1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:03,240 Speaker 1: Now we've spoken extensively about the purchase of the Silk 2 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:06,760 Speaker 1: Hood property. It's the thirty thousand hectare parcel of land 3 00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:09,799 Speaker 1: which is going to see Litchfield National Park expanded by 4 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:13,240 Speaker 1: twenty percent. The Chief Minister told us that the purchase 5 00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:15,520 Speaker 1: is a game changer. It's going to open up a 6 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:20,400 Speaker 1: spectacular new southern section of the park featuring untouched waterfalls, 7 00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:24,360 Speaker 1: gorgeous hot springs and four wheel drive tracks. Now, the 8 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:28,720 Speaker 1: deal has seen mostly positive feedback to this show. And 9 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:32,000 Speaker 1: joining us on the line is Mickey Barrett, the president 10 00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:35,320 Speaker 1: of four Will Drive NT. Good morning, Mickey. 11 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:36,680 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie. 12 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:38,479 Speaker 1: How are you yeah, really good? Good to have you 13 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:41,560 Speaker 1: on the show. Mate. Now, I understand that four Will 14 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:45,680 Speaker 1: Drive Into had lobbied both the government and the former 15 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:49,599 Speaker 1: government about this parcel of land. Why did you want 16 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:50,920 Speaker 1: to see the government acquire it? 17 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 2: Well, this land's got a long history of people accessing 18 00:00:56,120 --> 00:01:01,440 Speaker 2: this property for since World War Two, eventually used as 19 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:05,080 Speaker 2: recreation and over the time we sort of got told 20 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 2: it we're not welcome in there anymore with different issues. 21 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:14,120 Speaker 2: But to be able to keep this property accessible with 22 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:17,679 Speaker 2: the general public long term was the absolute goal. We 23 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:18,840 Speaker 2: do want to see it locked up. 24 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:22,160 Speaker 1: So tell us, I know you'd lobby both the former 25 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:25,840 Speaker 1: government and the current government, you know before the election. 26 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:28,600 Speaker 1: What did just sort of say to them and what 27 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:31,280 Speaker 1: was the response from both of the major political parties. 28 00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:35,360 Speaker 2: Well, we never had much luck with the previous government, 29 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:38,720 Speaker 2: even trying to get a meeting it was difficult. But 30 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:43,560 Speaker 2: with the then c orp opposition, they said that they 31 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:45,880 Speaker 2: will look at it and once if they get into government, 32 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:47,520 Speaker 2: they'll look at the books and see how they go. 33 00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 2: And they didn't want to make an election promise because 34 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 2: it would mean the cost of the block would substantially 35 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 2: go up. And to their credit, they did exactly what 36 00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:57,240 Speaker 2: they said they're going to do. 37 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 1: What was your reaction when you saw that, you know 38 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:04,440 Speaker 1: that they decided or that they were actually doing what 39 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 1: they said they were going to do. 40 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:10,680 Speaker 2: We were tough. Things had gone very quiet on the 41 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:13,120 Speaker 2: whole front, and we weren't sure if anything was happening 42 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 2: for a while. Obviously they're negotiating behind the scenes. But yeah, 43 00:02:18,639 --> 00:02:22,080 Speaker 2: it all played out essentially exactly as we hoped it would. 44 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 1: So tell me, I mean to people out there listening 45 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:28,280 Speaker 1: this morning, someone like me who has not gone full 46 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 1: will driving in this area of the Northern Territory before. 47 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:33,280 Speaker 1: What is it like? 48 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 2: It's raw, It's as raw as you can get in 49 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:41,360 Speaker 2: the Northern Territory. There's a section at the top in 50 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:44,880 Speaker 2: the escarpment where you can go full well driving all 51 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:47,760 Speaker 2: year round. It's quite a technical fall well drive track, 52 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:49,799 Speaker 2: but you're not going to get bogged for hours on 53 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:51,960 Speaker 2: end and you're not going to do damage to your 54 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:54,640 Speaker 2: car essentially, but it's a good fun track. There's some 55 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:58,079 Speaker 2: beautiful springs at the top. Then there's some lower country 56 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:01,600 Speaker 2: where there's a few different sections of rocky rapids and 57 00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:04,480 Speaker 2: waterfalls and also some hot springs. 58 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:08,720 Speaker 1: How nice. What's up? Where are those hot springs and 59 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 1: are they like, are they something that's quite difficult to 60 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:12,959 Speaker 1: access or what's the goal with those? 61 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:18,720 Speaker 2: I foresee the hot springs probably getting developed first. It's 62 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:21,960 Speaker 2: off daily river road. It's probably only less than a 63 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 2: kilometer drive in. It got put on put on the 64 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:28,040 Speaker 2: internet one of the wiki camps, and all of a 65 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 2: sudden there were hundreds of people going in there and 66 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:33,680 Speaker 2: it was really starting to get abuse that area, ah right, 67 00:03:34,639 --> 00:03:37,320 Speaker 2: So to have that's probably one of the areas where 68 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 2: parks could have a real advantage in developing up and 69 00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 2: controlling a little bit better. Yea, but yeah, it's it's 70 00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:50,040 Speaker 2: they're really nice, only small little springs along line of them. 71 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:51,240 Speaker 2: It's beautiful. 72 00:03:51,640 --> 00:03:54,000 Speaker 1: Hey tell me. I mean when you look at other 73 00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:58,160 Speaker 1: parts of Australia and some of the four wheel driving tracks, 74 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 1: the options that you've got in other parts of Australia, 75 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 1: how do we compare and how does this particular location compare. 76 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 2: This is across Australia. We're fighting to keep places open, 77 00:04:12,160 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 2: areas are getting closed up. Where Northern Tree at the 78 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:18,760 Speaker 2: moment's bucking the trend in creating camp sites, not closing 79 00:04:18,760 --> 00:04:24,400 Speaker 2: beyond campsites. Ye. Across Australia, it's a real issue about 80 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:29,520 Speaker 2: losing access to full drive tracks. So yeah, to be 81 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:33,799 Speaker 2: able to have access to this area to create full 82 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:37,480 Speaker 2: drive tracks and over time this could probably have forty 83 00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:39,920 Speaker 2: fifty sixty camp sites developed in this area. 84 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:40,400 Speaker 1: Wow. 85 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's really is impressive that it's all playing out 86 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:47,039 Speaker 2: as we hoped it would, Nicky. 87 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, when you look at what's happening 88 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:53,280 Speaker 1: in other parts of Australia, when you look at this area, like, 89 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:56,479 Speaker 1: how big a draw card do you think it could be? 90 00:04:57,640 --> 00:05:04,200 Speaker 1: When it comes to four wheel driving for the Northern Territory. 91 00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 2: We don't have a great deal. We have the the 92 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:10,960 Speaker 2: icon of full driving in the territory, but there's really 93 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:13,480 Speaker 2: not a great deal of publicly accessible for all drive 94 00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:17,919 Speaker 2: tracks in the fall in the Northern Territory. So to 95 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:20,800 Speaker 2: be able to say we're increasing Litchfield's full drive tracks 96 00:05:20,839 --> 00:05:25,720 Speaker 2: by three hundred percent overnight come back, it's a big 97 00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:29,279 Speaker 2: tourism draw card, but it really is a great draw 98 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:30,360 Speaker 2: card for Locus. 99 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 1: Hey, Mickey, I know there'll be people listening this morning 100 00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 1: that are maybe you know, avid four wheel drive enthusiasts 101 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:41,880 Speaker 1: but haven't heard of four wheel drive into. But you 102 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:44,880 Speaker 1: guys are the association that represents four will drive clubs 103 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:47,760 Speaker 1: and four wheel drive users in general. Where can people 104 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:49,040 Speaker 1: go if they sort of want to find out a 105 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:52,080 Speaker 1: bit more about you guys and maybe be part of 106 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 1: or four wheel drive into well. 107 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:58,680 Speaker 2: Full drive into the main We're made up of club members, 108 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:01,800 Speaker 2: So if you're interested in finding out a bit more 109 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:04,479 Speaker 2: about pul driving, I recommend you go join your local 110 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:08,040 Speaker 2: fool drive club. We both all of full drive clubs 111 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 2: and full driving to You've got Facebook presence, but the 112 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 2: best place to go is to go speak to local 113 00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:15,440 Speaker 2: pool drive clubs. They all sort of let you know 114 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:20,400 Speaker 2: what we do and how we do it, and there 115 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:22,719 Speaker 2: is a lot of advantages of joining full drive clubs, 116 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:25,120 Speaker 2: getting access to areas that aren't open to the public. 117 00:06:27,240 --> 00:06:28,919 Speaker 2: It is, Yeah, that's probably the best way to go 118 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:30,160 Speaker 2: to hit up your full drive club. 119 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:32,760 Speaker 1: Well, mate, look to me, it sounds like this could 120 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:36,000 Speaker 1: be really exciting for the end to you know, like 121 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:39,920 Speaker 1: that adventure spirit sort of coming back with the purchase 122 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 1: of Silkwood. I guess we're all hoping that is the case, 123 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:47,200 Speaker 1: you know, it does. I do get the impression that 124 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 1: we're going to need to invest a bit of money. However, 125 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:52,160 Speaker 1: when it comes to full will driving, I mean hopefully 126 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:54,760 Speaker 1: we're able to capitalize on that sooner rather than later. 127 00:06:56,279 --> 00:06:59,440 Speaker 2: Well, Leah said that the park is staying that the 128 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:04,120 Speaker 2: area is open accessible as it has always been. Over time, 129 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:06,840 Speaker 2: parks will develop a bit of a plan to which 130 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:08,800 Speaker 2: areas they want to develop in which areas they want 131 00:07:08,839 --> 00:07:12,280 Speaker 2: to leave essentially as is. If full drives, if we 132 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:15,280 Speaker 2: can show parks that doesn't need to be heavily maintained 133 00:07:15,320 --> 00:07:17,360 Speaker 2: and we can keep it essentially as it is by 134 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:22,200 Speaker 2: keeping it clean, taking your rubbish with you. That's the 135 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 2: best way to try and keep it as raw and 136 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 2: rugged as possible. 137 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:30,800 Speaker 1: Yeah. Well, NTI President of four will drive INTI Mickey Barrett. 138 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:32,800 Speaker 1: Good to catch up with you this morning. Mate, Thank you, 139 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:35,360 Speaker 1: thank you, Katie, thanks so much.