September 2019 – President Peter Clee

Purpose of Report

To Inform Council and community of activities and to provide the community at large with information that is important and noteworthy.

What’s been happening……

The Wagait Arts Group event went off well with a good attendance on the night. The event made a great use of the council property and hopefully it will lead to similar events being held.

After the failure of the privately run mini bus service at Wagait Beach, I have been lobbying the NTG to provide a bus service for residents of the Cox Peninsula. In November last year I wrote to Minister Lawler on the need for a Bus Service on the Cox Peninsula. The need for such a service has not diminished, indeed it has become more urgent than ever.

We advised the NTG that it was most unsatisfactory that a bus which was located at Wagait Beach on a full time basis was being underutilised. We canvassed the department’s Transport and Civil Services section for the possibility of an extension of the use of that Darwin Bus. Currently, the bus is not used except for the school run morning and evenings and could be utilised to provide a Public Transport service at other times.

The need now is greater than ever before. In November 2017 the department proposed the use of the bus to meet some ferry services, for limited times during the morning and afternoon, and this proposal would be most acceptable to the community, however it has not progressed.

Another issue is that the Mandorah Jetty has no disabled access. Accordingly, there are several members of Wagait Beach and Belyuen communities that are unable to access the ferry because of a lack of suitable facilities.

The residents of the Cox Peninsula expect and deserve the benefits of public transport as much as the people living in Darwin, Palmerston. Humpty Doo or Berry Springs.

Where have I been ….

17th September           Weekly Meeting with CEO
18th September           LG Disciplinary Committee Meeting
24th September           Weekly Meeting with CEO
26th September           WSC Audit Committee Meeting
1st October                  Weekly Meeting with CEO
8th October                  Weekly Meeting with CEO
15th October                Weekly Meeting with CEO
15th October                WSC Ordinary Meeting