1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,599 Speaker 1: And we know that the Litchfield Council has now weighed 2 00:00:02,600 --> 00:00:05,600 Speaker 1: in on the Northern Territory government's plans to develop Halts 3 00:00:05,960 --> 00:00:09,400 Speaker 1: into five hundred and fifty residential lots, with the mayor 4 00:00:09,560 --> 00:00:13,320 Speaker 1: saying that the area should be incorporated under his council's jurisdiction. 5 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:14,760 Speaker 2: I believe it already is. 6 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:17,840 Speaker 1: And Litchfield Mayor Doug Barton joins me in the studio 7 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:19,040 Speaker 1: right now, get a Doug. 8 00:00:19,239 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie and good morning listeners. 9 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:23,319 Speaker 1: Good to have you on the show now, Doug. I 10 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:27,520 Speaker 1: know that many rural advocates have really criticized, first off, 11 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:30,360 Speaker 1: you know these five hundred and fifty residential lots, saying 12 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:32,240 Speaker 1: that they could be too small and it's not really 13 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:35,680 Speaker 1: part of the rural way of life. I mean, firstly, 14 00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 1: what's your thoughts on. 15 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:41,080 Speaker 3: Thatsh well as a Dipple core. It is close to 16 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:44,600 Speaker 3: the hospital and one would imagine that most of the 17 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:47,919 Speaker 3: people living in that area would be working in the hospital. 18 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:53,760 Speaker 3: We all have a different opinion on sizes. At least 19 00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:56,240 Speaker 3: people will know what they're buying when they go into 20 00:00:56,280 --> 00:01:00,200 Speaker 3: that I lived in Fenny Bay as a boy and 21 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:04,240 Speaker 3: our block is I think a quarter acre block there. 22 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 3: I now live in Berry Springs and that's a thousand 23 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:11,960 Speaker 3: acres and then I was at China and they all 24 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:15,360 Speaker 3: live on top of each other in But it's up 25 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:21,480 Speaker 3: to different people how they wish to live and holts 26 00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:26,000 Speaker 3: and holts and quantity will be designed. It will be 27 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 3: designed to the to the best specifications, which which is 28 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:34,199 Speaker 3: really really good. There'll be no cost to the people 29 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:37,120 Speaker 3: once they purchased the blocks and build their houses. 30 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 1: So it's like it sounds like it's going ahead anyway regardless, 31 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:42,760 Speaker 1: you know, by the sounds of its. 32 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:46,240 Speaker 3: Katie, I was at the at the media release by 33 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:50,680 Speaker 3: the Chief Minister when she when when Helketis and the 34 00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:56,640 Speaker 3: Risks were were given the job, not given the job, 35 00:01:56,680 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 3: they tended for the job through the proper, proper channels. 36 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:06,440 Speaker 3: So and I knew old man how Ketus very well 37 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:07,840 Speaker 3: from my earth moving days. 38 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:08,240 Speaker 1: Yeah. 39 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, And I talked to the the proposed contractors as 40 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:19,160 Speaker 3: as an earth moving contractor, and well, that's. 41 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 1: The thing they're going to you know, they're going to 42 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:23,280 Speaker 1: do a good job. There's no doubt. But it is, 43 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:26,760 Speaker 1: you know, like it's it's forging ahead. The big discussion, 44 00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 1: Doug now has been you know which municipality. Is it 45 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:32,680 Speaker 1: going to fall under Is it going to be Palmerston, 46 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:34,360 Speaker 1: Is it going to be Lichfield. 47 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:39,200 Speaker 3: I don't believe there is really a discussion because it 48 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:43,600 Speaker 3: is already Litchfield. Chancey Paie I was just showing you 49 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:49,359 Speaker 3: on Facebook Keesy Puric as chance a question that on 50 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:54,480 Speaker 3: on at Parliament earlier this week, and he he says 51 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 3: that there is no, no, no, they're not changing it 52 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:03,920 Speaker 3: and if they were too, they would have to go 53 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:08,840 Speaker 3: through consultation and they would have to go through consultations 54 00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:12,119 Speaker 3: the locals. The locals definitely don't want it to want 55 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:16,640 Speaker 3: they definitely want Litchfield. I believe the developers prefer it 56 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:20,680 Speaker 3: to be in Litchfield. So why would you change it? 57 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:23,680 Speaker 1: And so at this point in time, Keizy, you put 58 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:26,680 Speaker 1: that question obviously to the Attorney General, Chancey pay earlier 59 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 1: in the week and he's given that assurance that at 60 00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 1: this point in time it is under Lichfield's jurisdiction. 61 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:34,400 Speaker 3: There is the only thing he can do is change boundaries. 62 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 3: And before he would do that, before he would do that, 63 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:43,440 Speaker 3: he would go through the consultation process that he there 64 00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 3: is no indication of changing the changing the boundaries and 65 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:52,760 Speaker 3: in our talks with Chancey in the past, myself and 66 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:54,760 Speaker 3: my CEO when we were in other springs and when 67 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:57,520 Speaker 3: he's been up here at legant that there is no 68 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:04,240 Speaker 3: intention of changing the boundaries. The only reason why there 69 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:08,480 Speaker 3: has been any any implication of changing the boundaries as 70 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:09,640 Speaker 3: a statement. 71 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:11,840 Speaker 2: From the Chief Minister. 72 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:14,880 Speaker 1: What do you make of you know, some of the 73 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:18,240 Speaker 1: comments that have been made though by the Palmerston Council 74 00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:21,520 Speaker 1: that potentially people living there would then be using those 75 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 1: Palmerston facilities. I mean, surely, like a lot of the 76 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:28,080 Speaker 1: time those facilities are actually funded largely by the Northern 77 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:28,799 Speaker 1: Territory Government. 78 00:04:28,839 --> 00:04:30,320 Speaker 2: I know that is correct. 79 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:35,560 Speaker 3: Now we're very happy to share our facilities with Palmerston, 80 00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:39,719 Speaker 3: and likewise I'm sure most of the residents are happy 81 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:40,120 Speaker 3: to share. 82 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 2: You know, Fred's Pass. 83 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:44,839 Speaker 3: We spend over a million dollars on Fred's Pass. We 84 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:48,480 Speaker 3: funded to eight hundred and fifty or nine hundred thousand 85 00:04:48,520 --> 00:04:52,520 Speaker 3: dollars in funding and then we've spent another one hundred 86 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:56,159 Speaker 3: and fifty thousand dollars in car parks for the Fred's Pass. 87 00:04:57,279 --> 00:05:00,560 Speaker 3: The Fred's Pass shows coming up in the half's time, 88 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 3: so please please come out and support some guys and 89 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:09,000 Speaker 3: we also and we also funded the Fred's past show 90 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 3: to the vicinity of forty to fifty thousand dollars. 91 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:14,719 Speaker 1: Well, yeah, I take the kids out there for different 92 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:16,800 Speaker 1: sports as well. Like I know, it's something that is 93 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:19,560 Speaker 1: sort of yeah that people from all different municipalities. 94 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:23,279 Speaker 3: And we also share you know, the Thorac Cemetery with 95 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:29,200 Speaker 3: in the Thorac Cemetery is in in Litchfield and we 96 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 3: manage Thorac and Darwin was sharing it with Darwin as 97 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 3: well as Palmerston. Our hospital is in Holtz. The fire 98 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:44,240 Speaker 3: station at Howard Springs is also in Litchfield. 99 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:49,560 Speaker 2: Sotting out there. 100 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:52,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, question that might come up every now and then 101 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:55,600 Speaker 3: is how do we service it? Well, we have no 102 00:05:55,680 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 3: problems with servicing, servicing. We have lots and lots of tractors. 103 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 1: What about though, I suppose like when it gets to 104 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:05,919 Speaker 1: this point, I know, like I'm probably getting way ahead 105 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:09,440 Speaker 1: of myself, right, But what about when it gets to 106 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:12,640 Speaker 1: the point when there's like the you know, when you've 107 00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 1: got to do the rubbish pick up and all that 108 00:06:14,279 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 1: kind of stuff. Because in Litchfield at the moment, you 109 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:17,680 Speaker 1: don't currently have that. 110 00:06:17,560 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 2: Service to you. 111 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:22,280 Speaker 3: No, but that's not our council commenced investing in service 112 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 3: delivery preparations back as far as twenty twenty one yep, 113 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:29,600 Speaker 3: for example, seeking cost estimates for curbside rubbish collections. 114 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:33,160 Speaker 2: Okay, I just read that off the notes. 115 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:36,520 Speaker 1: So you'll be able to incorporate it as. 116 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 3: It's easy enough to intrate. And we have and we 117 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:44,960 Speaker 3: have small subdivisions Kate Katie out humpty do we have 118 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:48,520 Speaker 3: small small blocks already and call a linger. 119 00:06:48,560 --> 00:06:51,600 Speaker 1: So it's not like a land grab or a rate 120 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:54,360 Speaker 1: grab as far as the Litchfield councils prepare. 121 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:56,320 Speaker 3: You know, well, how can it be a grab when 122 00:06:56,360 --> 00:06:57,680 Speaker 3: it's already in Litchfield? 123 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:00,800 Speaker 1: No? Fair point? Fair point, I guess you know. I 124 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:03,159 Speaker 1: guess I'm just sort of playing Devil's advocate and thinking, 125 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:04,800 Speaker 1: you know it, could that be what it is? 126 00:07:05,120 --> 00:07:07,400 Speaker 3: And I mean, now our boundary goes all the way 127 00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 3: to the to the Adelaide River, to the actual Adelaide 128 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:17,760 Speaker 3: River river itself, and all the north coast Gunpoint right 129 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:21,640 Speaker 3: Soul Bay. It was all in that part of the 130 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:24,600 Speaker 3: room yep. So it's a big area that we have 131 00:07:24,680 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 3: to look after, now, Doug. 132 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:28,480 Speaker 1: Over the last couple of weeks we've had the Darwin 133 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:31,120 Speaker 1: City Council, the Lord mayor con come in. We've also 134 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:32,960 Speaker 1: had a see a Pasco Bell come in and talk 135 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:38,080 Speaker 1: us through their municipal plans. I understand. Have you guys 136 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:39,720 Speaker 1: released your municipal plan as well? 137 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:43,320 Speaker 3: We released our municipal plan a little while back, a 138 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 3: little while back. 139 00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:47,160 Speaker 1: Many many changes when it comes to, you know, to 140 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:49,400 Speaker 1: the rates and that kind of thing at this point 141 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:49,880 Speaker 1: in time. 142 00:07:50,520 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 3: Yes, there's a five percent increase and three five percent 143 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:58,320 Speaker 3: increase for the rates and three percent for the race. 144 00:07:58,640 --> 00:08:00,920 Speaker 1: What is that sort of a quate to per week 145 00:08:01,080 --> 00:08:03,360 Speaker 1: or you know, over the year for them? Do you 146 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:03,800 Speaker 1: know off the. 147 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:04,320 Speaker 2: Top of your head. 148 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:08,640 Speaker 3: No, it's it's around about fifty dollars a week, yeah, yep. 149 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:13,800 Speaker 1: And or does it I mean, is it is it 150 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:14,760 Speaker 1: going to be. 151 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 2: Tough fifty dollars a year a year? Yeah? Yeah? 152 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:20,240 Speaker 1: I was thinking, geez, that's going to be a bit steep. 153 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:24,440 Speaker 2: Forum done. I'm sorry. Here it is. It's ninety nine 154 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:25,160 Speaker 2: cents a week. 155 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 3: Yeah right, that's all right, and sixteen cents a week 156 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:29,600 Speaker 3: for the waste. 157 00:08:29,840 --> 00:08:31,200 Speaker 2: I'm glad we clarified that. 158 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:34,840 Speaker 4: They might have been having a bully a bit of 159 00:08:34,840 --> 00:08:39,160 Speaker 4: a hard to walk out the door, you'd get followed. 160 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:44,360 Speaker 4: I get pulled up by the police dogs out there, Doug. 161 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:47,720 Speaker 4: It does sound as though there's quite a bit happening 162 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:50,160 Speaker 4: as well in terms of your operational budget. But you 163 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:55,839 Speaker 4: spend on capital works. Have you got any key projects? 164 00:08:56,679 --> 00:09:01,440 Speaker 3: Yes, Guy's Creek Road has just started. We're always spending 165 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:06,559 Speaker 3: money on roads. We're still chased. We're still waiting on 166 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 3: our signature for the ten million dollar grant for the 167 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:14,200 Speaker 3: Fred's Pass. We're told that it's very very very close. 168 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:18,400 Speaker 3: I can and that's going to be a very exciting project. 169 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:22,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, what will that see that netball. 170 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:27,800 Speaker 3: At a large netball court and it is what a 171 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:29,040 Speaker 3: multi user. 172 00:09:31,040 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 2: Netball? Awesome? 173 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:34,680 Speaker 1: How soon could that get going if you do get 174 00:09:34,679 --> 00:09:35,400 Speaker 1: that sign off? 175 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:38,520 Speaker 3: Very very well, we'll go as hard as we can, 176 00:09:38,559 --> 00:09:39,480 Speaker 3: as quick as we can. 177 00:09:39,640 --> 00:09:40,280 Speaker 2: Yes, yep. 178 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:42,920 Speaker 1: And it's such a like freend spars out there. It 179 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:45,800 Speaker 1: is such a popular area for all the different sports. 180 00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:47,280 Speaker 1: Like I said, I take my kids out there. I 181 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:49,680 Speaker 1: know that so many territory families do head out there 182 00:09:49,840 --> 00:09:50,760 Speaker 1: for different sports. 183 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:51,600 Speaker 2: Yep, yep. 184 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:57,280 Speaker 3: And I believe you're a Palmerston resident in the city now, Oh, 185 00:09:58,320 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 3: you're very welcome now, I mean thanks, Litchfield welcomes everybody. Yes, well, 186 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:07,600 Speaker 3: Litchfield's tourism is a big part of Lichfield. I used 187 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:11,040 Speaker 3: to be in the tourism industry and most of the 188 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:14,679 Speaker 3: caravan parks are in Litchfield. And you know we have 189 00:10:14,760 --> 00:10:19,920 Speaker 3: the jumping crops in Litchfield, the windows on the red Lands. Yeah, 190 00:10:19,960 --> 00:10:24,040 Speaker 3: put a cool the Churchy Wildlife Park, Berry Springs lovely 191 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:24,600 Speaker 3: spot for us. 192 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:24,920 Speaker 2: Swim. 193 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:27,720 Speaker 1: Hey, before I let you go, Doug, because we've got 194 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 1: the we are going to have the police coming in 195 00:10:29,559 --> 00:10:31,920 Speaker 1: just a second. But before I let you go this morning. 196 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:36,280 Speaker 1: In terms of the Fred's Partial show, when's it happening. 197 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:39,000 Speaker 2: Not this weekend? The weekend after. 198 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:40,920 Speaker 1: Excellent and no doubt going to be a massive nother 199 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:41,600 Speaker 1: massive shot. 200 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:45,520 Speaker 3: And Southport markets will be on on Sunday and and 201 00:10:45,559 --> 00:10:49,720 Speaker 3: the Burry Springs markets at the end at the end 202 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:51,360 Speaker 3: of the month, the last Sunday of the month. 203 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:52,160 Speaker 1: It would be nice one. 204 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:55,959 Speaker 3: And obviously we have our Friend's past markets every Saturday morning. 205 00:10:56,040 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, wonderful stuff. 206 00:10:57,200 --> 00:10:58,640 Speaker 1: Well, we'll all have to get out there and make 207 00:10:58,679 --> 00:11:01,439 Speaker 1: sure that we get out to the rural area. Doug Barton, 208 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:03,200 Speaker 1: good to have you in the studio this morning. Really 209 00:11:03,240 --> 00:11:04,040 Speaker 1: appreciate your. 210 00:11:03,880 --> 00:11:06,480 Speaker 2: Time around Litchfield. Yeah, it sounds like a plan. 211 00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:07,080 Speaker 1: Thank you.