Mr BALCH - 1998-11-25
The importance of Darwin Harbour as a recreational fishing spot was highlighted during the minister’s statement on the fish count survey. This found that about 50% of Territory fishing activity actually takes place in the harbour. Can the minister update members on the government’s progress towards closing the harbour to commercial barra fishing and the construction of a fishing platform at Stokes Hill Wharf?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the Darwin Harbour and Shoal Bay have been closed to commercial barramundi fishing since 1 October 1997. In arriving at the decision to close the harbour and Shoal Bay to commercial barramundi fishing, the government decided it was just not good enough to displace the effort and move the effort elsewhere, but we had to remove that effort from the fishery. As a result of that, we went to industry and we discussed a buy-back scheme with industry, and further to that we have now concluded negotiations to buy back 2 full licences - that is 2000 m of net - and we have also relocated a further 500 m of net. That process has been completed.
We also, at the same time, indicated to both the Commercial Fishermen’s Association, AFANT, and the ministerial advisory committee on recreational fishing that government would look at further closures of areas to barramundi fishing, acting on the advice of both industry and the recreational fishing sector. We are continuing with that process and I understand that AFANT and MACRA have identified a number of areas that they would like to see closed to commercial fishing but that will also entail not just a displacement of that effort, but the removal of that effort from the fisheries.
Also, we announced that we would construct an angling platform at Stokes Hill Wharf. Ahead of that, and last year, we sank 3 Indonesian fishing vessels in close proximity to Stokes Hill Wharf, in the area where the Neptuna still lies, and we went to tender to construct that platform. The quoted price has come in substantially above what was estimated and what was in the budget, and as a result we redesigned the platform and the tenders have now been let, and we would hope construction will commence and finish shortly.
Whilst I am on my feet I will also take the opportunity to update honourable members on a few other initiatives of this government in relation to recreational fishing.
Ms Martin: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister had a very specific question.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, is this relevant to the question?
Mr PALMER: Madam Speaker, I understand the question referred to fish count and other activities in the recreational fishing sector.
Madam SPEAKER: As long as it is relevant to the question.
Mr PALMER: In relation to Manton Dam, for a number of years we have stocked Manton Dam with barramundi fingerlings, and once again, this year, we put in 50 000 fingerlings. We constructed a net under the spillway at Manton Dam to prevent the passage of large barramundi over that spillway and their subsequent demise on the rocks below and again next year we will put a further 50 000 fingerlings into Manton Dam. That is an ongoing program.
In terms of the pastoral access program we have completed the construction into Hardy’s South Lagoon, and access to Hardy’s North is available all year round through the wildlife walk through the park. We have constructed a boat ramp at the lower Roper and we are currently upgrading the road to Saltwater Arm to an almost all-weather standard. We have negotiated access to a number of areas including Elsey Station, 57 Mile Lagoon and Howard River. We will be constructing a new boat ramp and access on the Howard River. At the Finniss River, we have estimates being prepared to upgrade the river roads without a boat ramp.
Mr Ah KIT: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113 states that an answer shall be relevant to the question. We havehad about 6 minutes of this garbage, which is not relevant to the question. It is a ministerial statement and the minister should be made to wind up his answer very shortly.
Mr PALMER: In response to the point of order and the imputation that I am talking garbage, it was the honourable member opposite who castigated me at the last sittings for not giving him enough detail in an answer on recreational fishing and now this garbage is irrelevant.
Madam Speaker, I’ll finish by saying that I have recently written to the lessees of Bingbong Station, being Macarthur River Mines, in relation to access to Mule Creek so that we can provide more convenient access to the islands off Borroloola rather than from the current ramp at the fishing club. We are hopeful that access will also be obtained for the benefit of recreational fishermen in the Leader of the Opposition’s electorate. As I’ve said before, the recreational fishing story of the Northern Territory is a story of government support.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the Darwin Harbour and Shoal Bay have been closed to commercial barramundi fishing since 1 October 1997. In arriving at the decision to close the harbour and Shoal Bay to commercial barramundi fishing, the government decided it was just not good enough to displace the effort and move the effort elsewhere, but we had to remove that effort from the fishery. As a result of that, we went to industry and we discussed a buy-back scheme with industry, and further to that we have now concluded negotiations to buy back 2 full licences - that is 2000 m of net - and we have also relocated a further 500 m of net. That process has been completed.
We also, at the same time, indicated to both the Commercial Fishermen’s Association, AFANT, and the ministerial advisory committee on recreational fishing that government would look at further closures of areas to barramundi fishing, acting on the advice of both industry and the recreational fishing sector. We are continuing with that process and I understand that AFANT and MACRA have identified a number of areas that they would like to see closed to commercial fishing but that will also entail not just a displacement of that effort, but the removal of that effort from the fisheries.
Also, we announced that we would construct an angling platform at Stokes Hill Wharf. Ahead of that, and last year, we sank 3 Indonesian fishing vessels in close proximity to Stokes Hill Wharf, in the area where the Neptuna still lies, and we went to tender to construct that platform. The quoted price has come in substantially above what was estimated and what was in the budget, and as a result we redesigned the platform and the tenders have now been let, and we would hope construction will commence and finish shortly.
Whilst I am on my feet I will also take the opportunity to update honourable members on a few other initiatives of this government in relation to recreational fishing.
Ms Martin: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister had a very specific question.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, is this relevant to the question?
Mr PALMER: Madam Speaker, I understand the question referred to fish count and other activities in the recreational fishing sector.
Madam SPEAKER: As long as it is relevant to the question.
Mr PALMER: In relation to Manton Dam, for a number of years we have stocked Manton Dam with barramundi fingerlings, and once again, this year, we put in 50 000 fingerlings. We constructed a net under the spillway at Manton Dam to prevent the passage of large barramundi over that spillway and their subsequent demise on the rocks below and again next year we will put a further 50 000 fingerlings into Manton Dam. That is an ongoing program.
In terms of the pastoral access program we have completed the construction into Hardy’s South Lagoon, and access to Hardy’s North is available all year round through the wildlife walk through the park. We have constructed a boat ramp at the lower Roper and we are currently upgrading the road to Saltwater Arm to an almost all-weather standard. We have negotiated access to a number of areas including Elsey Station, 57 Mile Lagoon and Howard River. We will be constructing a new boat ramp and access on the Howard River. At the Finniss River, we have estimates being prepared to upgrade the river roads without a boat ramp.
Mr Ah KIT: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113 states that an answer shall be relevant to the question. We havehad about 6 minutes of this garbage, which is not relevant to the question. It is a ministerial statement and the minister should be made to wind up his answer very shortly.
Mr PALMER: In response to the point of order and the imputation that I am talking garbage, it was the honourable member opposite who castigated me at the last sittings for not giving him enough detail in an answer on recreational fishing and now this garbage is irrelevant.
Madam Speaker, I’ll finish by saying that I have recently written to the lessees of Bingbong Station, being Macarthur River Mines, in relation to access to Mule Creek so that we can provide more convenient access to the islands off Borroloola rather than from the current ramp at the fishing club. We are hopeful that access will also be obtained for the benefit of recreational fishermen in the Leader of the Opposition’s electorate. As I’ve said before, the recreational fishing story of the Northern Territory is a story of government support.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016