1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:02,560 Speaker 1: But look, normally we catch up with the Lord Mayor 2 00:00:02,560 --> 00:00:04,760 Speaker 1: at this time on a Tuesday, but he's away in Sydney, 3 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:08,760 Speaker 1: so in his place today is the CEO, Simone Saunders. 4 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:10,520 Speaker 2: Good morning, Simone morning Katie. 5 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:13,040 Speaker 1: Good to have you in the studio. Now, someone we 6 00:00:13,119 --> 00:00:15,880 Speaker 1: know nt meyors and counselors. They're in for a four 7 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:19,200 Speaker 1: percent pay rise next financial year following a review from 8 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:22,759 Speaker 1: the Renumeration Tribunal. It's going to see Darwin's Lord Mayor 9 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:25,079 Speaker 1: receive a bit of a bump up in pay as 10 00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:29,720 Speaker 1: well as the councilors. Now why has City of Darwin 11 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 1: decided to Are you going to pass that pay rise 12 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:34,879 Speaker 1: on and why are you deciding to do that? 13 00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:40,319 Speaker 2: Yeah, Look, the Remuneration Tribunal, it's an independent review of 14 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:44,760 Speaker 2: the salaries for our elected members and it's a maximum amount. 15 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:47,519 Speaker 2: So if elected members did choose to accept a lesser amount, 16 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:50,080 Speaker 2: then they can do that. But from an officer's perspective, 17 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 2: we'll table those at the next council meeting, which is 18 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 2: at the end of this month, and then elected members 19 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:58,200 Speaker 2: will accept those changes or they could ask for an 20 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:00,960 Speaker 2: amendment to them. But at this stage it's all done independently. 21 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 2: And it has seen a four percent pay increase for 22 00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:07,600 Speaker 2: counselors and the Lord Mayor included. But for our counselors, 23 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:10,440 Speaker 2: they get paid approximately thirty three thousand dollars, So it's 24 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:13,440 Speaker 2: a thousand dollars increase, it's not. But obviously for the 25 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 2: Lord Mayor it's a larger amount on a larger amount. 26 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:17,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think it's going to take him up to 27 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:20,240 Speaker 1: one hundred and sixty five. I think I read. 28 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:22,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's correct, and I think it's approximately a six 29 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:24,560 Speaker 2: thousand dollar pay increase at the four percent for the 30 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:25,039 Speaker 2: Lord mayor. 31 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, all right. Now, in terms of the wet season 32 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:31,639 Speaker 1: almost being over, I know that the Council is getting 33 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:34,440 Speaker 1: cracking on some infrastructure projects. I mean, I think we're 34 00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 1: all wishing the wet season would actually arrive in a 35 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 1: little bit more fine form than what it has. But 36 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:42,240 Speaker 1: in terms of those infrastructure projects, it does mean that 37 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:44,959 Speaker 1: you're able to get underway and get things moving, doesn't it. 38 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:47,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, So weather permitting, as I do say, because we 39 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:50,240 Speaker 2: could get that late wet season that we've seen before. 40 00:01:50,280 --> 00:01:53,400 Speaker 2: But at this stage, April is when we'll look to 41 00:01:53,480 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 2: kick off most of our capital programs and one of 42 00:01:57,000 --> 00:02:00,840 Speaker 2: the capital programs that is really members love it. It's 43 00:02:00,840 --> 00:02:02,480 Speaker 2: one of you know, one of the things, and so 44 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 2: does the community. But our playgrounds, so we'll see playground 45 00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 2: upgrades starting in April for Juliet Shields Park which is 46 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:13,160 Speaker 2: in Mewerhead, which there's some soft fall to be replaced there. 47 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:16,600 Speaker 2: The Malac Obstacle Course though, which is a better suburbs 48 00:02:16,639 --> 00:02:20,200 Speaker 2: project with our waters Ward elected members. That's not shaded 49 00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:22,520 Speaker 2: at the moment, but it will be shaded which will 50 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:25,640 Speaker 2: be great to the increase the usage there. And also 51 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:29,120 Speaker 2: at East Point Reserve there's a liberty swing there and 52 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:32,520 Speaker 2: under our Disability Access program that's funded to get some 53 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 2: shade over and also replace the soft fall there which 54 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 2: will be great. And then more broadly in June there's 55 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:41,799 Speaker 2: some additional playgrounds which will be George Park in Fanny Bay, 56 00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:45,840 Speaker 2: Doris Vale Park in Tiwei and Bayfield Park in Malac 57 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:47,320 Speaker 2: that will also get upgrades. 58 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 1: Then yeah, right now, speaking of shade, yesterday I was 59 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:53,840 Speaker 1: actually up for a run around Marra and there's three 60 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:56,720 Speaker 1: ladies that go running. They've been walking, well, they go walking. 61 00:02:56,800 --> 00:03:00,280 Speaker 1: They've been walking together for thirty years for days a 62 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:03,040 Speaker 1: week around Maura and they pulled me up and they said, Katie, 63 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 1: we're a bit worried. There's this big stretch here at 64 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:08,919 Speaker 1: Marara that's got zero shade. There's kids walking around all 65 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:11,960 Speaker 1: the time, there's children trying to get to sport. Is 66 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:15,959 Speaker 1: it council responsibility or is it the Northern Territory Government. 67 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:18,200 Speaker 1: It's just across the road from Rugby Union. 68 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:21,040 Speaker 2: So if it's in the Marara Sporting Complex, it's a 69 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:24,960 Speaker 2: Northern Territory Government stability. And also Northern Territory Government has 70 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:27,800 Speaker 2: McMillan's Road, so if it's a long mcmillon's road, then 71 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:30,080 Speaker 2: it would also be within the Northern Territory government. But 72 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:33,360 Speaker 2: on any City of Darwin roads, shading and extra extra 73 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:34,760 Speaker 2: greening falls with us. 74 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:37,360 Speaker 1: Yeah. Well, I'll definitely follow that up with the Northern 75 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 1: Territory Government because I do think it's appropriate around that 76 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:42,960 Speaker 1: sporting complex all around there that it is nice and walkable. 77 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:45,800 Speaker 1: You have got so many young families and people walking 78 00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:48,520 Speaker 1: around that area and running around that area, so it's 79 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:50,000 Speaker 1: good to make sure it's nice and shady. 80 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:53,160 Speaker 2: Yep, done it myself when I've done a bacle and 81 00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 2: done a couple of loops exactly. 82 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 1: Now, another few listener questions just coming through. I got 83 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:02,280 Speaker 1: one earlier in the week and it said, Hi, Kat, 84 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:04,960 Speaker 1: I just wanted to voice my opinion on the Darwin 85 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:08,600 Speaker 1: Recycling Center at Shoal Bay since its management rights were 86 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:13,240 Speaker 1: taken away from the local organization HPA. What they've seen, 87 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:15,760 Speaker 1: They say that the establishment's now turned into a bit 88 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 1: more of an up market op shop with shelves stocked 89 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:24,080 Speaker 1: with household goods and overpriced furniture. They're sort of questioning 90 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 1: why it's why the council's allowed it to happen, Why 91 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:29,760 Speaker 1: it's gone from being you know, a bit more of 92 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:33,839 Speaker 1: a I guess, a bit more accessible for everybody to 93 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 1: turning into something that they maybe weren't expecting it to be. 94 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:40,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, So after the required procurement process at City of 95 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 2: hut Dale, hat to do, we now have a new 96 00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 2: operator there which is and that's been renamed to Reviver 97 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 2: Reduse Shop and it has seen a I guess a 98 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:51,839 Speaker 2: transition out there if anybody has been out there from 99 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:55,080 Speaker 2: a more informal environment too much more I guess kind 100 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 2: of formal with shelving. But what it has seen is 101 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 2: there were previously tripazits out there. There are other considerations 102 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:04,080 Speaker 2: for both staff and people visiting, so that that has 103 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:09,000 Speaker 2: been cleaned up, but the overall priority for them is 104 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:12,640 Speaker 2: diversion from landfill and they're doing a great job in 105 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 2: that regard. Since opening in February, they've actually re homed 106 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:20,200 Speaker 2: three six hundred items through that shop and that equates 107 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 2: to twenty tons that has been diverted from landfill. So 108 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:25,800 Speaker 2: you will see that they'll weigh things out there as well. 109 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 2: It's part of getting those the data and information so 110 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:31,120 Speaker 2: we know how much has been recycled in that circular 111 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:35,599 Speaker 2: economy environment, and they'll continue to do things that maybe 112 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:38,080 Speaker 2: have it we haven't seen before. But electrical items they 113 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:39,920 Speaker 2: do a full test and tag, so make sure if 114 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:41,960 Speaker 2: you're getting an item from there and it's an electrical item, 115 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:44,600 Speaker 2: it's already had its test, test and tag and it's 116 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:48,479 Speaker 2: ready for use. But from a pricing perspective, they really 117 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 2: look at the quality of the items and they're trying 118 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:53,400 Speaker 2: to make sure that they assess the quality of items 119 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:56,039 Speaker 2: and good condition and that's how they value the items 120 00:05:56,279 --> 00:05:58,800 Speaker 2: to be sold out there. But look, I've been out 121 00:05:58,839 --> 00:06:02,479 Speaker 2: there and it does look it definitely looks different, so 122 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:04,559 Speaker 2: people will see a different environment but we are getting 123 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 2: great feedback also from the community. And you can still 124 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:08,880 Speaker 2: get a bike out there a kids bikes still ten 125 00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 2: bucks twenty months for an adults bike, so you still 126 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:13,679 Speaker 2: have access to those items as well. 127 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:16,600 Speaker 1: All right, So I will move along just because there 128 00:06:16,600 --> 00:06:19,120 Speaker 1: are a few sort of listener questions and other topics now. 129 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:22,880 Speaker 1: The relocation of Casarina Bus Exchange. It's something that was 130 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 1: raised with us a couple of weeks ago, people concerned 131 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 1: about where it may end up. I know that we've 132 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:32,040 Speaker 1: spoken about this before as well with Sentinel, the owners 133 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:35,200 Speaker 1: of Casarina Shopping Center, quite a while back. Where are 134 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:37,760 Speaker 1: things at from the council's perspective with this, because I 135 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:39,680 Speaker 1: did note there was a story in the paper today 136 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:42,520 Speaker 1: just touching on where it may move to and what 137 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:43,479 Speaker 1: the process is. 138 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:47,120 Speaker 2: So we have ongoing conversations with Sentinel in relation to 139 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 2: the Casarina Shopping centerum more broadly how that intersects with 140 00:06:50,839 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 2: the streets and out onto Trow Road and the bus 141 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:57,479 Speaker 2: exchange there as well. They have been looking openly and 142 00:06:57,480 --> 00:07:00,520 Speaker 2: this has been going on for five years. In my perspective, 143 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 2: of an alternative site for that bus exchange if it 144 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:07,279 Speaker 2: was moved to Northern Territory Government land that's a consideration 145 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 2: for the NTG, But if they have a particular area 146 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:13,840 Speaker 2: the City of Darwin, then that's also something something that 147 00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 2: could be looked at. But minderstanding is there's nothing set 148 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:19,760 Speaker 2: in concrete at this stage, but those discussions are definitely 149 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:23,360 Speaker 2: ongoing because we know it's problematic around that area and 150 00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 2: has been for a while. 151 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:27,520 Speaker 1: Well, some of those different bus stops do cause issues. 152 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 1: I mean, I know we've spoken about on numerous occasions 153 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:32,040 Speaker 1: on the show about the and I know it's different. 154 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:34,800 Speaker 1: It's a Casuarina bus exchange whereas the one in the 155 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:38,080 Speaker 1: city near Woolworths is the bus stop, but nonetheless it 156 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:40,800 Speaker 1: still causes issues for a lot of people in that area. 157 00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:43,120 Speaker 1: Is it something that the council does want to have 158 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:45,280 Speaker 1: a bit of a review or a bit of a 159 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 1: closer look at. 160 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:49,720 Speaker 2: So the bus network absolutely sits with the Northern Territory 161 00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:52,680 Speaker 2: Government and not City of Darwen, but in other jurisdictions, 162 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:54,720 Speaker 2: and not saying this will work in the territory, but 163 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:57,920 Speaker 2: rather than having an exchange, you just have a drop 164 00:07:57,960 --> 00:08:01,320 Speaker 2: off pickup system and maybe that what would potentially work 165 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:05,240 Speaker 2: better in high density areas like shopping centers and then 166 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:07,880 Speaker 2: an exchange that maybe sits a bit further out of town. 167 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:10,400 Speaker 2: If you actually need an exchange, that would probably be 168 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:12,760 Speaker 2: the other question for I think for the Northern Territory government. 169 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:14,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think it's a fair one to ask. Well, 170 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:17,760 Speaker 1: Simone Saunders, City of Darwin CEO. Really good to talk 171 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:19,400 Speaker 1: to you this morning. I appreciate your time. 172 00:08:19,560 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 2: Great. Thanks Katie, thank you.