Latest / 360 with Katie Woolf / Katie Woolf spoke with Minister for Parks and Rangers Selena Uibo

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Katie Woolf spoke with Minister for Parks and Rangers Selena Uibo · 360 with Katie Woolf

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: And actually joining us on the line right now due
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  Speaker 1: to catch up with her to talk about the Territory
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  Speaker 1: Wildlife Park. I have got the Minister for Parks, Selena Uboh.
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  Speaker 1: Good morning to your minister.
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  Speaker 2: Good morning Katy, Good morning to mixed listeners.
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  Speaker 3: Minister. Just very quickly we did. Obviously.
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  Speaker 1: I have just literally read out this bit of information
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  Speaker 1: that's come through from the Northern Territory Police. It's pretty mortifying.
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  Speaker 1: The Territory Police are calling for information in relation to
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  Speaker 1: an unlawful entry in Woodroff this morning in which a
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  Speaker 1: child was allegedly assaulted shortly after three am. The child
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  Speaker 1: woke her mother to tell her a man was in
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  Speaker 1: her room and had assaulted her. The intruder fled the
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  Speaker 1: premises and the mother called the police. The police are
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  Speaker 1: calling for anybody to come forward and with that assistance.
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  Speaker 1: But I mean, you must be as shocked as the
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  Speaker 1: rest of us.
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  Speaker 2: To hear that, absolutely, Katie, very shocking. I've literally just
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  Speaker 2: stepped out of a meeting to give you a call,
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  Speaker 2: so I wasn't aware that that release had been sent
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  Speaker 2: out up but a very very horrible incident and my
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  Speaker 2: thoughts are with the young person and their family. And
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  Speaker 2: the police obviously do an amazing job here in the
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  Speaker 2: Territory and just encourage anyone who does have information to
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  Speaker 2: please report it to the police.
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  Speaker 1: Now, Minister, obviously we've got you on the show because
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  Speaker 1: yesterday we had a former Territory Wildlife Park zoo keeper
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  Speaker 1: for twenty years, Greg Mayo. He joined us on the
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  Speaker 1: show to discuss the need for further funding to keep
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  Speaker 1: the Territory Wildlife Park going for future generations. Now he
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  Speaker 1: discussed the closure of various exhibits and the need for
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  Speaker 1: additional funding to keep the Territory's iconic park opened. Minister,
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  Speaker 1: let's knock this question on the head earlier. Is the
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  Speaker 1: government making moves to close the Territory Wildlife Park?
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  Speaker 2: Absolutely not, Katie. I want to reassure the public and
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  Speaker 2: of course the visitors who come to the Territory and
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  Speaker 2: enjoy the Territory Wildlife Park just like the locals, that
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  Speaker 2: we have no plans to close the Territory Wildlife Park.
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  Speaker 2: It is safe.
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  Speaker 1: So we spoke yesterday about these changes to exhibits, including,
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  Speaker 1: as I understand it, the dingos, the EMUs and most
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  Speaker 1: noticeably the Monsoon Forest. Why have these changes been made
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  Speaker 1: so Katie.
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  Speaker 2: These are changes that are being proposed. They're options. No
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  Speaker 2: decision has been made as yet. What the department is
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  Speaker 2: doing is working through a series of options to look
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  Speaker 2: at the long term sustainability of the park, also about
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  Speaker 2: the maintenance and the cost for keeping sections of the
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  Speaker 2: park accessible well maintained. Of course, we need to make
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  Speaker 2: sure the safety of our animals is paramount. So these
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  Speaker 2: are options that are being worked through the park to
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  Speaker 2: look at what the current budget is for the Territory
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  Speaker 2: Wildlife Park, maintaining the visitor experience, improving the visitor experience,
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  Speaker 2: but also looking at are there any changes that we
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  Speaker 2: will need to look at in terms of living within
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  Speaker 2: the budget for the park.
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  Speaker 3: I mean, as I understand it.
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  Speaker 1: These plan closures though, are due to be implemented around
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  Speaker 1: the middle of September, so not too far away. Are
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  Speaker 1: we going to see that Buffalo Trail, Rocky Ridge, the
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  Speaker 1: Dingoes and the entire Monsoon Forest section closed?
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  Speaker 2: Again, Katie, these are a range of options that are
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  Speaker 2: being worked through with the department and particularly closely worked
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  Speaker 2: through with the current staff at the park. With the
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  Speaker 2: Territory Wildlife Park taking an account what the budget is
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  Speaker 2: for the park, what are the areas that are limited
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  Speaker 2: in terms of keeping open in the long term. So
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  Speaker 2: these are all options that are being worked through currently.
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  Speaker 2: So it's not an action that has happened. It's not
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  Speaker 2: a decision that's been made. Again, the work that's being
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  Speaker 2: worked through at the moment are providing those options so
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  Speaker 2: we can keep the park open in the long run,
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  Speaker 2: so we can have those great experiences and those memories
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  Speaker 2: that many of us have linked with the Territory Wildlife Park,
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  Speaker 2: and that we can continue to ensure that the safety
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  Speaker 2: of the animals and the staff and that it is maintained.
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  Speaker 1: I mean, is it going to be up to the
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  Speaker 1: standard thy Minister that it should be if we're even
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  Speaker 1: looking at closing some of these fantastic exhibits. I mean,
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  Speaker 1: when you look at the monsoon forests, from what I've
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  Speaker 1: heard from the zookeeper who we spoke to yesterday, it's
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  Speaker 1: you know, it's unlike a lot of the different locations
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  Speaker 1: that you might attend in other states and territories, and
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  Speaker 1: very unique to the Northern Territory.
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  Speaker 2: It is unique, of course, Katie, and that's what we
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  Speaker 2: love about the Territory Wildlife Park. That's what we like
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  Speaker 2: to showcase, but the cost of the park and the
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  Speaker 2: decrease and in visitors that we've had over the last
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  Speaker 2: few years is noticeable. So we need to make sure
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  Speaker 2: that we're going to be looking at the long term
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  Speaker 2: future of the Territary Wildlife Park. What is sustainable. How
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  Speaker 2: can we ensure that the visit experience is positive, that
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  Speaker 2: it is exciting that we do have those areas that
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  Speaker 2: attract not just locals but visitors coming to the territory
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  Speaker 2: to the Territory Wildlife Park in the future and in
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  Speaker 2: the long run.
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  Speaker 1: So what would happen to the hundreds of birds that
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  Speaker 1: are in that monsoon forest?
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  Speaker 2: So, for example, Katie as that being if it was
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  Speaker 2: an option that is decided upon, if there are any
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  Speaker 2: changes to the closures and the exhibits in the park,
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  Speaker 2: would look at rehoming and using the connections with other sanctuaries,
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  Speaker 2: other parks, other zoos across Australia basically to rehome any animals.
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  Speaker 2: So that's the sort of work that needs to be modeled.
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  Speaker 2: It's not something that's an easy decision, a quick decision,
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  Speaker 2: or something that is being made yet, So they're the
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  Speaker 2: sort of options that are being worked through.
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  Speaker 1: So you can guarantee that if that monsoon forest closes,
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  Speaker 1: that none of those birds are going to be euthanized.
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  Speaker 2: Again, Katie, these are all options that are going for
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  Speaker 2: I absolutely love animals and I would not want to
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  Speaker 2: see any animals euthanized. The work that is being done
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  Speaker 2: by the department is making sure that if that is
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  Speaker 2: an avenue to close those averies associated with the monsoon, well,
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  Speaker 2: that we have pursued all of those different options to
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  Speaker 2: look at where those animals go, how they're kept safe,
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  Speaker 2: how they're well looked after, And no decision we've made
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  Speaker 2: unless we know that all of those things are in place.
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  Speaker 1: I mean, surely though we can rule out any of
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  Speaker 1: the birds being euthanized.
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  Speaker 2: Yes, So I don't agree with any animals being used
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  Speaker 2: and ized. So that is something that I've directed the department.
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  Speaker 2: It's something that I'm very keenly interested in. But Katie,
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  Speaker 2: we do have a one off COVID support payment that
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  Speaker 2: I'm working through to help assist the Territory Wildlife Park. Obviously,
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  Speaker 2: we know things have changed. We've had lockdowns now in
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  Speaker 2: the territory and they have felt obviously some of that
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  Speaker 2: brunt as well. Just like many other businesses and families
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  Speaker 2: across the territory. So we're looking at some of the
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  Speaker 2: ways that we can support the Wildlife Park in the
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  Speaker 2: short term. But a lot of the work that we're doing,
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  Speaker 2: and it's work that we've been doing for many, many months,
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  Speaker 2: is about the long term sustainability of the Territory Wildlife
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  Speaker 2: Park so we can all enjoy it for future generation.
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  Speaker 1: I mean, some of these exhibits though, have had significant
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  Speaker 1: funding contributions over the years, So why sort of cut
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  Speaker 1: them back now after different work has been undertaken. You know,
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  Speaker 1: one of those, as I understand it, is the buffalo
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  Speaker 1: trial lot.
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  Speaker 3: Why you know, why sort.
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  Speaker 1: Of make these changes or why look at cutting them
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  Speaker 1: now after there has been investment into them over the years.
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  Speaker 2: Definitely welcome investment and support, particularly from outside entities and
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  Speaker 2: sponsors and people who want to donate to the park.
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  Speaker 2: But the truth is that, of course animals need to
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  Speaker 2: be fed. Buffaloes in particular cost a lot of money
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  Speaker 2: to maintain, obviously just the sheer size. Again, making sure
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  Speaker 2: that all of our animals are safe, that they're kept
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  Speaker 2: in good health, that they're fed well, they're fed according
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  Speaker 2: to their diet, and what their needs are, and of
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  Speaker 2: course that their environments that are created, their habitats maintained,
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  Speaker 2: and the safety of those habitats and maintained. That all
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  Speaker 2: costs money, Katie. So making sure we've got those long
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  Speaker 2: term plans so we don't have to face, you know,
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  Speaker 2: any of these type of options in the in the
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  Speaker 2: medium and long term. That's what a lot of the
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  Speaker 2: work that the department's doing now. The sheer cost of
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  Speaker 2: feeding animals, even if no one's visiting the park, you
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  Speaker 2: still have to feed the animals. Well, absolutely, they still
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  Speaker 2: have to make sure that they've got, you know, everything
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  Speaker 2: that they need. We want to make sure that's a priority.
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  Speaker 2: The safety of the animals is a priority for us.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely, I guess it just sort of seems as
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  Speaker 1: though we're reaching a point now with the Territory Wildlife
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  Speaker 1: Park where it's either like there needs to be, you know,
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  Speaker 1: an increase to their operational funds each year, or there
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  Speaker 1: needs to be an increase to funding, or you know,
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  Speaker 1: is the government looking at privatizing the park.
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  Speaker 2: There's many options that are being looked at, Katie. But again,
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  Speaker 2: we want to make sure that the park is safe,
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  Speaker 2: it's maintained and it's well experienced and enjoyed by visitors alike,
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  Speaker 2: whether they're locals or interstate is coming in or when
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  Speaker 2: we get international visitors returning to the territory and making
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  Speaker 2: sure that we do have that piece of the territory
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  Speaker 2: that people love and enjoy. It is something that comes
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  Speaker 2: up every year. We'll talk about what the budgets are,
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  Speaker 2: but like everything, there needs to be budgets in regards
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  Speaker 2: to operational matters and that's what the department's working through.
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  Speaker 1: One of our listeners, Paul, has just called through and
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  Speaker 1: he said that the Monsoon Forest is being shut down
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  Speaker 1: on the fifteenth of this month.
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  Speaker 2: Is that correct again, Katie, These are options that have
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  Speaker 2: been put forward by the Department. They're working with the
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  Speaker 2: Territory Wildlife Park staff to see what is the best
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  Speaker 2: way forward to keep the park operating, to keep the
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  Speaker 2: park enjoyable. That is one of the options that has
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  Speaker 2: been put forward.
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  Speaker 1: But you, as a minister, must know whether it is
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  Speaker 1: closing on the fifteenth of this month or not.
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  Speaker 2: No decision has been made, Katie. Again, we're halfway through
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  Speaker 2: a lot of the work that has been started over
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  Speaker 2: many many months. There's some very intense work that's happening
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  Speaker 2: over the next fortnight, that is being worked through. This
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  Speaker 2: is where all this information is coming from. But this
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  Speaker 2: is the work that needs to be done to ensure
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  Speaker 2: that we can enjoy the Churchiar Wildlife Park.
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  Speaker 3: Is privatizing the park an option.
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  Speaker 2: I think it's been explored in the past. I'm not
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  Speaker 2: too sure in regards to what the reality is of
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  Speaker 2: what could happen. It could be an option if there
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  Speaker 2: was someone who wanted to take on the park and
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  Speaker 2: explore that, that would be something I'm sure that the
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  Speaker 2: department would work through and to talk as an option.
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  Speaker 2: But I'm not aware of anyone wanting to privatize the
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  Speaker 2: park at this point.
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  Speaker 3: Okay.
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  Speaker 1: Another issue which we have not had an update on
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  Speaker 1: for a considerable amount of time is the windows on
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  Speaker 1: the wetland.
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  Speaker 3: Where is that at at the moment.
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  Speaker 2: Yes, so window of the wetlands. It has been through
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  Speaker 2: some of our internal processes in regards to leasing arrangements.
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  Speaker 2: My latest information is that that's all on track to
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  Speaker 2: look at formal signing of leasing arrangements, and then once
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  Speaker 2: that's formalized and all the legal side of everything is
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  Speaker 2: sorted out, that will see the preferred tender who has
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  Speaker 2: been working with the department then take on the lease
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  Speaker 2: and run the windows of the wetlands, which will be
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  Speaker 2: really exciting.
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  Speaker 1: So we're pretty close to having it reopening, very close.
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  Speaker 2: A lot of again, a lot of work gets done
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  Speaker 2: in the background, and it only sort of bubbles up
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  Speaker 2: when people have a bit of an interest point but
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  Speaker 2: really excited about that one, Katie.
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  Speaker 3: So how far away can we expect, minister, any idea?
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  Speaker 2: I think as long as the legal signing off of
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  Speaker 2: leasing arrangements obviously have no influence on that, that's all
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  Speaker 2: being done with our legal teams. My understanding is once
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  Speaker 2: that's all squared away, then we'll have some more work
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  Speaker 2: in that space where we will see the windows in
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  Speaker 2: the wetlands reinvigorated.
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  Speaker 3: All right, Well, we'll.
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  Speaker 1: Wait and see exactly when that happens, and no doubt
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  Speaker 1: we'll be able to get you back on to find
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  Speaker 1: out a little bit more about it.
• 12:01
  Speaker 3: Minister.
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  Speaker 1: I've got to tell you, people are calling through their
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  Speaker 1: pretty irate about the situation out there at the Territory
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  Speaker 1: Wildlife Park at the moment.
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  Speaker 3: They're saying that.
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  Speaker 1: You know that that monsoon area is closing down, and.
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  Speaker 3: They're pretty upset, Katie.
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  Speaker 2: I understand people have the interest and the love of
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  Speaker 2: the Territory Wildlife Park. I have my own beautiful memories
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  Speaker 2: of growing up and taking family members and my own
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  Speaker 2: family to the Territory Wildlife Park is in the area
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  Speaker 2: that is a big interest to me as well. Understand
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  Speaker 2: that people have their concerns. But once we have some
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  Speaker 2: formal decisions made, I will be talking to those decisions,
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  Speaker 2: but reassuring the public that that is the work that
• 12:46
  Speaker 2: is being done. And once we have those formal decisions,
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  Speaker 2: then I'll be happy to talk to those Will it be.
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  Speaker 1: Too late though, I mean by the sounds of it,
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  Speaker 1: it'll be a done deal. You know, some of those
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  Speaker 1: things like those various different displays that or exhibits that
• 13:02
  Speaker 1: we've spoken about it it's going to be done by
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  Speaker 1: the time people actually find out, Katie.
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  Speaker 2: I can reassure the public and those particular who love
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  Speaker 2: the Territory while they park, that the park is staying
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  Speaker 2: open and we are committed to the future and the
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  Speaker 2: long term sustainability of the Territory Wildlife Park.
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  Speaker 1: Minister Selena Rubo, we appreciate your time this morning. Thank
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  Speaker 1: you for coming on the show and speaking to us.
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  Speaker 2: Thank you, Katie, thank you,