1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,000 Speaker 1: Now I'm very pleased to say that joining us live 2 00:00:02,200 --> 00:00:05,480 Speaker 1: on the line is the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, 3 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:08,360 Speaker 1: Leo Finocchio. Good morning to your Chief Minister. 4 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:10,600 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie, and to your listeners. 5 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 1: Now, all eyes on Catherine and the surrounds this morning. 6 00:00:15,520 --> 00:00:18,439 Speaker 1: We know that we're expecting a heck of a lot 7 00:00:18,440 --> 00:00:21,000 Speaker 1: of rain over the next twenty four to forty eight hours. 8 00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:23,200 Speaker 1: What do you know at this point, Chief. 9 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:26,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, there certainly has been a lot of rain and 10 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 2: TEMPSI has meant and will be making a recommendation to 11 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:34,199 Speaker 2: me shortly to be closing Catherine High School, McFarlane High 12 00:00:34,240 --> 00:00:38,000 Speaker 2: School and Casarina Street Primary schools. We will be asking 13 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 2: parents to come and pick up your kids at around 14 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:44,840 Speaker 2: lunchtime and that will allow us to then turn those 15 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:49,159 Speaker 2: facilities into emergency spaces for people who might need it 16 00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:52,560 Speaker 2: over the coming hours. But we are expecting the river 17 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:55,280 Speaker 2: to come up to seventeen point five meters at about 18 00:00:55,280 --> 00:00:56,200 Speaker 2: two pm today. 19 00:00:56,600 --> 00:01:00,360 Speaker 1: Right, so at about midday today, the schools going to 20 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:02,920 Speaker 1: be closing. The public schools are going to be closing. 21 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:06,800 Speaker 2: That's correct, and so communications will come out to families. 22 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:10,039 Speaker 2: This is probably the first they've heard of it, Katie, 23 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:14,240 Speaker 2: as I'll be signing that emergency declaration very shortly, and 24 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:17,480 Speaker 2: that will be for an area just south of Bachelor 25 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:20,760 Speaker 2: right through to that big river zone and Catherine, and 26 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:24,399 Speaker 2: let's not forget Beswick as well, and we've been anticipating 27 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:27,120 Speaker 2: this rain for a long time. I want to reassure 28 00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 2: territories that our emergency services personnel and police have been 29 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:36,000 Speaker 2: watching this extremely closely, and we've had police in Beswick 30 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:38,440 Speaker 2: prior to them being cut off to make sure that 31 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 2: we've got the right support and resources on the ground. 32 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 2: So things will certainly ramp up today with a lot 33 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 2: more communication to the public, and I just ask everyone 34 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:51,560 Speaker 2: to start to enact their emergency plans if they're in 35 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:56,480 Speaker 2: those impacted areas, and be watching for Secure and Tea 36 00:01:56,560 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 2: for updates. There will be a press conference at eleven 37 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:01,560 Speaker 2: fifteen are as well, Katie. 38 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 1: To finistere In terms of that river level being at 39 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 1: seventeen point five meters, I think you said, how does 40 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 1: that sort of compare to previous flooding that we've seen 41 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:11,240 Speaker 1: around Catherine. 42 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:14,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, it is substantial and it might not stop at 43 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 2: seventeen point five if it continues to rain. In surrounding areas. 44 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:23,320 Speaker 2: Then the catchment will all flow into the Catherine River 45 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:26,520 Speaker 2: and so it could even peak to eighteen point five 46 00:02:26,919 --> 00:02:30,960 Speaker 2: late this afternoon early evening. So we're watching that very closely, 47 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:34,560 Speaker 2: and of course we'll provide accurate information on secure and tea. 48 00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:37,840 Speaker 2: But people do need to start thinking about, you know, 49 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:40,160 Speaker 2: do they have water, do they have food, what is 50 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:42,920 Speaker 2: the plan for their pets? You know, they're important documents 51 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:45,480 Speaker 2: things like that. It's not a time to panic. Our 52 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:50,040 Speaker 2: emergency services are very well prepared and for example, later 53 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 2: in Catherine late this afternoon, the community can go to 54 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 2: the Ntes yard at fourteen Chardon Street to be able 55 00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:00,160 Speaker 2: to collect sandbags if that's something they would like for 56 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 2: their home or business. And lots of precautionary steps are 57 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:09,239 Speaker 2: taking place, including evacuating thirty four patients from the Catherine Hospital. 58 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:11,640 Speaker 2: We're just going through that process now to make sure 59 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:13,360 Speaker 2: everyone's safe and we're well prepared. 60 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:16,120 Speaker 1: So Chief Minister, with those thirty four patients that are 61 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:18,480 Speaker 1: going to be evacuated from the Catherine Hospital, are they 62 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 1: going to be airlifted to Darwin. 63 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:24,320 Speaker 2: It just depends. We actually have the Stuart Highway cut 64 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:28,359 Speaker 2: off at the moment between Amongolan and Pine Creek, so 65 00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 2: there won't be any road travel to Darwin, but we 66 00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:34,600 Speaker 2: do have other hospitals across the territory and so our 67 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 2: amazing health staff are working through who's safe enough to 68 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:41,560 Speaker 2: be supported at home, who will go to our other hospitals, 69 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:43,320 Speaker 2: and then how we get them there, And that again 70 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:46,640 Speaker 2: is precautionary, just to give comfort to people that all 71 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 2: the right measures are happening at the right time. 72 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 1: I mean, I know the Catherine community are an incredibly 73 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:56,040 Speaker 1: resilient bunch. They are tough as nails, I reckon, you'd 74 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 1: have to say, and are prepared for anything. But it's 75 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:02,040 Speaker 1: so it could get a bit hairy over the next 76 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:03,000 Speaker 1: twenty four hours. 77 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:07,360 Speaker 2: They are really resilient and unfortunately flood is no stranger 78 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:10,840 Speaker 2: to people in that Catherine and Big Rivers region. But 79 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:14,120 Speaker 2: it's not a time for complacency either, and it's fantastic 80 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:16,400 Speaker 2: that the community, you know, this is a well worn 81 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:19,039 Speaker 2: path for them. As I said, unfortunately, but we need 82 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:23,080 Speaker 2: to just be keeping abreast of the current information, watching 83 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 2: those flood levels and taking the right action at the 84 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:28,280 Speaker 2: right time. But of course all of us are thinking 85 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:32,600 Speaker 2: of everyone impacted, and you know Daily River again will 86 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:37,159 Speaker 2: be impacted, if not today, tomorrow, So there's a lot 87 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:40,920 Speaker 2: of eyes watching all of the flow on impacts from 88 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:41,560 Speaker 2: the weather EVM. 89 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 1: Chief finished, is it possible that the residents of the 90 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:49,200 Speaker 1: Daily may need to be evacuated over coming days, same 91 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:51,840 Speaker 1: as beeswek some of those communities. What are you thinking 92 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 1: at the points? 93 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 2: Yes, well, we'll have a more update on that later 94 00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:59,599 Speaker 2: this afternoon, but it very well could happen, Katie. And 95 00:04:59,640 --> 00:05:01,800 Speaker 2: again we're in a good position to be able to 96 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:06,119 Speaker 2: support people to evacuate should we need to. But again, 97 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:09,000 Speaker 2: I just want to reinforce calm. It's about enacting your 98 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 2: emergency plans, staying very close to the most up to 99 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:16,560 Speaker 2: date official information, and I really can't stress that enough. 100 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:20,200 Speaker 2: You know, it is a time of stress for a 101 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:23,480 Speaker 2: lot of people, and a lot of misinformation can spread 102 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:26,720 Speaker 2: very quickly, so stay very close to official channels and 103 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:31,200 Speaker 2: heed the warnings. Obviously, if it's flooded, forget it. You know, 104 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:33,920 Speaker 2: just all of the really sensible behavior needs to happen. 105 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:37,040 Speaker 1: Now, Chief Finiessa, are you able to just repeat for us, 106 00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:39,520 Speaker 1: because I know that some people may have just heard 107 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:42,120 Speaker 1: a little bit of what you said about the schools 108 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:44,920 Speaker 1: in Catherine. Can you just repeat for us the schools 109 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:46,800 Speaker 1: that are going to be closing at midday to day 110 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 1: and then what will happen with those schools in terms 111 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:53,400 Speaker 1: of being you know, locations where people can evacuate too 112 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:54,120 Speaker 1: if they need to. 113 00:05:55,320 --> 00:05:59,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, happy to Katie. So TENSEI has recommended that I 114 00:06:00,279 --> 00:06:05,239 Speaker 2: Catherine High School, McFarlane School and Casuarina Street Primary schools, 115 00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:08,560 Speaker 2: and so I will sign that very shortly by lunchtime. 116 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:11,480 Speaker 2: It would be wonderful if parents and cares could come 117 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 2: and collect all of their children from those three schools. 118 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:19,320 Speaker 2: It will then give emergency services and other officials the 119 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:22,960 Speaker 2: opportunity to convert that very quickly into an emergency shelter 120 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:25,600 Speaker 2: should we need it, and of course them providing a 121 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:28,360 Speaker 2: place of respite for the community as we get more 122 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:32,080 Speaker 2: information on the flood levels as they rise over the afternoon. 123 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:34,600 Speaker 1: Chief finished, I know you're incredibly busy this morning. Just 124 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 1: very quickly, do we know if there's been any injuries, 125 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:40,600 Speaker 1: any rescues, anything like that that the police or emergency 126 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:44,440 Speaker 1: services have had to perform in the Katherine region today. 127 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:48,440 Speaker 2: So far everyone has been amazing. I am aware of 128 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:53,720 Speaker 2: one vehicle that was caught up in some floodwater nar 129 00:06:53,920 --> 00:06:57,920 Speaker 2: Edith Falls turn off and some people went to try 130 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:00,880 Speaker 2: and rescue them. But no one is injured, as my understanding, 131 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:04,720 Speaker 2: which is terrific news. But we need everyone just really 132 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:09,520 Speaker 2: being very sensible and not trying to cross floodwaters, you 133 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:12,840 Speaker 2: know it just we need all our emergency services really 134 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:16,480 Speaker 2: focused on supporting the communities impacted, and we want to 135 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:19,800 Speaker 2: just make sure everyone gets through this safely and sensibly. 136 00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:23,360 Speaker 1: Absolutely, Chief, before I let you go, all eyes on, Catherine, 137 00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:26,320 Speaker 1: all eyes you know on the daily and those communities 138 00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:28,640 Speaker 1: as well. But what are we thinking for us up 139 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:31,680 Speaker 1: here in Darwin? Is it looking as though we're just 140 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:33,560 Speaker 1: going to get a lot of rain but things will 141 00:07:33,600 --> 00:07:35,040 Speaker 1: be fairly calm. 142 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:39,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, we are going to get a lot of rain, 143 00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 2: and so you know, look, Darwin's not on my radar 144 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:46,400 Speaker 2: in terms of any problems coming through, and if that changes, 145 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:49,360 Speaker 2: of course we'll let people know. But again, everyone just 146 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:53,560 Speaker 2: needs to be sensible, driving to the conditions, not crossing floodwaters. 147 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:56,560 Speaker 2: I was at a school assembly this morning, Katie, and 148 00:07:56,600 --> 00:07:58,240 Speaker 2: I made sure I told all the kids, you know, 149 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:01,320 Speaker 2: no swimming in pipes. And it might look fun, but 150 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:05,520 Speaker 2: it's incredibly dangerous with devastating impacts, so it's just about 151 00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:08,480 Speaker 2: being sensible and everyone having what they need in order. 152 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:12,920 Speaker 1: Chief Minister Leah Finocchiaro really really appreciate you having a 153 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:15,200 Speaker 1: quick chat with us this morning to let the residents 154 00:08:15,200 --> 00:08:17,720 Speaker 1: of Catherine know what's going on and keep us up 155 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:20,600 Speaker 1: to date with what is unfolding with this wet weather. 156 00:08:21,520 --> 00:08:23,360 Speaker 2: Thank you and thank you for the opportunity, and stay 157 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:26,120 Speaker 2: tuned to all the updates if you're in those affected areas, 158 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:27,560 Speaker 2: and take care and stay safe.