1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,360 Speaker 1: In the studio right now. The Lord Mayor of Darwin 2 00:00:02,440 --> 00:00:04,360 Speaker 1: conbat scarlas Katie and. 3 00:00:04,360 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 2: I don't know what's flowering out there, but my eyes 4 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 2: are itchy. I just running so things are flowering. 5 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:13,080 Speaker 1: You look like you have got the worst say fever. 6 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:15,680 Speaker 2: Man, I'm kidding with pharmacy. How to get some drops 7 00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:16,239 Speaker 2: from my eyes? 8 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:19,119 Speaker 3: I think it better I suffer from hay fever. I 9 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 3: know it's not fun now. 10 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:21,079 Speaker 2: Conn. 11 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:24,799 Speaker 3: Obviously you and Mattie Hepworth last week extensively covered the 12 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 3: issue of the RSL development development. You told Maddy Hepworth this, 13 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:29,800 Speaker 3: I take a listen. 14 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:32,680 Speaker 2: There was no time to convey to the electric members 15 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:35,239 Speaker 2: and I thought it was proved that if we're going 16 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:37,640 Speaker 2: to make such a significant decision, we've got all the 17 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:40,239 Speaker 2: information together before we make the decision. 18 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:43,040 Speaker 3: So there seems to be I guess there's been quite 19 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:45,800 Speaker 3: a bit of confusion for a lot of people wondering 20 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:49,680 Speaker 3: exactly what's going on. But Conn, there has obviously since 21 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:53,440 Speaker 3: been Larakia other Larachie elders come out and say that 22 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:58,400 Speaker 3: it isn't a birthing sight where the RSL is wanting 23 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 3: to be able to construct their How are you a 24 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:06,120 Speaker 3: council going to determine if this site is indeed culturally significant. 25 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:08,119 Speaker 2: And that's the reason why I delayed any decision until 26 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:10,720 Speaker 2: it's clarified what we actually have in our hands or 27 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:13,440 Speaker 2: what we've got in that car park. I have to 28 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:16,240 Speaker 2: say that Bilawara Lei came with the information to me, 29 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:20,960 Speaker 2: which actually I immediately conveyed to my my aldermen, and I said, look, 30 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:22,920 Speaker 2: under the circumstance, I think will be very unwise to 31 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:26,480 Speaker 2: make a decision. And then of course other people said, oh, no, 32 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:29,880 Speaker 2: it's not there, somewhere else. But then the Aboriginal Area 33 00:01:29,959 --> 00:01:33,640 Speaker 2: Protection Authority came out publicly on the media and said, yeah, 34 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:37,279 Speaker 2: there are sites there. So my Council of the Officer 35 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:39,679 Speaker 2: now they'll be writ into the Aboriginal Protection Authority to 36 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:43,120 Speaker 2: clarify the situation, what's there and where it is. 37 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:46,919 Speaker 3: So con does it mean that realistically any development along 38 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:49,960 Speaker 3: that area of the esplanade, i the Lamarou baths, et cetera, 39 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:52,040 Speaker 3: it's not going to be able to happen. 40 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 2: Well, we know that there's a sacred site at the 41 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 2: bottom of the esplanad. I already spoke to Richard Fijil 42 00:01:57,040 --> 00:01:59,320 Speaker 2: about it. But as if you heard the Richard Fidget 43 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 2: is very enthusia to g about the Lama robats. But 44 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:03,920 Speaker 2: if there are secret sides, they have to be taken 45 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 2: into consideration. They have to be negotiated with traditional honors 46 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:11,160 Speaker 2: in order to resolve the issue. Let me mention something 47 00:02:11,160 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 2: to you. John and Teller ex alderman of Darwin for 48 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:16,600 Speaker 2: twenty years plus. He saw me the other day and 49 00:02:16,639 --> 00:02:18,720 Speaker 2: he said to me, the holy about this car park 50 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:21,679 Speaker 2: is strange to him because it's not part of the explanat. 51 00:02:21,919 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 2: It's been always on CBD. It was a car pack 52 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:28,079 Speaker 2: he used as a car park. As most importantly it's 53 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:30,480 Speaker 2: been used as a stand down facility by the army 54 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:33,120 Speaker 2: for the bombing of Darwin. It's where they come they 55 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:36,080 Speaker 2: pack the heavy equipment, the trucks. That's where they cart 56 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:41,080 Speaker 2: all the canons which then they convey push them into 57 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 2: the cenotaph area. So it is a car pack. It 58 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:45,280 Speaker 2: has been a car. 59 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:47,800 Speaker 1: Pack and so that's what you think it should start. 60 00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:50,160 Speaker 2: Well, if I don't if we don't have that one, 61 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:52,600 Speaker 2: I don't know where we're going to bring the army 62 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 2: and the heavy equipment and how we got how they're 63 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:56,720 Speaker 2: going to put them into the into position for the 64 00:02:56,760 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 2: bombing of Darwin ceremonies. 65 00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:00,400 Speaker 3: I'm just confused because I'm like, well, what is the 66 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:02,960 Speaker 3: reason here, because we're kind of hearing so many different reasons, 67 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:06,799 Speaker 3: and I think lots of people and everybody, everybody. 68 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:09,040 Speaker 2: Comes with an idea about the whole thing. The reality 69 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:11,079 Speaker 2: is it's been a car back for forty year plus, 70 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 2: is on CBD. It's not part of the esplnaut the esplanam. 71 00:03:15,040 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 2: Everybody knows very well where it is. I mean, we 72 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:19,480 Speaker 2: even had people saying that we should be the ars 73 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 2: cel near the period memorial. That means digging out the 74 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:26,680 Speaker 2: esplant to put the RSEL there. That is not going 75 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:28,960 Speaker 2: to happen over time. 76 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:31,960 Speaker 3: We now, are you just totally opposed to anything happening 77 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:33,840 Speaker 3: on the esplanade now? Because you and I've spoken in 78 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:35,360 Speaker 3: the past, and you had said to me in the 79 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 3: past that you would like to see maybe a cafe 80 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:39,920 Speaker 3: down in the playground, even a restaurant. 81 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 2: So there are we've got now somebody who's actually have 82 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 2: a van that comes near the playground. And recently we 83 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:49,040 Speaker 2: put the toilet because a lot of people, especially parents, 84 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:51,960 Speaker 2: complain about the kids not having access to a. 85 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 4: Toilet, because where's the toilet now? The toilet is. 86 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:57,720 Speaker 2: Very close to the to the playground, near next to it, 87 00:03:57,960 --> 00:03:59,400 Speaker 2: actually installed last week. 88 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:02,640 Speaker 4: I can't. I'll have to we have to put. 89 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:05,120 Speaker 2: In the esplande, but there's no need for a building 90 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:07,240 Speaker 2: to go on the explanat the esplant is an open 91 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:09,320 Speaker 2: space and will remain an open space. 92 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:13,880 Speaker 3: Conn The Anti Independent is reporting that your sudden deferral 93 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:17,080 Speaker 3: of a crucial council vote on the RSL's proposed Espnada 94 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:21,600 Speaker 3: establishment was actually influenced by an undisclosed letter of illegal nature, 95 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:25,000 Speaker 3: not solely overclaims of an indigenous sacred site. 96 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:26,680 Speaker 4: Is that the case, Well, if. 97 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 2: They've got the legal letter, they put it on the 98 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:29,520 Speaker 2: on the newspaper. 99 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 4: Because there's no legal letter, so there's not a letter. 100 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:35,920 Speaker 2: No, As I said before Belawar Ali, and she confirmed 101 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:38,599 Speaker 2: herself the day after. Was there one who actually came 102 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:40,800 Speaker 2: with the news? I have to say I was surprised 103 00:04:40,839 --> 00:04:43,919 Speaker 2: why then, but still I'm very pleased it did because 104 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 2: it gave me this information which we didn't have in 105 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 2: our hands. And quite right so, because we're not the proponents, 106 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:51,080 Speaker 2: it's the art of the proponents. 107 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:53,039 Speaker 3: So at this point in time, I suppose, just for 108 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:55,880 Speaker 3: anybody out there listening, there will be as far as 109 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 3: the Council is concerned, there will be absolutely no development 110 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:00,560 Speaker 3: along the explanade. 111 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:05,840 Speaker 2: But would still I have said all along nothing will 112 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:08,040 Speaker 2: happen in the explanet and I'm saying again. 113 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:08,360 Speaker 4: Said that. 114 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 1: Before. 115 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:13,160 Speaker 3: Essentially the people who want other stuff are dream destroyers. 116 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:15,560 Speaker 2: No, I said to you before that every time it's 117 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:18,120 Speaker 2: trying to do something in Darwin that people will oppose it. 118 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:19,599 Speaker 4: Starting from the column. 119 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:21,520 Speaker 1: About it just confused. 120 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 3: I've spoken about things like a cafe or a restaurant, 121 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 3: and now all of a sudden publicly it's totally no, 122 00:05:28,200 --> 00:05:29,040 Speaker 3: there's nothing happening. 123 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:31,680 Speaker 2: The explan as an open space. The only thing we 124 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:34,360 Speaker 2: put there was actually the previous council put a playground. 125 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:36,520 Speaker 2: You don't have to have a cafe on the esplanaut 126 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:39,040 Speaker 2: As I said before, they've got so many facilities on 127 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:41,719 Speaker 2: the road opposite the esplanade. You don't have to put 128 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:44,920 Speaker 2: in the grushed area. Why we don't have something, let's say, 129 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:49,239 Speaker 2: at the Double Trees hotels down there, that people actually 130 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 2: can access a coffee shop across the esplanade. Why everything 131 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:55,599 Speaker 2: is actually on the ground floor and not on the 132 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:57,239 Speaker 2: top like another places in Europe. 133 00:05:57,320 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 3: So sorry, just to go back to so nothing will 134 00:05:59,880 --> 00:06:02,760 Speaker 3: be built along the Esplanade, but you will still forge 135 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:05,160 Speaker 3: your head with the plans to develop the lamarou. 136 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:07,760 Speaker 2: Bards because it's not on the Esplanade. It's actually on 137 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 2: the sea, below the escarpment of the Esplanah. 138 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 3: All right, but if someone comes forward and says that 139 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:13,920 Speaker 3: it's a sacred site or that we know there is 140 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:16,080 Speaker 3: in some way, may not go ahead. 141 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:18,880 Speaker 2: We are not there's there, but the traditional owners, as 142 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 2: Richard Fidger said, they're okay with They're okay with it, 143 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:24,000 Speaker 2: there's no problem about it. But as I do you before, 144 00:06:24,279 --> 00:06:27,080 Speaker 2: this development would be at the bottom of the Esplanet, 145 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:30,240 Speaker 2: on the sea, not on the explanet. And again when 146 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:32,279 Speaker 2: I'm calling about cafe, I'm not saying dig out the 147 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:34,400 Speaker 2: grass and put it there. Why you want to do 148 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 2: that one? There are so many already establishments across the 149 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:40,040 Speaker 2: world from the Explanat that can utilize the Esplanat to 150 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:41,840 Speaker 2: their benefit, but they seem not to do it. 151 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:44,680 Speaker 3: I just don't understand why we have, you know, like 152 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:47,080 Speaker 3: why we've sort of decided that nothing at all can 153 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:50,080 Speaker 3: happen along the esplanade. It's a beautiful space. No one's 154 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:51,960 Speaker 3: suggesting that we go and build a high rise. But 155 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:54,000 Speaker 3: why can't we be in a situation like we are 156 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:54,560 Speaker 3: in Nightclibes. 157 00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:57,800 Speaker 2: I absolutely agree with you, But we had a situation 158 00:06:57,839 --> 00:07:00,800 Speaker 2: in previous councils that will not catch even the trees 159 00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:05,320 Speaker 2: and the coffee bush because it was somehow a sacred place. No, 160 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:07,919 Speaker 2: what's the point of having a beautiful place like the esplanade? 161 00:07:07,920 --> 00:07:09,960 Speaker 2: But you can't see a harbor. So the first thing 162 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:12,560 Speaker 2: I did was clean the coffee bush, clean the invasive species, 163 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:13,480 Speaker 2: remove the. 164 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:16,640 Speaker 4: Plans that they didn't belong there. 165 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:18,440 Speaker 2: And all of a sudden I people said to me, oh, 166 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:21,680 Speaker 2: we can see the harbor, and that's the purpose of 167 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:24,480 Speaker 2: having a beautiful xplanet, all right. 168 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:27,520 Speaker 3: Con I think I'm just as confused at the end 169 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:29,360 Speaker 3: of the interview is what I was when I started. 170 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:30,520 Speaker 1: But we are going to have to leave it. 171 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:33,480 Speaker 2: There's no confusion on the esplants. The explanet is like 172 00:07:33,480 --> 00:07:36,240 Speaker 2: the esplaner as a green space. It will stage as such. 173 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:38,960 Speaker 2: You don't have to build on the esplanaut. You can 174 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 2: actually do a lot of development. And if I was 175 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 2: a businessman or in one of. 176 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:44,239 Speaker 3: These hotel you have said to me on this show 177 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:46,520 Speaker 3: before or that you would like to see a restaurant 178 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:47,840 Speaker 3: or a cafe on the Esplanade. 179 00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:50,680 Speaker 1: So, like I said, I'm a bit confused. 180 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:53,680 Speaker 2: Not on the explanet, but on the xplanets as a locality. 181 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:56,920 Speaker 1: Okay, now I've confused the work. 182 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:00,280 Speaker 2: Well it is we call the esplant. When I called 183 00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:02,880 Speaker 2: the Esplanade, I don't mean only the the crass area. 184 00:08:02,880 --> 00:08:05,000 Speaker 2: I mean the whole locality from where it starts from. 185 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:07,840 Speaker 4: The pats or the way in somewhere. That's right. 186 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:10,560 Speaker 2: But again, we put a playground, we put a toilet. 187 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 2: That is something you can put in the esplanet. But 188 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:14,720 Speaker 2: if I was the owner of one of the hotels, 189 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 2: I was making really every effort to put coffee shops 190 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 2: and restaurants there. People can sit and enjoy the Esplanade. 191 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:24,360 Speaker 3: All right, combat scolars, We always appreciate your time. Thank 192 00:08:24,400 --> 00:08:26,480 Speaker 3: you for coming in this morning. You are listening to 193 00:08:26,560 --> 00:08:27,640 Speaker 3: Mix one or four point nine