The Northern Territory news Thu 22 May 2014
NT news
The Northern Territory news; NewspaperNT
2014-05-22
This publication contains may contain links to external sites. These external sites may no longer be active.
English
Community newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin; Australian newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin
News Corp Australia
Darwin
application/pdf
Copyright. Made available by the publisher under licence.
News Corp Australia
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/250969
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/551895
+ THURSDAY MAY 22 2014 Replaced radar to maintain -. to.recasts THE 22-year-old Berrimah weather radar will be replaced before the next wet season so the community can access critical weather information. The Bureau of Meteorology will start work on a replacement radar in July, meaning it will shut down for up to six weeks. Senator Simon Birmingham said: "While the tower and dome infrastructure remain in good condition, the functional components of the radar need to be replaced, including the antenna, transmitter and receiver." "The radar will be replaced as part of the :Bureau's Radar Replacement Program," he said. "The typical working lifetime of a radar in the bureau's network is in the range of 20 to 30 years and tne Radar Replacement Program allows for the replacement of two to three radars eaeh year." It will be functional by the start of the wet season. During the outage the community will have access to the Darwin Airport radar. Forecasters are also able to use satellite imagery, lightning detection and other observations to maintain forecast and warning services. ''Berrimah radar provides coverage to the Northern Territory's cyclone-prone coastal region, and this replacement will ensure forec;asters are able to monitor severe weather events including thunderstorms, low pressure systems aI}d tropical cyclones,'' Mr Birmingham said. Solomon MP Natasha Griggs said the replacement radar "would enstire the Berrimah radar can continue to ser . vice the Northern Territory community acc;urately." Have your say about bushfires SUBMISSiONS for input on changes to the Bushfires Act close tomorrow, Bushfires NT director Mark Ashley has said. Mr Ashley said key stakeholders, such as tlie Bushfires Council, had already been consulted about the review and the public are encouraged to have their say on the discussion paper and summary paper that have been developed as a result of this consultation. "The "Bushfires Act is more than 30 years old and the Territory has changed a lot in that time - so it's time to take stock and review if the Act remains effective as it could be,'' he said. The . discussion paper includes a clause-by-clause review of the Bushfires Act. The discussion paper and details about how to make a submission are available at lrm.nt.gov.au. r~r-~~i'ilfl<I NEWS.09 + Council' chiir sacked then voted back In by COREY SINCLAIR ABORIGINAL activist Maurie Japarta Ryan has been reelected to his position of Central Land Council chair after previously being stood down. Mr Ryan received 52 of 70 first preference votes at a Central Land Council meeting in Tennant Creek yesterday, "There was a vote, there were four candidates and the numbers were out of a possible 90," he told the NT News. "There were 70 people who voted and I received 52 out of 70 first preference votes so I "He was given themandate to open up the land council so we could have a look in there. It's not a secret society" got over the line.' ' Mr Ryan believes he was stood down in an attempt to silence him and to stop him from making changes _ to the Central Land Council's iegislation. Rosalie Kunoth-Monks expected half of the council's exectitive, which includes her daughter Ngarla KunothMonks, would have resigned in protest if Mr Ryan bad lost. "He was elected as chair person by an absolute majority and he was given the mandate to open up the land council so we could have a look in there. It's not a secret society," Ms Kunoth-Monks said. Ms Kunoth-Monks also believes Mr Ryan was targeted for his attempts to clarify the role of the CLC, which was re sisted by management from the beginning. Mr Ryan .was stood down from his position after a noconfidence motion on May 1 with a full council meeting called for yesterday to consider the matter. The council had previously issued a .statement confirming that Mr Ryan wowd no longer be undertaking official business or making statements on behalf of the CLC. Ms Kunoth-Monks said the CLC is run by five professionals that have made a career out of setting up their own serfdom. Father Rob Galea is not your stereotypical Catholic priest - he's a rocker who has played to packed crowds across tfie world "Those people that have turned the charter upside down so they are in charge," she said. "It's an Aboriginal organisation - it's always been the voice of the Aboriginal people. "I'm really happy Maurie has brought it to a head up to this stage and he's really not thinking about himself. "He's thinkipg about all of us and what we put him in there for. I'm very proud of him." A Central Land Council spokesman said the election was conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission. Picture: HELEN ORR Fatbers gigs offer stairway to heaven By KATINA VANGOPOULOS DARWIN students and the Tiwi Islands community hav~ been taken under the wing of Father Rob Galea. ' The internationally-recognised adtilt contemporary artist and Catholic priest said he regularly toured to promote messages oflove and hope. "I hope to particularly reach out to young people who perhaps are mt off from the church,'' )le said. "Music is a language that transcends age and even belief systems." Father Galea does not sound like your average priest -the 32-year-old's first CD was an album from The Offspring and is now inspired in his songwriting by the likes of Jack Johnson and Damien Rice. His upcomlp.g fifth album will contain a seven-track bonus CD mixed by The Ministry of S.ound. "My songs are about hope and perseverance ... it's not just about the words, but about what they make you feel,'' Father Galea said. "And I record all types of music." This week is faking Father Galea to Katherine, Wurrumi yanga, Bathurst Island and Alice Springs to visit schools and play three concerts. Catholic Diocese of Darwin's youth director ~enita de Vincentiis said there was a growing international demand on Father Galea's time. "His visit will bring a unique anq inspiring story into the lives of Territorians; one that we hope will epcourage and build \IP our community, especially young people,'' Ms de Vincentiis said. The diocese Will present Father Galea's free concert, an all-ages event, on Friday starting at 6.30pm. Food will be for sale but patrons are recommended to bring picnic gear to the St Mary's Catholic Primary School venue.