Latest / 360 with Katie Woolf / Palmerston Mayor Athina Pascoe Bell provides an update on the Leisure Centre being developed in the satellite city

Transcript

Palmerston Mayor Athina Pascoe Bell provides an update on the Leisure Centre being developed in the satellite city · 360 with Katie Woolf

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: But there is certainly lots happening all around the place,
• 0:03
  Speaker 1: and if you live in Palmerston, you're probably quite excited
• 0:06
  Speaker 1: about the new pool and leisure center which is set
• 0:08
  Speaker 1: to be developed in the area. It is one of
• 0:11
  Speaker 1: the most significant developments in the satellite city, with nineteen
• 0:14
  Speaker 1: point four million dollars being invested. Now joining me on
• 0:18
  Speaker 1: the line is the Mayor of Palmerston, Athena Pasco Bell.
• 0:21
  Speaker 1: Good morning to you. Let me just try that again.
• 0:25
  Speaker 1: I'll make sure I've got that through the desk. Good
• 0:27
  Speaker 1: morning to you, Mayor.
• 0:29
  Speaker 2: Katie.
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  Speaker 3: We've got to make sure I press the right buttons
• 0:32
  Speaker 3: in here.
• 0:33
  Speaker 1: Now, this development is obviously massive, one nineteen point four
• 0:38
  Speaker 1: million dollars. What can people expect as part of the development.
• 0:43
  Speaker 2: The whole center. The pool aerial will be refurbished, so
• 0:48
  Speaker 2: there will be re lining of the fifty meter pool
• 0:51
  Speaker 2: so it'll stop that leaking and there won't be any
• 0:54
  Speaker 2: broken tiles in it anymore. We're also putting in a
• 0:58
  Speaker 2: second pool which will be smater, smaller, a program pool,
• 1:02
  Speaker 2: and it will be heated and that'll be for things
• 1:04
  Speaker 2: like swimming lessons, physiotherapy, acroaerobics. The kids area, which had
• 1:10
  Speaker 2: a single mushroom in it will be completely reworked, so
• 1:14
  Speaker 2: there'll be a lot more interactive place for toddlers and
• 1:17
  Speaker 2: young children. There will also be a two level obstacle
• 1:21
  Speaker 2: course installed for older youth and young adults, and it's
• 1:25
  Speaker 2: a harnessed course, so you basically get into a harness
• 1:28
  Speaker 2: year and then you run the course. It can be
• 1:31
  Speaker 2: run either wet or drive and that should be a
• 1:34
  Speaker 2: lot of fun for the older kids as well. There'll
• 1:37
  Speaker 2: be some events spaces in there, so we'll still be
• 1:39
  Speaker 2: able to pull in some food trucks and other things
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  Speaker 2: like that. A half court basketball court as well for
• 1:45
  Speaker 2: some of the teenagers and young adults who don't necessarily
• 1:48
  Speaker 2: want to go swimming the whole time that they're there.
• 1:52
  Speaker 2: And a cafe facility as well. We're in planning on
• 1:55
  Speaker 2: having installed there as well, so you're able to get
• 1:58
  Speaker 2: more than just chips and drinks.
• 2:00
  Speaker 1: It's going to be massive and you know, really, I
• 2:02
  Speaker 1: would suspect really popular as well in Palmerston, in a
• 2:05
  Speaker 1: city which is indeed so many families out there and
• 2:10
  Speaker 1: lots of young people that'll be looking for different things
• 2:12
  Speaker 1: to do. Now that work began last week, didn't it.
• 2:17
  Speaker 2: Yeah, so Jtex, who are the contractor, took control of
• 2:21
  Speaker 2: the site. I think it was about the twentieth or
• 2:23
  Speaker 2: twenty second of August and they're well underway, so they've
• 2:27
  Speaker 2: made quite a significant impact on the site already, with
• 2:31
  Speaker 2: a lot of the old structures and the old kids
• 2:34
  Speaker 2: area being removed already, and I believe that the pool
• 2:38
  Speaker 2: is now empty as well, so ready for relning. So
• 2:41
  Speaker 2: there's quite a lot of work happening already, yep. And
• 2:44
  Speaker 2: when it reopens it will be free to the public,
• 2:47
  Speaker 2: so we had it free before the closure. It will
• 2:50
  Speaker 2: remain free currently though. The gymnasium is still open to
• 2:55
  Speaker 2: the public, and as is the youth center.
• 2:57
  Speaker 1: There, and so will there be upgrades to the gym
• 3:00
  Speaker 1: and you know the youth center as well Athena or
• 3:04
  Speaker 1: will it just be to the pool facility.
• 3:07
  Speaker 2: The youth center's fairly new, so it's only been open
• 3:09
  Speaker 2: for about two years, so that's all new inside anyway.
• 3:15
  Speaker 2: The gymnasum, we've made some small changes too. The change
• 3:19
  Speaker 2: rooms and the toilet facilities will be upgraded though to
• 3:22
  Speaker 2: current standards, so that will be a change in the building.
• 3:25
  Speaker 2: But otherwise, the existing gymnasium and the Youth center are
• 3:29
  Speaker 2: just operating as they currently are.
• 3:31
  Speaker 1: Yeah, right now, how long are we expecting this work
• 3:34
  Speaker 1: to all take.
• 3:36
  Speaker 2: We're expected to be completed by November next year, so
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  Speaker 2: it's fourteen months in total. Quite an extensive amount of
• 3:43
  Speaker 2: work needs to happen there, but we are looking forward
• 3:45
  Speaker 2: to it reopening in November next year.
• 3:48
  Speaker 1: I know there had been some concern obviously about you know,
• 3:52
  Speaker 1: swimming clubs or any classes that usually do take place
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  Speaker 1: at that facility while the work gets underway. Do you
• 3:58
  Speaker 1: know if there has been any you know, any sort
• 4:01
  Speaker 1: of solution found for some of those different groups.
• 4:05
  Speaker 2: The Goldfish Bowl in Palmerston does offer aperobic classes and
• 4:09
  Speaker 2: other activities there. Council is still speaking to them about
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  Speaker 2: any other options, but I've only had two people from
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  Speaker 2: the public actually come to me and say what their
• 4:20
  Speaker 2: specific requirements are that can't be accommodated elsewhere. So that's
• 4:23
  Speaker 2: what we're looking at doing now, is finding if there
• 4:26
  Speaker 2: is something that is available elsewhere. Most people though, can
• 4:31
  Speaker 2: head to any of our other areas, but where there's
• 4:35
  Speaker 2: water surrounding Palmerston, of course, because we've only got the
• 4:37
  Speaker 2: pool in our center here, but there's perhaps Caserina and
• 4:42
  Speaker 2: Nightcliff pools are open, and then there's other areas where
• 4:45
  Speaker 2: you can cool off such as Howard Springs, Berry Springs,
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  Speaker 2: the water park, sorry, the wave pool and the waterfront.
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  Speaker 2: So there are a number of other options around Palmerston
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  Speaker 2: that people can access. But you know, at this stage
• 5:00
  Speaker 2: we've managed to find accommodations for the regular users and
• 5:04
  Speaker 2: the groups of people who've come to us and said
• 5:06
  Speaker 2: that this is an issue for them.
• 5:08
  Speaker 1: Yeah, well that is good to hear that those regular
• 5:11
  Speaker 1: users have been able to find a solution. One of
• 5:14
  Speaker 1: the other things that is happening out at Palmerston at
• 5:16
  Speaker 1: the moment is it's an issue which has been raised,
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  Speaker 1: as I understand it, a proposal which could indeed see
• 5:22
  Speaker 1: Palmerston split into wards, similar to what we see obviously
• 5:27
  Speaker 1: in Darwin. So the idea, as I understand, was proposed
• 5:29
  Speaker 1: by the Local Government Representation Review Committed Committee Athena. Is
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  Speaker 1: it something that you think should happen? Do we need
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  Speaker 1: Palmerston to be split intowards?
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  Speaker 2: The council is considered it and we don't believe that
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  Speaker 2: it is appropriate for Palmerston because we are so compact.
• 5:47
  Speaker 2: Some of the issues that the Representation Review Committee looks
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  Speaker 2: at is things like geographic differences and travel times, which
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  Speaker 2: is really appropriate for remote communities and remote council also
• 6:00
  Speaker 2: have an additional layer of governance with local authorities, so
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  Speaker 2: it's appropriate that there's a council representative in some areas
• 6:11
  Speaker 2: in the remote areas where they do divide them intowards
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  Speaker 2: based on language, culture and travel time. In Palmerston, though
• 6:19
  Speaker 2: it takes about fifteen minutes to get from one end
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  Speaker 2: of Palmerston to the other. It doesn't matter which side
• 6:24
  Speaker 2: you start at to drive right across, it's only about
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  Speaker 2: fifteen minutes. Our communities really do mix, so we don't
• 6:31
  Speaker 2: have communities of interest in just particular locations. You know,
• 6:36
  Speaker 2: we've got seniors right across Palmerston. There are people who
• 6:39
  Speaker 2: take part in different sporting codes. We've only got one
• 6:43
  Speaker 2: of each team in Palmerston, so you would travel from
• 6:46
  Speaker 2: all over Palmerston to meet up with your friends and
• 6:49
  Speaker 2: play a game of footy or soccer or netball. So
• 6:53
  Speaker 2: the argument that Palmerston has got distinct populations or distinct
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  Speaker 2: areas doesn't really with us at the Council. We're looking
• 7:02
  Speaker 2: at it going it just doesn't really apply to us,
• 7:05
  Speaker 2: our councilors get out and amongst the community right across Palmerston,
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  Speaker 2: not just local areas. And in any case, all council
• 7:13
  Speaker 2: representatives should be representing the entire municipality and not just
• 7:17
  Speaker 2: their ward. Yeah.
• 7:19
  Speaker 1: Look, I tend to agree with you. I sort of
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  Speaker 1: think if things are working quite well out there at
• 7:23
  Speaker 1: the moment, why, you know, like why make a change
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  Speaker 1: for the sake of making a change, particularly if, as
• 7:29
  Speaker 1: you've said, you know, you've got your counselors going out
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  Speaker 1: there and getting across the whole area, not just sort
• 7:34
  Speaker 1: of sticking to their patch. So I can't see why
• 7:37
  Speaker 1: the change is really required for Palmerston. But what are
• 7:41
  Speaker 1: the next steps in this space?
• 7:43
  Speaker 2: Mere? We initially made a submission to the Representation Committee
• 7:50
  Speaker 2: and they've published now their initial or preliminary report, so
• 7:56
  Speaker 2: we'll have a look at that in some closer detail
• 7:59
  Speaker 2: and we'll make a response to that as a council.
• 8:02
  Speaker 1: Now, I've just got a couple of very quick listener
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  Speaker 1: questions that have come through. I've got one here from
• 8:06
  Speaker 1: mattin Driver and it said, Hi, Katie, could you please
• 8:08
  Speaker 1: ask the mayor what the big concrete base on L
• 8:12
  Speaker 1: Rundy just outside Marlow's is for I'm not sure if
• 8:15
  Speaker 1: you know what that one is.
• 8:18
  Speaker 2: I've seen it and I've just asked Evil Lawla if
• 8:21
  Speaker 2: she could let me know what it is because it's
• 8:23
  Speaker 2: on a government road. I'm actually not aware of what
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  Speaker 2: it actually is at this stage, but we are curious
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  Speaker 2: as to what it is.
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  Speaker 1: All right, Well, hopefully we can find out. Hey, another
• 8:32
  Speaker 1: one that came through. Someone's just called through and asked
• 8:35
  Speaker 1: if we could ask you about a mahogany tree which
• 8:38
  Speaker 1: is apparently on the corner of Dylan Circuit and Essington Avenue,
• 8:44
  Speaker 1: which is really quite large, and from what this listener says,
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  Speaker 1: it is like it's looking as though it's, you know,
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  Speaker 1: it's overgrown. At this point, my understanding is that it
• 8:55
  Speaker 1: is on a private property, but it is obviously, you know,
• 8:59
  Speaker 1: outside the yard, and they're wondering whether there is any
• 9:01
  Speaker 1: potential for the council to sort of step in and
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  Speaker 1: do something about it.
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  Speaker 2: It's a tricky one when it is located on a
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  Speaker 2: private property. Council could have a look at it and
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  Speaker 2: as far as the public areas are concerned and have
• 9:18
  Speaker 2: a look and see, but it's really going to be
• 9:20
  Speaker 2: up to the owner of that property to do something
• 9:23
  Speaker 2: about the tree. Yeah, I'll pass it on to council. Stuff,
• 9:26
  Speaker 2: go and see if they could have a look at it.
• 9:28
  Speaker 1: Yeah, that'd be good because from what I can gather
• 9:30
  Speaker 1: it from what this person has said, it's they see
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  Speaker 1: it as being a safety concern.
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  Speaker 3: So I'm not too sure.
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  Speaker 1: I haven't seen it myself, but I reckon it would
• 9:38
  Speaker 1: probably be, you know, a good thing in terms of
• 9:41
  Speaker 1: the outcome if it is something that the council is
• 9:44
  Speaker 1: able to have a look at.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, I'll see if stuff can have a look at it.
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  Speaker 2: They do use some standard process for assessing the health
• 9:52
  Speaker 2: of trees and the condition of trees, so they'll be
• 9:55
  Speaker 2: able to have a look at it and have a
• 9:57
  Speaker 2: look and see whether it's unsafe.
• 9:59
  Speaker 1: Yeah, Mayor of Palmerston Athena Pasco Bell, I really appreciate
• 10:03
  Speaker 1: your time this morning. Thanks so much for coming on
• 10:05
  Speaker 1: and having a chat to us about various different things.
• 10:08
  Speaker 3: Thanks Katie, thank you.
• 10:10
  Speaker 1: It is just six minutes away from eleven o'clock now
• 10:12
  Speaker 1: we have got messages coming through about this crash.
• 10:17
  Speaker 3: So essentially, from what I can gather at this point.
• 10:19
  Speaker 1: In time, it does look as though the lights, the
• 10:22
  Speaker 1: traffic lights at this intersection on Tiger Brennan, so it's
• 10:26
  Speaker 1: at the lights entering Bayview. They have been struck, by
• 10:30
  Speaker 1: the look of things, by a van and struck pretty hard. There.
• 10:35
  Speaker 1: Looks to be well some serious damage to the traffic lights.
• 10:40
  Speaker 1: Just trying to find out whether it is causing any
• 10:42
  Speaker 1: delays to actual traffic as well. But yes, from what
• 10:46
  Speaker 1: I'm being told, at the traffic lights the Tea intersection
• 10:49
  Speaker 1: where the Bayview entrances, looks like the person have maybe
• 10:52
  Speaker 1: done a wide turn into them and has struck those
• 10:55
  Speaker 1: traffic lights. So if you are in the area and
• 10:58
  Speaker 1: you want to give us a bit of an update
• 10:59
  Speaker 1: on what you can see in the area, please feel
• 11:01
  Speaker 1: free to give us a call on eight nine one
• 11:05
  Speaker 1: four nine or send us a message. You are our
• 11:07
  Speaker 1: eyes and ears out there letting us know exactly what
• 11:10
  Speaker 1: is going on out on the roads and everywhere else
• 11:13
  Speaker 1: for that matter, So if you do want to send
• 11:14
  Speaker 1: us a message, zero four double nine seven double one
• 11:18
  Speaker 1: three six zero. Now, at this point in time, I'm
• 11:21
  Speaker 1: not too sure whether the police are on the scene.
• 11:23
  Speaker 1: I can only imagine that they would be pretty quickly.
• 11:26
  Speaker 1: But yes, from the photos which I have been sent
• 11:29
  Speaker 1: the vehicle, the van does look as though it's got
• 11:32
  Speaker 1: some damage to the front of it. It looks from
• 11:36
  Speaker 1: the photos that I've been sent as though the people
• 11:39
  Speaker 1: or the person that was in that vehicle is outside
• 11:41
  Speaker 1: the vehicle. So hopefully no injuries or no extensive damage
• 11:45
  Speaker 1: to anyone's car, but certainly those traffic lights look as
• 11:48
  Speaker 1: though they've been taken out eight nine four one one
• 11:52
  Speaker 1: four nine if you'd like to call through. Lots of
• 11:53
  Speaker 1: messages coming through this morning on the text line as well,
• 11:56
  Speaker 1: on lots of different topics, and we always appreciate those
• 12:00
  Speaker 1: messages coming through. I have just received another one saying
• 12:03
  Speaker 1: minimal delay to traffic, so that is good to hear
• 12:06
  Speaker 1: that it's obviously not having a huge impact in any
• 12:10
  Speaker 1: way on the traffic, so that's good to hear. Oh, look,
• 12:13
  Speaker 1: somebody else's message through hopefully responding to that message. That's
• 12:17
  Speaker 1: Matt in driver had sent that we'd asked the mayor
• 12:20
  Speaker 1: of Palmerston about. So Matt had messaged and said, Hi, Katie,
• 12:24
  Speaker 1: could you ask Athena what the big concrete base on
• 12:27
  Speaker 1: l Rundi just outside of Marlow's is for now? Somebody
• 12:31
  Speaker 1: else has just messaged through and said that the cement
• 12:34
  Speaker 1: bases on the roads are the new electronic messaging signs
• 12:38
  Speaker 1: being erected around Darwin by the Northern Territory government. Well,
• 12:42
  Speaker 1: thank you very much for sending that message in hopefully
• 12:45
  Speaker 1: letting us know exactly what the situation is there and
• 12:50
  Speaker 1: well if anybody wants to get in contact and let
• 12:53
  Speaker 1: us know exactly what is happening and how long it's
• 12:55
  Speaker 1: going to take love to hear from you. Now I
• 12:57
  Speaker 1: am getting lots of updates on the traffic. I very
• 13:00
  Speaker 1: much appreciate you messaging through, Helen. Thank you for your
• 13:04
  Speaker 1: message that has just sent me through a fo jo
• 13:06
  Speaker 1: and very minimal traffic delay by the look. But it
• 13:09
  Speaker 1: does seem as though the police are indeed now on
• 13:12
  Speaker 1: the scene, as are the fieries by the look of things,
• 13:15
  Speaker 1: so hopefully everything.
• 13:17
  Speaker 3: Gets cleared up pretty quickly. Out there.
• 13:19
  Speaker 1: You're listening to Mix one O four nine's three sixty