1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,759 Speaker 1: Well, there has been a bit further discussion or certainly 2 00:00:03,160 --> 00:00:06,920 Speaker 1: more media reporting this week about whether Mitchell Street should 3 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:11,159 Speaker 1: be made pedestrian friendly and closed off to traffic in 4 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:13,640 Speaker 1: the night hours, following on from that situation that we 5 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:16,200 Speaker 1: saw on Sunday morning. Now joining us on the line 6 00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:18,320 Speaker 1: is the Lord Mayor of Darwin conbat Scarlets. 7 00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:21,320 Speaker 2: Good morning conn Good morning Katie con Do you think. 8 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:23,880 Speaker 1: That we need to be closing Mitchell Straight off to 9 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:26,960 Speaker 1: vehicles at night time a few days a week following 10 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:28,600 Speaker 1: on from that incident on the weekend. 11 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:33,280 Speaker 3: Well, it's been flooded before with us in the Council 12 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:37,760 Speaker 3: about converting into pedestrian road, but I think we shouldn't 13 00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:39,919 Speaker 3: do that to an mehari, We should have discussions, will 14 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:43,440 Speaker 3: probably proprietors there and the government find out the best solution. 15 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:46,360 Speaker 3: My prefer option is if we can close it down 16 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:50,040 Speaker 3: at night, let's say six o'clock, by putting eumatic ballarts 17 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:52,680 Speaker 3: they come out of the road. I think people will 18 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:55,680 Speaker 3: feel more free and more relaxed working there, not cart 19 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 3: driving around, and give the opportunity then for the properties 20 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:01,880 Speaker 3: and the premises struck, put tables out and converted to 21 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:03,880 Speaker 3: a really open dining area. 22 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 1: But would you do that before consulting with those businesses 23 00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:10,080 Speaker 1: or would you make sure you go through that proper 24 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:11,639 Speaker 1: consultation process first? 25 00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 3: Oh no, no, Katie. Everybody has to be part of it. 26 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:16,520 Speaker 3: We can't just step in and do it ourselves. We 27 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:18,440 Speaker 3: have to be people have to want to do it. 28 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 3: What's the point of us going in and doing it 29 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:25,319 Speaker 3: then everybody objecting to it. The properties have invested into 30 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:27,120 Speaker 3: it and they have to be part of the solution. 31 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:29,440 Speaker 1: So, Colin, if you did it, and like you said, 32 00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:31,959 Speaker 1: obviously they'd have to be a full consultation process. But 33 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:34,839 Speaker 1: if you did it, would you have you know, would 34 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:37,280 Speaker 1: you have like tables and chairs sort of about further? 35 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:40,360 Speaker 1: Would you try to make it a real El Fresco 36 00:01:40,520 --> 00:01:41,440 Speaker 1: dining precinct. 37 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:44,280 Speaker 3: What's the point of actually closing the road in the 38 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:46,600 Speaker 3: afternoon if you don't convert it to El Fresco for 39 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 3: those hours. You don't want an empty pitchment there. You 40 00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:52,240 Speaker 3: want to be activated. And I think, and I've seen 41 00:01:52,240 --> 00:01:55,320 Speaker 3: it in many other places here in Australia and in Europe, 42 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:58,559 Speaker 3: that this happened regularly. Big streets in Europe they close 43 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:00,440 Speaker 3: them down at night after five or love of six 44 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 3: o'clock after the main shops close and be converted to 45 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:05,800 Speaker 3: a place where people we can have a drink or 46 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 3: can have dinner, and I think a lot of premises 47 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:11,200 Speaker 3: there they will love the opportunity to actually go out 48 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:12,520 Speaker 3: those especially in the crisis. 49 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:16,320 Speaker 1: Is it something that the Council is seriously considering, though, Corn, 50 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:18,720 Speaker 1: or is it just something that if businesses and if 51 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:21,000 Speaker 1: people came forward and really pushed for this, then you 52 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:21,760 Speaker 1: might change it. 53 00:02:22,919 --> 00:02:25,120 Speaker 3: Well, Katie, the other thing you have to remember is 54 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:29,400 Speaker 3: if more families come down and have a dinner at Fresco, 55 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 3: less idiots will distribute things like they are to the 56 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:34,720 Speaker 3: guy in the Black Cole world or we'll drive to 57 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:37,040 Speaker 3: the other day. And if you do only have cars 58 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:39,359 Speaker 3: in the hand or idiots will avoid the instance you 59 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:43,240 Speaker 3: had before, because sometimes people drink too much and they 60 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 3: will use their cars as weapons. And visus are no, 61 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:47,160 Speaker 3: no and should never happen. 62 00:02:47,639 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 1: Now, corn, I believe that council met last night and 63 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 1: I thought that on the table there was going to 64 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:56,120 Speaker 1: be a discussion about an increased number of cat traps. 65 00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 2: Was that the case. 66 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:01,799 Speaker 3: We have the where we've got two new suburbs now 67 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 3: that actually they are going to be developed very close 68 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:07,360 Speaker 3: or next to a natural reserve in the Casurina bitch, 69 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:09,800 Speaker 3: we also know very well they actually we've got a 70 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:13,359 Speaker 3: lot of wildlife there and the last thing we need 71 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:17,400 Speaker 3: is actually people having cats roaming free at night estimating 72 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 3: these wildlife. We know very well a cat by instacts 73 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:23,200 Speaker 3: are hundles and they will go out of the way 74 00:03:23,240 --> 00:03:25,400 Speaker 3: to hunt things even if they don't want to eat it. 75 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:28,160 Speaker 3: So what we decide to do actually change our policy 76 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:31,400 Speaker 3: on cats and then our bilows. So cats would not 77 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:34,680 Speaker 3: be allowed to be free outside the house and certainly 78 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:37,240 Speaker 3: would not be allowed to be free in the garden 79 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:40,120 Speaker 3: as well, because they can always escape the small animals, 80 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:43,119 Speaker 3: they can find a way to escape and their masters escape. 81 00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 2: So what are you going to do? Set up more traps? 82 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:47,040 Speaker 2: So how are you going to do this? 83 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:51,680 Speaker 3: Well, we who get more traps? And when we trap 84 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 3: a cat, if the cat is micro chip, that the 85 00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:57,640 Speaker 3: owner who can be fined it is not microchip. Then 86 00:03:57,680 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 3: could bye cat? 87 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:01,960 Speaker 2: Well tell you what called? Are you a cat lover? 88 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 3: I am? I love you. At the same time. 89 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 2: The fair ones, yeah. 90 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 3: My wild eyes and I love the birds in my 91 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:13,040 Speaker 3: garden and we have to balance both I don't want 92 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:15,880 Speaker 3: an empty garden. I want and alive garden. But at 93 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:18,640 Speaker 3: the same time, I always kept my cat inside with 94 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:21,680 Speaker 3: a belt on here for your next didn't like that one, 95 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 3: but the birds likely because they could hear her coming. 96 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:28,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, fair enough, Con, Just finally I know that are 97 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:32,080 Speaker 1: my Darwin vouchers. That that next round I believe it 98 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:32,920 Speaker 1: kicks off today. 99 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:38,120 Speaker 3: Well it did one minutes past midnight. If you were 100 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 3: a member, probably you found on your phone already the vouchers. 101 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:44,280 Speaker 3: I did this morning in my phone, and I'm surprised 102 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:46,680 Speaker 3: you are there, not out they're shopping, spreading the vouch I. 103 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 1: Wish I was that spreading money. 104 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:52,719 Speaker 3: We actually put four hundred thousand dollars two hundred thousand 105 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:55,720 Speaker 3: dollars ourselves, two hundred thousand dollars, not the territory government. 106 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:58,840 Speaker 3: The first round starts today and the second round will 107 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:01,800 Speaker 3: start with the twenty oth Jenuy. So go out there, 108 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:05,200 Speaker 3: use your vouchers, spend them in the local businesses, help 109 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:08,159 Speaker 3: yourself and help our local business survive this difficult time. 110 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:10,719 Speaker 1: Now, Con, did anything else happen last night in that 111 00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 1: council meeting that we should be aware. 112 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:15,440 Speaker 3: Of the Minister popped in and say hello, and we 113 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:17,880 Speaker 3: had discussion with us and we had Christmas dinner all 114 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 3: together and we had a great time. It was the 115 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:22,760 Speaker 3: last meeting of the year and it's been a year 116 00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:27,040 Speaker 3: from hell. With COVID nineteen, it changed the way we live. 117 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:30,320 Speaker 3: We meet, we drink, we socialize, we travel well or 118 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:33,240 Speaker 3: we don't drive a travel and hopefully next year will 119 00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:34,040 Speaker 3: be much much better. 120 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:37,279 Speaker 1: Well, convat scarlets, the Lord Mayor of Darwin, good to 121 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:37,960 Speaker 1: catch up with you. 122 00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 2: We'll leave it there and we'll talk to you again 123 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 2: next week. 124 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:41,159 Speaker 3: Yes, we'll do. 125 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:42,599 Speaker 2: Thank you. Thanks Con. 126 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:45,040 Speaker 1: And it is just a couple of minutes away from 127 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:47,520 Speaker 1: ten o'clock and Ronnie, my producer, is telling me that 128 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:51,440 Speaker 1: there's already been three thousand, six hundred and ninety five 129 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:54,760 Speaker 1: dollars used of the my Darwin vouchers. That is of 130 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:57,560 Speaker 1: the two hundred thousand dollars which has been set aside. 131 00:05:57,640 --> 00:06:00,200 Speaker 1: So if you've got well, if you've got that app 132 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:02,359 Speaker 1: and you want to go out and do some shopping, 133 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:03,119 Speaker 1: now's the time.