1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,360 Speaker 1: As you would know, the Northern Territory Government well in 2 00:00:02,400 --> 00:00:05,160 Speaker 1: partnership with the City of Darwen and the Australian Government, 3 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:10,200 Speaker 1: yesterday they launched the Laneways and Small Streets Activation Planner 4 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:13,240 Speaker 1: and Action Plan for the Darwin City. It aims to 5 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:16,159 Speaker 1: coordinate existing and future work as well as investment in 6 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:19,720 Speaker 1: several laneways and small streets in Darwen in the Central 7 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:23,320 Speaker 1: Business District and twelve actions have been identified in an 8 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:26,960 Speaker 1: effort to be delivered jointly by the Northern Territory Government 9 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:29,720 Speaker 1: as well as the City of Darwin and working closely 10 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:33,960 Speaker 1: with traders, property owners, LARIKIIR and other organizations as required, 11 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:38,360 Speaker 1: with a focus on things like placemaking, activation and economic 12 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:43,440 Speaker 1: enablers that encourage private investment. Now, one business, well one 13 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:45,880 Speaker 1: of quite a few, but one business in Darwin CBD 14 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:49,360 Speaker 1: that has done a lot really to invest that private 15 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:52,360 Speaker 1: investment in their own business is Moorish Cafe. You would 16 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:55,040 Speaker 1: have seen at the back of their cafe they've got 17 00:00:55,040 --> 00:00:57,760 Speaker 1: a beautiful little bar and joining me on the line 18 00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 1: to talk a little bit more about the investment they've 19 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 1: made and the announcement by the Northern Territory Government yesterday 20 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:06,920 Speaker 1: is Gertrude Night from Moorish Cafe the owner. 21 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:07,760 Speaker 2: Good morning to you. 22 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 3: Gertrude, Good morning Katie, and. 23 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:14,880 Speaker 1: Firstly, a big congratulations of course on last night winning 24 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:18,360 Speaker 1: the Best International Cuisine at the Goldplate Awards. 25 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 3: Yes, we're all still glowing. It was great. It was 26 00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:25,440 Speaker 3: a beautiful night again, hospitality and tea was outstanding. Just 27 00:01:26,160 --> 00:01:27,720 Speaker 3: a gorgeous night and I know you've been to a 28 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:30,200 Speaker 3: few of them. This was just as special as the 29 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:32,720 Speaker 3: one that you hosted down at the waterfront of with 30 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:33,360 Speaker 3: gordrous Well. 31 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 1: I believe you had our wonderful Sarah there hosting and 32 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:38,959 Speaker 1: she's awesome. It would have been a phenomenal night and 33 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:40,920 Speaker 1: a big congratulations to not only you. 34 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:43,199 Speaker 2: Guys, but everybody that was there. 35 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:46,600 Speaker 1: I know we've got so many incredible hospitality businesses in 36 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:49,920 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory, don't we. 37 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:52,080 Speaker 3: We absolutely do, and I think that's key to the 38 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:55,560 Speaker 3: success of Darwin. The more I mean, we do remember 39 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 3: the dark days before COVID, when the city was just 40 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:00,360 Speaker 3: the shambles and no one was proud, that there was 41 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:02,640 Speaker 3: no civic pride and there was nothing beautiful to see, 42 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:05,160 Speaker 3: and we've really come a long way since then. I 43 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 3: guess it's about everyone collaborating still as a community, government, council, 44 00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:12,560 Speaker 3: small business, you know, arts groups, you know, street art 45 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:15,560 Speaker 3: is amazing, but all of those factors coming together so 46 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 3: that we can continue to create this vibrant city. 47 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:20,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, and yesterday the Northern Territory government as well as 48 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 1: the federal government and the City of Darwin came out 49 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 1: and made their announcement about this action plan really aiming 50 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:31,200 Speaker 1: to coordinate existing in future work and investment in a 51 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:34,919 Speaker 1: number of different laneways and small streets. Gertrude, what did 52 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 1: you make of yesterday's announcement. 53 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 3: Look, I'm really pleased, I know that, and I can 54 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:42,480 Speaker 3: only speak from my own experience and what I see 55 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:44,960 Speaker 3: around town, but I know from what we do in 56 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:47,639 Speaker 3: Spain place and what we can see. There's a significant 57 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:51,520 Speaker 3: difference between now and what we're before the activation, So 58 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:55,360 Speaker 3: we don't see their behavior nearly as much like we 59 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:57,760 Speaker 3: really don't see it too much at all. Actually, in 60 00:02:57,760 --> 00:03:00,839 Speaker 3: the back lane way we've got security line. We see 61 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 3: that it's a space that women, families, children can easily 62 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:07,880 Speaker 3: transit through, knowing that it's well lived. It's absolutely beautiful 63 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:11,240 Speaker 3: the shade there, So I just you know, I just 64 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:13,919 Speaker 3: think that it's definitely something that we should be doing 65 00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:16,440 Speaker 3: in a CBD RELYVI in the tropical city. We want 66 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:19,640 Speaker 3: more shade, we want safer places for people to transit through, 67 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:21,919 Speaker 3: and we want to see activity in vibrancy on our street. 68 00:03:22,639 --> 00:03:25,440 Speaker 1: And so from your perspective, you know, with that activation, 69 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:28,320 Speaker 1: with the lighting, with the various things that are happening, 70 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 1: is antisocial behavior or some of the crime still an 71 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 1: issue for you guys or has it sort of has 72 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 1: it been positive since all of that work's happened. 73 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:43,320 Speaker 3: Look, the work's definitely helped, but clearly we still have 74 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:45,800 Speaker 3: a lot of issues on the street. I think historically 75 00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:48,680 Speaker 3: this time of year, things calm down and then as 76 00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:52,040 Speaker 3: a build up comes in other things, social factors you know, 77 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:53,680 Speaker 3: add to it as well, and it's sort of you know, 78 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:56,400 Speaker 3: crimes of increase and bad behavior on the street increases. 79 00:03:56,880 --> 00:03:59,080 Speaker 3: So we're not out of the woods yet, but we 80 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:02,040 Speaker 3: are really enjoying a nice lull at the moment. And 81 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:05,000 Speaker 3: that's certainly assisted by businesses going out into the street 82 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:08,120 Speaker 3: and activating those areas so that the behavior moves on. 83 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:11,640 Speaker 1: It looks amazing, and I mean those you know, those 84 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:14,320 Speaker 1: little tables and chairs and things out in Spain place 85 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 1: they look phenomenal. Has the process in terms of being 86 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:21,600 Speaker 1: able to activate that area from your perspective, been an 87 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 1: easy one or have there been impediments or has it 88 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:26,280 Speaker 1: been fairly straightforward? 89 00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:30,000 Speaker 3: Look, it's not an easy thing to undertake. It took 90 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 3: sort of, you know, three years of planning. My landlord's 91 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:37,160 Speaker 3: been absolutely brilliant in this, but it's no easy undertaking 92 00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:40,560 Speaker 3: and it's an expensive undertaking. Business takes on a lot 93 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:43,720 Speaker 3: of costs that we really love counsel, especially at the 94 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:47,120 Speaker 3: moment in might have been outdoor dining fees coming back 95 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:51,039 Speaker 3: in to recognize and the time that it takes. But 96 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 3: you know, sort of there's so many factors involved in it. 97 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 3: It's definitely a big outlaser business and it's a risk 98 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:58,720 Speaker 3: for business, but it's one that's really paid off for 99 00:04:58,800 --> 00:04:59,920 Speaker 3: us and we're one. We're really proud. 100 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 2: So do you reckon? 101 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:04,039 Speaker 1: The Counsel and government could be doing more to support 102 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:06,479 Speaker 1: businesses like yours and others. You know, even when you 103 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:08,720 Speaker 1: look at some of those new ones wanting to enter 104 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:09,480 Speaker 1: the CB day. 105 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:14,200 Speaker 3: Look, I think Council and Government have been fantastic through COVID, 106 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 3: but we've all seen it as a community. I think 107 00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:18,480 Speaker 3: we've all lifted one another up and it came from 108 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:21,200 Speaker 3: a really, really dark place, but we're not I think 109 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 3: it's really important to remember that and to remember that 110 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:25,599 Speaker 3: the work isn't finished. We need to keep on working 111 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:28,320 Speaker 3: well together. So I guess for me at the moment, 112 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:31,440 Speaker 3: seeing that government wants to invest in, Council wants to invest, 113 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:33,480 Speaker 3: I think that's fantastic. That we still need to have 114 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 3: conversations with businesses and make sure that people are going 115 00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 3: to be able to survive because we don't want empty 116 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:43,039 Speaker 3: shops again. As I've walked around town, I've spoken to 117 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:45,440 Speaker 3: different business owners, there's a lot of concern about dining 118 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:48,440 Speaker 3: fees coming back in because it's an extra expense, and 119 00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 3: you know, the whole of Australia, as the whole of 120 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:52,919 Speaker 3: the world, actually is talking about cost of living. That 121 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 3: has a really big impact on business. And we've seen 122 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:57,760 Speaker 3: already that there's some businesses that we've all thought of 123 00:05:57,800 --> 00:06:00,520 Speaker 3: as being very successful that have failed in the last 124 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:02,839 Speaker 3: twelve months. So that you know, there are a few 125 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:04,800 Speaker 3: warning bells there and we need to be conscious and 126 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:07,479 Speaker 3: we need the support of counsel and government moving forward, 127 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:09,159 Speaker 3: so we can all know, SLFE. 128 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 2: It's such a. 129 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:12,120 Speaker 1: Good point that you make, because you know so often 130 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:15,040 Speaker 1: for you know, everyday territory and so we think about 131 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:16,800 Speaker 1: that cost of living, you think about the cost of 132 00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:19,360 Speaker 1: groceries and all that kind of thing in the context 133 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:21,320 Speaker 1: of your own household. But then when you look at 134 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:24,360 Speaker 1: the way you run a business and all of those expenses, 135 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:27,760 Speaker 1: it really does, I would imagine have a massive impact. 136 00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:31,919 Speaker 3: Yeah, it does. And we're very price conscious. We know 137 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:35,359 Speaker 3: that if we overpriced things or you know, we go 138 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:38,760 Speaker 3: too far, that people aren't going to feel comfortable coming in. 139 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:41,160 Speaker 3: That means that we actually have to incur a lot 140 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:43,120 Speaker 3: more of the cost ourselves. And we've seen that we've 141 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:45,360 Speaker 3: been here now twenty years and we've seen that we absorb, 142 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:47,760 Speaker 3: you know, more of the cost, so our margin, our 143 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:50,599 Speaker 3: ability to make money becomes less and less. So we 144 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:55,000 Speaker 3: are really very focused on all the small details. All 145 00:06:55,320 --> 00:06:56,960 Speaker 3: of it counts, and you have to be really really 146 00:06:56,960 --> 00:06:59,080 Speaker 3: good in the office to be able to run a 147 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:00,520 Speaker 3: successful business in the city. 148 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 2: Yeah. 149 00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:03,720 Speaker 1: Now tell me, Gertrude, when you say those dining fees, 150 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:05,240 Speaker 1: do you mean if you've got sort of the El 151 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 1: Fresco areas outside your business. 152 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:11,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, there's been a monitorium on those fees. Palmerston Council 153 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:15,600 Speaker 3: has decided not to reintroduce them, which is great. We've 154 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 3: seen the Sydney Council do the same thing because they 155 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 3: recognize that what businesses add when they trade outside at 156 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 3: expense to themselves is just is so valuable that they 157 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:32,160 Speaker 3: don't want to impede that activity and adding fees to 158 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 3: it certainly does that. 159 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:36,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, we will, We'll see what we can. 160 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:38,320 Speaker 1: We'll see what we can find out because we are 161 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 1: due to catch up with convat Scarlis the Lord Mayor 162 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:42,320 Speaker 1: in a few minutes time. 163 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:44,720 Speaker 2: Gertrude, we did get a call as well. 164 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:48,880 Speaker 1: I'm not sure if you've had much if you have 165 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 1: had much discussion about this, but Robin Burridge had called 166 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:54,200 Speaker 1: through to ask if you'd ended up being able to 167 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:58,640 Speaker 1: put in a disability toilet at Moorish. Apparently this was 168 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:02,680 Speaker 1: apparently this is an issue. I'm not aware of it, obviously, 169 00:08:02,760 --> 00:08:06,160 Speaker 1: but I don't know whether that has been a discussion 170 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:06,800 Speaker 1: that you've had. 171 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:11,440 Speaker 3: Oh, it absolutely has been. We renovated during COVID when 172 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:14,320 Speaker 3: we were only allowed to open doing takeaway and my 173 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:20,239 Speaker 3: landlord made many, many proposals to put in a toilet 174 00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:24,360 Speaker 3: that would be suitable for disabled to guests, and unfortunately 175 00:08:24,400 --> 00:08:26,960 Speaker 3: all of those were knocked back for various reasons to 176 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:29,360 Speaker 3: do with you know, building board regulations and things like that, 177 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:32,960 Speaker 3: which was I believe a huge shame because we basically 178 00:08:32,960 --> 00:08:36,000 Speaker 3: have the original footprint print here. There are a few 179 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:38,400 Speaker 3: wheelchairs that aren't as wide that can actually get into 180 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:41,800 Speaker 3: the bathrooms when someone's assisting them, but we'd ideally love 181 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:44,440 Speaker 3: someone to be able to just enter the bathroom as 182 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:49,200 Speaker 3: everyone else does. And unfortunately, when we did renovate the toilets, 183 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:52,760 Speaker 3: none of those plans could get through, and that was 184 00:08:52,760 --> 00:08:56,960 Speaker 3: a great disappointment for my landlord and to myself and 185 00:08:57,000 --> 00:09:00,080 Speaker 3: to many other people, and obviously your caller as well. Well. 186 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:03,240 Speaker 1: I know, you guys, is such an open place where 187 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:04,240 Speaker 1: everybody loves. 188 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:05,839 Speaker 2: Going to Moorish or I certainly do. 189 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:09,440 Speaker 1: It's beautiful food and always wonderful hospitality. So I've no 190 00:09:09,559 --> 00:09:12,200 Speaker 1: doubt that you guys tried to do everything you could 191 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:13,040 Speaker 1: to make that happen. 192 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:16,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, well we I mean, we'll keep on trying. As 193 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:18,640 Speaker 3: soon as the law's ease up a little bit, then 194 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:21,360 Speaker 3: we can make it. You know. I just it's really 195 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:23,040 Speaker 3: not to be doing that this day and age, and 196 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:25,160 Speaker 3: there is the ability, there's enough space there to do it. 197 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:27,520 Speaker 3: We just need to work with the rules a bit more, 198 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:27,760 Speaker 3: I think. 199 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:30,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, Gotrude. I really appreciate your time this morning and 200 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:34,160 Speaker 1: your perspective. Another big congratulations to you guys on taking 201 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:37,880 Speaker 1: out last night's well winner at the gold Played Awards 202 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:39,800 Speaker 1: for the Best International Cuisine. 203 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:40,920 Speaker 2: Very well deserved. 204 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:43,400 Speaker 1: And thanks for having a chat with us about the 205 00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:44,800 Speaker 1: government's announcement yesterday. 206 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, lovely, Thanks Katie, and thank you very much for 207 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:51,000 Speaker 3: the dull And community. We really appreciate all the support 208 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:55,000 Speaker 3: that the community has for the hospitality industry. We're all 209 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:56,840 Speaker 3: so lucky to be living up there. It's a great spot. 210 00:09:57,000 --> 00:09:59,120 Speaker 2: It is good on you, Gertrude, thanks so much for 211 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 2: having a chat with us. TOI, I thank you, bye, 212 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:02,360 Speaker 2: Thank you.