Katherine gorge where next...?
Not only the gorge Cap'n but the entire Nitmiluk Park.
They would appear to have exceeded their powers but it speaks volumes about the way the Government wants to do business.
Introduce a law that is invalid, without consultation, without notice and to provide a direct benefit to a specific group at the expense of the business community.
What was the rationale again? Oh yes, its a tourism issue. Having helicopters flying up and down the gorge is unsafe and an accident will harm tourism. So by banning the helicopters it removes the safety problem...then again, paying a fee to the Park Board will allow the helicopters to operate but apparently will also solve the safety problem.
By this reasoning, we could dispense with CASA and simply have all aircraft operators pay a user fee to the Nitmiluk Board of Management. Then, courtesy of the Board and the NT Government , aviation in Australia will be completely safe.
Why do words like moronic and inept spring to mind?
They would appear to have exceeded their powers but it speaks volumes about the way the Government wants to do business.
Introduce a law that is invalid, without consultation, without notice and to provide a direct benefit to a specific group at the expense of the business community.
What was the rationale again? Oh yes, its a tourism issue. Having helicopters flying up and down the gorge is unsafe and an accident will harm tourism. So by banning the helicopters it removes the safety problem...then again, paying a fee to the Park Board will allow the helicopters to operate but apparently will also solve the safety problem.
By this reasoning, we could dispense with CASA and simply have all aircraft operators pay a user fee to the Nitmiluk Board of Management. Then, courtesy of the Board and the NT Government , aviation in Australia will be completely safe.
Why do words like moronic and inept spring to mind?
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Yes one has to wonder. As you see I am not afraid to speak my piece. I am just amazed at how it was done.
Kakadu has a fly neighbourly which works.
They also wanted to impose restrictions on air travel I very firmly opposed it and not sure where it got to.
Think about it for a minute you all would have travelled, how often has a lightie annoyed you while on tour somewhere, yep not very often.
Isn't there enough restricted airspace in the Territory??? That we have NO say about already?
Kakadu has a fly neighbourly which works.
They also wanted to impose restrictions on air travel I very firmly opposed it and not sure where it got to.
Think about it for a minute you all would have travelled, how often has a lightie annoyed you while on tour somewhere, yep not very often.
Isn't there enough restricted airspace in the Territory??? That we have NO say about already?
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Hmmmm..and by extension if aviation was banned in all NT airspace and only allowed to proceed after paying the land councils a fee we could expect a perfect safety record !
Call Clare Martin if shes back from her world trip.
Call Clare Martin if shes back from her world trip.
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HA
HA - nice photo in the NT News by the way! About the restircted airspace, you guys lobbying through RAPAC to the RAAF have made the recent changes to the Tindal Airspace happen. These allowed aircraft 9500ft and below to transit below the airspace instead of 4500ft like it used to be. This is an improvement and I hope we will see more. Believe me, it frustrates the controllers at this end too!
BTW, isn't the Gorge in the Tindal CTR and therefore RAAF controlled? (I know they don't use it often, but anyway....) Can the NT government really assume juristiction over this airspace which is commonwealth 'owned'? Cheers,
NFR.
BTW, isn't the Gorge in the Tindal CTR and therefore RAAF controlled? (I know they don't use it often, but anyway....) Can the NT government really assume juristiction over this airspace which is commonwealth 'owned'? Cheers,
NFR.
Props are for boats!
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Well the change to 9500feet as NFR has said sounds good atleast, no longer get bounced around like yar in a Dune Buggy.
Ah how remember those charters to Kalkarung, and vomit down the back of neck nearly
As for the Gorge, silly irriates,I suppose HA Maud Creek wont be worth that much anymore, HeliMuster will lose a little.
Regards
Sheep
Ah how remember those charters to Kalkarung, and vomit down the back of neck nearly
As for the Gorge, silly irriates,I suppose HA Maud Creek wont be worth that much anymore, HeliMuster will lose a little.
Regards
Sheep
NFR
The assumption is the NTG (appropriate acronym) does not have jurisdiction but I guess the lawyers will get new yachts out of arguing the toss.
Would like to hear the Commonwealth's position on this.
Bear in mind the Commonwealth has a track record in this regard when they allowed (the white advisers to) the custodians of Uluru to ban the Red Arrows fly past of Ayers Rock a few years back.
Given the ownership of land across the NT, the Stuart, Barkly and Victoria Highways may have to become low level IFR (I Follow Roads) routes for GA. At least the road reserves remain public property.
The assumption is the NTG (appropriate acronym) does not have jurisdiction but I guess the lawyers will get new yachts out of arguing the toss.
Would like to hear the Commonwealth's position on this.
Bear in mind the Commonwealth has a track record in this regard when they allowed (the white advisers to) the custodians of Uluru to ban the Red Arrows fly past of Ayers Rock a few years back.
Given the ownership of land across the NT, the Stuart, Barkly and Victoria Highways may have to become low level IFR (I Follow Roads) routes for GA. At least the road reserves remain public property.
Has it been designated a Prohibited or Restricted area?
If Restricted, is the land council the controlling authority? And by what authority do they have that?
If Restricted, is the land council the controlling authority? And by what authority do they have that?
This has got to be a 21st century remake of Yes Minister...please?
Government minister - This has been under negotiation for three years. Here's a letter from the Park Board asking for the ban back in 2000.
Response from opposition (in Gov't in 2000) - We got the letter back then and told them "No - we will not negotiate on air rights".
Staffer from minister's office rings ASA to ask about implementation of the controls on 6 January, 6 days after its come into force. Its the first ASA or CASA have heard of it.
John Anderson now promises to review the matter.
Local minister on TV says "Oh well, if we don't have the power we'll just withdraw the by-law." Minister also quoted as saying the controls were the same as those applying in Kakadu (wrong) and that he was not aware that any request to alter airspace had to be approved by ASA.
Still can't get the words inept and moronic out of my mind.
Government minister - This has been under negotiation for three years. Here's a letter from the Park Board asking for the ban back in 2000.
Response from opposition (in Gov't in 2000) - We got the letter back then and told them "No - we will not negotiate on air rights".
Staffer from minister's office rings ASA to ask about implementation of the controls on 6 January, 6 days after its come into force. Its the first ASA or CASA have heard of it.
John Anderson now promises to review the matter.
Local minister on TV says "Oh well, if we don't have the power we'll just withdraw the by-law." Minister also quoted as saying the controls were the same as those applying in Kakadu (wrong) and that he was not aware that any request to alter airspace had to be approved by ASA.
Still can't get the words inept and moronic out of my mind.
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Now we got that one out in the open would you southerners be prepared to help us get road access to Arnhem land that is restricted by land councils and is a PUBLICLY FUNDED AND MAINTAINED HIGHWAY?
Props are for boats!
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Whoop whoop pull up pull up Veg, dont tell them everting mon.
Ah Veg thats our bread and butter that one bud.
No road, no drive, fly only. Thats what keeps some pilots in jobs in the Top End remmembe,r because if they could drive they would.
Regards
Sheep
Ah Veg thats our bread and butter that one bud.
No road, no drive, fly only. Thats what keeps some pilots in jobs in the Top End remmembe,r because if they could drive they would.
Regards
Sheep
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Or the short-cut from Curtin Springs to Kulgera.
Sorry mate, some things just aint possible
Anyway, if you opened the road to Gove all the bl@@dy tourists would stuff it up.
Better to fly
Sorry mate, some things just aint possible
Anyway, if you opened the road to Gove all the bl@@dy tourists would stuff it up.
Better to fly
ulm, some of the finest drinking to be had in between those two fine establishments! One bundy per man per mile..... Or is it per sandhill. Bu99ered if I can remember to tell you the truth. Well we might just make onto Tempe Downs before getting too wobbly! 
Then again, there's the scenic route via Mulga Park, but be warned.... pack heaps more grog and there aint no stopping!
Rgds,
OpsN.
Then again, there's the scenic route via Mulga Park, but be warned.... pack heaps more grog and there aint no stopping!
Rgds,
OpsN.
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dat wun ya cuddins hey ulm?
eeheehee..hooo hoo.. damn.. stuck out there on a dark night wit no torch....
eeheehee..hooo hoo.. damn.. stuck out there on a dark night wit no torch....
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What's the latest?
Can someone add a backgrounder to this as well.
Us Southerners didnt get the full story.
I don't see how this can be lawful without ASA & CASA approval.
Then again, Anderson's word is not worth much - he also pledged that airport fees would be capped to CPI.
Can someone add a backgrounder to this as well.
Us Southerners didnt get the full story.
I don't see how this can be lawful without ASA & CASA approval.
Then again, Anderson's word is not worth much - he also pledged that airport fees would be capped to CPI.
R-F-G
Simple little tale.
The management board of the Nitmiluk National Park, which includes Katherine Gorge, has for several years had a problem with tourist helicopter flights "disturbing the peace" (and not getting a slice of the action?).
They tried to get control under the old Government, which appreciated the implications of air space control and native title and Commonwealth responsibility and told them not to be silly.
They've tried it on again with the new Government, which has a surplus of hearts on sleeves and a dearth of half decent advisers.
The Government snuck in a park by-law requiring permits for air ops below 3000 m over the park, without telling anyone.
The by law took effect on 1 January but didn't go public until this week. See previous posts for discussion on the 'pay for safety' principle that the Government sought to offer as its first excuse.
The story has been dribbling out on a daily basis and is becoming increasingly embarrassing for the Minister concerned. Each time he tries to justify the action he makes a bigger fool of himself.
The by law exists, there is apparently no established means for policing it (the first AsA heard of it was on 6 January when they were asked for ideas on how to police it) and, if someone was taken to court for a breach it will probably be found that there is no legal basis for its existence.
I think you'll find that the by law will remain on the books only until the Commonwealth formally advises the NT that 'you can't do that' but its unlikely to see any prosecutions.
If the Commonwealth does condone the action, it will become open season for Aboriginal Land bodies to seek control of their air space and, I presume, as we are not racially discriminative, all freehold owners can do likewise for their 800 sq m blocks.
(They have focussed on the choppers but I have it on good authority that the occasional F/A 18 from Tindal has also done the low level scenic route up the gorge. No suggetsion of asking the RAAF to obtain permits that I know of. )
Simple little tale.
The management board of the Nitmiluk National Park, which includes Katherine Gorge, has for several years had a problem with tourist helicopter flights "disturbing the peace" (and not getting a slice of the action?).
They tried to get control under the old Government, which appreciated the implications of air space control and native title and Commonwealth responsibility and told them not to be silly.
They've tried it on again with the new Government, which has a surplus of hearts on sleeves and a dearth of half decent advisers.
The Government snuck in a park by-law requiring permits for air ops below 3000 m over the park, without telling anyone.
The by law took effect on 1 January but didn't go public until this week. See previous posts for discussion on the 'pay for safety' principle that the Government sought to offer as its first excuse.
The story has been dribbling out on a daily basis and is becoming increasingly embarrassing for the Minister concerned. Each time he tries to justify the action he makes a bigger fool of himself.
The by law exists, there is apparently no established means for policing it (the first AsA heard of it was on 6 January when they were asked for ideas on how to police it) and, if someone was taken to court for a breach it will probably be found that there is no legal basis for its existence.
I think you'll find that the by law will remain on the books only until the Commonwealth formally advises the NT that 'you can't do that' but its unlikely to see any prosecutions.
If the Commonwealth does condone the action, it will become open season for Aboriginal Land bodies to seek control of their air space and, I presume, as we are not racially discriminative, all freehold owners can do likewise for their 800 sq m blocks.
(They have focussed on the choppers but I have it on good authority that the occasional F/A 18 from Tindal has also done the low level scenic route up the gorge. No suggetsion of asking the RAAF to obtain permits that I know of.
)