1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,520 Speaker 1: Three sixty with Katie Wolf. Join the conversation with Katie Wolf. 2 00:00:04,600 --> 00:00:07,520 Speaker 1: You are our eyes and ears in the territory mixed 3 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:08,720 Speaker 1: one oh four point nine. 4 00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:11,240 Speaker 2: Well, a lot of you wondering exactly what is opened 5 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:13,920 Speaker 2: out at Kakadoo, a lot of you wanting to head 6 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:16,040 Speaker 2: out that way but worried that things are going to 7 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 2: be closed. And joining us on the line right now 8 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:24,200 Speaker 2: is the Kackadoo Park Manager of Operation, Sean Barclay. 9 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:28,560 Speaker 1: Good morning to you, Jarning Katie. Thanks for the opportunity 10 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:29,880 Speaker 1: to speak with you this morning. 11 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:31,720 Speaker 2: Oh great to have you on the show, Sean. We 12 00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:34,600 Speaker 2: really appreciate it and I know that you're able to 13 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:36,599 Speaker 2: give us a bit more of an overview about some 14 00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:39,400 Speaker 2: of these sites that are starting to reopen ahead of 15 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:40,120 Speaker 2: the dry. 16 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:47,159 Speaker 1: That's right, So Kackadoo is really looking forward to welcoming 17 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:49,559 Speaker 1: a large number of visitors out at the park this 18 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:53,440 Speaker 1: year after a big wet season. Our sites are all 19 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:57,640 Speaker 1: opening as we prepare them for visitors, so as water 20 00:00:57,760 --> 00:01:01,320 Speaker 1: levels drop, we clear them some crocodiles and all of 21 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:05,160 Speaker 1: the latest updates on where everything's up to is available 22 00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:08,640 Speaker 1: from our website. So we have an access site that 23 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 1: is the best source of information of what's open in 24 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:11,800 Speaker 1: the park. 25 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 2: Now, Sean. I know that over the last couple of 26 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:16,640 Speaker 2: weeks we'd had a lot of people get in contact 27 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 2: with us saying, you know, I had a friend visit 28 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:22,000 Speaker 2: from interstate. There wasn't very much open. We've been sent 29 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:25,280 Speaker 2: some photos as well of the different things that were 30 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:28,880 Speaker 2: and weren't opened. You know, like on a whole what 31 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:32,360 Speaker 2: percentage of some of those you know, bigger sites or 32 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:35,800 Speaker 2: bigger locations are now opened out there at Kakadu. Would 33 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:37,679 Speaker 2: you say that we've sort of got eighty percent of 34 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:40,000 Speaker 2: them opened at this point or how are we looking. 35 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:43,880 Speaker 1: For this time of year. I think we're looking We're 36 00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 1: pretty much on track and it's the same as previous years. 37 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:49,920 Speaker 1: There's two sites that are currently closed at the request 38 00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:53,639 Speaker 1: of traditional owners, and that's Umber and Gunlaan. Other sites 39 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:56,480 Speaker 1: are progressing with being opened as we would normally do. 40 00:01:57,680 --> 00:01:59,520 Speaker 2: So can you talk us through some of those ones 41 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:01,440 Speaker 2: that are And I guess if there are people listening 42 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:03,520 Speaker 2: right now, and I know you might not be able 43 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:05,320 Speaker 2: to go through all of them, but talk us through 44 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 2: some of the ones that are open that are maybe 45 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:07,960 Speaker 2: well worth a visit. 46 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 1: So Nalangi Rocks open. It's a fantastic all weather site 47 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:15,799 Speaker 1: that visitors can attend. Many of the lookouts with great 48 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 1: views across the escarpment are open as well. The creeks 49 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:23,760 Speaker 1: and billbongs are slowly opening as water levels drops and 50 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 1: the fish owns can get out there and see what 51 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:30,520 Speaker 1: they can catch. We've also got the taste of Cacutu 52 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:34,080 Speaker 1: Festival here from the twenty eighth to the thirtieth, where 53 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:38,400 Speaker 1: we will be showcasing indigenous inspired cosine and culture for 54 00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:41,320 Speaker 1: visitors as well. And the visitor centers of course are 55 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:44,520 Speaker 1: also open to showcase the natural and cultural value that 56 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 1: we have in the park. 57 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 2: Now, I know you did mention that the likes of 58 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:51,680 Speaker 2: a Beer and Gunlam have been closed due to the 59 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:53,840 Speaker 2: requests of traditional owners, and I know that some of 60 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:56,680 Speaker 2: that you're not actually able to go into. But with 61 00:02:56,800 --> 00:02:59,840 Speaker 2: some of the other sites that had been previously closed, 62 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 2: is that due to weather or what were some of 63 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:04,679 Speaker 2: the issues in terms of them being closed. 64 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 1: The only other closures in place other than Uber and 65 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 1: good Law, they really just you the seasonal weather. As 66 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:15,239 Speaker 1: I mentioned, we've had a pretty big web season yep. 67 00:03:15,919 --> 00:03:19,360 Speaker 1: As water levels reside and we prepare those sites for opening. 68 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 1: The updates are all on our website. 69 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:23,960 Speaker 2: And you said there that some of the some of 70 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:26,280 Speaker 2: the different ways that you've got to prepare is making 71 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:28,919 Speaker 2: sure that you're sort of removing crocodiles and that kind 72 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:30,640 Speaker 2: of thing. Talk us through that. 73 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:35,840 Speaker 1: So obviously we want the public to be safe while 74 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 1: they're experiencing the park, and during the wet season, crocodiles 75 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:42,320 Speaker 1: can sort of move up the waterways into some of 76 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:46,120 Speaker 1: these areas. So before we open a site, we do 77 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:48,960 Speaker 1: everything we can to ensure that crocodiles that we've removed 78 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 1: any crocodiles that have snug up there. We use a 79 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:57,320 Speaker 1: combination of visual spotting, trapping, other detection methods, but as 80 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:00,520 Speaker 1: always it's kind of we try and do our best 81 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 1: to ensure that crocodiles aren't there. Yeah, of course everyone 82 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:04,160 Speaker 1: to swim. 83 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 2: That there act, oh absolutely, and it is you know, 84 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:09,640 Speaker 2: obviously their natural habitat here in the territory, So we've 85 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:13,080 Speaker 2: always got to be careful. How many people are you 86 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:15,920 Speaker 2: expecting to visit Kackadoo over the dry season? 87 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:20,640 Speaker 1: More than we would usually expect. There's a lot of 88 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:24,080 Speaker 1: people out here already accommodation is very tight. I can't 89 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 1: put a number on how many people, but it's definitely 90 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:27,120 Speaker 1: going to be a big season. 91 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:30,839 Speaker 2: And has it been busier out there Sean this year? 92 00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:33,839 Speaker 2: I know that last year. Obviously, we're all very worried 93 00:04:33,839 --> 00:04:37,640 Speaker 2: about the impacts of COVID in terms of not having travelers. 94 00:04:37,640 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 2: But are you finding now that we're getting lots of 95 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 2: assies from other states visiting Kackadoo? 96 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:47,760 Speaker 1: Absolutely, said Jebbruy. The town is very full. There's a 97 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:50,599 Speaker 1: lot of caravans and camper trailers on the roads already 98 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:52,440 Speaker 1: and we're seeing it grow week by week. 99 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:55,960 Speaker 2: Well, that's good to hear. And how are you going 100 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:58,160 Speaker 2: staffing wise and stuff? Again? I know that a lot 101 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 2: of locations around the terr you have been struggling a 102 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 2: little bit when it comes to staff and being able 103 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:07,680 Speaker 2: to fill all of those positions, particularly when you talk 104 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:10,920 Speaker 2: about hotels and that kind of thing. How are things 105 00:05:10,960 --> 00:05:12,200 Speaker 2: going for us in Kakadoo. 106 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:17,440 Speaker 1: We're going pretty well. Most of our workforce is local people. 107 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:19,560 Speaker 1: We have a good partnership with the traditional owners of 108 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 1: the region, so we're a bit less dependent on staff 109 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:27,240 Speaker 1: from outside the park. I guess yeah, and that they're 110 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 1: doing our best to get all these sites open as 111 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:32,039 Speaker 1: fast as we can to welcome all ob visitors to 112 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:32,400 Speaker 1: the park. 113 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:35,200 Speaker 2: Now, Sean just remind us what is that? Where can 114 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:37,359 Speaker 2: people go? What's that website if they are keen to 115 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 2: find out exactly where is open so they don't make 116 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:42,640 Speaker 2: the trek out there and then go, oh no, that's 117 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:43,640 Speaker 2: not actually opened. 118 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:48,559 Speaker 1: So Parks Australia dot gov dot AU and then follow 119 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:51,360 Speaker 1: the links to Kakadoo and it's called the kakado Access Report. 120 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:54,800 Speaker 1: It provides an overview of everything that's open and when 121 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:58,039 Speaker 1: we're anticipating particular sites will open as well. 122 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 2: Good stuff, well, Sean Clay, Kackadoo Park Manager of Operations. 123 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:04,719 Speaker 2: We really appreciate you having a chat with us this morning. 124 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:07,799 Speaker 1: Thankstie, thank you, and yeah, good. 125 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:12,240 Speaker 2: News that they've also got the Taste the Kackadoo Taste 126 00:06:12,279 --> 00:06:14,840 Speaker 2: of Kakadoo Festival coming up. That should be a good one. 127 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:18,240 Speaker 2: Always plenty going on and good to hear though that 128 00:06:18,279 --> 00:06:21,440 Speaker 2: the majority of sites are indeed going to be opened 129 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:23,880 Speaker 2: as we head into our dry season.