Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I read with interest in the paper this morning a
forty thousand dollar fee for a certificate to install a
shade sale. Has the Northern Territories Local Government Association open
to consultation, they say, around a review on the NT
Sacred Sites Act, But they say that they've not been
approached yet. Now the Planning, Lands and Environment Minister, as
(00:21):
we know, Josh Burgoyne, he joined us on the show
a couple of weeks ago when he introduced those amendments
to the nineteen eighty nine NT Sacred Sites Act, and
he introduced those to Parliament. Now what we also know
is the Local Government Association's NT President, Convat Scalis, had
said the Association was yet to be approached about that review,
(00:42):
but it certainly seems like it would be a good
idea for those constructive discussions to be had. Joining me
in the studio is the CEO of the Local Government
Association of the Northern Territory, Mary Watson. Good morning to you.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Mary, Good morning Katie.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
It's lovely to have you on the show. Thank you
for your time. Now, first off, can you tell me
what the situation was with that shade sale?
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Yes, sure, so that's part of the application process for certificates.
So councils, just like anybody else, need to apply for
a certificate.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
So applied for the certificate and then there and so
there's a fee. Then when you get that certificate. I'm
assuming can that cost change depending on the project.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
It can do. And I've got a couple of examples
if you want to hear them. So yeah, there's that example.
There's another example of a council wanting to do some
repairs on a walking track that cost again about thirty
thousand dollars. The project itself was only thirty five so
that's nearly double the cost of the project. So it
seems to be the standard cost is about thirty thousand,
(01:47):
and then there is this extra cost often where that
there is a request for the traditional owners to look
over or be on site to watch the project. That
is an open ended costs at the moment. So we
are really looking to see some timeframes, awesome scheduling put
around those costs so that councils are clear on what
(02:09):
they will be and it's not an open ended project.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Mary to put it in real I guess you know
Layman's terms for our listeners. So when the council for example,
whichever council it may be across the Northern Territory is
doing a project. If it is in an area where
there may be a sacred site, obviously they're then going
through the process with APPA. Is that correct? And so
(02:34):
what sort of happens next?
Speaker 2 (02:37):
What sort of happens next?
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Yes, so they have to put in it, like put
in an application, I'm assuming if there's a sacred site nearby,
they have to then go through a process of trying
to avoid that area I'm assuming or.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Yeah, And it depends on whether it's you know, on
the site or adjacent to So I understand they put
in the application and UPPER then you don't run their
process and then they're provided with that application. I think
one of the concerns for our counsels is the time
that that takes. There are examples of where it's taken
four months to get that application processed. So we absolutely
(03:12):
understand and respect the intent of the legislation and the
need to protect sacred sites. Yep, you know, absolutely, but
I think we've just got potentially, like any business, we'd
like to see some certainty around those costs and timeframes.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Well, it makes it really difficult to do business if
you don't have that certainty around costs and timeframes. So
depending on the project, or depending on where it might
be or the level of involvement that I'm assuming, is
it the traditional like the elders or the traditional owners,
or is it Upper depending on the level of involvement
(03:47):
that they need as to how that fee changes.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
I think there's two processes help upper and none of
our members have issues again with that process or with
the traditional owners or with the protection the sacred sites.
I think it's that second process where excuse me, potentially
the traditional owners need to be on site to watch
over that. That is at the moment a little bit
(04:11):
of concern in regards to the fees and schedules around that.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
So what I mean, So, do you think it does
seem as though there needs to be some changes to
the act to provide that certainty.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Definitely, Yeah. I think in other jurisdictions they do have
a schedule of fees for that type of for that
part of the process, which we would like to like
to see considered here in the territory, together with some
potential best practice time frames around that to provide that certainty.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
And so has there been a discussion at this point
in time with the Minister or with the Department about
this and obviously thinking that there needs to be.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Yeah, no, we have a meeting with our PA scheduled
for early next month.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Okay, So what needs to happen from Legant's perspective, you know,
in terms of those next steps.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Like any advocacy project, it's you know, starting those negotiations
or those conversations. The Act the amendments as it stands
don't go into these parts. You know that we have
concerns right there are around other elements of the Act.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
So maybe it does need by the sounds of it,
it potentially needs to be extended to include you know,
the concerns that you've just raised this morning. I mean
with maybe if it's something that's happening in other locations,
and if there is a schedule of fees that people
know that they're going to all councils and and I'm
assuming even you know private operators or you know, different
(05:42):
different people depending on where they're looking to do a project.
If there is a schedule of fees, it would give
people some certainty.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Right absolutely, And you know, just to be clear, I
suppose there is the schedule of fees already around the
certificate and the applying of the certificate, right, so that exists,
it's that extra bit around the traditional owners coming onto
site and those fees for that part of the process.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
And it does sound as though that can be quite
a costly process then.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Yeah, and I'm not across those costs. If it is,
if it's a large scale project and those traditional owners
are on site for the length of that project, it
could potentially be a significant cost.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Yeah, yeah, right, all right, Well, it does sound as
though there needs to be some further discussions here, and
from the sounds of it, you guys are due to
meet with ARPA, so that's a good thing hopefully even
with the minister, you know, he's aware of then some
of these worries because I think if we're going to
sort of move forward in the Northern Territory, we've all
(06:41):
got to work out how we can work sort of
you know, cooperatively, comprehensively with each other for the best
interests of everybody, but in a way that gives people
that certainty.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Right, agreed, Yeah, agreed. I think we are really really
keen to work with the government. We are, you know,
the third sphere of government and we really want to
see the territory grow, particularly in our lifestyle and the economy,
so we want to be partners.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Yeah. Well, Mary Watson, CEO of the Local Government Association
of the Northern Territory. Great to speak with you this morning,
no doubt we'll talk to you again soon.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Great, thanks, thank you,
I read with interest in the paper this morning a
forty thousand dollar fee for a certificate to install a
shade sale. Has the Northern Territories Local Government Association open
to consultation, they say, around a review on the NT
Sacred Sites Act, But they say that they've not been
approached yet. Now the Planning, Lands and Environment Minister, as
(00:21):
we know, Josh Burgoyne, he joined us on the show
a couple of weeks ago when he introduced those amendments
to the nineteen eighty nine NT Sacred Sites Act, and
he introduced those to Parliament. Now what we also know
is the Local Government Association's NT President, Convat Scalis, had
said the Association was yet to be approached about that review,
(00:42):
but it certainly seems like it would be a good
idea for those constructive discussions to be had. Joining me
in the studio is the CEO of the Local Government
Association of the Northern Territory, Mary Watson. Good morning to you.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Mary, Good morning Katie.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
It's lovely to have you on the show. Thank you
for your time. Now, first off, can you tell me
what the situation was with that shade sale?
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Yes, sure, so that's part of the application process for certificates.
So councils, just like anybody else, need to apply for
a certificate.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
So applied for the certificate and then there and so
there's a fee. Then when you get that certificate. I'm
assuming can that cost change depending on the project.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
It can do. And I've got a couple of examples
if you want to hear them. So yeah, there's that example.
There's another example of a council wanting to do some
repairs on a walking track that cost again about thirty
thousand dollars. The project itself was only thirty five so
that's nearly double the cost of the project. So it
seems to be the standard cost is about thirty thousand,
(01:47):
and then there is this extra cost often where that
there is a request for the traditional owners to look
over or be on site to watch the project. That
is an open ended costs at the moment. So we
are really looking to see some timeframes, awesome scheduling put
around those costs so that councils are clear on what
(02:09):
they will be and it's not an open ended project.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Mary to put it in real I guess you know
Layman's terms for our listeners. So when the council for example,
whichever council it may be across the Northern Territory is
doing a project. If it is in an area where
there may be a sacred site, obviously they're then going
through the process with APPA. Is that correct? And so
(02:34):
what sort of happens next?
Speaker 2 (02:37):
What sort of happens next?
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Yes, so they have to put in it, like put
in an application, I'm assuming if there's a sacred site nearby,
they have to then go through a process of trying
to avoid that area I'm assuming or.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Yeah, And it depends on whether it's you know, on
the site or adjacent to So I understand they put
in the application and UPPER then you don't run their
process and then they're provided with that application. I think
one of the concerns for our counsels is the time
that that takes. There are examples of where it's taken
four months to get that application processed. So we absolutely
(03:12):
understand and respect the intent of the legislation and the
need to protect sacred sites. Yep, you know, absolutely, but
I think we've just got potentially, like any business, we'd
like to see some certainty around those costs and timeframes.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Well, it makes it really difficult to do business if
you don't have that certainty around costs and timeframes. So
depending on the project, or depending on where it might
be or the level of involvement that I'm assuming, is
it the traditional like the elders or the traditional owners,
or is it Upper depending on the level of involvement
(03:47):
that they need as to how that fee changes.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
I think there's two processes help upper and none of
our members have issues again with that process or with
the traditional owners or with the protection the sacred sites.
I think it's that second process where excuse me, potentially
the traditional owners need to be on site to watch
over that. That is at the moment a little bit
(04:11):
of concern in regards to the fees and schedules around that.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
So what I mean, So, do you think it does
seem as though there needs to be some changes to
the act to provide that certainty.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Definitely, Yeah. I think in other jurisdictions they do have
a schedule of fees for that type of for that
part of the process, which we would like to like
to see considered here in the territory, together with some
potential best practice time frames around that to provide that certainty.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
And so has there been a discussion at this point
in time with the Minister or with the Department about
this and obviously thinking that there needs to be.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Yeah, no, we have a meeting with our PA scheduled
for early next month.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Okay, So what needs to happen from Legant's perspective, you know,
in terms of those next steps.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Like any advocacy project, it's you know, starting those negotiations
or those conversations. The Act the amendments as it stands
don't go into these parts. You know that we have
concerns right there are around other elements of the Act.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
So maybe it does need by the sounds of it,
it potentially needs to be extended to include you know,
the concerns that you've just raised this morning. I mean
with maybe if it's something that's happening in other locations,
and if there is a schedule of fees that people
know that they're going to all councils and and I'm
assuming even you know private operators or you know, different
(05:42):
different people depending on where they're looking to do a project.
If there is a schedule of fees, it would give
people some certainty.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Right absolutely, And you know, just to be clear, I
suppose there is the schedule of fees already around the
certificate and the applying of the certificate, right, so that exists,
it's that extra bit around the traditional owners coming onto
site and those fees for that part of the process.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
And it does sound as though that can be quite
a costly process then.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Yeah, and I'm not across those costs. If it is,
if it's a large scale project and those traditional owners
are on site for the length of that project, it
could potentially be a significant cost.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Yeah, yeah, right, all right, Well, it does sound as
though there needs to be some further discussions here, and
from the sounds of it, you guys are due to
meet with ARPA, so that's a good thing hopefully even
with the minister, you know, he's aware of then some
of these worries because I think if we're going to
sort of move forward in the Northern Territory, we've all
(06:41):
got to work out how we can work sort of
you know, cooperatively, comprehensively with each other for the best
interests of everybody, but in a way that gives people
that certainty.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Right, agreed, Yeah, agreed. I think we are really really
keen to work with the government. We are, you know,
the third sphere of government and we really want to
see the territory grow, particularly in our lifestyle and the economy,
so we want to be partners.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Yeah. Well, Mary Watson, CEO of the Local Government Association
of the Northern Territory. Great to speak with you this morning,
no doubt we'll talk to you again soon.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Great, thanks, thank you,
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