Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now we've spoken extensively about the purchase of the Silk
Hood property. It's the thirty thousand hectare parcel of land
which is going to see Litchfield National Park expanded by
twenty percent. The Chief Minister told us that the purchase
is a game changer. It's going to open up a
spectacular new southern section of the park featuring untouched waterfalls,
(00:20):
gorgeous hot springs and four wheel drive tracks. Now, the
deal has seen mostly positive feedback to this show. And
joining us on the line is Mickey Barrett, the president
of four Will Drive NT. Good morning, Mickey.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Good morning Katie.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
How are you yeah, really good? Good to have you
on the show. Mate. Now, I understand that four Will
Drive Into had lobbied both the government and the former
government about this parcel of land. Why did you want
to see the government acquire it?
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Well, this land's got a long history of people accessing
this property for since World War Two, eventually used as
recreation and over the time we sort of got told
it we're not welcome in there anymore with different issues.
But to be able to keep this property accessible with
(01:14):
the general public long term was the absolute goal. We
do want to see it locked up.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
So tell us, I know you'd lobby both the former
government and the current government, you know before the election.
What did just sort of say to them and what
was the response from both of the major political parties.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Well, we never had much luck with the previous government,
even trying to get a meeting it was difficult. But
with the then c orp opposition, they said that they
will look at it and once if they get into government,
they'll look at the books and see how they go.
And they didn't want to make an election promise because
it would mean the cost of the block would substantially
(01:53):
go up. And to their credit, they did exactly what
they said they're going to do.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
What was your reaction when you saw that, you know
that they decided or that they were actually doing what
they said they were going to do.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
We were tough. Things had gone very quiet on the
whole front, and we weren't sure if anything was happening
for a while. Obviously they're negotiating behind the scenes. But yeah,
it all played out essentially exactly as we hoped it would.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
So tell me, I mean to people out there listening
this morning, someone like me who has not gone full
will driving in this area of the Northern Territory before.
What is it like?
Speaker 2 (02:35):
It's raw, It's as raw as you can get in
the Northern Territory. There's a section at the top in
the escarpment where you can go full well driving all
year round. It's quite a technical fall well drive track,
but you're not going to get bogged for hours on
end and you're not going to do damage to your
car essentially, but it's a good fun track. There's some
beautiful springs at the top. Then there's some lower country
(02:58):
where there's a few different sections of rocky rapids and
waterfalls and also some hot springs.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
How nice. What's up? Where are those hot springs and
are they like, are they something that's quite difficult to
access or what's the goal with those?
Speaker 2 (03:13):
I foresee the hot springs probably getting developed first. It's
off daily river road. It's probably only less than a
kilometer drive in. It got put on put on the
internet one of the wiki camps, and all of a
sudden there were hundreds of people going in there and
it was really starting to get abuse that area, ah right,
(03:34):
So to have that's probably one of the areas where
parks could have a real advantage in developing up and
controlling a little bit better. Yea, but yeah, it's it's
they're really nice, only small little springs along line of them.
It's beautiful.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
Hey tell me. I mean when you look at other
parts of Australia and some of the four wheel driving tracks,
the options that you've got in other parts of Australia,
how do we compare and how does this particular location compare.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
This is across Australia. We're fighting to keep places open,
areas are getting closed up. Where Northern Tree at the
moment's bucking the trend in creating camp sites, not closing
beyond campsites. Ye. Across Australia, it's a real issue about
losing access to full drive tracks. So yeah, to be
(04:29):
able to have access to this area to create full
drive tracks and over time this could probably have forty
fifty sixty camp sites developed in this area.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Yeah, it's really is impressive that it's all playing out
as we hoped it would, Nicky.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
I mean, you know, when you look at what's happening
in other parts of Australia, when you look at this area, like,
how big a draw card do you think it could be?
When it comes to four wheel driving for the Northern Territory.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
We don't have a great deal. We have the the
icon of full driving in the territory, but there's really
not a great deal of publicly accessible for all drive
tracks in the fall in the Northern Territory. So to
be able to say we're increasing Litchfield's full drive tracks
by three hundred percent overnight come back, it's a big
(05:26):
tourism draw card, but it really is a great draw
card for Locus.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
Hey, Mickey, I know there'll be people listening this morning
that are maybe you know, avid four wheel drive enthusiasts
but haven't heard of four wheel drive into. But you
guys are the association that represents four will drive clubs
and four wheel drive users in general. Where can people
go if they sort of want to find out a
bit more about you guys and maybe be part of
(05:52):
or four wheel drive into well.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Full drive into the main We're made up of club members,
So if you're interested in finding out a bit more
about pul driving, I recommend you go join your local
fool drive club. We both all of full drive clubs
and full driving to You've got Facebook presence, but the
best place to go is to go speak to local
pool drive clubs. They all sort of let you know
(06:16):
what we do and how we do it, and there
is a lot of advantages of joining full drive clubs,
getting access to areas that aren't open to the public.
It is, Yeah, that's probably the best way to go
to hit up your full drive club.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
Well, mate, look to me, it sounds like this could
be really exciting for the end to you know, like
that adventure spirit sort of coming back with the purchase
of Silkwood. I guess we're all hoping that is the case,
you know, it does. I do get the impression that
we're going to need to invest a bit of money. However,
when it comes to full will driving, I mean hopefully
(06:52):
we're able to capitalize on that sooner rather than later.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Well, Leah said that the park is staying that the
area is open accessible as it has always been. Over time,
parks will develop a bit of a plan to which
areas they want to develop in which areas they want
to leave essentially as is. If full drives, if we
can show parks that doesn't need to be heavily maintained
and we can keep it essentially as it is by
(07:17):
keeping it clean, taking your rubbish with you. That's the
best way to try and keep it as raw and
rugged as possible.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Yeah. Well, NTI President of four will drive INTI Mickey Barrett.
Good to catch up with you this morning. Mate, Thank you,
thank you, Katie, thanks so much.
Now we've spoken extensively about the purchase of the Silk
Hood property. It's the thirty thousand hectare parcel of land
which is going to see Litchfield National Park expanded by
twenty percent. The Chief Minister told us that the purchase
is a game changer. It's going to open up a
spectacular new southern section of the park featuring untouched waterfalls,
(00:20):
gorgeous hot springs and four wheel drive tracks. Now, the
deal has seen mostly positive feedback to this show. And
joining us on the line is Mickey Barrett, the president
of four Will Drive NT. Good morning, Mickey.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Good morning Katie.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
How are you yeah, really good? Good to have you
on the show. Mate. Now, I understand that four Will
Drive Into had lobbied both the government and the former
government about this parcel of land. Why did you want
to see the government acquire it?
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Well, this land's got a long history of people accessing
this property for since World War Two, eventually used as
recreation and over the time we sort of got told
it we're not welcome in there anymore with different issues.
But to be able to keep this property accessible with
(01:14):
the general public long term was the absolute goal. We
do want to see it locked up.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
So tell us, I know you'd lobby both the former
government and the current government, you know before the election.
What did just sort of say to them and what
was the response from both of the major political parties.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Well, we never had much luck with the previous government,
even trying to get a meeting it was difficult. But
with the then c orp opposition, they said that they
will look at it and once if they get into government,
they'll look at the books and see how they go.
And they didn't want to make an election promise because
it would mean the cost of the block would substantially
(01:53):
go up. And to their credit, they did exactly what
they said they're going to do.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
What was your reaction when you saw that, you know
that they decided or that they were actually doing what
they said they were going to do.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
We were tough. Things had gone very quiet on the
whole front, and we weren't sure if anything was happening
for a while. Obviously they're negotiating behind the scenes. But yeah,
it all played out essentially exactly as we hoped it would.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
So tell me, I mean to people out there listening
this morning, someone like me who has not gone full
will driving in this area of the Northern Territory before.
What is it like?
Speaker 2 (02:35):
It's raw, It's as raw as you can get in
the Northern Territory. There's a section at the top in
the escarpment where you can go full well driving all
year round. It's quite a technical fall well drive track,
but you're not going to get bogged for hours on
end and you're not going to do damage to your
car essentially, but it's a good fun track. There's some
beautiful springs at the top. Then there's some lower country
(02:58):
where there's a few different sections of rocky rapids and
waterfalls and also some hot springs.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
How nice. What's up? Where are those hot springs and
are they like, are they something that's quite difficult to
access or what's the goal with those?
Speaker 2 (03:13):
I foresee the hot springs probably getting developed first. It's
off daily river road. It's probably only less than a
kilometer drive in. It got put on put on the
internet one of the wiki camps, and all of a
sudden there were hundreds of people going in there and
it was really starting to get abuse that area, ah right,
(03:34):
So to have that's probably one of the areas where
parks could have a real advantage in developing up and
controlling a little bit better. Yea, but yeah, it's it's
they're really nice, only small little springs along line of them.
It's beautiful.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
Hey tell me. I mean when you look at other
parts of Australia and some of the four wheel driving tracks,
the options that you've got in other parts of Australia,
how do we compare and how does this particular location compare.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
This is across Australia. We're fighting to keep places open,
areas are getting closed up. Where Northern Tree at the
moment's bucking the trend in creating camp sites, not closing
beyond campsites. Ye. Across Australia, it's a real issue about
losing access to full drive tracks. So yeah, to be
(04:29):
able to have access to this area to create full
drive tracks and over time this could probably have forty
fifty sixty camp sites developed in this area.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Yeah, it's really is impressive that it's all playing out
as we hoped it would, Nicky.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
I mean, you know, when you look at what's happening
in other parts of Australia, when you look at this area, like,
how big a draw card do you think it could be?
When it comes to four wheel driving for the Northern Territory.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
We don't have a great deal. We have the the
icon of full driving in the territory, but there's really
not a great deal of publicly accessible for all drive
tracks in the fall in the Northern Territory. So to
be able to say we're increasing Litchfield's full drive tracks
by three hundred percent overnight come back, it's a big
(05:26):
tourism draw card, but it really is a great draw
card for Locus.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
Hey, Mickey, I know there'll be people listening this morning
that are maybe you know, avid four wheel drive enthusiasts
but haven't heard of four wheel drive into. But you
guys are the association that represents four will drive clubs
and four wheel drive users in general. Where can people
go if they sort of want to find out a
bit more about you guys and maybe be part of
(05:52):
or four wheel drive into well.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Full drive into the main We're made up of club members,
So if you're interested in finding out a bit more
about pul driving, I recommend you go join your local
fool drive club. We both all of full drive clubs
and full driving to You've got Facebook presence, but the
best place to go is to go speak to local
pool drive clubs. They all sort of let you know
(06:16):
what we do and how we do it, and there
is a lot of advantages of joining full drive clubs,
getting access to areas that aren't open to the public.
It is, Yeah, that's probably the best way to go
to hit up your full drive club.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
Well, mate, look to me, it sounds like this could
be really exciting for the end to you know, like
that adventure spirit sort of coming back with the purchase
of Silkwood. I guess we're all hoping that is the case,
you know, it does. I do get the impression that
we're going to need to invest a bit of money. However,
when it comes to full will driving, I mean hopefully
(06:52):
we're able to capitalize on that sooner rather than later.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Well, Leah said that the park is staying that the
area is open accessible as it has always been. Over time,
parks will develop a bit of a plan to which
areas they want to develop in which areas they want
to leave essentially as is. If full drives, if we
can show parks that doesn't need to be heavily maintained
and we can keep it essentially as it is by
(07:17):
keeping it clean, taking your rubbish with you. That's the
best way to try and keep it as raw and
rugged as possible.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Yeah. Well, NTI President of four will drive INTI Mickey Barrett.
Good to catch up with you this morning. Mate, Thank you,
thank you, Katie, thanks so much.
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