1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,600 Speaker 1: Well, Catherine Town Council have released their draft municipal Plan 2 00:00:03,720 --> 00:00:07,360 Speaker 1: for twenty twenty four to twenty five. It includes proposed budget, 3 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:09,840 Speaker 1: long term financial plan as well as the rates and 4 00:00:09,920 --> 00:00:15,280 Speaker 1: fees and charges for community consultation. That plan, well, it's 5 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:18,599 Speaker 1: the council's action plan to deliver the priorities set in 6 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:21,520 Speaker 1: its five year strategic Plan. Now joining us on the 7 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:23,439 Speaker 1: line to tell us a little bit more is the 8 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:26,640 Speaker 1: Mayor of Catherine, Liz Clark. Good morning to you, Liz. 9 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:30,760 Speaker 2: Oh, good morning Katie, and good morning listeners. 10 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:33,240 Speaker 1: Great to have you on the show. Liz. First off, 11 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:35,839 Speaker 1: how nice and cool is it in Catherine this morning? 12 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:40,120 Speaker 2: It was twelve degrees Katie. It reminds me why delve 13 00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:41,800 Speaker 2: in the theraporyut? 14 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:46,839 Speaker 1: How nice? Twelve degrees? That's beautiful. Is that the coldest 15 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 1: morning you've had so far this season? Oh? 16 00:00:50,479 --> 00:00:53,800 Speaker 2: This season? Yes, but we can get down to six. Wow. 17 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:56,520 Speaker 1: You forget, don't you lot When you live here in Darwin, 18 00:00:56,560 --> 00:00:59,160 Speaker 1: you forget just how cold it can get down the road. 19 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:05,480 Speaker 2: Absolutely absolutely, How nice it's the wind? There's the chilling wind. 20 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:08,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, oh beautiful. I'm glad it's been a lovely morning 21 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:13,119 Speaker 1: in Catherine. Now, Liz tell Us. Obviously the draft municipal 22 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:16,960 Speaker 1: plan has been released. How are things looking in terms 23 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:20,120 Speaker 1: of I know, the big question from locals always is 24 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 1: are my rates going up? 25 00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:25,399 Speaker 2: Yes, the rates will be going up four point eight 26 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 2: percent this year. It's not it's not a it's not huge. Basically, 27 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 2: we do need to put them up a little bit 28 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:37,440 Speaker 2: because everything around us keeps going up. Particularly you know, 29 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 2: when you're if you've got to do any you know, 30 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:44,839 Speaker 2: buy any, buy anything, everything has gone up. Nothing, nothing 31 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 2: stays down, So you still need to cover costs. And 32 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:52,240 Speaker 2: everything counsel does is to cover costs. 33 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 1: And so in terms of like I guess how much 34 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:57,760 Speaker 1: it could potentially impact people per week or per month, 35 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:00,720 Speaker 1: do you have a better understanding of of you know, 36 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 1: how it is, how it is going to cross over 37 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 1: to those locals. 38 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:09,679 Speaker 2: We do, I think we you know, we do try 39 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:12,120 Speaker 2: and you know we do try and keep things as 40 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:16,160 Speaker 2: low as possible because you know, any rate rise for 41 00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:21,080 Speaker 2: people is very hard in this current climb. However, you 42 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:24,960 Speaker 2: can also if you do have difficulty, you can come 43 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:27,120 Speaker 2: and talk to counsel to go on a payment plan 44 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:34,320 Speaker 2: to help. So, yes, it's it's not it's certainly not easy. 45 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 2: It's not easy at all, but because everyone still wants 46 00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 2: the services council provides and you know, we we have 47 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 2: to pay for the services somehow. 48 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 1: And Lisa, is there any changes in terms of you know, 49 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:49,400 Speaker 1: any of the other fees or anything like that this 50 00:02:49,560 --> 00:02:50,080 Speaker 1: time around. 51 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:53,920 Speaker 2: We have a small increase in some of the fees, 52 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 2: fees and charges, but it's not it's not I think 53 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:03,520 Speaker 2: it's only it's a large amount and basically again is 54 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:07,920 Speaker 2: just to cover costs, you know, everything that we're doing, 55 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:11,799 Speaker 2: the same as when we for instance, anything that goes 56 00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:17,000 Speaker 2: to the waste management facility, anything we do there, it's 57 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:20,880 Speaker 2: cost recovery. Don't charge extra. We don't make money from 58 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:24,320 Speaker 2: charging extra for you know, the tires and things and 59 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:27,640 Speaker 2: that like that that get taken away. We charge what 60 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:30,720 Speaker 2: it costs council to get rid of them. 61 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:34,400 Speaker 1: And in terms of the infrastructure plan for the for 62 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 1: the Catherine Town Council, what is sort of on the agenda. 63 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:39,280 Speaker 1: I know there's work happening on the swimming pool at 64 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:39,760 Speaker 1: the moment. 65 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 2: Yes, we got our money from the you know, it 66 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:46,840 Speaker 2: was an election promise by both years of government at 67 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:49,960 Speaker 2: the last election. We do have the ten million dollars now. 68 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 2: So it is to refurbish our pool which was forty 69 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:58,760 Speaker 2: two years old and had a leak underneath the main 70 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:04,280 Speaker 2: pool which is quite substantial. So we do now have 71 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:09,200 Speaker 2: plans and the municipal plan is out for twenty one 72 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:12,160 Speaker 2: days for anyone to comment on, and we have a 73 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:17,720 Speaker 2: portal now it's called Your Say, Catherine, and you can 74 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:20,719 Speaker 2: make comment on the municipal plan. You'll make comment on 75 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:23,680 Speaker 2: the pool if you go to our website. There's also 76 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:27,159 Speaker 2: you'll see the plans and everything there. 77 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:27,479 Speaker 1: For the pool. 78 00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:31,080 Speaker 2: So any comments or submissions that you'd like to put 79 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:33,359 Speaker 2: in for the municipal plan, or if you want to 80 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:35,400 Speaker 2: comment on the pool, you can go there or just 81 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:38,440 Speaker 2: send them in as normal via an email. 82 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:40,480 Speaker 1: Well that is good. That's good to hear and gives 83 00:04:40,480 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 1: people the opportunity to have their say on that much else. 84 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:47,000 Speaker 1: Infrastructure wise, Liz, that is sort of planned for you 85 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:51,280 Speaker 1: know for I guess that strategic infrastructure and what you'd 86 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:52,279 Speaker 1: like to see in the future. 87 00:04:53,839 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 2: Well, we've got the civic center, we have a roof 88 00:04:57,120 --> 00:05:00,120 Speaker 2: that's sailing. You know, we can't go through an the 89 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:04,000 Speaker 2: wet season with this current route that we have because 90 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 2: it leaks so much, so badly in fact, that it 91 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:12,159 Speaker 2: goes down the walls. So you know, I mean again 92 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:18,320 Speaker 2: the building was built in nineteen eighty two, so all 93 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:21,200 Speaker 2: of these things, you know, like it's aging infrastructure that 94 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 2: many councils I think have trouble with because even Parliament's House. 95 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:29,200 Speaker 2: So I mean, you know, all our infrastructure is very, 96 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:32,240 Speaker 2: very old, and we do need to look at replacing 97 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 2: the roof here at the Casmtown Council, a new dog 98 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:41,480 Speaker 2: pound at the waste management facility because we have staff 99 00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:43,920 Speaker 2: that are there seven days a week that can keep 100 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:46,280 Speaker 2: an eye on the dogs that go you know that 101 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:51,680 Speaker 2: go to the pound, sports ground fencing. So that's We've 102 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:55,360 Speaker 2: got a nice sense along the Stuart Highway side and 103 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:58,960 Speaker 2: this one's going on the Chambers Drive side. I think 104 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 2: this is as we get grant funded, we you know, 105 00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:07,520 Speaker 2: we can do these projects. The roof though for the 106 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:11,240 Speaker 2: Civic Center cannot get grant funded, so we have to 107 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:12,600 Speaker 2: look for money for that. Yeah. 108 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:15,320 Speaker 1: Gee, it's hard, isn't it with that aging infrastructure. And 109 00:06:15,839 --> 00:06:18,039 Speaker 1: you know, when it's built sort of back in nineteen 110 00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:20,080 Speaker 1: eighty two, it does like it gets to the point 111 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:22,360 Speaker 1: where you know where it does need to be replaced. 112 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:25,599 Speaker 1: You can't sort of just continue to repair some of 113 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:27,440 Speaker 1: that stuff, or you can to some degree, but it 114 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 1: makes it difficult. 115 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:31,599 Speaker 2: Yes, it does. It does. And when you think, you know, 116 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 2: it's lasted all these years, so it's had a very 117 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:35,520 Speaker 2: good innings. 118 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:39,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, it has. It's had a good run. Much else 119 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:40,839 Speaker 1: happening in Catherine at the moment. 120 00:06:42,839 --> 00:06:47,480 Speaker 2: We're getting quite a huge influx of tourists to town. 121 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:50,840 Speaker 2: So we're hoping that this year will it'll pick up 122 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:53,320 Speaker 2: from the pre COVID you know when we used to 123 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:56,839 Speaker 2: get quite a lot of tourists to town. COVID sort 124 00:06:56,839 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 2: of float a lot of things up for everywhere, I think, 125 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:03,479 Speaker 2: So we're hoping that it goes back to the pre 126 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:07,719 Speaker 2: COVID numbers. It's looking pretty promising at the moment. 127 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 1: Well, it's always good to catch up with you, Liz, 128 00:07:10,880 --> 00:07:13,760 Speaker 1: and you know, beautiful to hear that. It's lovely weather 129 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:15,960 Speaker 1: in Catherine as well this morning. Good time to do 130 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:17,960 Speaker 1: a little road trip maybe on the weekend for the 131 00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 1: long weekend. 132 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:22,400 Speaker 2: Oh, definitely definitely come down. I mean there's a bron 133 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 2: festival and if you go to Hot Springs and have 134 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:26,240 Speaker 2: a look at our brand new flags of all the 135 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:29,120 Speaker 2: birds that we have in the Captur area. That is beautiful. 136 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:31,080 Speaker 2: If you get a chance to get down to our 137 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:36,080 Speaker 2: hot springs and have a look at those, and yes, definitely, 138 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 2: definitely is the time to do it. 139 00:07:38,480 --> 00:07:41,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, our good stuff. Liz Clark, the Mayor of Catherine, 140 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:43,840 Speaker 1: lovely to speak with you this morning. Thanks so much 141 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 1: for your time. Thank you very much, thank you.