Mr WARREN - 2005-08-25
I have watched with excitement as the new interpretive signage has gone up at the Strauss World War II Airstrip within my electorate. Several of my constituents have asked me about this and what else the government is doing to preserve the unique Northern Territory World War II heritage. Could you please inform the House what the government is doing about this?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, as Minister for Seniors Territorians, can I acknowledge and say how fantastic it has been, for the last couple of weeks, having all our seniors come in and be part of our parliamentary sittings.
I thank the member for his question. I know the member for Goyder was most disappointed about missing the Strauss event as he was attending the re-enactment of the last flight of the Mosquito Squadron from Coomalie Airstrip.
This government believes that our heritage not only defines our unique Territory identity, it is also a very important resource for the tourism industry. The Navy Oil Storage Tunnels are one of the most visited sites around Darwin. Our World War II heritage offers something very special that no other state can offer: a genuine wartime experience where allied service men and women fought for our nation on our soil. It is the real deal.
Government sees further conservation interpretation and marketing of our World War II heritage as a priority. Some of our World War II sites are already protected,. hHowever, many are not and are now under threat from urban encroachment. There is a fantastic story to be told, but only if we protect and interpret these sites for future generations. My department and the Heritage Advisory Council have been working very hard to complete the heritage assessment so that we can protect the best of these sites. We are having another look at some of the sites that the previous government had rejected for heritage listing, such as the Z Force Base.
A very special site that we have protected, and which the member for Goyder asked about, is the Strauss Airstrip. Last week, on the 60th anniversary of Victory in the Pacific, I had the pleasure of opening some exciting new interpretive works at the airstrip. In his adjournment speech, the member for Nelson said there were many people from the community involved with that project. There was an acknowledgement that it was not just government and ministers and others. It involved the Heritage Advisory Council, the department, and also the community. It is wonderful that the community is part of pulling together these projects.
I was most pleased that Lynne Barnett and members of her family were able to come from the United States for the opening. Of course, we talked about Lynne’s father, Clyde Barnett, who was a young American serviceman was stationed in Darwin at the time. Clyde was a keen photographer and his images of the servicemen and their aircrafts thatwhich were stationed at Strauss form a very important part of this historical record. Fittingly, most of the photos he took during that time have been included in the information panels at the airstrip.
Strauss certainly shows, as I said before, what government and community can do when we work together. I particularly thank Taminmin High School, which has adopted the airstrip and undertaken a lot of very valuable work, the heritage officers from my department, and the contractors who have done a great job.
However, Strauss is not the only onesite receiving attention. A number of sites - the Navy oil tunnels, the pump house and the observation post at Lee Point Road – are all part of the repairs and maintenance under our government’s $1m program. There are many more sites to come.
Mr Mills: Wait for Gerry to find them!
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Finally, Madam Speaker, I announced a while ago … You do not care about heritage; you never did, your government’s track record …
Mr Mills: I absolutely do;, however, I believe the member for Nelson needs to be referred to with some of this.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr Stirling: Hotel Darwin! Say no more.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms SCRYMGOUR: That is right. As a Territorian ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The minister is speaking.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: … our World War II heritage sites are not only significant for the Northern Territory, they have national significance. As a Territorian, I am intensely proud of our World War II heritage. It is vital to preserve and to tell the story, particularly of those men and women who volunteered their lives when facing Australia’s front line.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, as Minister for Seniors Territorians, can I acknowledge and say how fantastic it has been, for the last couple of weeks, having all our seniors come in and be part of our parliamentary sittings.
I thank the member for his question. I know the member for Goyder was most disappointed about missing the Strauss event as he was attending the re-enactment of the last flight of the Mosquito Squadron from Coomalie Airstrip.
This government believes that our heritage not only defines our unique Territory identity, it is also a very important resource for the tourism industry. The Navy Oil Storage Tunnels are one of the most visited sites around Darwin. Our World War II heritage offers something very special that no other state can offer: a genuine wartime experience where allied service men and women fought for our nation on our soil. It is the real deal.
Government sees further conservation interpretation and marketing of our World War II heritage as a priority. Some of our World War II sites are already protected,. hHowever, many are not and are now under threat from urban encroachment. There is a fantastic story to be told, but only if we protect and interpret these sites for future generations. My department and the Heritage Advisory Council have been working very hard to complete the heritage assessment so that we can protect the best of these sites. We are having another look at some of the sites that the previous government had rejected for heritage listing, such as the Z Force Base.
A very special site that we have protected, and which the member for Goyder asked about, is the Strauss Airstrip. Last week, on the 60th anniversary of Victory in the Pacific, I had the pleasure of opening some exciting new interpretive works at the airstrip. In his adjournment speech, the member for Nelson said there were many people from the community involved with that project. There was an acknowledgement that it was not just government and ministers and others. It involved the Heritage Advisory Council, the department, and also the community. It is wonderful that the community is part of pulling together these projects.
I was most pleased that Lynne Barnett and members of her family were able to come from the United States for the opening. Of course, we talked about Lynne’s father, Clyde Barnett, who was a young American serviceman was stationed in Darwin at the time. Clyde was a keen photographer and his images of the servicemen and their aircrafts thatwhich were stationed at Strauss form a very important part of this historical record. Fittingly, most of the photos he took during that time have been included in the information panels at the airstrip.
Strauss certainly shows, as I said before, what government and community can do when we work together. I particularly thank Taminmin High School, which has adopted the airstrip and undertaken a lot of very valuable work, the heritage officers from my department, and the contractors who have done a great job.
However, Strauss is not the only onesite receiving attention. A number of sites - the Navy oil tunnels, the pump house and the observation post at Lee Point Road – are all part of the repairs and maintenance under our government’s $1m program. There are many more sites to come.
Mr Mills: Wait for Gerry to find them!
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Finally, Madam Speaker, I announced a while ago … You do not care about heritage; you never did, your government’s track record …
Mr Mills: I absolutely do;, however, I believe the member for Nelson needs to be referred to with some of this.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr Stirling: Hotel Darwin! Say no more.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms SCRYMGOUR: That is right. As a Territorian ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The minister is speaking.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: … our World War II heritage sites are not only significant for the Northern Territory, they have national significance. As a Territorian, I am intensely proud of our World War II heritage. It is vital to preserve and to tell the story, particularly of those men and women who volunteered their lives when facing Australia’s front line.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016