1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,200 Speaker 1: Now, as we do every second Thursday, we catch up 2 00:00:02,200 --> 00:00:05,160 Speaker 1: with the Palmeston Mayor, Thina Pasco Bell joins me in 3 00:00:05,240 --> 00:00:06,480 Speaker 1: the studio right now. 4 00:00:06,519 --> 00:00:09,320 Speaker 2: Good morning to you, Athena, good morning. Good to have 5 00:00:09,360 --> 00:00:10,160 Speaker 2: you in the studio. 6 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:14,200 Speaker 1: Now. One council project that's happening at the moment is 7 00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:18,800 Speaker 1: called Banners to Bags, an initiative turning old banners into 8 00:00:18,880 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 1: tote bags. 9 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:20,959 Speaker 2: Tell me a bit more about this. 10 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:23,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, Look, we're doing a little bit to try and 11 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:26,680 Speaker 3: reduce what goes to landfill. And the banners were one 12 00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 3: item that after they've reached the expiry date and you 13 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:34,479 Speaker 3: know that program or that activities passed. Yep, we had 14 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:36,680 Speaker 3: nothing to do with them. There's nothing to do with 15 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:40,160 Speaker 3: them so other than sending him to landfill. So we've 16 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:43,320 Speaker 3: partnered up with Steps group in Palmerston who run an 17 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:46,559 Speaker 3: adult migrant English program and there's a lovely group of 18 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:50,040 Speaker 3: ladies there who love to sew and that's their social network. 19 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:51,040 Speaker 4: They practice English. 20 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 3: So they've taken our old banners, I think twenty so 21 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:56,960 Speaker 3: far and converted them into tote bags. 22 00:00:57,080 --> 00:00:59,240 Speaker 1: That's a good idea. We need to do something like 23 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 1: that after the election as well. With everybody's size core floats. 24 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:04,600 Speaker 4: I don't know exactly how. 25 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:05,040 Speaker 2: You do it. 26 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:07,080 Speaker 4: I've still got a whole bunch of them in my 27 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:09,760 Speaker 4: shit as well. But yeah, but these are great. So 28 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:12,600 Speaker 4: there's more than a hundred of them. 29 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:16,559 Speaker 3: Because their banners their water resistant, so the perfect thing 30 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 3: to take. 31 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:19,200 Speaker 4: To swell with you put your wet tow and you 32 00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:20,680 Speaker 4: were bathers in when you go home. 33 00:01:20,959 --> 00:01:21,199 Speaker 1: Yep. 34 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:24,839 Speaker 3: And we'll be giving them away at upcoming council events, 35 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:27,160 Speaker 3: So a lookout and you can grab a free tote bag. 36 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:28,280 Speaker 2: Do you reckon you'll get? 37 00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:29,959 Speaker 1: Like, how many do you think you'll be able to 38 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 1: make or do you have any idea at this point? 39 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:33,360 Speaker 4: Look, I don't know. 40 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:35,920 Speaker 3: I don't have the number of banners that we actually 41 00:01:35,959 --> 00:01:38,759 Speaker 3: get printed up each year or anything like that. But 42 00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:41,000 Speaker 3: it is good to be able to see these go 43 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:44,039 Speaker 3: to another use, yeah, rather than just going straight to landfill. 44 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:44,399 Speaker 1: Yeah. 45 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:45,000 Speaker 2: Fair enough. 46 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:47,680 Speaker 1: Hey, last time we caught up, we spoke about the 47 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:50,560 Speaker 1: proposed changes to the council's animal by laws, and I 48 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:53,640 Speaker 1: understand that community consultations now closed. 49 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:55,120 Speaker 2: Did you receive much feedback? 50 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 3: We did receive quite a bit of feedback. Most of 51 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:02,000 Speaker 3: it was very positive, especially in relation to cats. So 52 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 3: I think, you know, people are over their neighbors, cats 53 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:07,000 Speaker 3: coming onto their property and stirring up their own animals, 54 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 3: spraying on their front doors and that sort of behavior. 55 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:13,320 Speaker 3: There was some feedback about their livestock provisions, so we've 56 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:16,639 Speaker 3: gone back to Parliamentary Council and asked them to change those. 57 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 2: What kind of provisions for livestock. 58 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:23,000 Speaker 3: They initially put in there that you couldn't keep any 59 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:26,520 Speaker 3: livestock or the livestock that you could keep with one 60 00:02:26,560 --> 00:02:29,360 Speaker 3: animal per hectare, which is an absolutely huge block. And 61 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:32,440 Speaker 3: we've got a number of real residential blocks in Parmesta 62 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:34,880 Speaker 3: which are one acre, and we know that people do 63 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:38,400 Speaker 3: keep the odd horse or cow or goat, so we're 64 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 3: trying to make sure that those people can still keep 65 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:43,360 Speaker 3: those animals, and we know they keep them responsibly anyway. 66 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:47,320 Speaker 3: So the main purpose of the bylaws is to make 67 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 3: sure that there is community safety first and foremost, especially 68 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:55,680 Speaker 3: things like dogs, and then also that there's no neighborhood nuisance. 69 00:02:55,760 --> 00:02:56,880 Speaker 4: So we just want to. 70 00:02:56,880 --> 00:03:00,560 Speaker 3: Make sure that we get those livestock bylaws correct so 71 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:04,640 Speaker 3: people can keep those animals on the larger blocks as 72 00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:08,120 Speaker 3: long as they're not disturbing their neighbors with nuisance so 73 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:09,399 Speaker 3: smells and noises. 74 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:12,120 Speaker 1: When do you expect that those changes are going to 75 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:12,920 Speaker 1: come into effect. 76 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 3: We're aiming for the first of July this year, So 77 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:20,120 Speaker 3: now that the consultation's done, we'll make give it a 78 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:23,440 Speaker 3: once over and hopefully it'll go through Parliament in time 79 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:24,280 Speaker 3: for the first of July. 80 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:26,360 Speaker 1: Now, I just want to take you across to an 81 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:29,520 Speaker 1: article being reported in the NT News this morning. It's 82 00:03:29,560 --> 00:03:32,400 Speaker 1: saying a former employee of a top end council says 83 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 1: he took a shorter contract with less pay at a 84 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 1: council further away from his residence to save his mental health, 85 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 1: alleging the council has a toxic workplace culture. Now, the 86 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 1: City of Palmerston has strongly refuted the claim, saying it 87 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 1: was a great place to work with positive workplace culture 88 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:54,200 Speaker 1: and stressing the staff turnover was a multifaceted issue. So 89 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:57,360 Speaker 1: the ex employee, who's asked not to be identified, contacted 90 00:03:57,400 --> 00:03:59,560 Speaker 1: the NT News in the wake of a previous report 91 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 1: high lighting the council's issues attracting and retaining staff, with 92 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:07,720 Speaker 1: a nineteen percent vacancy rate and attrition all but canceling out. 93 00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:10,440 Speaker 2: New highs in the fourth quarter of last year. 94 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:13,840 Speaker 1: Does the Palmeston or does the City of Palmerston have 95 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:16,400 Speaker 1: an issue here with toxic workplace culture? 96 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:21,360 Speaker 3: It's I really can't see anything in that article. You know, 97 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:24,320 Speaker 3: we do get employees who leave. The ones that I'm 98 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 3: aware of have left to take better paying jobs in 99 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:31,240 Speaker 3: other organizations, or they've moved back into state to be 100 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:34,360 Speaker 3: closer to their family. So it's really hard to make 101 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:38,600 Speaker 3: anything out of that one complaint. I don't believe that 102 00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:40,839 Speaker 3: we do have a toxic culture, and we have a 103 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:44,280 Speaker 3: very busy work environment. It is quite stressful at times, 104 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 3: and I know some of the positions are really challenging, 105 00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:51,440 Speaker 3: especially the frontline positions, like our rangers have to deal 106 00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 3: with dog attacks, our frontline counter staff who deal with 107 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:57,400 Speaker 3: the members of the public. You know, they can be 108 00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:00,279 Speaker 3: really challenging positions. But I think we do have a 109 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 3: good culture, and you know, and I don't get so. 110 00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:05,720 Speaker 1: There hasn't been like complaints for other people from other 111 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:08,159 Speaker 1: people or anything like that about the culture at this. 112 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:10,360 Speaker 4: Stage, none that I'm aware of. 113 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:13,200 Speaker 3: And just to be very clear, the council doesn't get 114 00:05:13,240 --> 00:05:17,400 Speaker 3: involved in any recruitment or you know, staffing issues. That's 115 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:19,680 Speaker 3: entirely the responsibility of our CEO. 116 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 2: So I do want to just take you across to 117 00:05:22,080 --> 00:05:22,840 Speaker 2: a listener question. 118 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:25,720 Speaker 1: Now, this one says, Hi, Katie, not sure when you've 119 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:27,440 Speaker 1: got the Palmeston Council on the show, but I was 120 00:05:27,480 --> 00:05:30,120 Speaker 1: hopeful that you could inquire about the roads and the 121 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:33,360 Speaker 1: numerous potholes that seem to take forever to repair. Another 122 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:36,200 Speaker 1: issue lately is the odd one gets repaired and the 123 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:39,080 Speaker 1: remaining bitumen and rocks are left on the road to 124 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 1: be flicked up off the surface into other vehicles. And 125 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:47,599 Speaker 1: so they're asking does the council use the app like 126 00:05:47,640 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 1: the City of Darwin's Click and Fix You do, don't you? 127 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:51,200 Speaker 4: Yeah, we do. 128 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:53,240 Speaker 3: We have our own City of Parmeerston app where you 129 00:05:53,279 --> 00:05:57,320 Speaker 3: can report any issues. It also has remind us for 130 00:05:57,360 --> 00:05:59,680 Speaker 3: your binde so if you're not sure when you're recycling 131 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:01,400 Speaker 3: being you consider a reminder for that. 132 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:05,320 Speaker 4: But it does allow you to report potholes. A couple 133 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:05,960 Speaker 4: of weeks. 134 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:07,719 Speaker 3: Ago we had quite a lot of rain right across 135 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:10,280 Speaker 3: the top end and it was very difficult for any 136 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:13,240 Speaker 3: of our contractors to get out while it's raining. They 137 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 3: simply can't repair roads when it's wet. They have to 138 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:19,159 Speaker 3: wait for a break in the weather, and we did 139 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:20,920 Speaker 3: see that. As soon as the rain stopped for half 140 00:06:20,960 --> 00:06:22,799 Speaker 3: a day, they were out there patching holes. 141 00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:26,560 Speaker 2: So yeah, I do hopefully got most of them done. 142 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:28,280 Speaker 4: You reckon, there's still a few more. 143 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:30,400 Speaker 3: I've seen a few more pop open, and I've jumped 144 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:33,560 Speaker 3: onto the app as well and reported those. 145 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:36,520 Speaker 1: Well, and that's and I guess that's what we can 146 00:06:36,760 --> 00:06:37,920 Speaker 1: all got to do, don't we all. 147 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:38,560 Speaker 2: Like I've seen it. 148 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 1: Closer to the city as well, there were some massive potholes, 149 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:44,200 Speaker 1: but they have been fixed as quickly as can sort 150 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:46,760 Speaker 1: of as they can get those fixed with that rain 151 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:48,679 Speaker 1: away for a little while, hopefully. 152 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 4: Yeah, that's right, and a lot of them. 153 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:52,520 Speaker 3: Just keep in mind too that a lot of the 154 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 3: patches are only temporary because they they've only been able 155 00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:58,120 Speaker 3: to use what they call a cold mix, So I 156 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:00,599 Speaker 3: understand I have to go back and fill them properly 157 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:02,479 Speaker 3: when there's a bit clearer weather. 158 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:06,719 Speaker 1: Lathena Pasco Bell, the Mayor of Palmerston, I always appreciate 159 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:08,080 Speaker 1: your time. We'll talk to you again in a couple 160 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:08,800 Speaker 1: of thursdays. 161 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:10,240 Speaker 4: All right, thank you, thank you.