1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: Last week, we'd heard about the devastation in the Darwin 2 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 1: River area following that flash flooding. Residents in the area 3 00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:10,520 Speaker 1: were left heartbroken after water inundated their homes. Now many 4 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:13,640 Speaker 1: had called for better communication after feeling like they'd been 5 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:17,360 Speaker 1: left on their own. We also know, well there's potholes 6 00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 1: and road damage right around the place as a result 7 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:23,840 Speaker 1: of this wet weather. Joining us on the line right 8 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:28,480 Speaker 1: now is the Lichfield mayor, Rachel Right. Good morning to you, Rachel. 9 00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:30,840 Speaker 2: Good morning, Katie. How are you this thing? 10 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:32,960 Speaker 1: We're really good. Lovely to have you on the show. 11 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:34,920 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for joining us this morning. 12 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 2: Thank you for having me. 13 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:39,720 Speaker 1: Now, Rachel, tell me how things going out in the 14 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:43,600 Speaker 1: Litchfield municipality at the moment. I know Darwin River falls 15 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:47,720 Speaker 1: into your municipality, and quite a lot of concerning sort 16 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:50,000 Speaker 1: of situations out there for residents. 17 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:57,880 Speaker 2: Last week, Yeah, it was wet. The top ends experienced 18 00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:00,880 Speaker 2: the wett sweat season in years. I've been in the 19 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 2: territory for over forty years, and I've never ever seen 20 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:12,440 Speaker 2: such multiple days of intense rain, four over so many days, 21 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:18,600 Speaker 2: and you know, it's just compounded everything and it's been 22 00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:25,280 Speaker 2: absolutely horrible like my whole backyard was completely flooded, basically 23 00:01:25,880 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 2: right up to our close to the house, and it 24 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:32,840 Speaker 2: was like there was a giant, big jumping pillow because 25 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 2: the water table had raised so high that it was 26 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 2: the grass and the tops was completely covered. And so 27 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:47,520 Speaker 2: I desperately feel for the residents whose houses were underwater. 28 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 2: And my phone has just been running hot, and I've 29 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:55,040 Speaker 2: been talking to residents and I know so as the 30 00:01:55,080 --> 00:01:58,600 Speaker 2: other counselors, and we've been doing as much as we 31 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:04,160 Speaker 2: possibly can, and you know, I'm concerned that they're expecting 32 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:08,120 Speaker 2: that there's going to be more rain and the Whites. 33 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:13,360 Speaker 2: It's wide spread emergency response and I was very grateful 34 00:02:13,919 --> 00:02:19,880 Speaker 2: for the current government's response to Lichfield and has included 35 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:24,840 Speaker 2: us in emergency cash payments for residents and temporary accommodations 36 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:31,639 Speaker 2: for people that were affected, and the grants. Litchfield is 37 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:36,960 Speaker 2: also going to be included in some of the grants 38 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:41,359 Speaker 2: as well, because it's you know, our roads have been 39 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:44,760 Speaker 2: severely impacted. It's not just a pothole here and a 40 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:50,400 Speaker 2: pothole there is a huge big wash out. So we 41 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 2: had a meeting last night and we'll be applying for 42 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 2: any recovery funding that we can possibly get anywhere. 43 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:01,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's going to be like quite the road to recovery, 44 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 1: I think for so many residents, so many businesses, and 45 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:09,280 Speaker 1: even when you look at our road infrastructure, Rachel in 46 00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 1: terms of those residents out in like at daily sorry 47 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:16,360 Speaker 1: at Darwin River, what are they saying to you? And 48 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:18,760 Speaker 1: even some of the residents in the rural area that 49 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 1: have been, you know, really quite badly affected by these floodwaters. 50 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:25,400 Speaker 1: What are people saying to you at the moment, and 51 00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:28,959 Speaker 1: you know, like what does the road to recovery look 52 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:33,079 Speaker 1: like for them? From your perspective, I think. 53 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 2: As a community we have to try and work together 54 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 2: and repair and prioritize what we can. You know, people 55 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 2: are devastated, and I'm devastated for the community and the 56 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:52,040 Speaker 2: people that live in the community as well. So we're 57 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:57,640 Speaker 2: just taking it day by day and we're working with 58 00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:02,000 Speaker 2: residents to try and assist where we can. So what 59 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 2: we have opened up is free items of charge such 60 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 2: as mattresses, fridges, freezers and air conditioners to be dumped 61 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:12,520 Speaker 2: for free at the Humpy Dew and Berry Springs waste 62 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 2: transfer Station until the twelfth of April and whenever we 63 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:21,080 Speaker 2: can get some dry weather. We've actually already started with 64 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:27,479 Speaker 2: crews out starting to repair roads wherever we can. But 65 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:33,000 Speaker 2: you know, today it's not raining, but you know, I'm 66 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 2: concerned about potentially more rain coming. 67 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:38,599 Speaker 1: Yeah, I know, aren't we all at the moment I 68 00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:40,800 Speaker 1: was saying this to the Bureau of Meteorology a short 69 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:43,040 Speaker 1: time ago. You know, these other wet seasons where we've 70 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:45,520 Speaker 1: all been hoping for a bit more rain and we've 71 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 1: felt like, you know, we've really not received the amount 72 00:04:48,520 --> 00:04:51,720 Speaker 1: that we would ordinarily think that we would. Meanwhile, this 73 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:55,160 Speaker 1: wet season has just been you know, it's turning out 74 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 1: to be quite terrible for a lot of Territorians and 75 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:02,479 Speaker 1: this road to recovery is going to be a long one. Rachel. 76 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:06,920 Speaker 1: You know, when you talk about the roads out in 77 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:10,600 Speaker 1: the Litchfield municipality, you mentioned there that you know, it's 78 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 1: not just a few potholes and you know a few 79 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:17,080 Speaker 1: small areas of concern that in some places there are 80 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:20,160 Speaker 1: massive concerns. Can you tell us about some of those 81 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:23,080 Speaker 1: areas that you're worried about and what needs to happen. 82 00:05:24,480 --> 00:05:26,960 Speaker 2: So, first of all, one of the things that we 83 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:31,280 Speaker 2: need to recognize is that Lichfield has the highest ratio 84 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 2: of lengths of road per capita in the Northern Territory 85 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:38,560 Speaker 2: and possibly even Australia. So we've got more than six 86 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:44,839 Speaker 2: hundred and fifty kilometers of sealed roads and we also 87 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:51,480 Speaker 2: have unsealed roads as well, and so my big concern is, 88 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 2: you know, trying to attract some form of funding to 89 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 2: be able to assist us to repair that because we're 90 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:01,559 Speaker 2: we're only a small count it's all compared to many 91 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 2: other councils and we've got some of the lowest rates 92 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:11,800 Speaker 2: in all of Australia and particularly in the Northern Territory, 93 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:15,840 Speaker 2: and we want to be able to repair the road 94 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 2: so people can get back on with their lives and 95 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:22,320 Speaker 2: particularly in the southward down in the Daren River and 96 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 2: Bury Springs area. You know, it's the road damage and 97 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:32,760 Speaker 2: infrastructure impact to the community and the disruption to people's 98 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 2: life has been devastating. 99 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:38,760 Speaker 1: Hey, in what is some good news that's literally just 100 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:42,240 Speaker 1: come through from the Northern Territory government. They have just 101 00:06:42,279 --> 00:06:45,280 Speaker 1: announced that there's going to be a one hundred million 102 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:49,920 Speaker 1: dollar flood Recovery fund announced to rebuild critical infrastructure and 103 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:54,680 Speaker 1: support territory communities following that unprecedented flooding. So basically the 104 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:58,120 Speaker 1: funding is going to prioritize rebuilding roads, bridges and flood 105 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:03,599 Speaker 1: mitigation works, helping to store essential infrastructure and strengthen communities 106 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 1: against future flooding. So this is indeed a good announcement. 107 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:11,880 Speaker 1: I mean, it sounds like one hundred million dollars, sounds 108 00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:13,840 Speaker 1: like a phenomenal amount of money, But I just wonder 109 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:15,800 Speaker 1: how far it's going to go when you look at 110 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:16,720 Speaker 1: the damage we've got. 111 00:07:17,560 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, and as I was saying, like, Lichfield has the 112 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:23,520 Speaker 2: highest ratio of road per capita in the Northern Territory, 113 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:28,560 Speaker 2: so we have been advocating to try and get as 114 00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:31,760 Speaker 2: much funding as we possibly can, and I can assure 115 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:34,560 Speaker 2: you will continue to do that to make sure that 116 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:39,120 Speaker 2: the people of Lichfield get their fair share of that 117 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:40,560 Speaker 2: funding for our road. 118 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:45,480 Speaker 1: Now, Rachel, I know, obviously flood is front of mind 119 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:48,960 Speaker 1: for everybody, and the concerns, you know, following on from 120 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:51,080 Speaker 1: what we've seen over the last week is front of 121 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:53,000 Speaker 1: mind for so many people. But I know there's some 122 00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:56,200 Speaker 1: good stuff happening out in Lichfield as well. You've got 123 00:07:56,480 --> 00:07:58,320 Speaker 1: the art festival on the weekend. 124 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:01,520 Speaker 2: Oh thank you so much for raising that, because I 125 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:04,320 Speaker 2: was sitting here thinking, I think it all just sounds 126 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:05,880 Speaker 2: like doom and gloom. I want to tell you some 127 00:08:05,960 --> 00:08:09,720 Speaker 2: of the great we do. We've got the Arts Festival 128 00:08:09,720 --> 00:08:13,400 Speaker 2: this weekend and I'm really excited about that. The theme 129 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:17,360 Speaker 2: is wild and so a lot of our local artists 130 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:23,120 Speaker 2: will be featuring great pieces, and so it goes Saturday 131 00:08:23,120 --> 00:08:26,200 Speaker 2: and Sunday. It's at the Village Grain, So I really 132 00:08:26,320 --> 00:08:29,320 Speaker 2: encourage everybody to get down there and take a look 133 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:32,840 Speaker 2: at what some of the rural people are producing. It 134 00:08:32,960 --> 00:08:37,280 Speaker 2: really is amazing and I can't wait. We've also got 135 00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:43,000 Speaker 2: some other exciting things. So we are doing a lot 136 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 2: of stuff for men's health because unfortunately, some statistics have 137 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:52,600 Speaker 2: shown us that the men in Lichfield are a little 138 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:57,600 Speaker 2: bit more depressed than else in other places. And so 139 00:08:57,920 --> 00:09:01,720 Speaker 2: we've been doing a lot of really great does and 140 00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:05,840 Speaker 2: we've had all wonderful participants. Participation rate in matt So 141 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:12,000 Speaker 2: we ran a men's wellbeing and Connection program and we 142 00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:18,000 Speaker 2: had a barbecue Bichrode and we had sixteen partestants turn up, 143 00:09:18,040 --> 00:09:22,400 Speaker 2: so that was really fantastic. And we've also got coming up. 144 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:28,760 Speaker 2: We've got men's yoga free men's yoga, and it supports 145 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:34,080 Speaker 2: men's health, and it's a free session and hopefully that'll 146 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:37,120 Speaker 2: help people with their physical and mental will bag good. 147 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:40,800 Speaker 1: Stuff that is good, really good to hear now, Litchfield Mayor, 148 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:43,560 Speaker 1: Rachel right, I really appreciate you having a chat with us, 149 00:09:43,640 --> 00:09:45,480 Speaker 1: no doubt. Well, we'll make sure we catch up with 150 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:46,440 Speaker 1: you a bit more regularly. 151 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:49,839 Speaker 2: I'd love that. Thanks very much, Katie. 152 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:51,520 Speaker 1: Thank you, thanks so much for your time this morning. 153 00:09:51,559 --> 00:09:52,559 Speaker 1: Really appreciate it.