Archive for April, 2009

Tropical Cyclone Kirrily, category 1, is located over the northern Arafura Sea. The cyclone is forecast to move slowly towards the west and is not expected to threaten the north Australian coastline.

Here is the tracking map from the Bureau of Meteorology

Darwin

For further details of Anzac Day Dawn Services and Commemorative Services throughout the Northern Territory, please contact the South Australian Branch of the RSL on (08) 8232 0322 or refer to the RSL website www.rsl.org.au.

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This year April 25 falls on a Saturday, so the Territory Government has decided not to grant a public holiday.

But the Darwin RSL sub-branch president, Peter Mansell, says the change is unlikely to have any effect on the numbers of people turning up at memorial services.

“Last year was terrific that we had probably around about 8,000 people at the dawn service.

“I think the younger generation is starting to learn or be educated more on what the meaning of Anzac is.

“People are now seeing Anzac Day as Anzac Day, and not as a day to get off, a day to go fishing or whatever they like to do.”

The public will no longer be able to let off their own fireworks at Mindel Beach on Territory Day. The Darwin City Council have been trying to ban it for some time, now the government is backing the decision. I guess it is just a matter of time now before all public fireworks are banned.

I fnd this ridiculous as they get the most money on flag fall.

LATE night revellers are being stranded in the city because some taxi drivers are refusing to take them a short distance home.

The partygoers say many cabbies will not take a fare from the Mitchell St taxi rank unless the passenger is going to Darwin’s northern suburbs or Palmerston.

But the NT Taxi Council says the practice is illegal and has warned drivers they face stiff penalties if they refuse a fare.

One patron said he was ignored four times by cabbies while waiting at the Mitchell St taxi rank last weekend.

Tony Burns, 31, of Bayview said the drivers would wind down their windows and ask passengers where they were going.

“Unless you said you were going to Palmerston or the northern suburbs they would just drive off,” he said. “I was just mystified.

“The person on the line, supposed to be the big taxi manager, said he couldn’t do anything about it. It was their taxi.

“For it to happen four times in a row, this is obviously what the taxis think they can do.”

Another patron told the Northern Territory News she and her friend waited more than three hours for a cab home to Woolner from the Mitchell St rank last Saturday night.

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PHONE and internet services have been restored to the Northern Territory after two faults thrust the territory into a communication blackout today.

All mobile, internet and STD calls on landlines went down after two “hardware failures” near Kununurra, in Western Australia, and in Marla, South Australia, in the early hours.

Customers were only able to make and receive local calls on their landlines.

A Telstra spokeswoman said the faults were corrected about 11.30am (AEST – 11am NT time), restoring full services.

She said technicians were investigating what caused the fault, which had occurred in “very remote” areas.

Source

DEVELOPERS plan to build a billion dollar housing estate, marina and commercial centre in Darwin.

The proposed 1000-home, marina and hotel development would be called Arafura Harbour and stretch from Nightcliff to Fannie Bay.

It would be built behind a 3000m sea wall on mostly reclaimed land and would dwarf Darwin’s other two upmarket estates already built at Cullen Bay and Bayview.

Aboriginal traditional owners and Darwin City Council have backed the 12-year project.

The NT Government will consider it after a formal submission is made.

Arafura Harbour is being proposed by Gwelo Developments, which built the 28-storey Mantra Pandanas in Darwin city.

It is being headed by Gwelo boss Even Lynne and project consultant Hans Vos, who designed Cullen Bay.

They hope work will start at the beginning of next dry season.

“This is a project that could really put Darwin on the map,” Mr Vos said. “It will provide amenities for locals and tourists. I’m very excited about it.”

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Fun in the Parks is school holiday program focused on the primary age group and held at various ovals and parks around Darwin so children can attend a venue close to where they live. Water play activities including a slide, ball games, large gym shapes and face painting are just a few of the fun things available through the program. Activities are supervised and cold drinking water and sunscreen are provided.

Fun in the Parks operates between 10.00am and 12.30pm each Monday, Wednesday and Friday during school holidays except public holidays and the 2 weeks over Christmas and the New Year. Venues are advertised prior to each school holidays in the NT News and on Councils Website. Also, programs can be collected from any of Council’s four public libraries or the Customer Service Section at the Civic Centre.

So, slip on some shoes and cool clothing for outdoor fun, slop on some sunscreen (provided) and slap on a hat and come along and have some fun and meet new friends.

For further information call us on ph: 8930 0556.

April 2009 School Holiday Activities 10:00am to 12:30pm

For more school holiday activities, click here