Latest news with #Kakadu
ABC News
4 days ago
- General
- ABC News
ABC News NT: Why so many Filipinos chose to call the NT home
ABC News NT ABC NEWS Watch Article share options Share this on Facebook Twitter Send this by Email Copy link WhatsApp Messenger News from where we live. ABC News NT brings you the day's news and original reporting from the Top End to Alice Springs, Uluru to Kakadu and outback communities. Presented by Kyle Dowling, plus Isabella Tolhurst, Olivana Lathouris and Mitchell Abram.
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Major development after Aboriginal group shut down spectacular swimming spot for SIX years
A spectacular swimming hole in the Northern Territory will reopen after the traditional owners closed it off from the public for six years. The famous Gunlom Falls in Kakadu National Park was closed after Parks Australia built a walkway up to a scenic view. Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority (AAPA) launched legal action claiming the work was done near a sacred site without their permission. Under the Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act, all construction work must be agreed to and signed off by the AAPA. The dispute went to court with the federally run Parks Australia fined $200,000 and issuing an apology. However, traditional owners from the Gunlom Aboriginal Land Trust have given the green light for Parks Australia to reopen the falls to the public. It comes as Northern Land Council has negotiated a new lease agreement with the federal government for Kakadu National Park, with increased rent of $10.7 million per year. Parks is now conducting final safety checks ahead of a planned reopening for the falls in late May. After the rainy season from November to April, the site has a roaring waterfall cascading down 85-metre cliffs to an emerald billabong. The falls also offer stunning views across the south of Kakadu National Park. The billabong will be open for swimming during the dry season from May to October. There is a public campground near the base of the falls, complete with showers and toilets, while the nearest accommodation is Cooinda Lodge, about an hour away by 4WD. The falls, previously known as UDP falls after the Uranium Developing and Prospecting Company, have long attracted tourists to the Northern Territory. In 1986 the site appeared in the movie Crocodile Dundee.
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Clueless driver is slammed for idiotic act in croc-infested floodwaters: 'Never do this'
A 4WD motorist has been slammed after his attempt to cross croc-infested floodwaters almost went terribly wrong and sent his vehicle floating downstream. A Northern Territory fisherman had been standing on the edge of the swollen Magela Creek at Kakadu National Park, in the Northern Territory, last month. A Toyota LandCruiser then pulled up and attempted to cross the water despite a 'road closed' sign being set up nearby. The fisherman filmed the daring venture with footage showing the car push through the floodwaters before it stopped at the halfway point. 'Drive, drive, drive,' the fisherman yelled at the driver in the TikTok video. The SUV appeared to float in the water prompting the fisherman to try and assist the driver. He ran to a car parked on the side looking for rope to try and haul it back in when the stranded driver was hit by a stroke of good luck. The water appeared to turn the floating 4WD around before the vehicle appeared to reconnect with the road. @chrispodesta0 Never cross rivers that are flooded ! This fella was very lucky as he just managed to get traction. Could have ended so much worse. Drowning or eaten by crocs. #Darwin #flood #landcruiser #toyota #very lucky ♬ original sound - Pod From Tassie! The vehicle managed to make it back with a front seat passenger opening the door to release the water that had poured in. The two men inside the 4WD appeared wet and explained they felt the vehicle floating upwards. The video has been viewed more than 300,000 times and attracted comments from social media users warning drivers not to risk their lives. 'Never cross rivers that are flooded!' the cameraman wrote. 'This fellow was very lucky as he just managed to get traction. Could have ended so much worse. Drowning or eaten by crocs.' The Kakadu National Park is home to an estimated 10,000 freshwater and saltwater crocodiles. Many social media users were shocked the driver attempted to cross the creek without first checking the depth. 'How many times do people have to be told, if it's flooded, forget it, don't drive through it,' one wrote. 'Why would you attempt this?' another asked. 'If you can't walk it, you can't drive it (old truckie proverb),' a third wrote. Others pointed out the pair should have followed the directions of the road signage. 'If only there was a sign or something to tell people not to use that part of the road,' one remarked sarcastically. 'Maybe something like "road closed".' '[Then] they drive past a water marker at [the] top of their tyre marker, no f***ing idea,' another added.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Uranium miner backs off challenge to Jabiluka decision
A uranium miner looks set to drop its Federal Court challenge to a government decision not to renew the controversial Jabiluka mineral lease. A hearing of the case was vacated on Monday after the court was told Energy Resources of Australia was the subject of a compulsory share acquisition, making it wholly owned by Rio Tinto. The mining giant has previously indicated it was not interested in mining at the site, one of the world's largest and richest uranium deposits. The site was under lease to ERA which also operated the adjacent defunct Ranger uranium mine next to Kakadu National Park, near Jabiru, 300km east of Darwin. In July 2024, the Northern Territory's then Labor mining minister Mark Monaghan refused to extend the lease after receiving advice from federal Labor Resources Minister Madeleine King. The lease renewal was rejected partially due to federal government plans to absorb Jabiluka into Kakadu. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said at the time the government decision meant "there will never be mining at Jabiluka," home to some of the oldest rock art in the world. The decision was a major win for the Mirrar traditional owners and environmental groups but prompted ERA to take legal action in the Federal Court. ERA sued Ms King, Mr Monaghan, the federal and NT governments as well as the Jabiluka Aboriginal Land Trust and the Northern Land Council. Justice Geoffrey Kennett on Monday heard from ERA barrister Richard Lancaster SC that the four-day hearing should be vacated as a compulsory acquisition of ERA shares had been arranged. The acquisition by North Limited would mean "ERA would be indirectly wholly owned by Rio Tinto", the court was told. "The affairs of ERA would be susceptible to control by Rio Tinto in accordance with its stated intentions which relevantly include repeated statements of a disinclination to carry out mining at Jabiluka," Mr Lancaster said. The judge heard that respondents to the court action, including the federal government and traditional owners, had held discussions with the mining company and supported the move to vacate the hearings. "ERA considers there are good prospects that the proceedings can be resolved by the agreement of all parties in, but not before early June," Mr Lancaster said. That allowed time for ERA shareholders to lodge any objections. Justice Kennett vacated the proceedings and ordered that a case management hearing should be held before June 9, with costs reserved. In its 2023 annual report, ERA said there were no plans to develop the Jabiluka area into a uranium mine, saying it could not do so without the approval of the traditional owners. It has said its priority would be to rehabilitate the Ranger mine, which comes at an estimated cost of $2.2 billion. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data
