1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,040 Speaker 1: Last week on the show, you might recall that we 2 00:00:02,120 --> 00:00:04,840 Speaker 1: spoke to a parap resident, Darryl Mansey, about the City 3 00:00:04,840 --> 00:00:07,280 Speaker 1: of Darwin's plans for that The council has been advised 4 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:10,600 Speaker 1: to sell the property on Holt Street, and some counselors 5 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 1: pushing to reclassify it for community use. Now we have 6 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:18,360 Speaker 1: also seen now that Ed Smelt, one of those counselors, 7 00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:20,599 Speaker 1: has jumped on social media and said what he had 8 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:23,720 Speaker 1: hoped that home would be used for. But it sparked 9 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:26,799 Speaker 1: some really serious concern for a number of residents in 10 00:00:26,840 --> 00:00:30,320 Speaker 1: the neighborhood. They're fearing that it could become rehab or 11 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:34,000 Speaker 1: a youth center, creating problems in the area. And joining 12 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:36,560 Speaker 1: me on the line right now is one of those residents, 13 00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:38,200 Speaker 1: Peter Gibb get a Peter. 14 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:41,319 Speaker 2: Yeah, good morning, Katie. How are you to day? 15 00:00:41,479 --> 00:00:44,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, really well, thanks so much for your time this morning. Peter. 16 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:48,240 Speaker 1: What are your concerns with the pool manager's house and 17 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:49,800 Speaker 1: what it might be used for? 18 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 2: Well, pretty much primarily what you have just said. Furthermore, 19 00:00:55,640 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 2: there's not a lot of room there too for parking. 20 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 2: If any sort of public facility was created on that 21 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:05,360 Speaker 2: on that block, it's you know, if you put a 22 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:07,880 Speaker 2: car on each side of the street, you converting pass 23 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:10,720 Speaker 2: car through the center, and it is Holt Street is 24 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:12,840 Speaker 2: quite a real is it quite a busy street. There's 25 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:15,000 Speaker 2: a lot of traffic moves up and down it most 26 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:17,200 Speaker 2: of the day. And of course it's very popular with 27 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:20,560 Speaker 2: learner drivers because there's a learner driver facility in the 28 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:23,320 Speaker 2: Kids Road Safety Center next to that council house that 29 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 2: we're talking about. Cool and they use that and they 30 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:29,360 Speaker 2: do laps around the block and yeah, it's it's it's 31 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 2: it's not practical on several on many levels, actually, you Peter, I. 32 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 1: Mean there's been like last week we spoke about this. 33 00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:41,200 Speaker 1: We caught up with Darryl Mansey about this, and he'd 34 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:44,040 Speaker 1: raised some really serious concerns, which I think is fair enough, 35 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:45,480 Speaker 1: you know, if you live in the area. And I've 36 00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:47,880 Speaker 1: got friends that do live in the area who have 37 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:52,720 Speaker 1: battled anti social behavior in the past as well. And 38 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:56,160 Speaker 1: now I know that that counselor Ed Smelt has taken 39 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:59,160 Speaker 1: to social media to you know, to try to clarify 40 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:03,520 Speaker 1: what he had hoped that you know, that location or 41 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:06,360 Speaker 1: that home would be used for. But you know, by 42 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:08,800 Speaker 1: the sounds of it, people in the area are really like, 43 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:11,240 Speaker 1: you're quite worried about not only what it could be 44 00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:13,280 Speaker 1: used forul but about the impact that it's going to 45 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:14,119 Speaker 1: have on everyone. 46 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:19,640 Speaker 2: Yes, yes, that's absolutely correct. Anything that would be rehab 47 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:23,280 Speaker 2: halfway house sort of orientated will be a really bad 48 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 2: outcome for the area. It'll bring in more of that 49 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:29,480 Speaker 2: trouble you see up on the Trap Road area. Draw 50 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:32,520 Speaker 2: it back into the neighborhood proper where people are just 51 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:35,680 Speaker 2: living in normal homes and three generations in some of 52 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:37,800 Speaker 2: those houses there, you know, people have been there for 53 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 2: over sixty eight years. And I think what's really got 54 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:47,359 Speaker 2: people angry is there was zero mention of that, let 55 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:50,960 Speaker 2: alone how it ended up where the meeting, the council meeting, 56 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 2: the motion has changed from just turn it, which I 57 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 2: must say is turned into R one and sell it, 58 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 2: which we're quite happy with actually, and then the two 59 00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:01,720 Speaker 2: councilors brought up which with Ed Snow Morgan Ricard said hey, 60 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:04,640 Speaker 2: let's do these other things with it. Let's change into 61 00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:09,079 Speaker 2: some sort of public use or community use home and 62 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:12,200 Speaker 2: did no consultation before throwing that out of the meeting. 63 00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:14,840 Speaker 2: And that's I think what's really got everybody angry. Just 64 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 2: zero consultation for people who have invested sixty seventy years 65 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:20,040 Speaker 2: of their lives in that area, Cadi. 66 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:24,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, So where to from here? As you understand at piece, 67 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:27,200 Speaker 1: I mean, is it a done deal or is there 68 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:30,680 Speaker 1: an opportunity for this decision to be overturned because as 69 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:33,639 Speaker 1: you rightly pointed out, there wasn't any consultation beforehand. 70 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:37,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, and I must say, if they were, just we 71 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:41,520 Speaker 2: must step back. And the original motion put forward at 72 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 2: that council meeting was to just reason it one and 73 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:48,520 Speaker 2: just sell it as a private home, and we probably 74 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:51,600 Speaker 2: really didn't need consultation if you look at it that way. 75 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:55,720 Speaker 2: But these two people making that motion, changing that motion 76 00:03:55,800 --> 00:03:59,560 Speaker 2: at that meeting, they did zero consultation before they tabled 77 00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:02,280 Speaker 2: that idea at that meeting, And like I said, that's 78 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:08,920 Speaker 2: what's got everyone really worked up. I would say, wasn't anyway? 79 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, sorry, No, you're right in terms of like I understand, 80 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:15,120 Speaker 1: you know that home has obviously been used for the 81 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:19,800 Speaker 1: for the pool caretaker for a number of years, but 82 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:22,200 Speaker 1: then it sort of hasn't been vacant over the last 83 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:22,720 Speaker 1: few years. 84 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 2: Peter, It's pretty much been vacant all of this year 85 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:29,039 Speaker 2: and then we've had breaks and there hasn't been a 86 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 2: pool employee in there for a long time. There was 87 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 2: a gentleman I believe lived in there for a number 88 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:36,440 Speaker 2: of years that worked for the council, and then it 89 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 2: was just being rented to people. And quite honestly, because 90 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 2: that house is in part of a pool block, it's 91 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:48,840 Speaker 2: owned oh organized recreation and legally if you're in all public, 92 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:51,720 Speaker 2: it's supposed to be a caretaker's residence per se, and 93 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 2: that's all it should be. Like I said, we have 94 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:56,920 Speaker 2: no problem if they go ahead reason at a one, 95 00:04:57,200 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 2: put it on the market, let people bid on it, 96 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 2: by it and when you look at it like that, 97 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:03,840 Speaker 2: this is the best financial outcome for the council. And 98 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:07,039 Speaker 2: you wait to just sell it out on the open market. 99 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:09,320 Speaker 2: That's where they're going to fetch the largest price. Because 100 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 2: the house is sold, you're owning three bedroom, one bassroom. 101 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:15,120 Speaker 2: You can't use it for some sort of community use, 102 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:18,400 Speaker 2: but it's always to be too narrow for wheelchair access 103 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:20,080 Speaker 2: and all that other stuff you've got to have, and 104 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:25,200 Speaker 2: probably zoning, not just zoning but also building permit wise, 105 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:28,680 Speaker 2: it's not suitable. So you know you can't probably use 106 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:31,320 Speaker 2: the house as it sits today for that purpose. But look, 107 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:33,560 Speaker 2: they could put it on the market and sell it 108 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 2: family or buy it. Someone will buy it and live 109 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:37,159 Speaker 2: in the damn thing and we'll all be happy. 110 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:40,599 Speaker 1: Peter, what is your message for the City of Darwin 111 00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:42,640 Speaker 1: this morning? I mean, where'd you to have the mayor 112 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:45,360 Speaker 1: on tomorrow? I know that it's a it's you know, 113 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 1: it's all of like, it's a full council decision in 114 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:51,120 Speaker 1: terms of it had to go to a vote obviously 115 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 1: with the councilors. But you know, what is your message 116 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:56,040 Speaker 1: for the Darwin City Council this morning? 117 00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 2: Just go back on that set can vote to do 118 00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:04,760 Speaker 2: this public use or whatever it was where they've actually 119 00:06:04,760 --> 00:06:07,640 Speaker 2: put a tender request for tender in last Monday the 120 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 2: twenty fifth NTI News to get people who would be 121 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:14,800 Speaker 2: interested in doing that sort of thing. Pull that all 122 00:06:14,839 --> 00:06:17,320 Speaker 2: back and just sell it. That's all we want and 123 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:20,679 Speaker 2: never be happy. I must say it. Smelt has started 124 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:23,240 Speaker 2: reaching out now for people in the areas because we've 125 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:26,880 Speaker 2: all sent emails to our councilors like myself and the 126 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:30,719 Speaker 2: house the council, the poolhouse is in lions Ward and 127 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:32,400 Speaker 2: all the other people on the other side of the 128 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:35,440 Speaker 2: road are in chan Ward, so there's two wards there, 129 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:39,479 Speaker 2: and we've got people sending emails to their counselors in 130 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:43,159 Speaker 2: each of those wards and saying like, hey, just pull 131 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:46,239 Speaker 2: back on this and just go back and let's start again. Basically, 132 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:49,080 Speaker 2: let's step back from this and start again and go 133 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:52,400 Speaker 2: down the the logical way, which is probably the most 134 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:54,159 Speaker 2: income for the council out of it too. It's just 135 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:56,159 Speaker 2: sell it on the open market. Katie. 136 00:06:56,800 --> 00:06:59,280 Speaker 1: Well, Peter Geep, I really appreciate your time this morning. 137 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:01,159 Speaker 1: Thank you very much much for having a chat to me. 138 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:02,840 Speaker 1: As I said, we are due to have the mayor 139 00:07:02,839 --> 00:07:06,479 Speaker 1: on tomorrow, so we'll certainly re raise this issue. 140 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:09,200 Speaker 2: Yeah. Can I just one more thing. We met with 141 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:12,160 Speaker 2: Lourie z o out member and Fanny Bay the other 142 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:15,320 Speaker 2: day and she's actually in the midst of organizing a 143 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:18,160 Speaker 2: meeting with us and the council and we're going to 144 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:21,400 Speaker 2: meet on site and have a chat and go from there. 145 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:23,200 Speaker 2: But I think we'll I think we'll work it all 146 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:28,240 Speaker 2: out and perfect outcome for the community and the neighborhood. 147 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 1: Do you guys, I need to sit down with the 148 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:32,680 Speaker 1: people that are going to be impacted and work out 149 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:34,560 Speaker 1: what is the best use. And I understand it's a 150 00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:37,760 Speaker 1: council as set, but ultimately it's an asset, you know, 151 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:41,680 Speaker 1: for all the residents that live in the Darwin municipality. 152 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:44,560 Speaker 1: And I do always think with these kinds of things, 153 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 1: when you're making these big changes, speak to the people 154 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 1: that it is going to impact. 155 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:54,000 Speaker 2: Yes, And like I saw something councilor Smelt put something 156 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:57,520 Speaker 2: up on social media about oh he was looking not 157 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:01,040 Speaker 2: a halfway house or a rehabit, maybe a mums and 158 00:08:01,120 --> 00:08:04,280 Speaker 2: bubs group or something like that. There's already that over 159 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 2: in near the motorbuicle Register. There's the Anti health to 160 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:11,000 Speaker 2: sillive there. There's another family center just over not far 161 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:13,360 Speaker 2: away in Charlotte Streets, So you don't need any more 162 00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:15,880 Speaker 2: of that in the area. Probably the best thing the 163 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:18,320 Speaker 2: council could do some money, spend some money on us, 164 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 2: is put a wading pool in at the pool complex, 165 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:23,360 Speaker 2: because there's only did two beet pools and you know, 166 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:26,680 Speaker 2: I see countless mothers with their kids on hot days 167 00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:29,040 Speaker 2: going down to the pool and you know if there 168 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 2: was a wading pool the fountain in big Shade where 169 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:33,520 Speaker 2: the mums could all sit, it would contribute a lot 170 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:34,320 Speaker 2: to that facility. 171 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:36,400 Speaker 1: You know, yeah, they probably prefer that ash than the 172 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:39,000 Speaker 1: then a house being used for them, wouldn't. 173 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:42,520 Speaker 2: They percent absolutely absolutely. You know, there's a lot of 174 00:08:42,520 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 2: apartments in the area now in flats, and there's younger 175 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:47,120 Speaker 2: mothers sitting there at home and when it's hot, they've 176 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:49,040 Speaker 2: got to sit inside in the air conditioning on their own. 177 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:51,160 Speaker 2: If they had a nice place to go, like a 178 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:53,600 Speaker 2: nice wading pool where all the kids would be safe, 179 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:55,640 Speaker 2: you know, fence it off so they can't run off 180 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:59,000 Speaker 2: to the deep pools and the people can meet there. 181 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:01,480 Speaker 2: And you know, look morning day on a nineteen sixty 182 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:03,840 Speaker 2: four and I remember going to Prap Pool and they 183 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:07,160 Speaker 2: had a waiting pool there, and that's exactly what happened, Oh. 184 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:09,080 Speaker 1: Peter, even when my kids were little, and that's not 185 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:11,720 Speaker 1: too long ago, you know, thirteen years ago, they still 186 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:13,880 Speaker 1: had the kids pool there at Parrap And I've spoken 187 00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:16,680 Speaker 1: to the council about this on many occasions. But yeah, 188 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:19,320 Speaker 1: I reckon, you're very right there. If we're talking about 189 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:21,880 Speaker 1: how to spend money on young people in the area, 190 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:26,880 Speaker 1: that's probably a better option. Yea, Peter, lovely to talk 191 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:29,120 Speaker 1: to you this morning. I really appreciate your time. Thanks 192 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:30,040 Speaker 1: for having a chat with me 193 00:09:31,040 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 2: No problem, thanks, thank you.