Preserving the lifestyle of Territory rural areas

FRED'S PASS RURAL SHOW FEATURE

AS the Fred’s Pass Show rolls around for another fun-filled weekend celebrating rural life in the Top End it’s important to sit back and think about what it means to live in the rural areas of our great Territory.

My wife Mary, my two boys and I have lived in the rural area for over 20 years.

For us it provides the right lifestyle. There are not too many places in the world can you live with all the benefits of being in a rural area and also be within 40 minutes of a capital city. We have Darwin on one doorstep and Litchfield on the other, as well as the quality of life that the rural lifestyle brings.

But the world is a busy place and soon enough development catches up with us all. That’s why careful planning and proper consultation is required Woodchoopers come from far and wide to Fred’s Pass Rural Show more than ever. We all need to hear what people are saying and our leaders should not be rushing into decisions which will affect our lives forever.

I believe we need to keep the rural areas rural.

There are enough places to develop in a future Weddell or across the Harbour on Kenbi land or in Berrimah. We do not need to be chopping up rural blocks.

To my mind this argument should be stopped and people should listen to the people who live here. What we want is jobs for our children, helping our schools, getting better health services out here and all of the important services our community needs.

The Show weekend is a time for us all to catch up and I look forward to you coming down to our tent for a chat. Come and let me know what you want into the future. I would welcome the chance for a chat. Be a daredevil and try some of the thrilling rides See the big boys in action with their axes