Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Are you. Usually on a Tuesday we do catch up
with the Lord Mayor of dah and Combat Scarlis, but
CON's not available today. Joining us on the show though,
is the City of Darwin CEO Simone Saunders.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Good morning to you, morning, Katie.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Good to have you on the show now, Simone. First off,
a couple of questions from some of the businesses on
Smith Straight, where that work is obviously underway at the moment.
A couple of them have been in contact with us
really concerned about the impact that that works having on them.
They're questioning how Stage one is going to be done
in three weeks. Conn had said on the show mid
(00:34):
June for that first stage, I mean, is it looking
as though that's going to be done.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Look, I'm really pleased to say that the Stage one
and two works, which are together and that's the big
block where we do see the fencing up at the moment,
is on target from the original LU projections. The team
will managed to bring it to bring it forward by
about ten days, so it will finish mid June round
about the twentieth is the plan date? Really happy with
(01:00):
how it's progressing, but we do appreciate it is an
inconvenience for the business and traders along that street, and
we're doing anything we can to minimize disruptions for them.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Council had said on social media that you're going to
be closing additional car and motorbike parks. Is that still
happening this week?
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Correct? Yes, So there's some car parks between Woolworths and
Knuckie Street and there's actually five motorcycle bays and seven
car parks which are temporary closed. So that's just up
until this Friday, the thirtieth of May, and then they'll
be reopened next week.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
And so how like, how does that mean You've got
quite a large number of parks that have been taken out,
car parks taken out.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
In relation to the overall works that are being done
to achieve the cooling and greening and the micromability on
the street. There is a lot of car parks in
the area and that's what when we did the engagement
over about eighty percent of the people that did come
back on that engagement said they want to see more cooling,
greening and shading in that area as well as more
more micro mobility lanes. So it really is to I
(02:02):
guess do that people first philosophy under our movement strategy.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
So just in terms of what's going to be finished
by mid June, so the twentieth, what is it going
to look like by the twentieth I mean, how much
is going to be done.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Yeah, So the side of the street that's currently got
the fencing around it, that will be completed and be
able to be reopened, and then the team will shift
to the other side of the street, and in order
to minimize disruptions on the other side of the street,
they'll do shorter sections of work and they'll be around
about a week those sections, and they'll move from Knuckie
Street and slowly work back down towards Walworth. The challenge
(02:37):
with the Stage one and two works the big section
is that there was a lot of stuff that needed
to be done on the actual footpath and around that
area to get the irrigation in and more trees and greening,
so there was some digging up of concrete and things
like that, so it was a much sign bigger piece,
whereas the other side of the street we've just got
some biplanes going in and some extra greening, so it's
(02:58):
not as much disruption. Once we get to the twentieth.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
So I know some of those business owners still wondering
why contractors aren't working nights or weekends to expedite that job.
I mean, you're saying it's going to be finished by
mid June twenty could it have happened faster.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
That that'd be for the Stage one, two and two work.
So the other side will then continue fairly the challenge
that we do have. We received funding from the from
the Northern Territory government to do this project and city
will and will deliver it. We have to work within
our budget, so additional costs for weekend work actually add
cost to the project that we can't afford, and if
that happens, then we have to descope the project. So
(03:37):
we need to we need to work with the contractor
and we are working with them to minimize disruptions where possible.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
All right, So it is sort of a cost factor
that you're not wanting to go over to budget, So
having to stick to the to the during hours, I mean,
is that like, is that a little bit frustrating or
can you imagine why that's a little bit frustrating for
those business owners that are still working on the weekends
and working after hours, you know, trying to make sure
that they can still run their business when you've then
got the contractors.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Not So the team starts at seven am and they
finished at four thirty, which is a normal workday for Darwin.
So if you've got a team working, we can't necessarily
extend those hours. But on the weekend it does come
with additional cost and impact. And if we've got local
businesses doing this and they've allocated a team to it,
I mean they've only got so many staff and contractors
(04:26):
that that can do the work as well without having
to bring in additional teams from elsewhere or subcontracting themselves.
So we really need to work with the local team
Deck Installations that's delivering this project for us and also
stay within the within the budget that we've got.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
All right now, in some good news, we know the
City of Darwin's announced a new outdoor projection exhibition. It's
set to take place well as part of the twenty
twenty five down Street Art Festival on Saturday, the fourteenth
of June. What is the exhibition?
Speaker 2 (04:57):
So the exhibition is Double Exposure and we're a sponsor
of that. It's actually Darwin Street Art Festival, which is
delivered by Proper Creative and is funded by the Northern
Territory government, but it's also with some support from City
of Darwin. So that will be a projection exhibition in
Austin Lane. It's the old RSL site where it'll be
(05:18):
for one one night only and it's one of the
large large scale installations to transform I guess the city
into into a vibrant nighttime gallery for one night only.
So so it's a really really great event I think,
and something that we haven't seen necessarily in Darwin before
in the CBD.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Could it be something that happens more often rather than
just one night only? Look I long term, you know.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
The person that actually Proper Creative in doing this with
if there's there's other opportunities that come up of the
street up but also under the City of Darwin Creative strategy,
people are looking to do different things in the city,
so opportunities arise. We've got local people that can help
to deliver this as well.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
And I just reckon it's awesome like to see the
city sort of activated in different ways and things like that,
you know, drawing people into the city as well, helping
all those local businesses. But sort of it does move
along some of that anti social behavior that we see
as well.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Yeah. Absolutely, And we had the Fusion Festival in Darwin
last week and that finished and culminated on the Friday
night with the Garamilla Food Fair on the Esplanade halfway
between the Cenotaph and the playground, and we saw over
fifteen hundred people in there for that particular part of
the festival, fairy lights, you know, people out enjoying the
dry season on a Friday afternoon and it was just
(06:36):
just really well attended. So transforms that area of the esplanade.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
At the same time, Hey, I know that this week
as well, there is quite a few things happening as
a result of National Reconciliation Week. What are they and
when are they happening?
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Yeah, so it was part of National Reconciliation Week. We
had some nice guitarists yesterday Jackson de Santos in Raintree
Park so at lunchtime, so that that was great. But
also we've got an event on Saturday at Casuarina Library
and that's from nine thirty to eleven thirty, so as
part of National Reconciliation Week, which the theme this year
is bridging now to next. We invite children and families
(07:13):
to come along to the library and learn about First
Nations people in our shared stories and histories. We're also
going to have though the Darwin Beach Choir is going
to be there. They're going to teach the children if
they'd like to, to sing a song. And there's also
some creative and art to happen on Saturday morning, so
if you're looking for something to do air conditioning from
nine thirty, please come down to cas Library for that
(07:35):
good stuff.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Now, I also know that there's going to be a
community planting day. When's that happening and whereabouts?
Speaker 2 (07:43):
So the next community planting day is on Saturday morning
as well, so you might have to make a choice
between the two Kaz Library or East Point and that
starts at eight o'clock and goes three till eleven o'clock.
So we encourage people to come down and participate in
that community planting. It's down near the gun turrets the
end of at East Point and the holes will be
pre drilled, so you just need to come along and
(08:06):
actually and actually put those put those plants in. But
it's part of the broader greening strategy. And the revegetation
of the area.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Because it is somewhere we're like unlike sort of the
reast of East Point. It doesn't have as many trees
around that area, so that is a good good spot.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Yeah, our team's continually looking for where we need those
that additional revegetation around the municipality and this is this
is the next target for East Point.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
All good stuff will someone Saunders, the CEO of the
City of Darwin. It is always good to catch up
with you. Thank you very much for your time this morning.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Thanks for having us.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Thank you
Are you. Usually on a Tuesday we do catch up
with the Lord Mayor of dah and Combat Scarlis, but
CON's not available today. Joining us on the show though,
is the City of Darwin CEO Simone Saunders.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Good morning to you, morning, Katie.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Good to have you on the show now, Simone. First off,
a couple of questions from some of the businesses on
Smith Straight, where that work is obviously underway at the moment.
A couple of them have been in contact with us
really concerned about the impact that that works having on them.
They're questioning how Stage one is going to be done
in three weeks. Conn had said on the show mid
(00:34):
June for that first stage, I mean, is it looking
as though that's going to be done.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Look, I'm really pleased to say that the Stage one
and two works, which are together and that's the big
block where we do see the fencing up at the moment,
is on target from the original LU projections. The team
will managed to bring it to bring it forward by
about ten days, so it will finish mid June round
about the twentieth is the plan date? Really happy with
(01:00):
how it's progressing, but we do appreciate it is an
inconvenience for the business and traders along that street, and
we're doing anything we can to minimize disruptions for them.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Council had said on social media that you're going to
be closing additional car and motorbike parks. Is that still
happening this week?
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Correct? Yes, So there's some car parks between Woolworths and
Knuckie Street and there's actually five motorcycle bays and seven
car parks which are temporary closed. So that's just up
until this Friday, the thirtieth of May, and then they'll
be reopened next week.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
And so how like, how does that mean You've got
quite a large number of parks that have been taken out,
car parks taken out.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
In relation to the overall works that are being done
to achieve the cooling and greening and the micromability on
the street. There is a lot of car parks in
the area and that's what when we did the engagement
over about eighty percent of the people that did come
back on that engagement said they want to see more cooling,
greening and shading in that area as well as more
more micro mobility lanes. So it really is to I
(02:02):
guess do that people first philosophy under our movement strategy.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
So just in terms of what's going to be finished
by mid June, so the twentieth, what is it going
to look like by the twentieth I mean, how much
is going to be done.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Yeah, So the side of the street that's currently got
the fencing around it, that will be completed and be
able to be reopened, and then the team will shift
to the other side of the street, and in order
to minimize disruptions on the other side of the street,
they'll do shorter sections of work and they'll be around
about a week those sections, and they'll move from Knuckie
Street and slowly work back down towards Walworth. The challenge
(02:37):
with the Stage one and two works the big section
is that there was a lot of stuff that needed
to be done on the actual footpath and around that
area to get the irrigation in and more trees and greening,
so there was some digging up of concrete and things
like that, so it was a much sign bigger piece,
whereas the other side of the street we've just got
some biplanes going in and some extra greening, so it's
(02:58):
not as much disruption. Once we get to the twentieth.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
So I know some of those business owners still wondering
why contractors aren't working nights or weekends to expedite that job.
I mean, you're saying it's going to be finished by
mid June twenty could it have happened faster.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
That that'd be for the Stage one, two and two work.
So the other side will then continue fairly the challenge
that we do have. We received funding from the from
the Northern Territory government to do this project and city
will and will deliver it. We have to work within
our budget, so additional costs for weekend work actually add
cost to the project that we can't afford, and if
that happens, then we have to descope the project. So
(03:37):
we need to we need to work with the contractor
and we are working with them to minimize disruptions where possible.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
All right, So it is sort of a cost factor
that you're not wanting to go over to budget, So
having to stick to the to the during hours, I mean,
is that like, is that a little bit frustrating or
can you imagine why that's a little bit frustrating for
those business owners that are still working on the weekends
and working after hours, you know, trying to make sure
that they can still run their business when you've then
got the contractors.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Not So the team starts at seven am and they
finished at four thirty, which is a normal workday for Darwin.
So if you've got a team working, we can't necessarily
extend those hours. But on the weekend it does come
with additional cost and impact. And if we've got local
businesses doing this and they've allocated a team to it,
I mean they've only got so many staff and contractors
(04:26):
that that can do the work as well without having
to bring in additional teams from elsewhere or subcontracting themselves.
So we really need to work with the local team
Deck Installations that's delivering this project for us and also
stay within the within the budget that we've got.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
All right now, in some good news, we know the
City of Darwin's announced a new outdoor projection exhibition. It's
set to take place well as part of the twenty
twenty five down Street Art Festival on Saturday, the fourteenth
of June. What is the exhibition?
Speaker 2 (04:57):
So the exhibition is Double Exposure and we're a sponsor
of that. It's actually Darwin Street Art Festival, which is
delivered by Proper Creative and is funded by the Northern
Territory government, but it's also with some support from City
of Darwin. So that will be a projection exhibition in
Austin Lane. It's the old RSL site where it'll be
(05:18):
for one one night only and it's one of the
large large scale installations to transform I guess the city
into into a vibrant nighttime gallery for one night only.
So so it's a really really great event I think,
and something that we haven't seen necessarily in Darwin before
in the CBD.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Could it be something that happens more often rather than
just one night only? Look I long term, you know.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
The person that actually Proper Creative in doing this with
if there's there's other opportunities that come up of the
street up but also under the City of Darwin Creative strategy,
people are looking to do different things in the city,
so opportunities arise. We've got local people that can help
to deliver this as well.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
And I just reckon it's awesome like to see the
city sort of activated in different ways and things like that,
you know, drawing people into the city as well, helping
all those local businesses. But sort of it does move
along some of that anti social behavior that we see
as well.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Yeah. Absolutely, And we had the Fusion Festival in Darwin
last week and that finished and culminated on the Friday
night with the Garamilla Food Fair on the Esplanade halfway
between the Cenotaph and the playground, and we saw over
fifteen hundred people in there for that particular part of
the festival, fairy lights, you know, people out enjoying the
dry season on a Friday afternoon and it was just
(06:36):
just really well attended. So transforms that area of the esplanade.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
At the same time, Hey, I know that this week
as well, there is quite a few things happening as
a result of National Reconciliation Week. What are they and
when are they happening?
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Yeah, so it was part of National Reconciliation Week. We
had some nice guitarists yesterday Jackson de Santos in Raintree
Park so at lunchtime, so that that was great. But
also we've got an event on Saturday at Casuarina Library
and that's from nine thirty to eleven thirty, so as
part of National Reconciliation Week, which the theme this year
is bridging now to next. We invite children and families
(07:13):
to come along to the library and learn about First
Nations people in our shared stories and histories. We're also
going to have though the Darwin Beach Choir is going
to be there. They're going to teach the children if
they'd like to, to sing a song. And there's also
some creative and art to happen on Saturday morning, so
if you're looking for something to do air conditioning from
nine thirty, please come down to cas Library for that
(07:35):
good stuff.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Now, I also know that there's going to be a
community planting day. When's that happening and whereabouts?
Speaker 2 (07:43):
So the next community planting day is on Saturday morning
as well, so you might have to make a choice
between the two Kaz Library or East Point and that
starts at eight o'clock and goes three till eleven o'clock.
So we encourage people to come down and participate in
that community planting. It's down near the gun turrets the
end of at East Point and the holes will be
pre drilled, so you just need to come along and
(08:06):
actually and actually put those put those plants in. But
it's part of the broader greening strategy. And the revegetation
of the area.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Because it is somewhere we're like unlike sort of the
reast of East Point. It doesn't have as many trees
around that area, so that is a good good spot.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Yeah, our team's continually looking for where we need those
that additional revegetation around the municipality and this is this
is the next target for East Point.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
All good stuff will someone Saunders, the CEO of the
City of Darwin. It is always good to catch up
with you. Thank you very much for your time this morning.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Thanks for having us.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Thank you
Popular Podcasts
Boysober
Have you ever wondered what life might be like if you stopped worrying about being wanted, and focused on understanding what you actually want? That was the question Hope Woodard asked herself after a string of situationships inspired her to take a break from sex and dating. She went "boysober," a personal concept that sparked a global movement among women looking to prioritize themselves over men. Now, Hope is looking to expand the ways we explore our relationship to relationships. Taking a bold, unfiltered look into modern love, romance, and self-discovery, Boysober will dive into messy stories about dating, sex, love, friendship, and breaking generational patterns—all with humor, vulnerability, and a fresh perspective.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com