1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,800 Speaker 1: Now we know a lot of territory it's going to 2 00:00:01,800 --> 00:00:05,280 Speaker 1: be heading out camping over the weekend and well maybe 3 00:00:05,320 --> 00:00:07,960 Speaker 1: heading out for a day trip, barbecue on a swim, 4 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:10,560 Speaker 1: maybe heading out for a couple of days and joining 5 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:14,080 Speaker 1: us on the line is Anti Parks and Wildlife Acting 6 00:00:14,120 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 1: Director of Northern Australian Parks Andrew Turner. Good morning, Andrew. 7 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:20,200 Speaker 2: Hi Katie. How are you? 8 00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:23,239 Speaker 1: Yeah? Really good? Lovely to have you on the show mate. 9 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:25,959 Speaker 1: How's it looking for the weekend? Is it going to 10 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:28,240 Speaker 1: be a big weekend of camping for territorians? 11 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:30,040 Speaker 2: I think so. 12 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:30,880 Speaker 1: Yeah. 13 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:34,600 Speaker 2: Things have really taken shape after that last bout of 14 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:37,559 Speaker 2: rain that we had. It's been a funny wet season 15 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:40,320 Speaker 2: for us in the top end. Many areas got good 16 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:43,320 Speaker 2: rain and then quite a few areas we've been able 17 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:47,680 Speaker 2: to access sites throughout the wet season. So an example 18 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:51,960 Speaker 2: of that is tomorrow morning we're opening Walker Creek to camping, 19 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 2: which is some forty five days in advance of when 20 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:58,279 Speaker 2: we normally open it up. And that's because we've been 21 00:00:58,320 --> 00:00:59,960 Speaker 2: able to get in and do the work. The water 22 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 2: dropped away and we've been able to do the crop 23 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 2: management stuff for that. There's quite a few other sites. 24 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 2: Bitter Springs down near Catherine opens today for swimming, so 25 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:13,320 Speaker 2: that's a huge story. And then there's quite a few 26 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:16,400 Speaker 2: sites that are already open to camping, you know, Florence 27 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:20,600 Speaker 2: and one guy in Litchfield. You still can't swim at 28 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:23,919 Speaker 2: one Guy, but certainly they're swimming at Florence and Bully 29 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:26,920 Speaker 2: Rock Hole. So all in all, there's lots to get 30 00:01:26,959 --> 00:01:27,560 Speaker 2: around and do. 31 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:31,119 Speaker 1: Which spots are the most popular? You reckon? 32 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:37,360 Speaker 2: Well, Walker Creek is a very popular site. It's walking 33 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:40,280 Speaker 2: camping and there's eight sites there, so they fill up 34 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:44,920 Speaker 2: fairly quickly. But you know, areas like Florence. Florence Fall 35 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 2: Will Drive Campground is always popular. It's a really well 36 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 2: shaded spot, it's got good facilities, and it's a close 37 00:01:52,240 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 2: walk to the swimming so it's really popular as well. 38 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:57,960 Speaker 1: Now, have you got any tips for campus? I mean, 39 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:00,240 Speaker 1: is there anything that they need to make sure that 40 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:02,600 Speaker 1: they're doing before they decide to go out for the 41 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 1: weekend if they haven't already. 42 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:08,720 Speaker 2: With these couple of long weekends in a row, I 43 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:12,480 Speaker 2: guess be respectful to each other and to the staff 44 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:15,520 Speaker 2: out there is one of the messages I'd like to 45 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:18,079 Speaker 2: get across. But the rest of it is all about safety, 46 00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:19,959 Speaker 2: you know, being safe on the roads. There's going to 47 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:22,400 Speaker 2: be lots of people out and about. It's going to 48 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:24,240 Speaker 2: be the first time some of these roads have been 49 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 2: used for a while, so be wary of the conditions. 50 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:30,520 Speaker 2: The water itself. You know, they're still dropping water in 51 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 2: many of these areas, and whilst the crop management has 52 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:35,640 Speaker 2: been done, you know, be safe when you're out swimming, 53 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:39,200 Speaker 2: don't be silly. And then even things like you know, 54 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:43,600 Speaker 2: we've had recent mosquito warnings with the interflitis and whatever, 55 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 2: so just make sure that you're prepared to go camping 56 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 2: and everything that it throws. Actually, now, what about. 57 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:51,080 Speaker 1: Swimming are there? I mean you touched on this a 58 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:53,720 Speaker 1: moment ago. There are obviously some places where you can swim, 59 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:55,440 Speaker 1: but what's your recommendations for people. 60 00:02:56,919 --> 00:02:59,960 Speaker 2: Well, those areas that are opened by parks, they've gone 61 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:03,280 Speaker 2: through a process where we've assessed the water levels, the 62 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:06,520 Speaker 2: clarity of the water, and the turbulence, and then we've 63 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 2: also done a range of crop management activity to ensure 64 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:15,000 Speaker 2: so many of those areas have got crocodile traps and 65 00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:19,400 Speaker 2: indicator boys and they've also had a series of surveys 66 00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:22,840 Speaker 2: done to ensure that the risk for swimmers is as 67 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:25,680 Speaker 2: low as we can possibly make it. So any of 68 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:28,360 Speaker 2: the areas that are designated for swimming and that are open, 69 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:31,720 Speaker 2: you should have a fair degree of confidence that you know, 70 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:35,280 Speaker 2: things as much has been done as possible. Those areas 71 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:37,680 Speaker 2: that haven't been opened yet, just stay away from the water. 72 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 2: You know, this is the season where crocodiles are still 73 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:44,920 Speaker 2: moving around, settling in for their dry season, so there's 74 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 2: still very much around the place. If it's not open, 75 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 2: don't go in there. 76 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, very sound advice. Now, somebody had been 77 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:54,760 Speaker 1: in contact and I understand that there's been reports of 78 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:59,680 Speaker 1: croc sidings that are culvert on barrel Mundy Driver near Dundee. 79 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:02,640 Speaker 1: Do you know that area and do you say the case? 80 00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, out near Dundee. I've heard of the report. It 81 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:10,880 Speaker 2: came up yesterday. I understand the crop management team has 82 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:14,960 Speaker 2: has gone for a look. But yeah, I'm not sure 83 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:18,039 Speaker 2: what the what the outcome is going to be, whether 84 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 2: they're going to try to put a trap in there 85 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:22,719 Speaker 2: or do something else. Yeah, would be really vigilant that 86 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:24,839 Speaker 2: you know, the crocs have had lots of water to 87 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:27,360 Speaker 2: move around in during the wet season. As that drops away, 88 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:30,040 Speaker 2: they'd be looking for areas to settle down in so 89 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:33,279 Speaker 2: Culvit's especially when you're stopping for a quick flick or something. 90 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:36,000 Speaker 2: Just be mindful that you might be sharing that. 91 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:38,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, and Andrew, I mean, it's always a timely reminder, 92 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:40,160 Speaker 1: right to be crock wise. 93 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:44,560 Speaker 2: Absolutely, it's one of the most important things you can 94 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:48,920 Speaker 2: do in the top end. You know, they're they're large animals. Yeah, 95 00:04:48,960 --> 00:04:52,440 Speaker 2: they're they're often you know that they've got a mind 96 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:55,400 Speaker 2: of their own. They're Yeah, just steer clear of them. 97 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 1: As the advice, I totally agree. Well, Anti Parks and 98 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:03,599 Speaker 1: Wildlife Acting Director of Northern Australian Parks Andrew Turner, have 99 00:05:03,680 --> 00:05:05,960 Speaker 1: a lovely Easter, mate, you. 100 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:08,480 Speaker 2: Two have a lovely three long weekend in a row. 101 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:11,400 Speaker 1: I'm thoroughly looking forward to it. We're pretty lucky here 102 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:13,880 Speaker 1: on the station where we do get those public holidays, 103 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:17,800 Speaker 1: so I'm thoroughly looking forward to it. Andrew, well done, 104 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:19,680 Speaker 1: keep good on your mate. Thank you.