Mr BALCH - 2001-07-04
Minister, recently I noticed a whole lot of earthmoving equipment and civil contractors down in the Rapid Creek conservation area. Could you please provide an update as to what this activity means to that particular area, and what it will provide for the enjoyment and recreational use of the area?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker,as members would know, the Rapid Creek/Freshwater Creek area is a very significant recreational area right in the heart of the northern suburbs, an area highly regarded by locals and a lot of Darwin people who enjoy the use of that area. Can I say that the member for Jingili, the CLP candidate for Johnston and the member for Millner have been working very hard to ensure that this area continues to be enhanced for the enjoyment of Territorians, unlike some others.
This piece of paradise that is on our doorstep unfortunately is so popular that it has almost been loved to death. That is causing some problems with erosion and weed intrusion and the like. This government has been very active in making sure that we are on top of those issues. There were some issues also with Jingili residents there in terms of the rural blocks that abut that Freshwater Creek system in that it might in future move to intensive urban development.
Consequently, out of all of that, land use objectives were prepared and passed for that area that reflect the appropriate uses that people want to enjoy. That is the landholders obviously, the recreational purposes and all of the environmental safeguards that come with it. Those LUOs, for the benefit of members, include a 100 m conservation zone that surrounds that creek for the preservation and future use by the wider public.
Also within those LUOs there is provision for a public access corridor that has not previously existed. That work is being undertaken and the works that the member for Jingili is talking about, some $90 000 worth of work, has occurred in the formation of a cycle path - a very high quality cycle path - that allows people to enjoy the area in the way that they wish. It also controls the degradation that could occur by very high and popular use of the area.
There has also been a lot of revegetation work done through Landcare with the ...
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is just too much cross-Chamber chatter at the present time. Just let it go.
Mr BALDWIN: A lot of revegetation work has been done. All of this work has been done in conjunction with the Darwin City Council - liasing with them - the Rapid Creek Landcare group and the Rapid Creek Catchment Advisory Committee. Additional to that, I have instructed my department to develop a plan of management for that conservation zone ...
Members interjecting.
Mr BALDWIN: ... so that people of the area can be assured of the future management of that area. I would really appreciate if these inane interjections were pulled up.
Members interjecting
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr BALDWIN: Interpretative signs will be erected that will provide information on historical Aboriginal and European use, bush tucker in the area, and certainly World War II association of the area as well. On top of that there has been an allocation in this year’s budget for a further $50 000, out of my urban enhancement money, for the continuation of that bike path network that connects with the whole of the northern suburbs network. That will occur on the Jingili side of the new public access corridor that is within the conservation zone.
This government has worked very diligently through its local membership to ensure the enhancement of that area and the provision and preservation of that area for future Territorians to enjoy.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker,as members would know, the Rapid Creek/Freshwater Creek area is a very significant recreational area right in the heart of the northern suburbs, an area highly regarded by locals and a lot of Darwin people who enjoy the use of that area. Can I say that the member for Jingili, the CLP candidate for Johnston and the member for Millner have been working very hard to ensure that this area continues to be enhanced for the enjoyment of Territorians, unlike some others.
This piece of paradise that is on our doorstep unfortunately is so popular that it has almost been loved to death. That is causing some problems with erosion and weed intrusion and the like. This government has been very active in making sure that we are on top of those issues. There were some issues also with Jingili residents there in terms of the rural blocks that abut that Freshwater Creek system in that it might in future move to intensive urban development.
Consequently, out of all of that, land use objectives were prepared and passed for that area that reflect the appropriate uses that people want to enjoy. That is the landholders obviously, the recreational purposes and all of the environmental safeguards that come with it. Those LUOs, for the benefit of members, include a 100 m conservation zone that surrounds that creek for the preservation and future use by the wider public.
Also within those LUOs there is provision for a public access corridor that has not previously existed. That work is being undertaken and the works that the member for Jingili is talking about, some $90 000 worth of work, has occurred in the formation of a cycle path - a very high quality cycle path - that allows people to enjoy the area in the way that they wish. It also controls the degradation that could occur by very high and popular use of the area.
There has also been a lot of revegetation work done through Landcare with the ...
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is just too much cross-Chamber chatter at the present time. Just let it go.
Mr BALDWIN: A lot of revegetation work has been done. All of this work has been done in conjunction with the Darwin City Council - liasing with them - the Rapid Creek Landcare group and the Rapid Creek Catchment Advisory Committee. Additional to that, I have instructed my department to develop a plan of management for that conservation zone ...
Members interjecting.
Mr BALDWIN: ... so that people of the area can be assured of the future management of that area. I would really appreciate if these inane interjections were pulled up.
Members interjecting
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr BALDWIN: Interpretative signs will be erected that will provide information on historical Aboriginal and European use, bush tucker in the area, and certainly World War II association of the area as well. On top of that there has been an allocation in this year’s budget for a further $50 000, out of my urban enhancement money, for the continuation of that bike path network that connects with the whole of the northern suburbs network. That will occur on the Jingili side of the new public access corridor that is within the conservation zone.
This government has worked very diligently through its local membership to ensure the enhancement of that area and the provision and preservation of that area for future Territorians to enjoy.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016