March 9, 2026 • 7 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
And as those floodwaters slowly received, the extent of damage
to logistics becomes known. And of course yesterday we did
some well, we did see some of that damage to
our roads. Now joining us on the line is the
head of the Anti Road Transport Association, Louise Belacho.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Good morning, Louise, Good morning, Katie. We talk again, We
talk again.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
We seem to it this time of the year. But
I tell you what, It's been an exceptional wet season
and it's wreaking havoc around the place, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Yeah, it doesn't seem like it's going to resolve today either.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
No, So tell me in terms of you know, the damage.
I guess that we're seeing to our roads. What your
members are telling you, what are they saying at this point.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
It's going to be an expensive repair job for the
dry season.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
I bet it will be. And where are we, like,
where are we seeing closures and what kind of impact
is it having on our goods being delivered at this point?
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Well, you're probably aware of the detour that was that
forced the closure of the Stuart Highway again at around
eight o'clock last night. So the road was reopened yes
after at about four and we're very grateful for that,
so that the all the trucks that had been at
Madaranka were able to get through Catherine, but unfortunately two
(01:23):
trucks ended up getting bobbed on the detour, which is
just seven kilometers south of town, and so that closed
the road again. So those trucks that have been at
daily Waters and holding back from Maderancha ended up being
stuck still and they're still waiting for the announcement for
(01:45):
the Stewart Highway to reopen there. Unfortunately, so we had
trucks at left dar On Souf to Theon even with
the Elizabeth River Bridge rising to get going and unfortunately
some of the for a lot of them are stuck
in Katherine at the OTR assembly area there.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Yeah, right, so what so I guess waiting for that
for the Stuart Highway to reopen a lot. Do we
have any idea how long that may be?
Speaker 2 (02:16):
No, I think obviously the Civil Works contractor was hard
at it last night getting the trucks out, which is unfortunate.
A minute, that's just it is unfortunate, but it also
speaks to the Northern Tertory government getting the tendering process right.
(02:38):
We've for many, many years urged more of our tenders
to be released so that everyone's ready to go at
the end of the wet season, rather than letting a
tender in December or January and then forcing them to
start during the wet season. It's just it's silly. We
shouldn't have those sorts of detours on the main national
(02:58):
highway network during the wet season. They should be all stopped.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Yeah, it's a fair point. It's a very very fair
point to make, I think at this point in time,
particularly when people are now worried about, you know, whether
they're going to be able to get goods, whether we're
going to be able to see food back on the
supermarket shelves.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Yes. Yeah, well again, it was fantastic news at four
o'clock and then very sad news at eight pm last night.
And I mean everyone does also need to appreciate the
truckies that are just trying to do their job. Sometimes
those things are overlooked. The message I really was hoping
to ensure everyone understands that we said and learned very
(03:39):
big lessons during COVID early was that all fraight is essential,
So trying to pay God and to say perishables need
to come first. We fully understand they've all got expiry
limits your blueberries and your raspberries, etc. But you know,
if on that fate that was stuck yesterday, was you know,
(04:00):
a peace for the Darwin River Dam pump, for example,
that becomes a essential and we we learned that lesson that.
You know, there's medical supplies or there's particular pieces of
equipment that has a knock on effect to other things
that then become highly critical. So a phrase is essential,
(04:21):
roads opened. Everyone needs to be able to just get
on with their job.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Spot on. So, Louise, did you just say that there
was a part for the pump for the Darwinridam or
you said if there was, I was gonna say, ship,
we better get that across the line as quickly as
weekend on the next two Yeah, no use spot on,
And we will talk more about the Darwen Riverdam after eleven.
But Louise, what is that like, what's the biggest concern
(04:47):
for you for the next couple of days? And and
you know, I guess to everybody out there listening this morning,
they're thinking about it probably you know, we all think
about these things from a selfish sort of perspective, wanting
to make sure we're able to get gross from et cetera.
But what are the biggest concerns for you over the
next couple of days and when do you you know,
when do you think we'll see things start to go
back to a more normal scenario.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Yeah, I guess it depends on what the bomb is
telling us about weather, the fact that the rail has
been operational, you know, since Sunday night, coming in yesterday morning,
and again you say that was a positive because obviously
there's stuff that goes on to the rail that you
know is big. That will mean that we're not going
(05:32):
to starve in Darwin. But the freight that is on
the trucks is the just in time freate, a lot
of it and as I said, the perishable. So we
will definitely see some impact on our fruit and veggies,
but hopefully some of the biggest staple items should be
fine at the moment. But again, it just speaks to
(05:54):
the fragility of our supply chain, Katie.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
It really does. Does you know the fact that every
year just about you and I are talking about this,
unless we don't have a very wet, wet season like
we did last year just goes to show you that
it is very fragile.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Indeed, yes, yes, for sure. And as I said, the
most important thing that we're hoping government is doing is
putting in repairs and maintenance and upgrades into the budget.
So there will be you know, a considerable portion of
our network that will need to be you know, fixed
(06:29):
up and strengthened. But also our unsealed network. We don't
want to be seeing our dirt roads not opening before
the end of July because that makes it a very
small window to get into communities to actually get other
work like construction materials in and you know if you're
building houses, et cetera. So you know it's twofold. One
(06:51):
is the National Highway network will need a lot of
repairs because potholes are everywhere, but also the unsealed road
network will need a lot of attention as well. And
all of those things cost money. Yep.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Yeah, we've got to make sure that we find some
money in the budget for those things because as we
are seeing, they are absolutely essential. Louise Belato, I always
appreciate your time. Thank you very much for having a
chat with us this morning.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Thank you, Katie.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Thank you
And as those floodwaters slowly received, the extent of damage
to logistics becomes known. And of course yesterday we did
some well, we did see some of that damage to
our roads. Now joining us on the line is the
head of the Anti Road Transport Association, Louise Belacho.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Good morning, Louise, Good morning, Katie. We talk again, We
talk again.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
We seem to it this time of the year. But
I tell you what, It's been an exceptional wet season
and it's wreaking havoc around the place, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Yeah, it doesn't seem like it's going to resolve today either.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
No, So tell me in terms of you know, the damage.
I guess that we're seeing to our roads. What your
members are telling you, what are they saying at this point.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
It's going to be an expensive repair job for the
dry season.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
I bet it will be. And where are we, like,
where are we seeing closures and what kind of impact
is it having on our goods being delivered at this point?
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Well, you're probably aware of the detour that was that
forced the closure of the Stuart Highway again at around
eight o'clock last night. So the road was reopened yes
after at about four and we're very grateful for that,
so that the all the trucks that had been at
Madaranka were able to get through Catherine, but unfortunately two
(01:23):
trucks ended up getting bobbed on the detour, which is
just seven kilometers south of town, and so that closed
the road again. So those trucks that have been at
daily Waters and holding back from Maderancha ended up being
stuck still and they're still waiting for the announcement for
(01:45):
the Stewart Highway to reopen there. Unfortunately, so we had
trucks at left dar On Souf to Theon even with
the Elizabeth River Bridge rising to get going and unfortunately
some of the for a lot of them are stuck
in Katherine at the OTR assembly area there.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Yeah, right, so what so I guess waiting for that
for the Stuart Highway to reopen a lot. Do we
have any idea how long that may be?
Speaker 2 (02:16):
No, I think obviously the Civil Works contractor was hard
at it last night getting the trucks out, which is unfortunate.
A minute, that's just it is unfortunate, but it also
speaks to the Northern Tertory government getting the tendering process right.
(02:38):
We've for many, many years urged more of our tenders
to be released so that everyone's ready to go at
the end of the wet season, rather than letting a
tender in December or January and then forcing them to
start during the wet season. It's just it's silly. We
shouldn't have those sorts of detours on the main national
(02:58):
highway network during the wet season. They should be all stopped.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Yeah, it's a fair point. It's a very very fair
point to make, I think at this point in time,
particularly when people are now worried about, you know, whether
they're going to be able to get goods, whether we're
going to be able to see food back on the
supermarket shelves.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Yes. Yeah, well again, it was fantastic news at four
o'clock and then very sad news at eight pm last night.
And I mean everyone does also need to appreciate the
truckies that are just trying to do their job. Sometimes
those things are overlooked. The message I really was hoping
to ensure everyone understands that we said and learned very
(03:39):
big lessons during COVID early was that all fraight is essential,
So trying to pay God and to say perishables need
to come first. We fully understand they've all got expiry
limits your blueberries and your raspberries, etc. But you know,
if on that fate that was stuck yesterday, was you know,
(04:00):
a peace for the Darwin River Dam pump, for example,
that becomes a essential and we we learned that lesson that.
You know, there's medical supplies or there's particular pieces of
equipment that has a knock on effect to other things
that then become highly critical. So a phrase is essential,
(04:21):
roads opened. Everyone needs to be able to just get
on with their job.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Spot on. So, Louise, did you just say that there
was a part for the pump for the Darwinridam or
you said if there was, I was gonna say, ship,
we better get that across the line as quickly as
weekend on the next two Yeah, no use spot on,
And we will talk more about the Darwen Riverdam after eleven.
But Louise, what is that like, what's the biggest concern
(04:47):
for you for the next couple of days? And and
you know, I guess to everybody out there listening this morning,
they're thinking about it probably you know, we all think
about these things from a selfish sort of perspective, wanting
to make sure we're able to get gross from et cetera.
But what are the biggest concerns for you over the
next couple of days and when do you you know,
when do you think we'll see things start to go
back to a more normal scenario.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Yeah, I guess it depends on what the bomb is
telling us about weather, the fact that the rail has
been operational, you know, since Sunday night, coming in yesterday morning,
and again you say that was a positive because obviously
there's stuff that goes on to the rail that you
know is big. That will mean that we're not going
(05:32):
to starve in Darwin. But the freight that is on
the trucks is the just in time freate, a lot
of it and as I said, the perishable. So we
will definitely see some impact on our fruit and veggies,
but hopefully some of the biggest staple items should be
fine at the moment. But again, it just speaks to
(05:54):
the fragility of our supply chain, Katie.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
It really does. Does you know the fact that every
year just about you and I are talking about this,
unless we don't have a very wet, wet season like
we did last year just goes to show you that
it is very fragile.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Indeed, yes, yes, for sure. And as I said, the
most important thing that we're hoping government is doing is
putting in repairs and maintenance and upgrades into the budget.
So there will be you know, a considerable portion of
our network that will need to be you know, fixed
(06:29):
up and strengthened. But also our unsealed network. We don't
want to be seeing our dirt roads not opening before
the end of July because that makes it a very
small window to get into communities to actually get other
work like construction materials in and you know if you're
building houses, et cetera. So you know it's twofold. One
(06:51):
is the National Highway network will need a lot of
repairs because potholes are everywhere, but also the unsealed road
network will need a lot of attention as well. And
all of those things cost money. Yep.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Yeah, we've got to make sure that we find some
money in the budget for those things because as we
are seeing, they are absolutely essential. Louise Belato, I always
appreciate your time. Thank you very much for having a
chat with us this morning.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Thank you, Katie.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Thank you
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