1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:00,320 Speaker 1: Now. 2 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:04,280 Speaker 2: Creating a greener, safer and smarter city is the focus 3 00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:07,760 Speaker 2: for the City of Darwin's draft municipal plan and budget. 4 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:10,880 Speaker 2: It includes an ongoing expenditure of one hundred and thirty 5 00:00:10,920 --> 00:00:13,760 Speaker 2: nine point two eight million for next financial year with 6 00:00:13,840 --> 00:00:17,480 Speaker 2: a nineteen million dollar capital works program. And joining me 7 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 2: in the studio to tell us a little bit more 8 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:22,600 Speaker 2: about the situation and what we can expect it is 9 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 2: the Lord Mayor convat Scalas. Good morning to you, Coln, 10 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie, and we've also got the CEO Simone Saunders, 11 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:32,000 Speaker 2: good morning to you, morning, Katie, Thanks you, thank you 12 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:35,560 Speaker 2: both so much for joining us this morning. Now tell 13 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:38,080 Speaker 2: me are there going to be Firstly, I know the 14 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:42,120 Speaker 2: question on everybody's lips will be any changes to the rates? 15 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:45,199 Speaker 1: Yes, Katy, it will, and there isn't we say that 16 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:49,239 Speaker 1: one because the country, like any other organization, even private 17 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 1: sector organization, we hit with big increases on everything, all 18 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 1: good and serves. We acquire petrol, fuel and power contract 19 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:02,920 Speaker 1: everything is gone up and suddenly we have to actually 20 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:05,800 Speaker 1: raise the money. The issue here is under legislation, the 21 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 1: council has to have a balanced budget. We can't have 22 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:10,640 Speaker 1: a deficit, so we can't say, okay, we can run 23 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:13,080 Speaker 1: twenty million dollar deficit to keep the rates down. 24 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 3: We can't do that. One Let's leisure requires we've got 25 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:17,040 Speaker 3: a balanced budget. 26 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:21,319 Speaker 1: One thing we did we actually work really hard to 27 00:01:21,319 --> 00:01:23,400 Speaker 1: make sure that we're not going to slog. 28 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:25,399 Speaker 3: Our rate payers with a huge page rise. 29 00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:28,080 Speaker 1: In the beginning we're talking, there was talk about seven 30 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:32,959 Speaker 1: percent increase, eight percent increase. We thought this is really unsustainable. 31 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 1: We can't really hit people. They already pay a lot 32 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:39,640 Speaker 1: at the supermarket, the bank loan for the houses, and 33 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 1: we try and try it right. So we managed to 34 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:44,040 Speaker 1: get a council that has a very good budget one 35 00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:46,399 Speaker 1: hundred and thirty nine point two million dollars, which is 36 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 1: going to We spent most of it locally, and the 37 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 1: rate rights will be only five percent point five percent 38 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:56,440 Speaker 1: more than last year. What we try to do we 39 00:01:56,480 --> 00:01:59,720 Speaker 1: try to actually make the councel more efficient, negotiate better 40 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:01,600 Speaker 1: content the value for money. 41 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:04,160 Speaker 3: In order to keep our rates down. We have managed 42 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:04,480 Speaker 3: to do that. 43 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:06,840 Speaker 1: One. We don't have a massive increase in rates, but 44 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:11,280 Speaker 1: at the same time we've got significant package of capital 45 00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:13,919 Speaker 1: walks nearly twenty million dollars, nineteen million dollars. 46 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 2: Might go through those capital works in a moment. Just 47 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:18,680 Speaker 2: in terms of the rates, so five percent, do we 48 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 2: have an idea of how much that works out to 49 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:22,239 Speaker 2: be for the average rate payer. 50 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:23,920 Speaker 3: One hundred and fourteen dollars a year, one. 51 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:26,720 Speaker 2: Hundred and fourteen dollars a year, And in terms of 52 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:28,920 Speaker 2: sort of breaking that down with you know, with the 53 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:31,640 Speaker 2: waste charges or the different charges, how does it like, 54 00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 2: how does that work? 55 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:35,720 Speaker 1: Well, one hundred and fourteen dollars a year, which actually 56 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 1: about one dollars seventy a week, and the rubbish is 57 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:42,919 Speaker 1: about forty two cents a week, which is not really much. 58 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 1: But at the same time, what we're offering we're offering 59 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:51,120 Speaker 1: about nine million dollars to look after our packs, plus 60 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:53,840 Speaker 1: three point three million dollars to put trees on the ground. 61 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:57,639 Speaker 1: We're offering nineteen million dollars capital works. We have four 62 00:02:57,639 --> 00:03:01,000 Speaker 1: point three million dollars spent in the libraries. We upgrade 63 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:03,239 Speaker 1: our IT system that has been upgrade for a long 64 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:06,320 Speaker 1: long time. That will cost about three point five million dollars. 65 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:09,359 Speaker 1: We put nine hundred and fifty thousand dollars for a 66 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 1: safer dowwin. We actually put an extra half a million 67 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:16,000 Speaker 1: dollars to make the hourun safer. We pay four hundred 68 00:03:16,040 --> 00:03:19,280 Speaker 1: thousand dollars for the CBDI patrol. Now we decide to 69 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 1: expand our rangers seven days a week for all the 70 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:24,280 Speaker 1: suburbs and for that one we will pay an extra 71 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 1: five hundred thousand dollars. 72 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:28,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, right, So those ranges are going to be that's. 73 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:31,280 Speaker 3: Seven days a week throughout the municipality. 74 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:31,519 Speaker 2: Throughout the whole year. 75 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 3: Through the whole year. Wow. 76 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 2: I mean that's a pretty big step for the council 77 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:36,280 Speaker 2: to have to take, isn't it. 78 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 1: I've been asking for a long time put police on 79 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:41,720 Speaker 1: the streets. Well I'll give you example. I'll put ranges 80 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:43,559 Speaker 1: on the streets. Let's the police. 81 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:45,240 Speaker 2: Follow and so how many will it be? How many 82 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:46,920 Speaker 2: will it mate in terms of those ranges. 83 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:49,840 Speaker 4: So on the weekend, so this will be Saturday and Sunday. 84 00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:52,320 Speaker 4: We're currently five days, but moving to seven days, we 85 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:54,560 Speaker 4: will have two patrolling in the morning and two patrolling 86 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 4: in the afternoon, so all we can coverage as well, 87 00:03:57,480 --> 00:03:59,520 Speaker 4: and extending right out through the northern suburbs. 88 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:02,800 Speaker 2: At what cost is that I suppose for the councilor 89 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:05,200 Speaker 2: how much half million, half. 90 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:08,080 Speaker 1: A million and look, we want the community to be safe. 91 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:10,240 Speaker 1: And the thing is that with the we don't have 92 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:12,120 Speaker 1: the power of our rest. We don't have power to 93 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:14,160 Speaker 1: put our alcohol. But what we've got the power to 94 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 1: is talk to people, and we do really well. Talk 95 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:19,800 Speaker 1: to people, refer them to services, We move the people 96 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:23,839 Speaker 1: that create disturbance and we affirme on it and they move. 97 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:26,440 Speaker 1: We're trying to work with a lot of kere nation 98 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:29,279 Speaker 1: and the police together to make things, make sure things happen. 99 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:31,599 Speaker 1: But unless we put foot on the street, foot on 100 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:33,120 Speaker 1: the ground is not going to happen. 101 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:37,800 Speaker 2: So what are the major projects? The major capital works program? 102 00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:38,720 Speaker 2: What's included in that. 103 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:43,160 Speaker 4: Yeah, so we'll continue investing. We've got really really large 104 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:47,200 Speaker 4: networks of roads, stormwater systems, and paths. So there's another 105 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 4: two million dollars in our stormwater systems, another one point 106 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 4: seven million dollars for our animal management programs. We're also 107 00:04:56,120 --> 00:04:59,520 Speaker 4: seeing continue investment. I think with this rate to increase, 108 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:02,640 Speaker 4: we have and taken or reduced any program. So we 109 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:06,080 Speaker 4: haven't changed anything. So we've still got significant investment of 110 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 4: one point five million in the arts and culture space 111 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:12,920 Speaker 4: and continuing to make sure that we maintain footpaths, roads, 112 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 4: our parks. We have two hundred and twenty one parks 113 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:18,719 Speaker 4: in darwe It is a huge amount and it's ten 114 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:23,000 Speaker 4: million dollars alone just for maintenance, cleaning and repairs on 115 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:26,920 Speaker 4: those parks. And we will continue to deliver those community services. 116 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 2: And has that course actually gone up over the last 117 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:31,560 Speaker 2: couple of years because I think that, you know, it's 118 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:33,880 Speaker 2: been well documented con and I you know, we've spoken 119 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:36,200 Speaker 2: about the few times the different issues that the council 120 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:39,440 Speaker 2: is sort of dealing with in terms of of cleaning 121 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:41,280 Speaker 2: the city and the parks. 122 00:05:41,640 --> 00:05:44,440 Speaker 1: Well, yes it has, and we try to manage it 123 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 1: with existing resources, but we're to stage now that unless 124 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:48,840 Speaker 1: we get extend our help we can't do it. I 125 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:50,920 Speaker 1: asked the Chief Minister for assistance with a lot of 126 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:54,200 Speaker 1: security business. She agreed to it. They had a problems 127 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:56,400 Speaker 1: internally with the department. Now I think the problems be 128 00:05:56,480 --> 00:05:59,760 Speaker 1: resolved and soon we have an agreement with Corrections to 129 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:02,160 Speaker 1: hear these people out. The reality is the problem is 130 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:04,159 Speaker 1: not created by the people of Dowin that create for 131 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:05,640 Speaker 1: people that come from outside Doarwin. 132 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:07,240 Speaker 3: The good thing is. 133 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 1: I have now did discussions and a lot of people 134 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:13,040 Speaker 1: come out from the communities, fellow mayors, they said they 135 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:15,880 Speaker 1: had enough. They want their people back. They embarrassed and 136 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:18,640 Speaker 1: are saying from what's happening in Darwin. Plus they've got 137 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:21,040 Speaker 1: their own problems in their own community. So we'd be 138 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:24,039 Speaker 1: seeking and committing with the Chief Minister, which is currently 139 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:27,400 Speaker 1: accepted to be around June, because just people were really 140 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:28,200 Speaker 1: fed up with it. 141 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:28,680 Speaker 3: Now. 142 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:30,560 Speaker 2: Is this the first time that you know that the 143 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:33,599 Speaker 2: Darwin City councils really had to spend extra money on 144 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:37,040 Speaker 2: dealing with the anti social issues that we've coursed. 145 00:06:37,160 --> 00:06:39,200 Speaker 1: It happens from time to time. I've been here for 146 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:41,719 Speaker 1: thirty years. I've seen come and go, but this time 147 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:45,799 Speaker 1: it's continuous and significant. You had the COVID, the people 148 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:47,760 Speaker 1: of wise people in capital designed to throw a lot 149 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:48,960 Speaker 1: of money for nothing. 150 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:52,040 Speaker 3: This money went mostly to things that you know what. 151 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:55,280 Speaker 1: I'm talking about. And then you've got the floods. People 152 00:06:55,320 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 1: who went back, some of them didn't stay back. People 153 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 1: camping everywhere and there were not money and until resilved 154 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:04,240 Speaker 1: to return to country. I believe the governments trying to 155 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:07,960 Speaker 1: sort this out. But again, it's not only the alcohol, 156 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:10,440 Speaker 1: it's the level of crime and a social behavior but 157 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:13,280 Speaker 1: thankfully government's trying to do something about it, because at 158 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:15,040 Speaker 1: the end of the day, it's not only helping Dow 159 00:07:15,160 --> 00:07:16,720 Speaker 1: and helping themselves. 160 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:19,440 Speaker 2: It's yeah, that's exactly right. I mean it has to 161 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:22,160 Speaker 2: It's got to happen, doesn't it. Before I let you go, someone, 162 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:24,080 Speaker 2: can I just ask? I know that people can have 163 00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:26,200 Speaker 2: their say on this municipal plan, can't they? They can 164 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:27,680 Speaker 2: jump online absolutely. 165 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:30,160 Speaker 4: This is just the draft municipal plan and budget and 166 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:33,960 Speaker 4: it's open for twenty one days consultation. Jump onto the 167 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:38,400 Speaker 4: engaged website. There's copies of the plans available our libraries 168 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:40,000 Speaker 4: and the civic center, so you can go in there 169 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:43,080 Speaker 4: and write a submission or also let you know our 170 00:07:43,080 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 4: elective members and our councilors know your feedback and they 171 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:48,200 Speaker 4: can pass that on to the team and or will 172 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:52,280 Speaker 4: be closed. Yeah, twenty one days at three pm and. 173 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:54,280 Speaker 1: One point two million dollars will be spent on the 174 00:07:54,320 --> 00:07:57,280 Speaker 1: wards for project that the elect members will bring to 175 00:07:57,400 --> 00:08:01,880 Speaker 1: our attention, which usually they receive submissions or requests from 176 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:05,960 Speaker 1: their own constituents. So we're spending money going to our roads. 177 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:08,600 Speaker 1: Are the construction as you see it, We will do 178 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:12,400 Speaker 1: now the Kavanagh Street further down to the university. We're 179 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:15,320 Speaker 1: going to do we think about Mcminstreet. We discussed with 180 00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 1: the government that one Bandila. The governments promised three million dollars. 181 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:20,720 Speaker 1: We want to put the dog back there, but we 182 00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:23,520 Speaker 1: waited for the government to tell us when the miner 183 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:26,080 Speaker 1: will come and what kind of projects they want to see. 184 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:29,160 Speaker 1: Council Works for the community will continue to provide the 185 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:32,480 Speaker 1: service to the community and we unfortunately we had to 186 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:35,559 Speaker 1: put an increase on the rates. The reality is everybody pays, 187 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:38,960 Speaker 1: include myself, included the CEO, include all the local members. 188 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:41,560 Speaker 2: Well, no doubt we'll get some feedback from our listeners 189 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:44,079 Speaker 2: this morning. Really appreciate you both coming into the studio 190 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:46,679 Speaker 2: this morning, Lord Mayor of dalw And Combat Scolars and 191 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:49,720 Speaker 2: CEO some Owned Saunders. Thank you both very much for 192 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:50,120 Speaker 2: your time. 193 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:51,280 Speaker 3: Thank you Katie, Thank you Kate.