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News.com.au
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
What's on in Darwin August 2 and 3, 2025: Festival tips, 360 at Mayberry, and crocodile racing
WHAT'S ON THIS WEEKEND Music lovers are again in for a treat this weekend. If you've been keeping up with my Gig Guide on We Are Locals, you'll know that all weekend this weekend is the 53rd Top Half Folk Festival. But this year is a little different, it's at Mt Bundy Station, on the banks of the Adelaide River. The festival is bringing together more than 40 artists from across the NT and beyond, for four days and three nights of music and entertainment. It started yesterday but you can just go for the day any day this weekend, or grab yourself a weekend pass. It's a bit of a long weekend treat, going out to a gig on a Sunday night – and fans of Aussie hip hop can catch 360 with his special guest PEZ at Mayberry from 8pm. If you're keen to get on the microphone yourself, it's First Sunday Blues at Tracy Village from 3pm. Head along to listen to the local blues bands, or sign yourself up to belt out a few tracks on the board when you enter. And Monday, of course, is the Darwin Cup – but if you're feeling like going full Territory, check out the 'Croc Cup Carnival' at the Berry Springs Tavern on Sunday from 2pm. Yes – it's croc racing … But don't worry, they're only freshies. SOMEWHERE YOU NEED TO EAT It's an oldie but a goodie – so if you've been there, I am sure this is a welcome reminder to bring it back into the rotation, and if not: you need to try the Moorish lunch special. For $35, you get the choice of three tapas plates and a glass of Sangria – and if you go with friends and all get different plates, it's a seriously good way of tasting the whole menu. If you're going to order your own meals, try the Portobello mushroom with cauliflower puree, almonds, currants and truffle oil. YUM. LOCAL'S TIP It's officially less than a week to go until Darwin Festival – a reminder to break free of the NT stereotype of buying tickets at the last minute, and actually pre-booking your shows to avoid disappointment, and support the arts. Speaking of supporting: brand new gym and recreation facility, Gecko Climb, opens this weekend. It's four years in the making. There's some serious climbing equipment there and they're also running a cafe, workout spaces, team building areas – the whole shebang! It takes a lot of work to bring something of that scale to life, and I always have great respect for people who go all in to bring new things to Darwin – so get down and check it out.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Warning over 'hidden' reality as big change comes to iconic Aussie national park
One of Australia's most iconic national parks is about to undergo a drastic change. Litchfield National Park in the Northern Territory is about to expand by 30,000 hectares, with more campgrounds, walking trails and even a hunting range being opened to the public. But while the announcement has been largely applauded, environmental groups say more needs to be done to protect the territory's landscape. The expansion follows the government's $7.5 million purchase of 'Silkwood', a stunning parcel of land near the regional town of Adelaide River, boasting waterfalls, gorges, hot springs and 4WD tracks. Described as the largest addition to the Territory's national park estate in 25 years, the acquisition will increase the park's size by 20 per cent. Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the expansion was a key part of her government's vision to 'restore the Territory lifestyle'. 'This is exactly what restoring the Territory lifestyle looks like — protecting our wide-open spaces while making sure Territorians have more places to enjoy the activities we love,' she said. The new southern section of the park will eventually be opened up for camping, swimming, four-wheel-driving, exploring, and potentially hunting, delivering a boost for tourism and recreation in the region. The popular Robin Falls is included in the new expansion, with Finocchiaro promising visitors they can still bring their leashed dogs. An opening date is yet to be set, with planning and budgeting underway for roads, pathways, signage and viewing platforms. It comes just weeks after South Australia announced extensions to three national parks, adding an extra 725 acres to their estate of protected land. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lia Finocchiaro MLA (@liafinocchiaromla) Environment Centre Northern Territory (ECNT) Executive Director, Kirsty Howey, called the deal 'a positive step', but told Yahoo News the government could be doing more to protect local lands. "The Finocchiaro government has abandoned its commitment to deliver a 43 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, scrapped our renewable energy target, and unleashed bulldozers on the world's last intact tropical savanna," Howey said. "The scale of destruction is staggering, yet it occurs largely hidden from public view on pastoral estates that comprise 45 per cent of the Territory's land." In the first six months of this year, Howey said, the Finocchiaro government approved the destruction of almost 26,000 hectares of native vegetation — close to the size of the Litchfield expansion. Discovery in supermarket freezer lands man with $15,000 fine Aussie town transformed by 'rarely observed' phenomenon Brazen $300,000 act prompts 'crucial' caravan warning She pointed to the Pastoral Land Board as a key issue, accusing it of routinely approving large-scale land clearing. 'Week after week, thousands of hectares receive rubber-stamp approval for bulldozing,' she said. 'On 13 June, this same board... approved clearing 3,300 hectares at Claravale Station. This isn't just any paddock, this site contains one of only five confirmed maternity roosts for ghost bats in the entire Territory. "If habitat for bilbies and Gouldian finches were being destroyed at this rate near Melbourne or Sydney, there would be public outrage." Adding to the concern is the spread of gamba grass, a highly invasive species that dramatically increases fire risk. Experts warn that if left unchecked, the weed could overtake more than 42,000 hectares of Litchfield by 2032. 'With more than 250,000 visitors annually, Litchfield faces a silent threat,' Howey said. 'Gamba grass creates extreme fire risks that endanger both visitors and the park's unique ecosystems.' Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
News.com.au
24-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Adelaide River to make winter cameo in McKell Cup at Rosehill before Kris Lees turns focus to spring
Trainer Kris Lees is taking a one-and-done approach with classy import Adelaide River this winter as he looks to use Saturday's Listed $200,000 W J McKell Cup (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens as a launching pad to the spring. Adelaide River, a former Aidan O'Brien-trained galloper that's raced by Melbourne Cup-winning owner Lloyd Williams, was forced to miss Sydney's autumn carnival due to bone bruising. The 2023 Irish Derby runner-up came into Lees' yard last year and has so far had five starts for the stable without a win. But Adelaide River showed a glimpse of his talent at his last start in October when finishing fourth in behind Deny Knowledge in the Group 1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m). Lees is hoping the son of Adelaide can measure up at an elite level again this spring ahead of his highly-anticipated return this weekend. 'We will only give him this one run and then back off him until the spring,' Lees said. 'He has had a long time off and seems to be coming up well. 'He was taking a little bit to acclimatise with a bit of bone bruising but it's settle down and he seems to have responded well.' âšœï¸� WOW! Yulong-owned Deny Knowledge (Pride Of Dubai x The Paris Shrug) strikes with a bold front-running performance in the G1 Might And Power S. under a brilliant Mark Zahra ride for @FreedmanRacing at Caulfield. She was bred by Mylestown Farms ðŸ'Œ #aworldofopportunity — Yulong Investments (@YulongInvest) October 12, 2024 Adelaide River has been well-prepared for his first-up assignment with a pair of trials victories in the lead-up, including a 6½-length success at Wyong over 1200m on June 16. But Lees is wary of tackling a 2000m event fresh from a break. 'In an ideal world, if there was a mile race on he would have been in it but he is a mile-and-a-quarter, mile-and-a-half horse,' Lees said. 'He has trialled nicely. 'It looks to be a nice race for him.' • Gollan marching towards another training milestone Lees is prepared to give in-form galloper Loch Eagle another chance over 2000m following his strong second-up victory over the Royal Randwick mile last time. The son of Lonhro has only raced once previously over more than 1800m when he finished near the rear over 2200m at Magic Millions on the Gold Coast. 'Loch Eagle won at 1800m quite well last preparation but when he got to the Sunshine Coast he had had enough,' Lees said. 'He is going well so we thought we'd give him a try in this kind of race.' Apprentice Ben Osmond will pilot Loch Eagle while Jay Ford is aboard Adelaide River. Lees is hunting his second McKell Cup after winning the race with Frankely Awesome in 2020.
ABC News
24-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Coomalie council dismissed by NT government after investigation finds 'serious deficiencies'
A regional Northern Territory council has been sacked following an investigation revealing what have been described as "serious and sustained deficiencies". The Coomalie council was put under official management in July last year when former NT local government minister Chansey Paech suspended its members and launched an official investigation into "a number of deficiencies" in the handling of council affairs. On Friday, Local Government Minister Steve Edginton dismissed all elected members of the council. "The decision to dismiss members of the Coomalie Community Government Council was difficult but necessary," he said. A statement from the minister's office said Mr Edgington's decision was "based on serious and sustained deficiencies in the Council's governance and operations". "It underscores the importance of elected members meeting their obligations under the Local Government Act 2019 and serving the best interests of their communities," Mr Edgington said. The council's area includes Adelaide River, Batchelor and Lake Bennett. The minister's decision follows the completion of an investigation into the council by former Palmerston council CEO Cathryn Hutton. Mr Edgington's office said the report, which has not been publicly released, found the members "lacked a full understanding of their responsibilities" as councillors. Other key findings noted by the minister's office included "significant interpersonal conflicts" among council members, "insufficient administration of meetings" and some "serious procedural errors". Local Government Association NT president Kon Vatskalis said he was not surprised by the dismissal. Mr Vatskalis said there needed to be consequences for breaching the code of conduct for individuals. "There are people out there, elected members, who have 1, 2 [or] 23 breaches of code of conduct, and there's nothing that can be done about it because [there is] nothing in the legislation," he said. He believes Mr Edgington has plans to change the legislation, but said it had been prioritised last in a raft of local government reforms. "Sorry minister, it should be the other way round. Fix the code of conduct first and everything else will fall into line," he said. An election will be held for the Coomalie council on August 23.
