Latest news with #JoshBurgoyne
ABC News
30-06-2025
- Business
- ABC News
NT's Litchfield National Park to include Robin Falls as part of 30,000-hectare expansion
The Northern Territory's Litchfield National Park is set to grow by 20 per cent, in the largest addition to the popular tourist attraction in more than two decades. The NT government has purchased Silkwood, a 30,000-hectare parcel of land that borders Litchfield's south-east boundary, which it says will give Territorians and visitors more places to camp, four-wheel drive, swim and hunt. The $7.5 million property is located 120 kilometres from Darwin near the regional town of Adelaide River, and includes the popular Robin Falls. The government says the acquisition — the national park's biggest expansion in 25 years — will also make untouched waterfalls, gorges, hot springs and 4WD tracks available to visitors. NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the multi-million-dollar deal would conserve "what makes the territory special". Lands, Planning and Environment Minister Josh Burgoyne said the purchase would secure long-term environmental protection for the pristine region. "30,000 hectares of escarpments, woodlands and wetlands are being returned to public hands, protecting territory ecosystems and wildlife while opening up a range of incredible new recreational opportunities," he said. "This isn't just a map change — this is a transformational and visionary investment in our lifestyle, livability, and landscape." Parks and Wildlife Minister Marie-Clare Boothby said the government would work to identify opportunities within the new area, including "a new dedicated hunting reserve". "Silkwood has been on the market since last year, and there were real concerns that a private sale could limit future access." The announcement follows a dip in NT tourism post-COVID, but recent data from the Australian government's trade and investment commission suggests the territory might be bouncing back. While most jurisdictions recorded a decrease in domestic travellers during the March 2025 quarter, the NT saw a 34 per cent increase — up 45,000 trips compared to the March 2024 quarter. According to the NT government, more than 250,000 people visit Litchfield National Park each year to see much-loved sites including Wangi Falls, Buley Rockhole and Florence Falls. The national park's southern expansion is expected to boost those numbers further, which the government said would create "new opportunities for local tourism, services, and economic growth" in nearby Adelaide River. Publican Tim Carter, who owns the Adelaide River Inn Tourist Park, described the expansion as "great for the Territorians that love to get out there every weekend". "There's worries of people purchasing [regions like Silkwood] and closing them up, so for this to be open to all the punters, will be great." He said the announcement came during a "huge" tourism season that has kept his business "flat-out" during the dry.
ABC News
18-06-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
NT government backflips on 2030 emissions reduction target promise
The Northern Territory government has revealed it will not implement a 2030 emissions reduction target that it promised before the last NT election. The Country Liberal Party (CLP) committed to a 43 per cent reduction in the NT's greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, six weeks out from the 2024 territory election. Then in opposition, the CLP's policy was in contrast to Territory Labor, which did not promise a 2030 emissions reduction target. Both major parties went into the election promising net zero emissions by 2050. At the time, the CLP was lauded by the Environment Centre NT for having "the strongest climate policy" of the two major parties. But in NT budget estimates on Wednesday, Environment Minister Josh Burgoyne said the CLP government had not adopted its promised 2030 emissions target. "[The 2030 target] is not current government policy," he said. "There's the [overarching] target of that net zero by 2050, which has yet to change." Under Australia's commitment to the Paris Agreement on climate change, the country is committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 43 per cent on 2005 levels by 2030. While in opposition, the CLP also supported Labor's legislated 50 per cent renewable energy target, but scrapped that in March. During a CLP central council meeting at the weekend, party delegates passed a motion supporting the abandonment of net zero and a withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. In a social media post, CLP Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price said the "current impact of these polices" did not "justify their burden of everyday Aussies". "It's high time we did something about it," she said. "While it's important to steward our country and environment well, that should not come at the cost of our economy and way of life." However, when asked in budget estimates about the central council meeting motion, Mr Burgoyne said the NT government was still committed to net zero. "Our position on net zero emissions has not changed since the position we took to the election," he said. "There's been no formal information provided by my department in regards to a changing in regards to net zero." During budget estimates, the NT government's executive director of environment, Paul Purdon, said the department was finalising a "first-look" assessment of climate risks in the territory. Mr Purdon said the assessment would be focused on future liveability in the NT, looking at "themes" such as community health and wellbeing, economic sustainability and natural disaster readiness. Asked why there was a lack of money for climate mitigation measures allocated in the NT budget in May, Mr Burgoyne said the assessment first needed to be finalised. "We need to first assess those risks, deal with the issues which we face here in the NT, and ensure our government, through our departments, are dealing with them in the best way possible," he said.
ABC News
28-04-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Intrapac launches Lloyd Creek housing development bid in Darwin, years after Noonamah Ridge rejection
The company behind a controversial planned housing development in Darwin's rural area that was rejected due to local opposition has relaunched its bid to build thousands of homes on former pastoral land. Melbourne-based real estate developer Intrapac Property has written to Planning Minister Josh Burgoyne requesting an amendment to the Northern Territory's planning scheme to allow a new development named Lloyd Creek Rural Village. The proposal would see about 4,000 homes built on a site south of Humpty Doo, a rural area suburb 36 kilometres south of Darwin, in an area currently zoned for rural living. It comes as the NT capital, like many Australian cities, is facing an ongoing shortage of housing, with a recent report Lloyd Creek is being proposed by Melbourne-based developer Intrapac. ( Supplied: Intrapac ) Intrapac chief executive Maxwell Shifman said his vision for Lloyd Creek "speaks to that local, rural character". "One of the things we're aiming to do here is really deliver some housing typologies and some lot types you haven't seen in the territory for a long time — really bringing it back to that sort of local, tropical-style housing on a slightly larger lot," he said. The proposed site of the Lloyd Creek housing development is currently bushland. ( ABC News: Sam Parry ) In 2014, Intrapac Property proposed another development on the same parcel of land — a precinct called Noonamah Ridge that would have featured 4,200 homes. That proposal was rejected by former planning minister Eva Lawler in 2020, following Mr Shifman said the new plan for Lloyd Creek Rural Village responded to previous community concern about potential impacts on the local rural lifestyle, and now proposed housing connected to town water instead of bores. Noonamah Ridge was rejected by the former NT Labor government. ( Supplied: Intrapac ) "We've now got the Strauss Water Treatment Plant that's under construction and we'll be able to tap in and deliver potable water to the site, so that takes up one of the key criticisms of the proposal," Mr Shifman said. The application also said the rural village's proposed land offerings would range from about a quarter-acre up to five acres, with no more than 1.5 dwellings per hectare on most of the site. Photo shows A woman wearing a black t-shirt, standing next to a tall man, orange shirt, straw hat and eye-patch. Standing on front porch. Darwin, Australia's smallest capital city, has been ranked the country's second-most-expensive place to rent a house, along with Canberra. However, in two higher-density sections the proposal refers to as "rural activity centres", that number could be as high as 10 dwellings per hectare. Many residents in the surrounding area live on much larger acreage. Opposition to development remains Ms Purick said the proposed Lloyd Creek village was the "wrong kind of development" for the rural area, and pledged to support other locals as they relaunched their fight against the proposal. "They have stock animals, they have farming activities, they have mango orchards and the like, and that comes with certain activities," she said. "Having small, urbanised blocks right across the road from you will bring a clash of cultures. There's no doubt about it. "If Intrapac is so keen to have a presence in the territory, [it should] go and talk to the NT government about developing Weddell, which already has big chunks of major infrastructure in place." Kezia Purick says the proposed Lloyd Creek development would clash with existing rural blocks in the area. ( ABC News: Hamish Harty ) Weddell — a proposed satellite city 30 kilometres south of Darwin — has been Labor had plans to establish Weddell while in government in 2009, before the Country Liberal Party shelved the project after taking power in 2012. In response, Mr Shifman said his company was not competing with Weddell. "It's a very different offering. Weddell would need significant infrastructure upgrades before it's up and running," he said. "It's not a simple matter of, 'there's land there, develop it'." Max Shifman says the proposal suits Darwin's rural area. ( Supplied ) Intrapac's application to the government is out for public feedback until May 16. Photo shows The proposed Noonamah Ridge development site The company behind the proposed Noonamah Ridge development in Darwin's rural area begins its charm offensive to win support. Asked whether he supported the proposal, Mr Burgoyne said it was "important for consultation processes to run their course to ensure that community expectations are being met". "We promised to rebuild the territory economy and as the minister responsible for the Planning Act and NT Planning Scheme, I will not rule project proposals in or out until all information and necessary feedback has been considered," he said. Intrapac has estimated the Lloyd Creek Rural Village would inject about $3.5 billion into the NT economy during the construction phase and create about 300 ongoing jobs.
