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15 June 2000
Northern Territory News headlines
'Cancer: crocs may hold key'
Why does every research story have a thinly-veiled plea for more funding. Researchers at the CSIRO have discovered that crocodile cartilage may have the same anti-cancer and anti-arthritic properties as shark cartilage. Samples were taken from the pelvis and the penis but only the pelvis cartilage proved a success. In a complete surprise leading research officer was reported as saying that the findings were promising but more research was needed.
'There's no bear in there …'
How low will thieves go? Someone has stolen an 8m banner with Big Ted from Playschool on it. The banner was being used to advertise a live serve of Playschool in Darwin next week. But in a nice twist of fate, the tragic plight of the Playgroup Association of the Northern Territory has led to a good sized article on page 3 of the paper outlining times, locations etc.
'Church set to bloom in Gardens'
Avarice has won again over heritage with the decision to move Darwin's oldest building from the city to the Botanic Gardens where it will be restored. The derelict building has long been neglected by the NT Government, the Uniting Church (its owner) and AXA insurance (the site lessee). Restoration of the building is estimated to cost $370,000. The Minister, Mr Tim Baldwin, said 'It's been an issue where the owners of the site and lessees of the site have not wanted to get involved in the restoration of the building because it impacts so greatly on this valuable corner site in the CBD'. No less than 6 months ago, the same Minister had released Land Use Objectives protecting the site in the Central Darwin Achieving the Vision Document. The building had the strongest heritage protection of any place in the NT. The National Trust director summed it up well 'The message the Government's decision sends is you can always change a heritage listing'. RIP Northern Territory's heritage.
'Housing tenants to face new security'
'New measures to curb anti-social behaviour by public housing tenants were announced yesterday'. Prospective tenants will now be required to produce a reference from a previous landlord before being allowed to move in. If they couldn’t they would be placed on a probationary three-month term and kicked out if reports of anti-social behaviour were proven. The Minister was reported as saying caravan parks would provide alternative accommodation for would-be tenants refused public housing. I can guarantee caravan park owners are jumping for joy.
'Asia closure 'backward''
And in another fabulous example of devolution of government in Australia, the Territory has closed its Singapore tourism office to concentrate on markets such as Scandinavia. The NT Tourism Commission marketing manager Andrew Clark said the commission was not pulling out of the Asian market and would move the office to Sydney. Eleven thousand tourists each year visit the Territory from South-east Asia.
'NT leases in handover'
Two pastoral leases totalling 4 450sq km are to be handed over to Aborigines tomorrow. Well that was the plan. But the ABC internet news has reported that the boundaries were incorrect and the handover has been postponed to August.
'Land is to be excised from the leases for the gas pipeline that runs through the land, with allowances for telecommunications infrastructure. The maps allowed 10 metres on either side of the pipeline, but apparently it should have been 6 metres on one side, and 14 on the other'. Unbelieveable.
'64pc oppose parking fee plan'
Researchers continue to excel. The aptly named 'SmartPoll' surveyed 400 locals and found that 64 per cent disagree with the Darwin City Council's plans to introduce inner-city parking charges from July. Gee that’s a surprise. Darwin City Council car parking advisory committee member Ross Finocchiaro quite rightly said "If you ask people to pay for any product if they want to pay or pay nothing, they are going to say nothing". However, he goes a less credible step further saying that if charges were not introduced Darwin would run out of parking space. Only if people actually use the CBD once the parking charges are introduced. This local won't.
'Cat tumbles into dryer and lives'
After yesterday's unhappy cat story comes a happy cat story. In Gloucester, UK, a cat survived being spun in a clothes dryer at 40C for 15 minutes. Its owners' discovered its mangled, bloodied body after they heard a clunking noise coming from the dryer.
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