Latest / 360 with Katie Woolf / Darwin’s Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis explains plans to trial a recreational vehicle park at Bundilla Beach this dry season

Transcript

Darwin’s Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis explains plans to trial a recreational vehicle park at Bundilla Beach this dry season · 360 with Katie Woolf

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Now joining me on the line right now to tell
• 0:03
  Speaker 1: us a little bit more about this idea and what
• 0:05
  Speaker 1: it would take to get it moving. Is the Lord
• 0:08
  Speaker 1: Mayor of Darwin convat Scarlets. Good morning to you.
• 0:11
  Speaker 2: Corn, Good morning Katie.
• 0:12
  Speaker 1: How are you very well? Conn and our v park
• 0:16
  Speaker 1: Bundilla Beach tell me more.
• 0:18
  Speaker 2: Yes, well, we have a lot of inquiries from people
• 0:22
  Speaker 2: who come from downside ives and their main complaint was
• 0:27
  Speaker 2: there aren't many places for our vist and if there are,
• 0:30
  Speaker 2: they are full very quickly and if you recall some
• 0:33
  Speaker 2: of them, they can't in a sporting ground knee instut highway.
• 0:37
  Speaker 2: So we had to look around and we thought, well,
• 0:40
  Speaker 2: great place to put the ives for many reasons is
• 0:43
  Speaker 2: the Bandilla Bit's beautiful surroundings, very close to a lot
• 0:46
  Speaker 2: of clubs restaurants. Is to access the museum. And the
• 0:51
  Speaker 2: other thing is when you activate a place, all the
• 0:54
  Speaker 2: things that the previous textas mentioned are the social behavior
• 0:58
  Speaker 2: refer our fights disappear. If you go down to Nightliff
• 1:03
  Speaker 2: Pitch where a lot of people go there in the afternoons,
• 1:05
  Speaker 2: there aren't any of these kinds of activities because the people,
• 1:08
  Speaker 2: these kind of people don't like publicity, don't like lights,
• 1:11
  Speaker 2: don't like activation, so we think we can actually activate
• 1:15
  Speaker 2: the area and clean it up.
• 1:18
  Speaker 1: So con what about when you sort of talk about,
• 1:20
  Speaker 1: you know, some of the infrastructure that is associated with
• 1:22
  Speaker 1: having RV's there. You know, I know that it's been said,
• 1:26
  Speaker 1: or my understanding is that it's been said that they
• 1:28
  Speaker 1: would need to be self contained, these av's, But do
• 1:32
  Speaker 1: you still need you know, waste drop points and things
• 1:35
  Speaker 1: like that.
• 1:37
  Speaker 2: Well, most of the avs or all of the av's
• 1:41
  Speaker 2: are of course self contained. They've got their own toilet,
• 1:44
  Speaker 2: their own shower. They need a downpoint and certainly we're
• 1:47
  Speaker 2: going to establish one there and if finally the trial
• 1:51
  Speaker 2: becomes a reality, until that time, we're not going to
• 1:54
  Speaker 2: do anything. But again, there will be some facility. There's
• 1:57
  Speaker 2: some toilets ready there, there are lives, it's there, there's
• 2:00
  Speaker 2: easy access at downpoint. Is a very minor issue that
• 2:04
  Speaker 2: we can address.
• 2:06
  Speaker 1: Corn ave been contacted by people saying, goodness, may how
• 2:10
  Speaker 1: is the council going to get this VPAK up and
• 2:12
  Speaker 1: going when the lawns aren't even being mode at the moment, well, the.
• 2:16
  Speaker 2: Monent not more at the moment, because we're at the
• 2:18
  Speaker 2: end of the contract and certainly we're not say, let's
• 2:21
  Speaker 2: say there's a much to be desired about the operation,
• 2:25
  Speaker 2: the current operation, but our contractors changing from next month
• 2:29
  Speaker 2: and we're going to see a much improved loan and
• 2:32
  Speaker 2: mowing of the loans and our facilities are park.
• 2:34
  Speaker 1: All right, So we're actually in between contracts. So is
• 2:37
  Speaker 1: that grass going to grow even longer in different locations?
• 2:40
  Speaker 1: Connor have you got somebody to manage it?
• 2:43
  Speaker 2: Well? Hopefully with no rain the grass will not grow
• 2:46
  Speaker 2: as usually happens. But there are new contractors starting very
• 2:49
  Speaker 2: early this month next month, and we will address all
• 2:52
  Speaker 2: these issues.
• 2:53
  Speaker 1: It's pretty bad though in some locations right now. So
• 2:56
  Speaker 1: is it just going to stay that way until next month?
• 2:58
  Speaker 2: Katie, I know very well about it. Oh no, No,
• 3:02
  Speaker 2: the old contractors still will continue to mow the lawns
• 3:04
  Speaker 2: and just programming it at the moment. But I said
• 3:07
  Speaker 2: you before, I've been approached by a number of people.
• 3:09
  Speaker 2: They actually bring to my attention some of the issues
• 3:11
  Speaker 2: with the quality of the service, and we're addressing this
• 3:15
  Speaker 2: one as a matter of priority.
• 3:16
  Speaker 1: Yeah, right, all right, let's go back to the vapor
• 3:19
  Speaker 1: con How many are these would be allowed? There?
• 3:24
  Speaker 2: There I'm going to be hundered. There probably will be
• 3:25
  Speaker 2: something between ten or twenty. Again, depend the area we're
• 3:29
  Speaker 2: going to be allocated depends on the response we get
• 3:31
  Speaker 2: from the people. It's going to be a temporary area
• 3:35
  Speaker 2: like PEP can't stay there for six months. They probably
• 3:37
  Speaker 2: come and stay for one or two or three nights
• 3:39
  Speaker 2: and then move on. The good thing with AVIS, as
• 3:41
  Speaker 2: I think before, it's self contained. They've got everything, including power,
• 3:46
  Speaker 2: so the infrastructure will need to put it with minimal
• 3:48
  Speaker 2: apart from the downpoint. The other thing bringing the AVIS
• 3:51
  Speaker 2: from let's say how it's springs or have to do
• 3:54
  Speaker 2: to the city. That means there'll be more people in
• 3:56
  Speaker 2: the city, will be spending more money in the city.
• 3:58
  Speaker 2: They have to buy a few they have to by supplies.
• 4:00
  Speaker 2: But although they go out that don't stay and they
• 4:02
  Speaker 2: harsh all the time they go out to the local
• 4:04
  Speaker 2: residences of the local venues.
• 4:06
  Speaker 1: How much will it cost to be able to get
• 4:08
  Speaker 1: one of those spots.
• 4:10
  Speaker 2: Well, we don't have this information yet. For the same reason,
• 4:13
  Speaker 2: we're not going to go to that depth unless we
• 4:15
  Speaker 2: get the decision by the people. There's not much point
• 4:18
  Speaker 2: of proceeding of anything. If people say No, it's about
• 4:22
  Speaker 2: the idea. We don't want it. But from what I
• 4:23
  Speaker 2: read now from response, we get the majority of the people,
• 4:27
  Speaker 2: about seventy percent think that's a good idea.
• 4:29
  Speaker 1: Yeah, most people are getting in contact with us and
• 4:31
  Speaker 1: saying that they think it's a good idea. I know
• 4:33
  Speaker 1: that there's a few that are sort of saying, oh,
• 4:34
  Speaker 1: I just don't know about this. I think that they're
• 4:36
  Speaker 1: just going to get broken into.
• 4:39
  Speaker 2: Well anything can be broken into if there is reef
• 4:42
  Speaker 2: ruff around. But by bringing these people there, suddenly they'll
• 4:46
  Speaker 2: be going to be activation and so there'd be more
• 4:48
  Speaker 2: people coming and going all the time. So the people
• 4:51
  Speaker 2: they actually cause problems and usually they like a very
• 4:56
  Speaker 2: deserted place to drink. We'll find somewhere else to go.
• 4:59
  Speaker 1: Con what about on the footpaths and stuff in the
• 5:01
  Speaker 1: area would they be so where exactly would the RVs
• 5:04
  Speaker 1: be parked? Would they be like on the grass area
• 5:06
  Speaker 1: or are they going to be in the actual car
• 5:08
  Speaker 1: park area there at Bundella, They're going to.
• 5:11
  Speaker 2: Be in the car park area. Yeah, we will not
• 5:13
  Speaker 2: put the arves on the grass area. The grass area
• 5:16
  Speaker 2: will be left for recreation. If people were to have
• 5:18
  Speaker 2: a walk walk clear dog or go somewhere they can
• 5:21
  Speaker 2: use the grass area and the big park that's between
• 5:23
  Speaker 2: that area and of course East Point Road. The arvest
• 5:27
  Speaker 2: will be in the hard stand. If we have to
• 5:29
  Speaker 2: do some ratification for the footpaths, we will do so.
• 5:34
  Speaker 2: As I do you before our attentions to activate the place,
• 5:37
  Speaker 2: you don't activate the place just living the hog ites.
• 5:39
  Speaker 1: Oh look, I think that it would be a stunning
• 5:42
  Speaker 1: place to wake up in your RV, you know, looking
• 5:44
  Speaker 1: out over the over the water. It'll be absolutely beautiful.
• 5:48
  Speaker 1: It is beautiful there at Bundela Beach. I guess I'm
• 5:51
  Speaker 1: just trying to get an idea in my head of
• 5:53
  Speaker 1: how exactly it will work. And I know our listeners
• 5:55
  Speaker 1: will be doing the same. So with those vans parked up,
• 5:59
  Speaker 1: we'll local staf will be able to sort of walk
• 6:01
  Speaker 1: through the area or does they need to be do
• 6:03
  Speaker 1: you reckon? There's going to need to be fencing around
• 6:05
  Speaker 1: the place.
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  Speaker 2: What will we need We are not going to restrict access.
• 6:09
  Speaker 2: Certainly you can't walk into an RV, but said if
• 6:12
  Speaker 2: you walk around it or around that area, there's not
• 6:14
  Speaker 2: going to be any problem.
• 6:16
  Speaker 1: And assuming that they need to be a bit of
• 6:17
  Speaker 1: an application process for people to go through as well.
• 6:21
  Speaker 2: Would they What we'll do is actually do the trial
• 6:27
  Speaker 2: depending on the response to the people. That would be
• 6:29
  Speaker 2: a small trial, and while we do the trial, will
• 6:32
  Speaker 2: ask for expression of with the rest from the private sector.
• 6:34
  Speaker 2: We want people who got experience in running these kind
• 6:37
  Speaker 2: of facilities rather than the council corn.
• 6:40
  Speaker 1: Another thing I want to ask you about, get just
• 6:42
  Speaker 1: a very quick update. You and I spoke last week
• 6:45
  Speaker 1: about this application to heritage list the entire Esplanade. Now
• 6:51
  Speaker 1: on the weekend I saw the advertisement in the nt
• 6:54
  Speaker 1: US for provisional heritage listing. I spoke to the chief
• 7:00
  Speaker 1: about this on Monday and raised your concerns. She had
• 7:03
  Speaker 1: said that yes, you had spoken to her as well.
• 7:06
  Speaker 1: Con are we going to end up with the whole
• 7:08
  Speaker 1: of the Esplanade heritage listed?
• 7:11
  Speaker 2: My concern, Kate, is not going to be only the Esplanade,
• 7:14
  Speaker 2: is going to be the whole Esplanant, including the cliffs
• 7:17
  Speaker 2: and about five hundred meters into the sea. This is
• 7:20
  Speaker 2: a really an avid plaim from some people that they
• 7:23
  Speaker 2: don't want anything to be developed a dowin. They want
• 7:26
  Speaker 2: to have done the way towards the nineteen fifties The
• 7:29
  Speaker 2: problem with God is there is a nomination process. Due
• 7:33
  Speaker 2: process has not been followed by the public. Is supposed
• 7:35
  Speaker 2: to be their job. My reaction is, if this commany
• 7:38
  Speaker 2: wants to develop a forty billion dollar economy, you don't
• 7:40
  Speaker 2: put the brakes on any potential developing in the area.
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  Speaker 2: And again what I said to the Chief Minister, if
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  Speaker 2: the esplant is a heretag place, what about the waterfront
• 7:50
  Speaker 2: when the Neptuna was exploded and killed forty five people?
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  Speaker 2: Is there a more cultural significant place on this what
• 7:58
  Speaker 2: about this exercise and actually in the park in front
• 8:01
  Speaker 2: of the deck theater. You can't just select which one
• 8:05
  Speaker 2: you won't declare and leave the others out. We already
• 8:08
  Speaker 2: spoken before about developing the lamon Ubus. As a matter
• 8:12
  Speaker 2: of fact, they were lamonu Bus before, so part of
• 8:15
  Speaker 2: the heritage. So I said before, there are number of
• 8:19
  Speaker 2: people in Darwin that want to stop everything happening. They
• 8:21
  Speaker 2: don't care about anything else but themselves. And my question is,
• 8:24
  Speaker 2: let's stop every development in Darwin and then stop complaining
• 8:27
  Speaker 2: about our children going down south to find a job
• 8:30
  Speaker 2: because we're unable to provide them with.
• 8:31
  Speaker 1: Jobs here coll logistically right now? So is that provisional
• 8:36
  Speaker 1: heritage listing in place now.
• 8:39
  Speaker 2: Well, they tell us it is, but when we try
• 8:43
  Speaker 2: to find out where is the gazette with gazette, we
• 8:46
  Speaker 2: can't find out when get our lawyers. The lawyers has
• 8:49
  Speaker 2: found a lot of big gaps in the process and
• 8:52
  Speaker 2: most likely council will be taking legal action against it.
• 8:55
  Speaker 2: One thing I want to make clear, so the.
• 8:57
  Speaker 1: Council is potentially going to be taking legal action here
• 8:59
  Speaker 1: against the Norse Territory government.
• 9:01
  Speaker 2: I gave the department against the part that is done improperly.
• 9:05
  Speaker 2: But one thing I want to say a kay is
• 9:07
  Speaker 2: that council had any intention of developing the esplanet. The
• 9:11
  Speaker 2: splant has got a special zoning and councils never will
• 9:14
  Speaker 2: actually seek to change that zoning. So I don't know
• 9:16
  Speaker 2: why people want to declare heritage to already heritage. There's
• 9:20
  Speaker 2: a cenotaph, we have the events taking place that commemorate
• 9:24
  Speaker 2: our history. It's got a special zoning and open space
• 9:27
  Speaker 2: recreation which are not going to be changed. Some people
• 9:31
  Speaker 2: just think differently than others.
• 9:33
  Speaker 1: I mean, the reality here is if something is heritage listed,
• 9:36
  Speaker 1: it makes it very difficult to you know, to be
• 9:38
  Speaker 1: able to change the light bulb. If it's if it's
• 9:40
  Speaker 1: a home, for example, you know, if it's a historic
• 9:43
  Speaker 1: site and let's say an old you know, an older
• 9:47
  Speaker 1: heritage list at home, it's it's very difficult to basically
• 9:50
  Speaker 1: do anything to it. So if there's a provisional listing
• 9:53
  Speaker 1: of the espanade right now, how is the council actually
• 9:58
  Speaker 1: able to do anything at this point?
• 10:01
  Speaker 2: Well, at this stage Council will continue this job investment
• 10:03
  Speaker 2: for the same reason. We understand that the whole process
• 10:06
  Speaker 2: is invalid and our lawyers have identified that and we
• 10:09
  Speaker 2: have written to the government to asking them provide us
• 10:11
  Speaker 2: the documentation and we haven't received anything yet.
• 10:14
  Speaker 1: So the whole process stuff from the department. So from
• 10:18
  Speaker 1: your understanding, it's it's a department. But the ad in
• 10:21
  Speaker 1: the paper was the Attorney General Chancey.
• 10:23
  Speaker 2: Paike, Well, I can't find the gazette, so as the gazette,
• 10:27
  Speaker 2: so we can accept it until the presenters with the evidence.
• 10:31
  Speaker 2: As I said to you before, you can't just say
• 10:33
  Speaker 2: it is provisionally heritage if you can't provide the evidence
• 10:37
  Speaker 2: how it was declared, where it was declared, where was gazetted.
• 10:41
  Speaker 1: Goodness, may this sounds like another uh you know, Debarkle,
• 10:46
  Speaker 1: I think it'd call it, I don't know what the
• 10:47
  Speaker 1: best word unfortunate.
• 10:49
  Speaker 2: But these things happen, but this soon happened. If the
• 10:51
  Speaker 2: government can you know, follow its own legislation, then there
• 10:54
  Speaker 2: are problems.
• 10:55
  Speaker 1: So connort this point in time, the Darwin City Council
• 10:59
  Speaker 1: is looking at take legal action against the Department over
• 11:03
  Speaker 1: not following due process.
• 11:05
  Speaker 2: That's right, Well, now are you our lawyers believe that's
• 11:10
  Speaker 2: what the.
• 11:10
  Speaker 1: Lawyers believe at this point? Are you able to tell
• 11:13
  Speaker 1: us you know, do you believe that the different events
• 11:16
  Speaker 1: and different things, because last time we'd spoken you had
• 11:18
  Speaker 1: raised concerns about whether things like the glenty we're going
• 11:21
  Speaker 1: to be able to go ahead. How are you feeling
• 11:23
  Speaker 1: about all of that at this point?
• 11:24
  Speaker 2: Is this is the thing our lawyers are looking at
• 11:26
  Speaker 2: the moment, and this is what I said to you
• 11:28
  Speaker 2: before we are going to look at there's open a
• 11:32
  Speaker 2: lot of questions. Does give many answers. We have to
• 11:34
  Speaker 2: actually proceed and see how what it means, how it means,
• 11:39
  Speaker 2: is it valid? It's not our understanding and our lawyers
• 11:41
  Speaker 2: have advised us that they believe from what it is
• 11:44
  Speaker 2: said they've done the due process was not followed and
• 11:48
  Speaker 2: they believe the whole process is invalid. Goodness the government
• 11:51
  Speaker 2: to come up with the answer.
• 11:52
  Speaker 1: Yeah, well Rosie has just messaged through. She said, Hi Katie,
• 11:55
  Speaker 1: Heaven help us if the Espana becomes heritage listed take
• 11:59
  Speaker 1: a look at Stella Marrus and you know what had
• 12:02
  Speaker 1: happened there. No thank you, says Rosie. There's lots of
• 12:06
  Speaker 1: other people messaging through about lots of different things con
• 12:11
  Speaker 1: including those r vs. And someone said is there going
• 12:15
  Speaker 1: to be a walking path or is there going to
• 12:18
  Speaker 1: be a bit of a path for walkers? Otherwise it
• 12:20
  Speaker 1: might make it a bit difficult once those are vs
• 12:22
  Speaker 1: are in the area.
• 12:24
  Speaker 2: As I explained to you, there will be properly designed
• 12:28
  Speaker 2: so access to the bitch and to the past is
• 12:31
  Speaker 2: not denied to the people.
• 12:32
  Speaker 1: Well, Convat scarlas the Lord Mayor of Darwin, we always
• 12:35
  Speaker 1: appreciate your time. I think we're catching up again tomorrow
• 12:38
  Speaker 1: as well, aren't we.
• 12:39
  Speaker 2: I think so too, and I'll talk to you more
• 12:41
  Speaker 2: about it tomorrow.
• 12:42
  Speaker 1: Sounds good. Good on your con Thank you appreciate your
• 12:45
  Speaker 1: time this morning.
• 12:46
  Speaker 2: Have a good ad for you too.