November 24, 2025 • 11 mins
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Joining us live on the line is the CEO of
the City of Darwin, Simone Saunders. Good morning, Simone, Morning
Katie Simone. First off, where are things at with the
cyclone cleanup in terms of getting rid of the debris
and things across the road and that kind of stuff.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Yeah, Look, the City of Darwin teams are well underway
with the cyclone cleanup. We've actually stood up our Emergency
Operations Center, so all calls that are coming in from
the public or anything by email or also snaps and
sol all is being triaged within the one center. So
we make sure that we prioritize our resources as part
of the cleanup. But really the priority has been and
(00:39):
still is our roads clearing, making sure that we've got
clear access to roads. So you'll notice greenways piling up
on the side of roads where we're moving to clear
those roads. Also, there's some people that have had their
driveways that were they couldn't get in there out their driveways,
so that's another priority. And once we work through that,
we'll start to look at some verge clearing and also
(01:00):
our sporting ovals. The kids are keen to get back
to sport as well as the adults.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Okay, that's a bit of a backflip from what the
Lord Mayor had told us yesterday about that verge clearing.
So does that mean that the council is going to
be out helping locals with that verge clearing and with
their green waste.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Look, I think the difference between we've pushed verge items
to the side and we have had trees that have
actually fallen on the verge, then we will be coming
and clearing those. What we do ask though, is any
residents with trees inside their own property, they need to
make arrangements for those themselves. We don't want people to
put them out on the verge, and they need to
(01:40):
either do a claim through their insurance and get a contract,
or alternatively, they can take it to the Hidden Valley
Overflow waste site that's been set up so that you
can go in there. There's no lines, queues, really easy
process to go through that.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
We've had seniors get in contact with us saying that
they've had trees fallen down in their yards. Obviously then
got those trees, they've had neighbors help them to get
them out on the verges. So you're saying that the
Council is not going to help them to have them cleared.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Look, Katie, where we've got trees on verges, we will
be working systematically through clearing those verges. And we've also
got a process, i mean working with the Northern Territory
Government on a whole of government approach. That was the
first call this morning on how we go through the
recovery phase. And we're working on those plans. But if
there's stuff on verges at the moment, you know, blocking
(02:29):
foot paths or public safety as well, will continue to
work through that and there will be broader plans as well.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Those what's changed since cyclone Markers Because after cyclone Markets
the Council made a real effort to make sure that
those verges were cleared. I mean, I've got a press
release that you guys sent out after cyclone Markers where
you also spoke about the fact that you worked with
the Northern Territory Government to get more than one hundred
and ten skip bins out in key locations. So what's changed.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Look, there's a comprehensive emergency waste management plan that the
Northern Territory Government has and that's been built since twenty
twenty two over a period of time, and within that
it specifies how we will manage waste in a disaster,
in particular green waste, and that includes the overflow site
that's currently been set up in Hidden Valley. That's part
(03:19):
of that waste management plan. We knew about it last
week prior to the cyclone.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
Communicated to people. Why wasn't that communicated to people last
week that Shoal Bay would be closed and that Hidden
Valley would be activated?
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Yep, we communicated on Friday very clearly through multiple channels,
that Shoal Bay would be closed. I could send copies
of there's media releases. It was on the Facebook page,
and it was on our website, so it's definitely out there, Katie,
and we do you reckon though?
Speaker 1 (03:46):
I mean, like to be fair, do you think that
people are sort of looking on the Council's Facebook page
or website about whether Shoal Bay is going to be
open post cyclone on Friday last week?
Speaker 2 (03:58):
I also did media last week this as well, Katie,
letting people know what would be closing, because we had
a lot of facilities closing on the Friday, so there
was broad media and it was covered quite extensively.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
On a because is Schob closed because there's damage or
is shoal Bay closed because it was going to be
closed over the weekend due to the cyclone looming?
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Yeah, what would happen is our facilities were closed over
the over the weekend due to the cyclone looming. Our
teams went in there when it was safe to do
so on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Communicated on Friday. What was communicated on Friday that it
was going to be closed because there was a cyclone.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Would Yeah, it would be closed until further notice. So
that was what was communicated on Friday very clearly to
all members of pub what Yeah, But what did happen
on Sunday is that we didn't get the communications and
we can't do The Northern Churchiary Government's communications did not
come out on Sunday about the hidden Valley over flow
side and there was also some communications that came out
(04:54):
advising people to take not from City of Darwin advising
people to take waste to Sholbay when the facilit was closed.
So Shoalbey is a facility like any other building that
hasn't has to do an inspection of waybridge and the
actual site and access. As you can imagine, when we
did those inspections on Sunday, we found that there was
a partial road collapse with inside the facility, which meant
(05:16):
that the actual way you put the waste like almost
like at our internal transfer station, the waste could not
get moved to the landfill sales. And there was also
some systems on site that are necessary for running the
broader operations at Shoal Bay that weren't working. So therefore
it was continued to communicate that Shoal Bay was closed
as part of the recovery plans. And again there we
(05:38):
see in these the waste management and the emergency plans,
Shoalbay remains closed to the public whilst we make sure
we clear patriciples and basically rotten food waste and any
emergency waste. And that's exactly how the plan has been run.
But there will be more communications Katie that we'll come
(05:58):
out later today on Sholby operations. We've got a few
more things to do, but there will definitely be more communication,
all right.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
So hopefully we're in a situation I'm assuming that Shoulbe
is able to be operational over the next couple of days.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Yep. Look, that's that's absolutely what we're hoping for, but
I can say it will not be accepting green waste.
I think so public green waste, you still need to
go to Hidden Valley and it's set up really well
either commercial. We've we've public.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Spoken to them this morning, We've we've definitely had them
on the show this morning to give us that level
of detail. I do want to ask you. I know
the Member for Sanderson has certainly written to the Lord
Mayor asking on behalf of constituents of Sanderson to request
that the City of Darwin provide green waste roadside pick
up as a matter of urgency. I mean, is this
(06:45):
something that you think could be coordinated. I don't know
whether it's something you've got to work through with the
Northern Territory government, but is this something that we can
coordinate here? Because I guess what people are feeling really
disappointed about, is it you know, we're seeing territorians come
together help each other out, and then we've got the
council reportedly telling people that they're potentially going to get
(07:05):
a thousand dollars fine if they've got green waste on
the verge. Like it's just really unterritorian.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Yeah, look, I'm not sure of those particular communications, but
what I can definitely say that City of Darwin's focus,
and this is all our teams who are doing an amazing job,
is on recovery and not enforcement at this time. So
I hope that gives the public comfort that that's absolutely
recovery not enforcement is where City of Darwin is at
the moment. But on the other issue, we are coordinated
(07:33):
whole of government response to how we deal with waste
on verges and la I said, it's the first recovery
call this morning and it's very much so within the
teams to how we work with our waste management plans,
both the Northern Territory governments and how it intersects with
the City of with the City of Darwen plan. It's
not in Northern Territory. The emergency lead is the Northern
(07:56):
Territory government. The funds flow to them from the FEDS
and then come to councils. But it's quite restrictive what
councils can and can't do different to in other jurisdictions.
So please let people Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
Totally get it, but at this point in time, people
don't really want to see politics being played. They want
to make sure that they've got that support to be
able to clean up you know, the debris, everything that
is around the place. And the council does a phenomenal
job pre cyclone cleanup, but you know, I guess post
cyclone is when a lot of people need that bit
(08:28):
of a hand. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Look, I completely agree, Katie, and I'm and not in
the politics of this. I'm purely operational and running the
priorities that make sure we have commune childcare centers, open
community facilities, and that's sopriety for the City of Darwin team,
and they're doing a fantastic job. And there is absolutely
a coordinated approach in the background. For instance, Northern Territory
government needed more trucks yesterday and we've released some of
(08:53):
our trucks, which slows down some of our cleanup operations,
but there was another priority, so we've put reason sources
and contractors over to support the Northern Territory government. So
I'm sure the public that's absolutely happening in the background,
and City of Darwin and other councils are working with
the teams with inside you know, the emergency response elements
of the Northern Territory.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Now I know, we've heard from We've heard from Ntech,
a local business. Just a few minutes ago they'd said, Katie,
we're more than happy to get our skip beans out
in strategic locations around the Northern suburbs in an effort
to try and help people. Is that something that the
council and the government will potentially work together to coordinate
or facilitate.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Look, I haven't had that direct request for me, but
I know who the lady from NTEX, so I will
reach out and it's something that we need to do
as part of this coordinated whole of government response. So
we will. We can feed that into the processes and
the plans that are currently underway. And thanks for letting
me know, and I'll reach out to them directly.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
Well, I just think people are at the point, like
I'd get it right. I totally understand that, you know
that it's a big job for everybody, but nobody wants
to see a situation where we've got elderly people, you know,
those that maybe cannot get their stuff to the Hidden
Valley tip or whichever tip they're able to get to
because they just simply can't, you know. And what we
(10:15):
saw after Marcus was everybody coordinate together to make it happen.
I just feel a bit disappointed that it doesn't feel
like that's the case.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Look from from my perspective, that's how it is happening.
Behind the scenes with the with City of Darwen, working
with the Northern Territory government. There has definitely been those
some mixed messaging in relation to sites and facilities that
have come out, and we're going to after this call.
We've got some really clear questions and answers that we're
going to put out again to our website, social media
(10:46):
and to the media to cover off those additional queries
queries for people. So I think in that communication piece, yeah, absolutely,
we can always we can always do better and I
encourage people as well, Katie, because we've got the emergency
Operations Center set up up eight nine three zero zero
three zero zero Press one and if you've got a
query in relation to Cychlo Marcus, you know what to
(11:08):
do with your private property, if you've got trees hanging
across fence lines and council properties, the team is ready
to assist with those queries and triage anything to get
the cleanup underway well.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
Simone Saunders, CEO of the City of Darwin really appreciate
your time this morning. Thank you very much for having
a chat with us and let us know, like over
the course of the week, if you know, if some
of these does change, we're more than happy to have
you back on to make sure that we can communicate
it to our listeners.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
Great thanks Katie, thank you.
Joining us live on the line is the CEO of
the City of Darwin, Simone Saunders. Good morning, Simone, Morning
Katie Simone. First off, where are things at with the
cyclone cleanup in terms of getting rid of the debris
and things across the road and that kind of stuff.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Yeah, Look, the City of Darwin teams are well underway
with the cyclone cleanup. We've actually stood up our Emergency
Operations Center, so all calls that are coming in from
the public or anything by email or also snaps and
sol all is being triaged within the one center. So
we make sure that we prioritize our resources as part
of the cleanup. But really the priority has been and
(00:39):
still is our roads clearing, making sure that we've got
clear access to roads. So you'll notice greenways piling up
on the side of roads where we're moving to clear
those roads. Also, there's some people that have had their
driveways that were they couldn't get in there out their driveways,
so that's another priority. And once we work through that,
we'll start to look at some verge clearing and also
(01:00):
our sporting ovals. The kids are keen to get back
to sport as well as the adults.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Okay, that's a bit of a backflip from what the
Lord Mayor had told us yesterday about that verge clearing.
So does that mean that the council is going to
be out helping locals with that verge clearing and with
their green waste.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Look, I think the difference between we've pushed verge items
to the side and we have had trees that have
actually fallen on the verge, then we will be coming
and clearing those. What we do ask though, is any
residents with trees inside their own property, they need to
make arrangements for those themselves. We don't want people to
put them out on the verge, and they need to
(01:40):
either do a claim through their insurance and get a contract,
or alternatively, they can take it to the Hidden Valley
Overflow waste site that's been set up so that you
can go in there. There's no lines, queues, really easy
process to go through that.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
We've had seniors get in contact with us saying that
they've had trees fallen down in their yards. Obviously then
got those trees, they've had neighbors help them to get
them out on the verges. So you're saying that the
Council is not going to help them to have them cleared.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Look, Katie, where we've got trees on verges, we will
be working systematically through clearing those verges. And we've also
got a process, i mean working with the Northern Territory
Government on a whole of government approach. That was the
first call this morning on how we go through the
recovery phase. And we're working on those plans. But if
there's stuff on verges at the moment, you know, blocking
(02:29):
foot paths or public safety as well, will continue to
work through that and there will be broader plans as well.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Those what's changed since cyclone Markers Because after cyclone Markets
the Council made a real effort to make sure that
those verges were cleared. I mean, I've got a press
release that you guys sent out after cyclone Markers where
you also spoke about the fact that you worked with
the Northern Territory Government to get more than one hundred
and ten skip bins out in key locations. So what's changed.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Look, there's a comprehensive emergency waste management plan that the
Northern Territory Government has and that's been built since twenty
twenty two over a period of time, and within that
it specifies how we will manage waste in a disaster,
in particular green waste, and that includes the overflow site
that's currently been set up in Hidden Valley. That's part
(03:19):
of that waste management plan. We knew about it last
week prior to the cyclone.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
Communicated to people. Why wasn't that communicated to people last
week that Shoal Bay would be closed and that Hidden
Valley would be activated?
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Yep, we communicated on Friday very clearly through multiple channels,
that Shoal Bay would be closed. I could send copies
of there's media releases. It was on the Facebook page,
and it was on our website, so it's definitely out there, Katie,
and we do you reckon though?
Speaker 1 (03:46):
I mean, like to be fair, do you think that
people are sort of looking on the Council's Facebook page
or website about whether Shoal Bay is going to be
open post cyclone on Friday last week?
Speaker 2 (03:58):
I also did media last week this as well, Katie,
letting people know what would be closing, because we had
a lot of facilities closing on the Friday, so there
was broad media and it was covered quite extensively.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
On a because is Schob closed because there's damage or
is shoal Bay closed because it was going to be
closed over the weekend due to the cyclone looming?
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Yeah, what would happen is our facilities were closed over
the over the weekend due to the cyclone looming. Our
teams went in there when it was safe to do
so on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Communicated on Friday. What was communicated on Friday that it
was going to be closed because there was a cyclone.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Would Yeah, it would be closed until further notice. So
that was what was communicated on Friday very clearly to
all members of pub what Yeah, But what did happen
on Sunday is that we didn't get the communications and
we can't do The Northern Churchiary Government's communications did not
come out on Sunday about the hidden Valley over flow
side and there was also some communications that came out
(04:54):
advising people to take not from City of Darwin advising
people to take waste to Sholbay when the facilit was closed.
So Shoalbey is a facility like any other building that
hasn't has to do an inspection of waybridge and the
actual site and access. As you can imagine, when we
did those inspections on Sunday, we found that there was
a partial road collapse with inside the facility, which meant
(05:16):
that the actual way you put the waste like almost
like at our internal transfer station, the waste could not
get moved to the landfill sales. And there was also
some systems on site that are necessary for running the
broader operations at Shoal Bay that weren't working. So therefore
it was continued to communicate that Shoal Bay was closed
as part of the recovery plans. And again there we
(05:38):
see in these the waste management and the emergency plans,
Shoalbay remains closed to the public whilst we make sure
we clear patriciples and basically rotten food waste and any
emergency waste. And that's exactly how the plan has been run.
But there will be more communications Katie that we'll come
(05:58):
out later today on Sholby operations. We've got a few
more things to do, but there will definitely be more communication,
all right.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
So hopefully we're in a situation I'm assuming that Shoulbe
is able to be operational over the next couple of days.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Yep. Look, that's that's absolutely what we're hoping for, but
I can say it will not be accepting green waste.
I think so public green waste, you still need to
go to Hidden Valley and it's set up really well
either commercial. We've we've public.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Spoken to them this morning, We've we've definitely had them
on the show this morning to give us that level
of detail. I do want to ask you. I know
the Member for Sanderson has certainly written to the Lord
Mayor asking on behalf of constituents of Sanderson to request
that the City of Darwin provide green waste roadside pick
up as a matter of urgency. I mean, is this
(06:45):
something that you think could be coordinated. I don't know
whether it's something you've got to work through with the
Northern Territory government, but is this something that we can
coordinate here? Because I guess what people are feeling really
disappointed about, is it you know, we're seeing territorians come
together help each other out, and then we've got the
council reportedly telling people that they're potentially going to get
(07:05):
a thousand dollars fine if they've got green waste on
the verge. Like it's just really unterritorian.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Yeah, look, I'm not sure of those particular communications, but
what I can definitely say that City of Darwin's focus,
and this is all our teams who are doing an amazing job,
is on recovery and not enforcement at this time. So
I hope that gives the public comfort that that's absolutely
recovery not enforcement is where City of Darwin is at
the moment. But on the other issue, we are coordinated
(07:33):
whole of government response to how we deal with waste
on verges and la I said, it's the first recovery
call this morning and it's very much so within the
teams to how we work with our waste management plans,
both the Northern Territory governments and how it intersects with
the City of with the City of Darwen plan. It's
not in Northern Territory. The emergency lead is the Northern
(07:56):
Territory government. The funds flow to them from the FEDS
and then come to councils. But it's quite restrictive what
councils can and can't do different to in other jurisdictions.
So please let people Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
Totally get it, but at this point in time, people
don't really want to see politics being played. They want
to make sure that they've got that support to be
able to clean up you know, the debris, everything that
is around the place. And the council does a phenomenal
job pre cyclone cleanup, but you know, I guess post
cyclone is when a lot of people need that bit
(08:28):
of a hand. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Look, I completely agree, Katie, and I'm and not in
the politics of this. I'm purely operational and running the
priorities that make sure we have commune childcare centers, open
community facilities, and that's sopriety for the City of Darwin team,
and they're doing a fantastic job. And there is absolutely
a coordinated approach in the background. For instance, Northern Territory
government needed more trucks yesterday and we've released some of
(08:53):
our trucks, which slows down some of our cleanup operations,
but there was another priority, so we've put reason sources
and contractors over to support the Northern Territory government. So
I'm sure the public that's absolutely happening in the background,
and City of Darwin and other councils are working with
the teams with inside you know, the emergency response elements
of the Northern Territory.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Now I know, we've heard from We've heard from Ntech,
a local business. Just a few minutes ago they'd said, Katie,
we're more than happy to get our skip beans out
in strategic locations around the Northern suburbs in an effort
to try and help people. Is that something that the
council and the government will potentially work together to coordinate
or facilitate.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Look, I haven't had that direct request for me, but
I know who the lady from NTEX, so I will
reach out and it's something that we need to do
as part of this coordinated whole of government response. So
we will. We can feed that into the processes and
the plans that are currently underway. And thanks for letting
me know, and I'll reach out to them directly.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
Well, I just think people are at the point, like
I'd get it right. I totally understand that, you know
that it's a big job for everybody, but nobody wants
to see a situation where we've got elderly people, you know,
those that maybe cannot get their stuff to the Hidden
Valley tip or whichever tip they're able to get to
because they just simply can't, you know. And what we
(10:15):
saw after Marcus was everybody coordinate together to make it happen.
I just feel a bit disappointed that it doesn't feel
like that's the case.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Look from from my perspective, that's how it is happening.
Behind the scenes with the with City of Darwen, working
with the Northern Territory government. There has definitely been those
some mixed messaging in relation to sites and facilities that
have come out, and we're going to after this call.
We've got some really clear questions and answers that we're
going to put out again to our website, social media
(10:46):
and to the media to cover off those additional queries
queries for people. So I think in that communication piece, yeah, absolutely,
we can always we can always do better and I
encourage people as well, Katie, because we've got the emergency
Operations Center set up up eight nine three zero zero
three zero zero Press one and if you've got a
query in relation to Cychlo Marcus, you know what to
(11:08):
do with your private property, if you've got trees hanging
across fence lines and council properties, the team is ready
to assist with those queries and triage anything to get
the cleanup underway well.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
Simone Saunders, CEO of the City of Darwin really appreciate
your time this morning. Thank you very much for having
a chat with us and let us know, like over
the course of the week, if you know, if some
of these does change, we're more than happy to have
you back on to make sure that we can communicate
it to our listeners.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
Great thanks Katie, thank you.
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