Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Always plenty on the agenda, and we are continuing to
talk about those issues impacting truck drivers in the Northern Territory,
rocks thrown at prime movers in Catherine, and the poor
state of outback highways. NT Transport Association executive Officer Louise
Belato joins me on the line. Good morning to.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
You, Louise, Good morning Katie.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Good to have you on the show now. First off,
are you aware of these recent incidents in Catherine with
youths throwing rocks at trucks near the Catherine Bridge.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Absolutely, and I was hoping to raise that with you
this morning as well, because we've been shocked by those
recent incidents. We've had a series of our truck guess
that's our operators report windscreen damage and light damage as
well as damage to their vehicles and very concerned that
(00:55):
the police response. Will you what do you want us
to do about it? That's not good enough. Obviously, rock
throwing is extremely dangerous and it's our truck drivers' livelihoods
that are being impacted as well as their lives that
could be impacted by these rock throwing kids.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
It's bloody dangerous, There is no doubt about that. We
ended up. We just caught up with the Assistant Commissioner,
Peter Mally and raised it further with him. Now he
actually said that there's been eleven reports over the last
two weeks alone. Louise, from your perspective, like, how bad
have some of these incidents been.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Yeah, no, extremely bad. You probably saw on social media
one of them who was reporting to me in the
early hours of Monday morning. I mean, we remember the
tow truck driver in our springs who lost the sight
of his eye, who has been impacted for life by
a rock that was thrown through his window. But those
(01:57):
drivers of the trucks over on Monday night, they had
to turn the stock, turn around their truck and then
go back to Darwin to get repairs done because they
couldn't get those windscreen and light repairs done in Catherine.
So think of the cost to that business. And what
we wanted to really emphasize is that for our owner drivers,
(02:18):
those trucks are they're their lives there. You know, we
talk about them as being their personal sacred site. They
invest a huge amount of money and time in ensuring
those trucks are roadworthy before they get on the road.
Otherwise they're going to get fined by the Northern Nurtry
government and then things like that happen. So you know,
(02:39):
we do really need this to be taken seriously. We've
seen it elsewhere. We've seen it in Tenant Greek, We've
seen it in our springs. It's in tunn and Ura,
paus Creek and Fitzroy Crossing. We know it's not isolated,
but it really does need to be taken seriously.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
It sounds like to me we need we need to
have a fairly strong, you know, approach to this as well,
because like the fact is somebody could be.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Killed easily, easily easily killed.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Louise, what do you reckon needs to happen? Like from
your perspective, I mean, you know, we spoke the police
said that they're going to be working with a few
different organizations, including territory families to try and you know,
their belief is that we are talking about kids here
throwing rocks in these recent incidents, so they're going to
(03:28):
be working with these different organizations. But what else do
we need to do in this space from your perspective
in terms of protecting those drivers?
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Well, yeah, is it about having police or security on
the Katherine Bridge at the moment, or you stopping children
congregating in the lead up to the bridge space escorting
truck through town. I don't know. I mean what we
certainly want are parents and in the community to be
(04:02):
able to remind those children that everything in the territory
pretty much comes in on trucks. So all they eat,
you know, drink, consume is transported by our truck drivers.
They're doing work on behalf of those communities to deliver
what they need to survive. So you know, being respectful
(04:24):
of those people who are doing a job and they
said it at night time on their behalf is really important.
So that's a message to parents and elders, is to
ensure that they know what those children are doing and
to remind them how the consequences of this huge, considerable
life and limb is one thing, but it's also as
(04:46):
I said, people's livelihoods. Well, they're out trying to do
a job and to make a buck.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
Yeah, look, do you reckon. We're at the point where
potentially there does need to be security or there does
need to be police on that breach to to make
sure that at least in the really near future, that
they're able to get through there safely.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Well. Absolutely, I mean this is rammed up again. I
mean it seems to go in cycles. Yeah, you know,
we've had periods where it hasn't been problematic. I'm not
sure what's behind the reason these children are choosing to
throw rocks at the moment, but yeah, absolutely there needs
to be a much more considered response than what you
(05:29):
want us to do about it. It has to be
taken seriously.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Well, we've got the Minister for Logistics and Infrastructure, Billyan
on the show tomorrow morning as well, so I'm going
to put it to him. You know, I felt really concerned.
We spoke to Bed earlier in the week, who owns
one of those companies and had spoke to us about
the impact on one of his drivers earlier in the week.
We've had others get in contact with us and say, Will,
(05:53):
it is bloody dangerous and it's really you know, it's
a worrying situation. And they'd even spoken about Louise that
sometimes you know, with some of our truckies they do
take their kids with them for you know, for some
trips because they are away on the road so much.
So imagine if you're in a situation where you're in
your truck with your you know, with your kids, and
(06:15):
someone bloody throws a rock at the window and God forbid,
something terrible happens.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Well, you've got a truck fully loaded with livestock, you know,
or it's on the Catron River bridge and it rolls
into the bridge. I mean, yeah, it's unfathomable. What the
things that could happen are I've had one person who
was had a rock thrown through the windscreen. They and
(06:42):
he had all these windows up, air conditioning on, and
he said it sounded like a you know, an explosion
in the cab of the truck. It was frightening, you know,
because it's unexpected, and especially at nighttime if it's you know,
it's not something that you're thinking will happen. Yeah, it's
really an impactful event on that person as well. And yeah,
(07:04):
so as I said, doesn't warrant thinking about the worst
case scenario. But even if it's not the worst case scenario,
it's still hugely impact along the business.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Yeah, you're spot on, and Luis, look, we had planned
to get you on obviously to talk about the state
of our roads as well. But you know that rock
throwing stuff is top of mind at the moment. But
look when we talk about the state of the roads,
we've also we've been contacted by a few listeners who've
sent through some photos about the shocking state of the
Tablelands Highway in particular, which literally show that most of
(07:39):
that road is missing. How bad are things from your
perspective and which roads do you feel as well? Which
highways are most concerning at the moment.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Yeah, what I wanted to say at the beginning is
road infrastructure and road construction has to be above politics.
So we see politics and throwing stones at each other
all the time. The Northern Territory we obtained self government
in nineteen seventy eight. We've said this before, but we
(08:09):
had a really underresourced road infrastructure network going back to
nineteen seventy eight, so nearly fifty years we have had
very poorly maintained and seventy percent plus of unsealed roads,
And it goes back to then. We didn't have a
negotiated agreement to ensure that the federal government put as
(08:31):
much money as that as they had done in the
other jurisdictions into our roads. So we've continuously gone cap
in hand to the federal government. And it doesn't matter
what political persuasions in whether it's liberal and labor or
labor and liberal opposite ways, there's always not enough money
for roads and especially the National highway network in the
(08:53):
Northern Territory over the years, with the amount of flooding
we've had the Barkley in particular. You know that March
February March yet twenty twenty four flooding was massive on
that road and the road repairs haven't been sufficient to
really restore it to what it was. But we need
(09:16):
it not just to be restored, but we need it
to be upgraded. So it really Yeah, so the Barklay
is notoriously bad at the moment. And you know we
saw the photos in the Antinews that the guys wash out.
Well that's a fact. Everyone's been very aware of the risks,
especially coming across there when you're passing another road train
(09:38):
and the drop off is so comprehensive the Tablelands Highway.
And this is personal. I mean, our father was putting
bitchmen on single aim bitchmen on that road probably fifty
five years ago, and that's probably the bitchmen that's still
were so it does it. It's difficult because that's a
working road. You know, the Carpenter and the Tanama are
(10:01):
a bit similar, but the Table and Highway is pretty
much a pastoral road, but it's had some additional you know,
local traffic on it. Is that our highest priority will
speaking to our members Darwin or Berry Springs to Catherine
is our highest priority right now. The shoulders there are
(10:23):
really really, really bad. The Barkley Highway obviously as well,
but the National Highway network is the responsibility of the
federal government. You know, we got two hundred million to
towards duplicating in the May budget, and the Northern Territory
government said, well, we don't have a forty million to
contribute on an eighty twenty basis. We need way more
(10:45):
than two hundred million dollars to duplicate the Stuart Highway.
But that's a start and we need to get started
and the built. Yeah, the cost of road building is well,
we always say it was a million dollars a kilometer,
Well now it's probably getting up beyond one point five million,
then closer to two million dollars a colmuter and that's
just the cost of materials and everything.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
And then when you look at, you know, the level
of work that needs to be undertaken. I mean, are
you aware of any major road works that are scheduled
to take place in the near future or like, where
are we sort of at with some of these major
areas that do need some real focus.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
Well, two million dollars is being spent to look at
how to actually upgrade the you know, the Darwined Catherine,
which is that that is money well spent because it
does have to be planned. There was sixty eight million
put onto the which has been you know, is underway
at the moment for bridges and work on the Carpenterier
Highway and that's you know, that's going to be gas
(11:43):
roads and you know, hopefully bring in additional royalties for
the Northern Territory government in the long run. So you know,
we do need to upgrade that. The Tanami Road, we're
still waiting for two road infrastructure tenders to go out
to be released that closed in February and March and
(12:05):
really should have been well and truly underway by now.
And we know the Tanami Road, besides our biggest gold
mine in the territory and our biggest royalty stream that's
also an adyf critical project for you know, connecting the
east coast to the west coast. So you know that
(12:27):
that is a really important piece of work, even though
that's not the Stuart Highway or the Barkley or the
Vic Highway.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
Louise, I know that recently as well, you were at
the National Road Transport Hall of Fame, and I understand
that that state of the roads across the country was
a hot topic.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
Absolutely, yes, so exactly. I mean the section of the
Barkby into Concurry sections up through to Broken Hill. You know,
there was a lot of conversation about not just the
territory roads being in a poor condition. The Bruce Highway
has got one point two billion dollars committed by the
(13:08):
federal government, so another you know about it'll be two
billion dollars that they're spending on the Bruce Highway, which
is really important. But our fear is that with the
twenty thirty two Olympics that most you know, additional monies
will go to building Olympic infrastructure and my additionally on
(13:29):
our roads. And well that's I mean, again, if it's
a finite piece of pie that you're dividing up and
that's going to be really problematic for the hurtry.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Yeah, well, it sounds like it is going to be.
And it's like, I guess it's interesting as well over
the years because it used to be a bit of
a situation where you'd travel in from Queensland and I know,
I'd be traveling in from Mount Ere and it was
always a bit of a joke that the state of
the roads in Queensland were terrible and then you'd cross
over to the Northern Territory and you'd, you know, a
bit it was a lot better. And it feels like
(13:59):
that's no longer the situation, Louise, like, you know, it's
a terrible state for us now.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
Yes, absolutely, And again I mean we had two huge
wet seasons in a row. We were very fortunate and
you know that was seen with the emergency services budget.
You know, this last wet season that we've just had
earlier this year was we didn't need to be delivering
emergency food and fuel into remote communities. But I mean
(14:30):
the situation at wad Air at the moment, you know,
that could have been resolved sooner with more moneies as
spent on that road because there was monies allocated and
you know that that road is really important. We're also
really concerned about the barge landing at Man and Grida.
You know that community is just you know, booming, and
(14:52):
you know there's more problems there. That top road. Well,
it's got restrictions to double road trains at the moment,
taking a lot longer to get out to the community,
to build the police station and the health facility, et cetera,
and houses. Well, they need to upgrade the barge landing
there as well, because you won't even be able to
get chill to the power station. You know, simple simple things,
(15:16):
but they need to be actually attended to.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
Yeah. Well, and you know sometimes it can be a
situation where it's out of side, out and out of mind,
but it can't be because then it winds up being
a massive concern. I mean, Madame Greater and what are
are some of our biggest, biggest communities outside of our
major town centers.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
And emergency management costs a hell of a lot more
than doing the work exactly. So the you know, the
activities with the support of civil contractors and said many times,
our civil contractors know how to make good roads, you know,
in the territory we've got some exceptionally good civil contractors,
(15:56):
and building roads in the remote areas of the Northern
Territory is a logistics nightmare. It's it's hugely difficult to
actually get workforce and you know, equipment and you know, yeah,
the whole package out there. It's not it's not a
simple task, no, although they make it look simple a
lot of the time.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
Yeah, but it has to happen, right like, there's no
doubt that it has to happen all Louise Blag, We're
gonna have to wrap up. Really good to speak with
you this morning. I really appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
Thank you very much, Katie. And rock sowing is important
to get on top of immediately.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
I agree with you, you know, for safety concerns, but also,
as you very rightly pointed out, we are talking about
getting our freight around the Northern Territory and into Darwin,
into the taller, smaller town centers as well, and if
they're not able to do that safely, well it's going
to have a huge impact on everybody.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
It's it's completely disrespectful. It is really disrespectful. Yep.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Spot on, Louise, good to talk to you, really appreciate
your time,
Always plenty on the agenda, and we are continuing to
talk about those issues impacting truck drivers in the Northern Territory,
rocks thrown at prime movers in Catherine, and the poor
state of outback highways. NT Transport Association executive Officer Louise
Belato joins me on the line. Good morning to.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
You, Louise, Good morning Katie.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Good to have you on the show now. First off,
are you aware of these recent incidents in Catherine with
youths throwing rocks at trucks near the Catherine Bridge.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Absolutely, and I was hoping to raise that with you
this morning as well, because we've been shocked by those
recent incidents. We've had a series of our truck guess
that's our operators report windscreen damage and light damage as
well as damage to their vehicles and very concerned that
(00:55):
the police response. Will you what do you want us
to do about it? That's not good enough. Obviously, rock
throwing is extremely dangerous and it's our truck drivers' livelihoods
that are being impacted as well as their lives that
could be impacted by these rock throwing kids.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
It's bloody dangerous, There is no doubt about that. We
ended up. We just caught up with the Assistant Commissioner,
Peter Mally and raised it further with him. Now he
actually said that there's been eleven reports over the last
two weeks alone. Louise, from your perspective, like, how bad
have some of these incidents been.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Yeah, no, extremely bad. You probably saw on social media
one of them who was reporting to me in the
early hours of Monday morning. I mean, we remember the
tow truck driver in our springs who lost the sight
of his eye, who has been impacted for life by
a rock that was thrown through his window. But those
(01:57):
drivers of the trucks over on Monday night, they had
to turn the stock, turn around their truck and then
go back to Darwin to get repairs done because they
couldn't get those windscreen and light repairs done in Catherine.
So think of the cost to that business. And what
we wanted to really emphasize is that for our owner drivers,
(02:18):
those trucks are they're their lives there. You know, we
talk about them as being their personal sacred site. They
invest a huge amount of money and time in ensuring
those trucks are roadworthy before they get on the road.
Otherwise they're going to get fined by the Northern Nurtry
government and then things like that happen. So you know,
(02:39):
we do really need this to be taken seriously. We've
seen it elsewhere. We've seen it in Tenant Greek, We've
seen it in our springs. It's in tunn and Ura,
paus Creek and Fitzroy Crossing. We know it's not isolated,
but it really does need to be taken seriously.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
It sounds like to me we need we need to
have a fairly strong, you know, approach to this as well,
because like the fact is somebody could be.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Killed easily, easily easily killed.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Louise, what do you reckon needs to happen? Like from
your perspective, I mean, you know, we spoke the police
said that they're going to be working with a few
different organizations, including territory families to try and you know,
their belief is that we are talking about kids here
throwing rocks in these recent incidents, so they're going to
(03:28):
be working with these different organizations. But what else do
we need to do in this space from your perspective
in terms of protecting those drivers?
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Well, yeah, is it about having police or security on
the Katherine Bridge at the moment, or you stopping children
congregating in the lead up to the bridge space escorting
truck through town. I don't know. I mean what we
certainly want are parents and in the community to be
(04:02):
able to remind those children that everything in the territory
pretty much comes in on trucks. So all they eat,
you know, drink, consume is transported by our truck drivers.
They're doing work on behalf of those communities to deliver
what they need to survive. So you know, being respectful
(04:24):
of those people who are doing a job and they
said it at night time on their behalf is really important.
So that's a message to parents and elders, is to
ensure that they know what those children are doing and
to remind them how the consequences of this huge, considerable
life and limb is one thing, but it's also as
(04:46):
I said, people's livelihoods. Well, they're out trying to do
a job and to make a buck.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
Yeah, look, do you reckon. We're at the point where
potentially there does need to be security or there does
need to be police on that breach to to make
sure that at least in the really near future, that
they're able to get through there safely.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Well. Absolutely, I mean this is rammed up again. I
mean it seems to go in cycles. Yeah, you know,
we've had periods where it hasn't been problematic. I'm not
sure what's behind the reason these children are choosing to
throw rocks at the moment, but yeah, absolutely there needs
to be a much more considered response than what you
(05:29):
want us to do about it. It has to be
taken seriously.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Well, we've got the Minister for Logistics and Infrastructure, Billyan
on the show tomorrow morning as well, so I'm going
to put it to him. You know, I felt really concerned.
We spoke to Bed earlier in the week, who owns
one of those companies and had spoke to us about
the impact on one of his drivers earlier in the week.
We've had others get in contact with us and say, Will,
(05:53):
it is bloody dangerous and it's really you know, it's
a worrying situation. And they'd even spoken about Louise that
sometimes you know, with some of our truckies they do
take their kids with them for you know, for some
trips because they are away on the road so much.
So imagine if you're in a situation where you're in
your truck with your you know, with your kids, and
(06:15):
someone bloody throws a rock at the window and God forbid,
something terrible happens.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Well, you've got a truck fully loaded with livestock, you know,
or it's on the Catron River bridge and it rolls
into the bridge. I mean, yeah, it's unfathomable. What the
things that could happen are I've had one person who
was had a rock thrown through the windscreen. They and
(06:42):
he had all these windows up, air conditioning on, and
he said it sounded like a you know, an explosion
in the cab of the truck. It was frightening, you know,
because it's unexpected, and especially at nighttime if it's you know,
it's not something that you're thinking will happen. Yeah, it's
really an impactful event on that person as well. And yeah,
(07:04):
so as I said, doesn't warrant thinking about the worst
case scenario. But even if it's not the worst case scenario,
it's still hugely impact along the business.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Yeah, you're spot on, and Luis, look, we had planned
to get you on obviously to talk about the state
of our roads as well. But you know that rock
throwing stuff is top of mind at the moment. But
look when we talk about the state of the roads,
we've also we've been contacted by a few listeners who've
sent through some photos about the shocking state of the
Tablelands Highway in particular, which literally show that most of
(07:39):
that road is missing. How bad are things from your
perspective and which roads do you feel as well? Which
highways are most concerning at the moment.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Yeah, what I wanted to say at the beginning is
road infrastructure and road construction has to be above politics.
So we see politics and throwing stones at each other
all the time. The Northern Territory we obtained self government
in nineteen seventy eight. We've said this before, but we
(08:09):
had a really underresourced road infrastructure network going back to
nineteen seventy eight, so nearly fifty years we have had
very poorly maintained and seventy percent plus of unsealed roads,
And it goes back to then. We didn't have a
negotiated agreement to ensure that the federal government put as
(08:31):
much money as that as they had done in the
other jurisdictions into our roads. So we've continuously gone cap
in hand to the federal government. And it doesn't matter
what political persuasions in whether it's liberal and labor or
labor and liberal opposite ways, there's always not enough money
for roads and especially the National highway network in the
(08:53):
Northern Territory over the years, with the amount of flooding
we've had the Barkley in particular. You know that March
February March yet twenty twenty four flooding was massive on
that road and the road repairs haven't been sufficient to
really restore it to what it was. But we need
(09:16):
it not just to be restored, but we need it
to be upgraded. So it really Yeah, so the Barklay
is notoriously bad at the moment. And you know we
saw the photos in the Antinews that the guys wash out.
Well that's a fact. Everyone's been very aware of the risks,
especially coming across there when you're passing another road train
(09:38):
and the drop off is so comprehensive the Tablelands Highway.
And this is personal. I mean, our father was putting
bitchmen on single aim bitchmen on that road probably fifty
five years ago, and that's probably the bitchmen that's still
were so it does it. It's difficult because that's a
working road. You know, the Carpenter and the Tanama are
(10:01):
a bit similar, but the Table and Highway is pretty
much a pastoral road, but it's had some additional you know,
local traffic on it. Is that our highest priority will
speaking to our members Darwin or Berry Springs to Catherine
is our highest priority right now. The shoulders there are
(10:23):
really really, really bad. The Barkley Highway obviously as well,
but the National Highway network is the responsibility of the
federal government. You know, we got two hundred million to
towards duplicating in the May budget, and the Northern Territory
government said, well, we don't have a forty million to
contribute on an eighty twenty basis. We need way more
(10:45):
than two hundred million dollars to duplicate the Stuart Highway.
But that's a start and we need to get started
and the built. Yeah, the cost of road building is well,
we always say it was a million dollars a kilometer,
Well now it's probably getting up beyond one point five million,
then closer to two million dollars a colmuter and that's
just the cost of materials and everything.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
And then when you look at, you know, the level
of work that needs to be undertaken. I mean, are
you aware of any major road works that are scheduled
to take place in the near future or like, where
are we sort of at with some of these major
areas that do need some real focus.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
Well, two million dollars is being spent to look at
how to actually upgrade the you know, the Darwined Catherine,
which is that that is money well spent because it
does have to be planned. There was sixty eight million
put onto the which has been you know, is underway
at the moment for bridges and work on the Carpenterier
Highway and that's you know, that's going to be gas
(11:43):
roads and you know, hopefully bring in additional royalties for
the Northern Territory government in the long run. So you know,
we do need to upgrade that. The Tanami Road, we're
still waiting for two road infrastructure tenders to go out
to be released that closed in February and March and
(12:05):
really should have been well and truly underway by now.
And we know the Tanami Road, besides our biggest gold
mine in the territory and our biggest royalty stream that's
also an adyf critical project for you know, connecting the
east coast to the west coast. So you know that
(12:27):
that is a really important piece of work, even though
that's not the Stuart Highway or the Barkley or the
Vic Highway.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
Louise, I know that recently as well, you were at
the National Road Transport Hall of Fame, and I understand
that that state of the roads across the country was
a hot topic.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
Absolutely, yes, so exactly. I mean the section of the
Barkby into Concurry sections up through to Broken Hill. You know,
there was a lot of conversation about not just the
territory roads being in a poor condition. The Bruce Highway
has got one point two billion dollars committed by the
(13:08):
federal government, so another you know about it'll be two
billion dollars that they're spending on the Bruce Highway, which
is really important. But our fear is that with the
twenty thirty two Olympics that most you know, additional monies
will go to building Olympic infrastructure and my additionally on
(13:29):
our roads. And well that's I mean, again, if it's
a finite piece of pie that you're dividing up and
that's going to be really problematic for the hurtry.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Yeah, well, it sounds like it is going to be.
And it's like, I guess it's interesting as well over
the years because it used to be a bit of
a situation where you'd travel in from Queensland and I know,
I'd be traveling in from Mount Ere and it was
always a bit of a joke that the state of
the roads in Queensland were terrible and then you'd cross
over to the Northern Territory and you'd, you know, a
bit it was a lot better. And it feels like
(13:59):
that's no longer the situation, Louise, like, you know, it's
a terrible state for us now.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
Yes, absolutely, And again I mean we had two huge
wet seasons in a row. We were very fortunate and
you know that was seen with the emergency services budget.
You know, this last wet season that we've just had
earlier this year was we didn't need to be delivering
emergency food and fuel into remote communities. But I mean
(14:30):
the situation at wad Air at the moment, you know,
that could have been resolved sooner with more moneies as
spent on that road because there was monies allocated and
you know that that road is really important. We're also
really concerned about the barge landing at Man and Grida.
You know that community is just you know, booming, and
(14:52):
you know there's more problems there. That top road. Well,
it's got restrictions to double road trains at the moment,
taking a lot longer to get out to the community,
to build the police station and the health facility, et cetera,
and houses. Well, they need to upgrade the barge landing
there as well, because you won't even be able to
get chill to the power station. You know, simple simple things,
(15:16):
but they need to be actually attended to.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
Yeah. Well, and you know sometimes it can be a
situation where it's out of side, out and out of mind,
but it can't be because then it winds up being
a massive concern. I mean, Madame Greater and what are
are some of our biggest, biggest communities outside of our
major town centers.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
And emergency management costs a hell of a lot more
than doing the work exactly. So the you know, the
activities with the support of civil contractors and said many times,
our civil contractors know how to make good roads, you know,
in the territory we've got some exceptionally good civil contractors,
(15:56):
and building roads in the remote areas of the Northern
Territory is a logistics nightmare. It's it's hugely difficult to
actually get workforce and you know, equipment and you know, yeah,
the whole package out there. It's not it's not a
simple task, no, although they make it look simple a
lot of the time.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
Yeah, but it has to happen, right like, there's no
doubt that it has to happen all Louise Blag, We're
gonna have to wrap up. Really good to speak with
you this morning. I really appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
Thank you very much, Katie. And rock sowing is important
to get on top of immediately.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
I agree with you, you know, for safety concerns, but also,
as you very rightly pointed out, we are talking about
getting our freight around the Northern Territory and into Darwin,
into the taller, smaller town centers as well, and if
they're not able to do that safely, well it's going
to have a huge impact on everybody.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
It's it's completely disrespectful. It is really disrespectful. Yep.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Spot on, Louise, good to talk to you, really appreciate
your time,
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