Mr WOOD - 2005-02-10
The new Channel Point Road was declared in the Government Gazette on 28 January this year. What will be the status of this road? Will it be a public road? Who will be able to use the road? If the government intends to limit the numbers of people who can use the new park at Channel Point, does that mean only a limited number of people will be able to use the road? If so, how will that be policed and who will police it? What will be the status of the section of road through the Delissaville Wagait Larrakia Aboriginal Land Trust land?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I hope I can pick up on all the elements of the member for Nelson’s question. To preface my answer, when I first took on this portfolio area a little over a year ago, this was one of the more difficult issues that I was confronted with. I made a commitment to try to solve it. I will not go into all the elements of what is involved in the issues. There has certainly been some conflict, and some of what I am about to talk about is subject to some legal proceedings within the court from the pastoral lessees. I will endeavour to answer the member for Nelson’s question as best as I can.
The member for Nelson is right; there is a public road that has been gazetted along the boundary of the pastoral property. In relation to the land that goes through Aboriginal trust land, we have entered into a deed with the Northern Land Council about use of that particular road. Basically, the long and short of it is that those residents at Bulgul, obviously, have free access through the Aboriginal Land Trust land. Residents of Channel Point also have access through that land. It is proposed there be a limited number of people who will be using it. Also, a conservation zone of 250 ha has been declared closer to the coast. That will take some time to establish. However, it is proposed that a limited number of recreational anglers use that road and facility. It will be a system similar to what currently operates at Cobourg Peninsula. Government has had a mind to the fishing pressures and the pristine nature of the area.
It will be a special area. It has been a tortuous process. However, both Aboriginal and Channel Point residents have been grateful of the steps which government has taken to try and solve the access issues they have experienced. Along the way, government has been able to fulfil its election commitments of opening up more coast to recreational fishermen. These are issues that I will be detailing at the AFANT meeting on Sunday week. Generally, AFANT will find that government has met its election commitments, both in closure of rivers and increasing recreational access.
Madam Speaker, we are a government that meets our promises and we are moving the Territory ahead. We are right behind that great Territory lifestyle of recreational fishing.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I hope I can pick up on all the elements of the member for Nelson’s question. To preface my answer, when I first took on this portfolio area a little over a year ago, this was one of the more difficult issues that I was confronted with. I made a commitment to try to solve it. I will not go into all the elements of what is involved in the issues. There has certainly been some conflict, and some of what I am about to talk about is subject to some legal proceedings within the court from the pastoral lessees. I will endeavour to answer the member for Nelson’s question as best as I can.
The member for Nelson is right; there is a public road that has been gazetted along the boundary of the pastoral property. In relation to the land that goes through Aboriginal trust land, we have entered into a deed with the Northern Land Council about use of that particular road. Basically, the long and short of it is that those residents at Bulgul, obviously, have free access through the Aboriginal Land Trust land. Residents of Channel Point also have access through that land. It is proposed there be a limited number of people who will be using it. Also, a conservation zone of 250 ha has been declared closer to the coast. That will take some time to establish. However, it is proposed that a limited number of recreational anglers use that road and facility. It will be a system similar to what currently operates at Cobourg Peninsula. Government has had a mind to the fishing pressures and the pristine nature of the area.
It will be a special area. It has been a tortuous process. However, both Aboriginal and Channel Point residents have been grateful of the steps which government has taken to try and solve the access issues they have experienced. Along the way, government has been able to fulfil its election commitments of opening up more coast to recreational fishermen. These are issues that I will be detailing at the AFANT meeting on Sunday week. Generally, AFANT will find that government has met its election commitments, both in closure of rivers and increasing recreational access.
Madam Speaker, we are a government that meets our promises and we are moving the Territory ahead. We are right behind that great Territory lifestyle of recreational fishing.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016