No bang for buck in NT parks

THE NT Government is set to slug visitors and tourists yet even more money to enjoy our Territory. NT Parks and Wildlife will be introducing new fees through a Parks Pass that will apply to interstate visitors only of $10 and $60 on 50 designated parks.

Three of these are our hunting reserves. Harrison Dam, Shoal Bay and Howard Swamp hunting reserves all fall into the revenue pit. This will gall interstate hunters as they have already paid a $20 waterfowl hunting permit fee for the same privilege. They won’t see much in the way of infrastructure for their fee either.

They will encounter a labyrinth of braided tracks that would swallow a Toyota to the roofline, no directional signage, no tables, seating, rubbish bins or toilet facilities. They may even have to add a camping fee to that.

For those visitors buying a pass for April 3, I don’t expect they will see any improvements as most of Howard Swamp and Shoal Bay will still be inundated and the tracks impassable. Strangely Lambell’s Lagoon, the only other hunting reserve will not require a Park Pass. This small and currently overcrowded hunting reserve will then be put under even more pressure by interstate visiting hunters trying to avoid the lifestyle tax.

I am concerned that non-hunting interstate visitors, that have set up camp and paid for their Park Pass will scream blue murder when hunters begin shooting at dawn, or while they’re sipping on a chardy at dusk.

“Revenue from fees will be invested back into the protection, maintenance and safety of our parks, and the creation of new visitor experiences,” said Parks and Wildlife executive director, Sally Egan.

“These changes mean our parks and reserves are maintained and developed for generations to come, so Territorians and visitors can continue to enjoy the amazing landscapes and native wildlife,” she said.

NT hunters’ experience of “payfor-use” in the hunting reserves has not shown much of that.

In the mid-2000s compulsory waterfowl hunting permits were extended to those wishing to hunt geese, even on their own land. Previously they had only been required by those that hunted on the four reserves. Nearly 20 years of permit revenue still hasn’t provided one more hunting reserve. The tracks in Howard Swamp and Shoal Bay have not seen any maintenance despite $50,000 of permit revenue every year.

Territorians could one day also be charged another separate fee to enjoy Harrison Dam, Shoal Bay and Howard Swamp.

NT Field and Game are holding the Yildiz 75 target Simulated Field clay target competition from 8am. Practice occurs every Friday from

4pm and Sunday from 9am till noon.