Jess Ong
It is 20 to 7 on ABC Darwin. My name’s Jess Ong. It is the day where you and I dig up some dirt, dig into the soil to find out what’s being developed where. You know, you see those pink signs everywhere, not to mention the big holes. So if you have wondered who’s building what where, I will have the answer for you very soon. Today talking about the development or the at least proposed rezoning of part of the Bagot Community. What does that mean for the community who calls that place home and why is this happening in the first place? Well, Nick Kirlew is the convener of the Planning Action Network. Good morning, Nick.
Nick Kirlew
Good morning, Jess. Good morning, listeners.
Jess Ong
Now let’s talk about this proposed zoning amendment for Bagot Community. Why is it happening?
Nick Kirlew
Okay. On Thursday, members, community members and the developers people all met together in front of the Planning Commission. And yes, there’s a rezone. The underlying in the application was that because Bagot is in debt, they’ve never paid the power bill. During the meeting that was sort of downplayed, that wasn’t the real reason, there was just better things to do, was their opinion that we needed another supermarket. Basically a big car park would be helpful and other ancillary developments in that space.
Jess Ong
Just want to touch on that point for a minute there, Nick. Yeah, because you know Bagot Community has faced financial challenges. In the past, this is one of the ways to help try and get above that. Do you not think that in a way that is sort of the rights of those people who do call Bagot Community home to be able to take hold of what is their land and do what they want with it?
Nick Kirlew
100%, the whole premise of the way we operate, not we, right, me, but the way Darwin or any city works is the people own the land, they have the right to develop the land. What we ask for typically from PLan’s point of view is that going to help amenity? Is it going to help community? Now in this instance, this will be the second supermarket within a kilometer. So right now there’s a 500 storey, a 500 place car park and a supermarket going in behind McDonald’s. on Bagot Road. So this application would give us another 500 space car park at a supermarket adjacent to Bagot Road. So even during the talk, June said maybe we could put houses in there. And why not? There’s lots of options. But brand new for the good citizens of Ludmilla is two supermarkets, two sets of car parks, two sets of traffic lights. maybe Bagot Road won’t work anymore, it’s a critical zone, a critical feeder for the city. So it’s more about consideration of what this will leave us with in the future.
Jess Ong
It is 17 to 7 on ABC Darwin and you’re hearing from Nick. Nick Kirlew. He is the convener of the Planning Action Network talking about the proposed zoning reamendment for Bagot community to allow for a change to take place within that community, which if approved could see a supermarket, car park and childcare centers amongst other things built within that community. So the friction point there, Nick, is just the number of supermarkets, the impacts potential impacts to traffic and livability in that space given that there’s already something else going in just behind McDonald’s there along Dickwood Drive and Bagot Road.
Nick Kirlew
The people, there are people who’ve just bought into Ludmilla. There are two of them who may, you know, it’s a working day and they come to the teams meeting from their offices and they said, well, you know, we just bought into–we’re five houses away from this proposed development and we had no idea. So a lot of what plan works for is getting community involved, getting that consultation out. And over time, the Planning Act and the planning scheme have moved away from letting people know. If you don’t understand the pink sign, yellow sign process, you can be severely disadvantaged and your living environment will be changed. Another point we would make is that the Ludmilla Creek, you know, the land care bio blitz, we’re now eagerly awaiting to know what’s there. We know that there’s federal funding, millions of dollars to preserve the Darwin City creeks. So she’s low land. was a big strong argument about how the flooding 2007 is the last study of water levels and flood zones in that area. We would propose that perhaps since 2007, global warming maybe has been the water up a bit higher. But the law is the last time they checked the flood zones was 2007 and therefore And I guess the other thing is traffic, is how are we going to deal with all these people?
Jess Ong
Yeah, Bagot Road already is – well, it’s already a little bit intense at times. There’s no real safe pedestrian crossings either. I know that’s something we’ve talked about in the past. So bringing in the potential for more traffic to be entering those areas and more traffic lights, you’d assume that then adjustments would be made to ensure the safe passage for pedestrians as well.
Nick Kirlew
Yes, one of the people, one of the members of the community was actually a traffic engineer, and he said, by the way, people don’t often cross at the lights. But Bagot Road’s very scary, and it has been a problem for all of us for a long, long time. As a community, we need to sort out how people can survive living in that area.
Jess Ong
All right, Nick, so the proposed rezoning is not yet approved, is that correct?
Nick Kirlew
No, we’re in the bit where The department writes to the minister with a recommendation and the minister will make that recommendation when he or she sees fit.
Jess Ong
Okay, all right, so I’ll watch this space situation in relation to what’s going on at Bagot Community. Nick, always really good to talk to you. Before I let you go, I am giving away a double pass to base in the grass. Would you be getting along, or is it a bit out of your generational reach?
Nick Kirlew
I can pass that on to kids or grandkids. The youngest one, the eldest one, the grandkids is 11, so maybe she’d be– I don’t know.
Jess Ong
You’d be your favorite granddad. Well, look, I am asking for stories about grass this morning. Your favorite grass to roll in, to feel under your feet, your favorite grass to mow. Do you have any grass stories, Nick?
Nick Kirlew
My grass, perhaps predictably, is the grass on the hills between the beach and where you get out of the car. That’s to me that wild tufty stuff is the best feeling you can get.
Jess Ong
I know there is nothing like grass under your feet is there? It’s just a way to know you’re alive. All right, Nick, really good to talk to you. We’ll chat to you in a couple of weeks.
Nick Kirlew
Thank you. Bye.
Jess Ong
That is Nick Kurlew. He is the convener of the Planning Action Network. Some interesting updates there about this proposed rezoning of Bagot community that could see, if approved, a supermarket, a childcare center, and a number of other amenities built within that community. Some people saying that they haven’t been across community consultation, rather, has failed, as people who live nearby and are unaware of the situation are just finding out now. In fact, Nick also just adding that concerned residents are holding a public meeting on Sunday, the 17th of May at half past 11 at Karu Park. So if you’re interested in heading down, that’s the details for you. We’ll keep across whether that develop or the rezoning is approved or not and what that means for the future of the area. Bagot Road always a little bit of a tough time when it comes to traffic and pedestrians. 12 to 7 on ABC Darwin, sports going to come up before seven o’clock from a couple of family members