Mr KNIGHT - 2005-10-12
During the recent Northern Territory election campaign, the Martin government committed to spending more than $10m on supporting recreational fishing over the next four years. Can you inform the House of initiatives you intend to pursue to ensure that fishing remains the lure of the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. I have said many times in this House that fishing is the lure of the Territory. I am pretty sure by now members of the opposition understand my accent.
Fishing is, indeed, the lure of the Territory, and attracts around 100 000 tourists from down south, the east and the west. That is the reason we have over 120 fishing tour operators to provide these tourists with a catch of a lifetime. We will certainly continue to improve facilities.
A few weeks ago, we added another part to the Lee Point artificial reef, the Kaylee, an ex-commercial fishing vessel, from Mr John Conway, a resident of Alawa, who kindly donated his old fishing vessel which was sunk there to provide a new opportunity for recreational anglers. It is only 15 minutes out from the Nightcliff boat ramp, which will provide easy access to people who want to fish and travel back quickly.
The Darwin Port Corporation towed and assisted in the sinking of the vessel, and Tat Hong Rentals kindly donated their time and crane to move the vessel from the dry dock to enable it to be towed. Thank you very much to Tat Hong Rentals and the people from the Darwin Port Corporation.
In the past four years, we have spent $1.5m for the upgrade of the Buffalo Creek and Dinah Beach boat ramps. The Dinah Beach boat ramp is one of the most popular boat ramps in the Darwin area. In the next four years, we intend to spend $2m, $500 000 a year, to further improve recreational facilities, including the facilities in Borroloola and other regional centres, not only in Darwin, which are very good facilities for recreational anglers.
In addition to the $2m over the next four years, we intend to spend $2.8m for a new boat ramp in Hudson Creek, and $7m for the floating pontoon in Dinah Beach to assist the people embarking and disembarking from boats in different tidal ranges.
Soon I will be asking those anglers where they want the facility built. I will place advertisements in the newspaper, and I will ask the Fishing Access Working Group to consider the nominations we receive, and to prioritise all the suggestions received. It will be money well spent. I have been told before by people who come from down south that, really, the Territory is the place to go fishing, not only in inland waters and rivers, but also in the harbour.
Before I conclude, I would like to make an admission. Like the Chief Minister, as the member for Casuarina, I put my hand up, yes I have not delivered on my Casuarina skate park. The reason is very similar to the Chief Minister: because I have the same issue with the council. The place we identified was actually the Casuarina Pool. The council asked us to wait until they finalised the review of the public facilities, which we did. Nothing has eventuated yet. However, despite the fact we have not delivered the Casuarina skate park, I have delivered $2m for the renovation of the Nakara Primary School, which was not renovated for 30 years under the CLP government. I have delivered $2.5m for the upgrade of the Alawa Primary School, something that was not done for 30 years under the CLP government. We delivered improved television reception in the northern suburbs. We delivered a roundabout at the Casuarina Coastal Reserve that was promised 18 years ago by the CLP government and never delivered. We also delivered a hospice that the CLP government never delivered.
Yes, we did not deliver the skate park …
Members interjecting.
Mr VATSKALIS: I agree with you. However, we have had discussions with Tracy Village to incorporate the skate park in their new $800 000 development.
Mrs BRAHAM: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister is not answering the question. You really should make him sit down.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Mr VATSKALIS: We intend to incorporate the skate park near the new development of Tracy Village with the $800 000 this government promised and will deliver.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. I have said many times in this House that fishing is the lure of the Territory. I am pretty sure by now members of the opposition understand my accent.
Fishing is, indeed, the lure of the Territory, and attracts around 100 000 tourists from down south, the east and the west. That is the reason we have over 120 fishing tour operators to provide these tourists with a catch of a lifetime. We will certainly continue to improve facilities.
A few weeks ago, we added another part to the Lee Point artificial reef, the Kaylee, an ex-commercial fishing vessel, from Mr John Conway, a resident of Alawa, who kindly donated his old fishing vessel which was sunk there to provide a new opportunity for recreational anglers. It is only 15 minutes out from the Nightcliff boat ramp, which will provide easy access to people who want to fish and travel back quickly.
The Darwin Port Corporation towed and assisted in the sinking of the vessel, and Tat Hong Rentals kindly donated their time and crane to move the vessel from the dry dock to enable it to be towed. Thank you very much to Tat Hong Rentals and the people from the Darwin Port Corporation.
In the past four years, we have spent $1.5m for the upgrade of the Buffalo Creek and Dinah Beach boat ramps. The Dinah Beach boat ramp is one of the most popular boat ramps in the Darwin area. In the next four years, we intend to spend $2m, $500 000 a year, to further improve recreational facilities, including the facilities in Borroloola and other regional centres, not only in Darwin, which are very good facilities for recreational anglers.
In addition to the $2m over the next four years, we intend to spend $2.8m for a new boat ramp in Hudson Creek, and $7m for the floating pontoon in Dinah Beach to assist the people embarking and disembarking from boats in different tidal ranges.
Soon I will be asking those anglers where they want the facility built. I will place advertisements in the newspaper, and I will ask the Fishing Access Working Group to consider the nominations we receive, and to prioritise all the suggestions received. It will be money well spent. I have been told before by people who come from down south that, really, the Territory is the place to go fishing, not only in inland waters and rivers, but also in the harbour.
Before I conclude, I would like to make an admission. Like the Chief Minister, as the member for Casuarina, I put my hand up, yes I have not delivered on my Casuarina skate park. The reason is very similar to the Chief Minister: because I have the same issue with the council. The place we identified was actually the Casuarina Pool. The council asked us to wait until they finalised the review of the public facilities, which we did. Nothing has eventuated yet. However, despite the fact we have not delivered the Casuarina skate park, I have delivered $2m for the renovation of the Nakara Primary School, which was not renovated for 30 years under the CLP government. I have delivered $2.5m for the upgrade of the Alawa Primary School, something that was not done for 30 years under the CLP government. We delivered improved television reception in the northern suburbs. We delivered a roundabout at the Casuarina Coastal Reserve that was promised 18 years ago by the CLP government and never delivered. We also delivered a hospice that the CLP government never delivered.
Yes, we did not deliver the skate park …
Members interjecting.
Mr VATSKALIS: I agree with you. However, we have had discussions with Tracy Village to incorporate the skate park in their new $800 000 development.
Mrs BRAHAM: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister is not answering the question. You really should make him sit down.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Mr VATSKALIS: We intend to incorporate the skate park near the new development of Tracy Village with the $800 000 this government promised and will deliver.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016