1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,440 Speaker 1: School is back for term for today and the installation 2 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:07,000 Speaker 1: of new electronic speed limit signs at Palmerston College and 3 00:00:07,120 --> 00:00:10,879 Speaker 1: Palmerston Christian School is now complete. To talk more about 4 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:13,920 Speaker 1: it is the Mayor of Palmerston, Athena Pasco Bell. Good morning, 5 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:16,600 Speaker 1: Good morning Athena. Can you talk us through these new 6 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:19,080 Speaker 1: signs at some of these school zones across Palmerston. 7 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:23,840 Speaker 2: Yes, Palmerstan residents would have noticed these signs going up 8 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:28,560 Speaker 2: across other school zones in Palmerston. This was undertaken in 9 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:32,320 Speaker 2: conjunction with the Northern Territory government and we've just completed 10 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:38,560 Speaker 2: two more which finishes all. There are these speed signs 11 00:00:38,560 --> 00:00:42,159 Speaker 2: now out the front of every school in Palmerston. If 12 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:46,599 Speaker 2: you're approaching the sign at speed, it starts flashing at 13 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:49,199 Speaker 2: you and warns you to slow down, and once you 14 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 2: reach below forty kilometers an hour, it tells you how 15 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:54,600 Speaker 2: fast you're going, so that you are traveling at the 16 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:58,520 Speaker 2: right speed through the school zone. Schools return this week, 17 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:01,560 Speaker 2: so it's a timely remind for everyone to keep a 18 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:04,080 Speaker 2: lookout for school zones and look out for children in 19 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:07,479 Speaker 2: those areas getting ready to go to school this week. 20 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:13,119 Speaker 1: Absolutely. Now, obviously that speed limit during those areas between 21 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:16,800 Speaker 1: seven am and five pm is forty ks. Does that 22 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:20,440 Speaker 1: warning change after five pm when the speed limit increases 23 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:22,400 Speaker 1: or is it just during school hours? 24 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 2: It slashes at school hours. But they are programmed all 25 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:29,440 Speaker 2: so we can do basically what we like with them 26 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:33,240 Speaker 2: outside of those areas at the outside of those times. 27 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:36,440 Speaker 2: But for now, they just operate during school hours and 28 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:40,640 Speaker 2: slash if you're traveling over forty kilometers an hour during 29 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:46,000 Speaker 2: a school day. They do also log all vehicle speeds 30 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:48,960 Speaker 2: at all time, so it does actually collect data for 31 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 2: us over the course of the whole day. Anyway, we 32 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:56,160 Speaker 2: just don't have them flashing at people outside of those times. 33 00:01:56,520 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 1: Could that data then be provided to police to say, hey, look, 34 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:02,400 Speaker 1: we've we've seen a lot of people are speeding at 35 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:05,840 Speaker 1: this particular school during this particular time, and then that's 36 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:07,640 Speaker 1: something you can work with police on so they can 37 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:10,079 Speaker 1: perhaps set up some kind of speed detections and then 38 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:13,399 Speaker 1: fines can be issued there if necessary. 39 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:16,360 Speaker 2: Look, they don't take photos, They just tell us how 40 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:20,280 Speaker 2: many vehicles may be speeding. There are also trigger points 41 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:23,440 Speaker 2: where the council would probably contact the police or look 42 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:26,760 Speaker 2: at making changes to the road because a lot of 43 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:29,840 Speaker 2: these school zones are on council roads, so it gives 44 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 2: us an opportunity as a council to have a look 45 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:35,960 Speaker 2: at the road and whether there's any calming device that 46 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:39,000 Speaker 2: we could put in. But of course, if it is 47 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:42,480 Speaker 2: a serious issue of speeding in a particular zone, we 48 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:45,880 Speaker 2: can involve police. The best option though is to try 49 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:50,040 Speaker 2: and educate drivers to remain within the speed limits at 50 00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:50,960 Speaker 2: all times. 51 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 1: And have you had a chance to look at that 52 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:57,799 Speaker 1: initial data and has there been any indication that people 53 00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:00,920 Speaker 1: are slowing down and these signs are a turrent to speeding. 54 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:05,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, the initial ones that we put out through other 55 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:09,280 Speaker 2: areas have shown that people are observant of the sign. 56 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:13,520 Speaker 2: It's quite easy to forget that you're traveling through a 57 00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:17,160 Speaker 2: school zone, particularly if you don't travel through there very regularly, 58 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:20,320 Speaker 2: and you know, they do look very quiet during the 59 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:22,919 Speaker 2: day as well when it isn't that drop off and 60 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:26,239 Speaker 2: pick up time. So it does give a very visual 61 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:29,440 Speaker 2: reminder to drivers and that has shown that it is 62 00:03:29,560 --> 00:03:32,840 Speaker 2: keeping people within the speed limits through those school zones. 63 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 1: And what's the feedback been like from schools who have 64 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:38,840 Speaker 1: had those signs installed out in the front of their schools. 65 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:43,840 Speaker 2: They have been very positive about it. Some schools I 66 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 2: think we'll probably ask for some more of them to 67 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:48,880 Speaker 2: be put up. We've made sure that we've got those 68 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:54,000 Speaker 2: flushings signs at the main entry to all the schools. Now. 69 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:56,840 Speaker 2: Some schools have got a couple of entry points and 70 00:03:56,880 --> 00:04:00,240 Speaker 2: a couple of school zones around them, so you know, 71 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:02,960 Speaker 2: we're always willing to take additional feedback from the school 72 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 2: but most of the schools have been very positive having 73 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:10,680 Speaker 2: this in place, particular along some of the roads which 74 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 2: are quite busy during the day, like Emery Avenue in Palmerston, 75 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:19,080 Speaker 2: which is a significant thoroughfare now to the Bakewall Woolies, 76 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:22,960 Speaker 2: which wasn't there previously. It wasn't there in previous years 77 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:27,279 Speaker 2: the woolies, but there is now a major attractor there, 78 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:30,039 Speaker 2: so there is a significant amount of traffic now traveling 79 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:31,039 Speaker 2: along Emory Avenue. 80 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:33,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, a while we've got you on the line, can 81 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:38,359 Speaker 1: we talk about the my Palmerston vouchers As understand, I 82 00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:42,360 Speaker 1: believe Palmeston Council has implemented them. Are they active at 83 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:42,800 Speaker 1: the moment? 84 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:48,000 Speaker 2: They are active, so both customers and businesses are still 85 00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:50,599 Speaker 2: encouraged to register. So if you're a business then you 86 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:53,719 Speaker 2: haven't registered, you're still welcome to do so and you'll 87 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:58,120 Speaker 2: be able to register throughout the entire promotion. It is 88 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:01,800 Speaker 2: also open now for customers to register, and it's very 89 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 2: similar to the Mai Darwin app where you get forty 90 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:07,760 Speaker 2: dollars worth of discounts each day to spend at a 91 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:12,719 Speaker 2: locally owned business in Palmerston. The current round is forty 92 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:15,040 Speaker 2: thousand dollars and I think there is just over half 93 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:19,160 Speaker 2: way through spending on that and there are another two 94 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:22,240 Speaker 2: rounds being offered, another one at the end of October 95 00:05:22,279 --> 00:05:25,640 Speaker 2: and another one at the end of November leading into Christmas. 96 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:30,000 Speaker 2: So if you're looking for Christmas presents register. You don't 97 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:33,080 Speaker 2: have to be a Parmestan resident to register as a customer, 98 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:35,520 Speaker 2: but you do have to be a Parmestan business, So 99 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:38,400 Speaker 2: get out there and start shopping in Parmestan. 100 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:41,520 Speaker 1: There's reports in the Nten News this morning that Darwin 101 00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:44,800 Speaker 1: Council is also looking at launching another round of the 102 00:05:44,839 --> 00:05:47,800 Speaker 1: vouchers just before Christmas. It sounds up between you and 103 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:50,040 Speaker 1: the Darwin Council you could be in a bit of 104 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:52,040 Speaker 1: a war for Christmas shoppers. 105 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:56,600 Speaker 2: Oh potentially but you know, we all have different businesses 106 00:05:56,680 --> 00:06:00,960 Speaker 2: in our areas and they offer different things, particularly the 107 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:05,360 Speaker 2: locally owned and operated businesses. You know, we've got quite 108 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 2: a few good ones in Palmerston, not just for Christmas shopping, 109 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:12,800 Speaker 2: but also cafes and restaurants. And you know you've mentioned Darwin, 110 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:15,400 Speaker 2: you should also mention Litchfield because they've also got about 111 00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:16,520 Speaker 2: just beam running as well. 112 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:18,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's a very good point. I know it was 113 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:21,039 Speaker 1: part of that report in the NT News this morning. 114 00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:23,920 Speaker 1: There was talks that if Darwin Council do implement that 115 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 1: round about just just before Christmas, that it may come 116 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:29,839 Speaker 1: at the cost of free parking over the festive period. 117 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:35,279 Speaker 1: I know it was Palmerston waived their parking rates during 118 00:06:35,320 --> 00:06:37,279 Speaker 1: COVID or is that something that's back again. Are you 119 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:40,400 Speaker 1: looking at doing it during the festive season? What's the 120 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:41,760 Speaker 1: current state of play there. 121 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 2: We did wave it during COVID and we decided that 122 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:48,680 Speaker 2: the parking demand in the city center was not sufficient 123 00:06:48,760 --> 00:06:52,640 Speaker 2: to reintroduce parking fees. So the City of Palmeston has 124 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:56,040 Speaker 2: free parking right now and that will continue for the 125 00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:57,600 Speaker 2: remainder of this financial year. 126 00:06:58,200 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 1: Okay, that's good to hear. 127 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:02,800 Speaker 2: Come into Palmerston. There's free parking and we have the 128 00:07:02,839 --> 00:07:05,000 Speaker 2: voucher been for you to shop locally as well. 129 00:07:05,520 --> 00:07:08,600 Speaker 1: Good stuff. The Mayor of Palmerston Athena Pasco Bell, thank 130 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:10,200 Speaker 1: you so much for taking the time to chat to 131 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 1: us this morning. Thank you so you know the Mayor 132 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:15,000 Speaker 1: of Palmerston there Athena Pasco Bell, with a reminder that 133 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 1: all of those Palmerston schools now have those forty kilometers 134 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:21,280 Speaker 1: an hour speed zones. Well they're in place at the 135 00:07:21,280 --> 00:07:23,360 Speaker 1: start of school, but they've also got all those signs 136 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:26,200 Speaker 1: up now, so if you're driving through perhaps an unfamiliar 137 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:29,400 Speaker 1: area of Palmi and there is a school zone in 138 00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:31,679 Speaker 1: place there, there will be no excuses for not knowing 139 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 1: now because all those signs are in place, and of 140 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:37,440 Speaker 1: course that forty and kilometer an hour school zones in 141 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 1: place with the start of school today from seven am 142 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:42,240 Speaker 1: until five pm.