Bridge spells trouble for carefree Batchelor
RESIDENTS of Batchelor are worried their tiny town will collapse when the Gunner Government builds a bridge over the Lower Finniss River.
Christopher Horne has lived in Batchelor for 27 years, and says most of the town’s small businesses depend on tourists.
Mr Horne said “everyone” who visited Litchfield National Park went through Batchelor, but after the bridge is built – tourists would be able to bypass the town entirely to save time. “It’ll be quicker for them to go through the other way,” he said.
“It will destroy Batchelor ... but it will save the Average Joe 10 minutes.”
Mr Horne said construction on the bridge would also pollute the river.
“They’ll whack a bridge on the beautiful river,” he said.
“It’ll have as much character as a toilet seat.”
Rum Jungle Tavern owner Michael McElwee said their business – like most in Batchelor – relied on tourism.
“Ninety-five per cent of people we serve are tourists,” he said.
Mr McElwee said the community was worried about its future after the bridge is completed. “It’ll kill Batchelor,” he said. Deborah Moyle runs two businesses in the area – including Litchfield Tropical Retreat. She said the bridge project would go ahead without community support.
“My personal belief is we can’t stop this road, you can’t stop progress,” she said.
“It will destroy Batchelor ... but it will save Average Joe 10 minutes” CHRISTOPHER HORNE
“The Northern Territory Government has committed $30 million to this project.”
Ms Moyle said Batchelor was “ignored” during the planning process.
The Batchelor local said she wanted government investment to “soften the blow” of the bridge’s construction.
“We don’t need a Band-Aid – we need a plan for the future,” she said. “Let the community lead the discussion.”
An Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics spokeswoman said completing the seal on Litchfield Park Rd and constructing a bridge across the Lower Finniss River was a “landmark project” many years in the making.
“When sealed and the new bridge constructed, the road will provide improved yearround access on Litchfield Park Rd, with benefits to tourism, pastoral and agriculture industries, Litchfield National Park visitors, indigenous communities and local residents,” she said.
“Government will ensure the concerns of the Batchelor community are listened to, to enable the tourism, business and transport opportunities presented by this project.”