1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,280 Speaker 1: Well, it was a bit of an unofficial long weekend. 2 00:00:02,320 --> 00:00:04,440 Speaker 1: I think you'd have to say over the last few days. 3 00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:06,160 Speaker 1: I know that I was at work on Monday, so 4 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:08,880 Speaker 1: it was crystal, but a lot of people did take 5 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:11,719 Speaker 1: the opportunity to have an extra day off and many 6 00:00:12,039 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 1: heading out to our territory parks. And joining me on 7 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:19,200 Speaker 1: the line is the Parks and Wildlife Commission District manager 8 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:24,000 Speaker 1: Andrew Turner. Good morning to you, Andrew, Katie. 9 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:24,400 Speaker 2: How am you? 10 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:28,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, really good? Thanks so much for your time this morning. Andrew, 11 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:30,840 Speaker 1: how were the parks over the last few days? Was 12 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:31,960 Speaker 1: it a busy place to be? 13 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:35,519 Speaker 2: Certainly the weekend was busy and there was quite a 14 00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:39,280 Speaker 2: few people around yesterday as well. Lots of people enjoying 15 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:45,680 Speaker 2: the water. We opened purely and Florence Falls after some 16 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:50,000 Speaker 2: croc surveys late last week and it was taken up 17 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:51,640 Speaker 2: well by quite a few people. 18 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:54,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, I was going to ask that did it end up? 19 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:57,280 Speaker 1: Did they end up opening and how busy was it 20 00:00:57,400 --> 00:00:58,600 Speaker 1: in those areas? 21 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:05,640 Speaker 2: But the crowds were generally well behaved. We didn't have 22 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:09,240 Speaker 2: any reported issues out there, so lots of people in 23 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:11,680 Speaker 2: the water, but they, as I said, they were well 24 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:13,840 Speaker 2: behaved good and andrew. 25 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:16,800 Speaker 1: Any croc sidings anywhere not, you know, not there at 26 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:19,000 Speaker 1: Burely or Florence by the sounds of things. You had 27 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:22,200 Speaker 1: those surveys last week, But any concerns with crocodiles over 28 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 1: the weekend or over the last few days. 29 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 2: Not that we're aware of. We'll be starting that work 30 00:01:28,319 --> 00:01:30,720 Speaker 2: for a number of our other camping areas and sites 31 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:35,200 Speaker 2: over the next few days. So yeah, we'll keep you 32 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:40,600 Speaker 2: in line if there are any sightings. We're taking a 33 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:43,640 Speaker 2: fair bit of care this year. Obviously with a couple 34 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:46,679 Speaker 2: of crock sidings over the wet season in Litchfield there 35 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 2: were quite a few animals on the move, so we 36 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 2: are cautious about that. 37 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 1: Now. Litchfield is always expected to be busy as well 38 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:56,920 Speaker 1: when you've got a long weekend, particularly you know, we 39 00:01:57,000 --> 00:02:01,720 Speaker 1: had a few beautiful dry season esk last week was 40 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:03,640 Speaker 1: it pretty busy in terms of camping. 41 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 2: The camping areas had a good take up. There was 42 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 2: quite a few people in Wongai, but also both the 43 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:15,880 Speaker 2: Florence Falls campgrounds had quite a few people as well. 44 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:20,360 Speaker 2: So we were quite happy with the sort of readiness 45 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:23,280 Speaker 2: that we were able to achieve for the camping areas. 46 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:25,880 Speaker 2: They were quite well hardened off. We've still got a 47 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 2: little bit of burning to do around those areas and 48 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:30,680 Speaker 2: we'll get that done over the next couple of weeks, 49 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 2: as well as some broader scale burning on the roadsides 50 00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:37,960 Speaker 2: and some mose in the general park. 51 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:41,360 Speaker 1: And how has that booking system been going? Is it 52 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:44,079 Speaker 1: proving to be quite beneficial on weekends like the one 53 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:44,800 Speaker 1: we've just had. 54 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:49,079 Speaker 2: I think that's where it really comes into its own. 55 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:52,560 Speaker 2: You know, when those areas get overcrowded, it's not a 56 00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:56,440 Speaker 2: great experience for anyone. So this really limits the number 57 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:59,480 Speaker 2: of people that can access those areas, and it's sort 58 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:03,440 Speaker 2: of guarantees he's a good experience for all the park users. 59 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:05,880 Speaker 1: Andrew, all in all, sounds like it was a good 60 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:06,800 Speaker 1: weekend for everyone. 61 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:10,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, As I said Katie, we're really happy with it. 62 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 2: It's the start of what looks like a pretty busy year, 63 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:14,640 Speaker 2: so looking forward to it. 64 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:18,160 Speaker 1: Well, Andrew Turner, it's always great to catch up with you, mate. 65 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:19,760 Speaker 1: Really appreciate your time this morning. 66 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:22,080 Speaker 2: Thanks Katie, Thank you