2: can understand or whatever. 197 00:09:02,960 --> 00:09:06,360 Speaker 1: Yeap, Oh, it's disappointing that. 198 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:09,240 Speaker 2: You know, it's got a nice place and you know, 199 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:11,880 Speaker 2: and then part of the when the INTI newspeople were here, 200 00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:14,160 Speaker 2: they asked me, what would you like the government to do? Well, 201 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:16,040 Speaker 2: I know, we just spent a few million dollars, like 202 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:19,360 Speaker 2: you know, we discussed the Trelli silver on KAVANAUGHH Street. 203 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:21,160 Speaker 2: Now happened to be done something and that was money 204 00:09:21,160 --> 00:09:22,760 Speaker 2: that was wasted. So what do you want me to 205 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 2: say about this? Oh, go ahead and you rip off 206 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:28,400 Speaker 2: the green stuff and undoble you'll take. 207 00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:31,360 Speaker 1: That's the thing. You can't reverse it because it's already 208 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:33,800 Speaker 1: done and you don't want to waste money. Man. 209 00:09:34,160 --> 00:09:36,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, it's just just a waste of money 210 00:09:36,640 --> 00:09:38,320 Speaker 2: in a way like we could have done something else, 211 00:09:38,760 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 2: but you know, there is no remedy in the sense that, oh, 212 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:43,040 Speaker 2: you know, this would make them all happy. No, it 213 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:44,880 Speaker 2: wouldn't have made happy to get it right the first time, 214 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:46,360 Speaker 2: or get closer to right than this. 215 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:50,360 Speaker 1: Yeah. Well, Sean, look, I really appreciate you having a 216 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:53,200 Speaker 1: chat with us this morning, and and I know you'd 217 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:55,480 Speaker 1: be bringing a smile to everybody's face this morning with 218 00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:58,719 Speaker 1: the coffees that you're dishing up. So thank you for 219 00:09:59,200 --> 00:10:01,920 Speaker 1: everything that you do, and really appreciate your having a 220 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:02,560 Speaker 1: chat today. 221 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:06,040 Speaker 2: No, and thank you very much for giving the voice 222 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:07,839 Speaker 2: to us as the community. We really appreciate. I do 223 00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:10,040 Speaker 2: listen when I'm in the car, and I really appreciate 224 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:11,480 Speaker 2: your stance and a lot of things. 225 00:10:11,559 --> 00:10:14,360 Speaker 1: Katie to thank you anytime, anytime. Thank you, Sean. We'll 226 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:15,920 Speaker 1: catch up with you so you too. 227 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:17,240 Speaker 2: Thank you, thank you, thank you.