1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:03,760 Speaker 1: Plans are well and truly underway to get Kackadoo revamped 2 00:00:03,760 --> 00:00:06,400 Speaker 1: and back to being the duel in the Territory's Crown 3 00:00:06,840 --> 00:00:11,000 Speaker 1: Safari camps, mountain bike trial trails, are new viewing platforms 4 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:13,920 Speaker 1: and eco lodgers. They're all on the table as part 5 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:17,840 Speaker 1: of the initiatives contained in the Kackadoo Tourism master Plan 6 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:20,479 Speaker 1: which has been released today. And joining me on the 7 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:23,079 Speaker 1: line with more details about the master plan is the 8 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:25,280 Speaker 1: Environment Minister Susan Lee. 9 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:29,000 Speaker 2: Good morning, Good morning Katie to you and your listeners. 10 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 1: Lovely to have you on the show now. Minister, we 11 00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:34,479 Speaker 1: know two hundred and seventy six million dollars has been 12 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:37,519 Speaker 1: earmarked for Kakadoo. What's that going to be spent on. 13 00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:41,080 Speaker 2: Well, sixty million dollars of that came out in our 14 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:45,600 Speaker 2: budget Parks package. That's getting out there immediately to improve 15 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:49,800 Speaker 2: the park, whether it be roads or facilities or the 16 00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:53,680 Speaker 2: visitor experience. But long the term, we're doing a plan 17 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 2: about tourism and you just mentioned some of the ingredients 18 00:00:56,880 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 2: that it might contain. What we want to do now, 19 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:03,639 Speaker 2: listen to people's thoughts on those things. Hear what they 20 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:06,520 Speaker 2: have to say. I know I spent almost a week 21 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:09,720 Speaker 2: at Kakadu recently, talking to the traditional owners, talking to 22 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:13,639 Speaker 2: tourism operators, experiencing the park. Everyone's got a favorite place, 23 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:17,080 Speaker 2: but probably got some ideas for a facelift or for example, 24 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:19,200 Speaker 2: the viewing platform that we're going to put at the 25 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:22,600 Speaker 2: famous Carl crossing, the plunge call at Jim Jim Falls. 26 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:28,120 Speaker 2: Access is vital, good roads, good visitor experience for locals 27 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:31,040 Speaker 2: and visitors from overseas when they do come back. So 28 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:33,760 Speaker 2: it's pretty exciting because in his recording bestment, I'm very 29 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:36,880 Speaker 2: proud of about two hundred and seventy six million dollars 30 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:38,640 Speaker 2: going into kakado. 31 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 1: And Minister you said that you were out there for 32 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:43,240 Speaker 1: almost a week recently. What are some of the things 33 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 1: that you know that the locals and the traditional owners 34 00:01:45,959 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 1: were saying to you are the biggest concerns. 35 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:52,280 Speaker 2: Look, there were lots of good ideas from the individual 36 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:54,880 Speaker 2: ranger stations about what they would like to see, But 37 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 2: what really came through to me was how proud and 38 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:02,640 Speaker 2: prepared they are to show they're indigenous cultural heritage to visitors. 39 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 2: So as they walk around in that uniform that identifies 40 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:10,360 Speaker 2: them as being part of the park's range of team. 41 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:12,120 Speaker 2: People come up to them and say, well, what does 42 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:15,240 Speaker 2: this mean? And you know, what is this longest ever 43 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:19,560 Speaker 2: indigenous traditional connection, what does that look like? And explanations 44 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:22,720 Speaker 2: about the rock art and I was just overwhelmed by 45 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:27,480 Speaker 2: you know, how good and how informed the local team 46 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:30,320 Speaker 2: is and how they really want to showcase what they do. 47 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:33,680 Speaker 2: So I mean from that, there are so many opportunities 48 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:37,079 Speaker 2: and through this draft tourism plan, you know what, We've 49 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:41,240 Speaker 2: done a lot of consultation, including that sort of local conversations, 50 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 2: but now there's an opportunity for public comment. We want 51 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:45,680 Speaker 2: to hear from people who care about Kackadoo. And I 52 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:48,119 Speaker 2: know everybody in the top edd does care about Kackadoo. 53 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely, And you know, in the past it's been 54 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:52,840 Speaker 1: such a jewel in our crown. But then it reached 55 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:55,200 Speaker 1: a point where you know, we had callers ringing through 56 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:58,120 Speaker 1: saying the signs aren't even up to scratch, and you know, 57 00:02:58,160 --> 00:03:00,680 Speaker 1: people are going out there and different things closed for 58 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:04,240 Speaker 1: no sort of identifiable reason, and you couldn't even tell 59 00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:06,520 Speaker 1: where you were kind of going because of the sign 60 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:10,760 Speaker 1: simple things. You know, why was it sort of let 61 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:12,760 Speaker 1: get to a point where it was so run down. 62 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:17,320 Speaker 2: Well, look there's many reasons for that. And when it 63 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:20,959 Speaker 2: comes to the spend, obviously you know that managed through 64 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:24,400 Speaker 2: Parks Australia. But ultimately, you know, governments and ministers like 65 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 2: me line up behind the amount of money that we 66 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:30,840 Speaker 2: put into the parks over time, and I recognize that 67 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:33,400 Speaker 2: some of the facilities do need to facelift and do 68 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:36,400 Speaker 2: look a bit tired. So as well as the exciting 69 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:40,440 Speaker 2: initiatives around eco tourism, perhaps mountain bike trails, I think 70 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 2: a lot of the responses will be well, can you 71 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 2: you know, spruce up this area, we give this a facelift. 72 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:48,240 Speaker 2: Can we have you know, well functioning roads because access 73 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 2: is vital and safety is vital. But just remember this 74 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:53,480 Speaker 2: two hundred and seventy six million dollars is the biggest 75 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 2: ever investment in our parks and you know it really 76 00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 2: will transform Jabbarou, which has been a mining talent into 77 00:03:59,880 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 2: a tourism town, a gateway to Kakado. So much of 78 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 2: this money will actually make the difference that people are seeking. 79 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 2: And we're consulting because we want to do it well, 80 00:04:10,920 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 2: we want to get it right and we want it 81 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:14,400 Speaker 2: to last. And we know it will because it's such 82 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:15,520 Speaker 2: a substantial investment. 83 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:17,839 Speaker 1: It's a huge amount of money no matter how you 84 00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:19,720 Speaker 1: look at esh. I guess so when you start to 85 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:22,560 Speaker 1: talk about things like well, like you know, fixing up 86 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 1: Jabbarul and then fixing up roads and then also sort 87 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:29,320 Speaker 1: of these ecotourism initiatives and different things, do you reckon 88 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:30,520 Speaker 1: it's going to go far enough? 89 00:04:31,839 --> 00:04:34,440 Speaker 2: Well, I think it's a really really good start, and 90 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 2: as I said, it's unprecevented in its level. But of 91 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:42,280 Speaker 2: course I'll be going back through the budget process and 92 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:45,000 Speaker 2: making sure that we back it up when we need to. 93 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 2: So this isn't just everything right here right now. This 94 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:51,520 Speaker 2: is an important step that I mean, there's never really 95 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:56,680 Speaker 2: been achieved for Kakado and the park and the community 96 00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:59,960 Speaker 2: and the visitors. And I talk to the tourism operators 97 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 2: while I was there, and I talked to the traditional owners, 98 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:04,280 Speaker 2: and I talked to the park staff, and I talk 99 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:07,160 Speaker 2: to people who love the park. I've just heard so 100 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:12,359 Speaker 2: many good things. I've also heard the bad and the problems, 101 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 2: but overwhelmingly I've heard hope, optimism, and excitement, and this 102 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:18,000 Speaker 2: money is really backing that in. 103 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:20,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think it's really important as well. Like you said, 104 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:23,159 Speaker 1: you've been out there and you've actually been consulting with 105 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:25,160 Speaker 1: the people on the ground. That is such an important 106 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:27,600 Speaker 1: thing to do. We know that there have been some 107 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:31,160 Speaker 1: real issues with the management over the years and particularly 108 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:34,039 Speaker 1: over the last few months. Are you confident that the 109 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:36,240 Speaker 1: management that's now in place is going to be able 110 00:05:36,279 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 1: to deal with this massive investment and the overseeing of 111 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:40,880 Speaker 1: it being delivered. 112 00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:44,839 Speaker 2: Yes, I am James. Last week he's a deputy secretary 113 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 2: in the department, is taken on the role of Director 114 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 2: of National Parks and we've got a Darwin based person 115 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:56,440 Speaker 2: leading the local team and we really are working very 116 00:05:56,440 --> 00:05:59,520 Speaker 2: hard throughout my Department of Environment to make sure that 117 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:02,680 Speaker 2: this is the structure spend is done really well. So yes, 118 00:06:02,720 --> 00:06:06,159 Speaker 2: I am confident of that. I had frank discussions with 119 00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:08,880 Speaker 2: the board while I was there, and you know, I 120 00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:11,800 Speaker 2: encourage people to say it like it is, which of 121 00:06:11,839 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 2: course everyone on the top end usually does, and I 122 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:18,680 Speaker 2: was pleased to have that really frank discussion and to 123 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 2: hear from people about what's working and what's not working. 124 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:23,560 Speaker 2: And to the extent that I heard that things were 125 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 2: not working, I've committed to doing what I can to 126 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:30,479 Speaker 2: put that right and that process is well underway. So look, 127 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:34,960 Speaker 2: it's exciting times ahead, Katie, and I know for the 128 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:37,320 Speaker 2: people who care so much about the park, I want 129 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:40,200 Speaker 2: to reinforce my commitment to that and the fact that 130 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:43,000 Speaker 2: I spent nearly a week there and I'm coming back 131 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:45,919 Speaker 2: and I'm prepared to make sure that we get this 132 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 2: money working where it needs to. 133 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:50,800 Speaker 1: Minister, will we be I mean, are we going to 134 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:52,680 Speaker 1: see the work that he's undertaken? Is it going to 135 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 1: be undertaken by local contractors? 136 00:06:55,760 --> 00:06:59,839 Speaker 2: Well, it should be untopaken by local contractors and the 137 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:03,040 Speaker 2: every expectation that it will. I'm not saying that every 138 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:07,200 Speaker 2: single piece of work the capability exists locally. Sometimes that 139 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:09,640 Speaker 2: has to be sourced helfware. But as a regional member 140 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:12,720 Speaker 2: of Parliament myself and talking to all my local government 141 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:15,400 Speaker 2: areas over the years, I know people want to see 142 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:17,640 Speaker 2: local jobs and I want to see that too. 143 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:20,720 Speaker 1: Well, Minister, we really appreciate your time this morning. When 144 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:23,040 Speaker 1: you're back in Kackadoo. If you come to Darwin, come 145 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:24,640 Speaker 1: in and say good a, we'd love to meet you 146 00:07:24,680 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 1: in person. 147 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:29,000 Speaker 2: I would absolutely love to and happy to be held 148 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 2: to that. 149 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:33,600 Speaker 1: Good on you thanks minister. That is the Environment minister there, 150 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:36,800 Speaker 1: Susan Lee, just giving us a bit more detail about exactly, 151 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 1: you know, what we're going to see or what we 152 00:07:38,520 --> 00:07:42,280 Speaker 1: could potentially see there in Kackadoo with the upgrades. Two 153 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:46,240 Speaker 1: hundred and seventy six million dollars earmarked for Kackadoo and 154 00:07:46,400 --> 00:07:48,800 Speaker 1: exactly what it's going to be spent on we'll obviously 155 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 1: be determined by that consultation process. But it sounds like 156 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:56,000 Speaker 1: she's serious about getting out there and really delivering what 157 00:07:56,520 --> 00:07:59,239 Speaker 1: we need for Kackadoo. Let's hope that is the case.