With the continuing clean-up effort across the Northern Territory’s Top End following Tropical Cyclone Marcus, Territory businesses have mobilised to resume normal trade as soon as possible and ensuring their properties, their homes, their staff and families are safe to do so.

Michael Tennant, CEO Department of Trade, Business and Innovation and Acting CEO for Department of Tourism and Culture said it was important that the Northern Territory resumes normal business as soon as possible, to allow for community continuity.

“Northern Territory business owners have been working to ensure their operations can get up and running and I am heartened with the strength and resilience of Territorians.

“I’d like to thank the countless gardening businesses and arborists, tradies, retailers, cafes and restaurants and all businesses who jumped into action as soon as it was safe to do so, so other Territorians could get on with the clean-up or find a warm cup of coffee and a tasty meal while power outages affected homes. 

“Local tourism operators also, have been working around the clock to ensure operations can resume, providing accommodation, transport and logistics and tour operations to support visitors to the Territory.

“While the recovery phase continues across the Top End, more than 690 cruise ship passengers aboard the Azamara Journey which docked at Fort Hill Wharf on Sunday morning were welcomed to Darwin and boarded their Top End tours as per normal over the weekend. A further 700 cruise passengers, aboard the Seven Seas Voyager, arrived in Darwin today and have been out and about experiencing their very own Top End adventures.”

Trevor Cox, General Manager for Tourism Top End said the Darwin Visitor Centre opened as usual on Saturday and Sunday to assist tourists visiting Darwin.

“We have also been working with members to prepare for the cruise visits and were ready to welcome passengers to the Territory,” Mr Cox said.

Michael Tennant said it was important to reinforce for visitors to the Territory, that while cyclones are a natural phenomenon of the tropics, they are not a regular occurrence. “The message to consumers and to industry is that Darwin is very much open for business.”

“While felled trees across the Top End is a scene in itself, they in no way create a disadvantage to experiencing what the Northern Territory has to offer during the traditional summer months – including national parks, wet season waterfalls, fishing, sunsets and more,” he said.

Key community facilities including the Department of Tourism and Culture’s key assets have been assessed for damages and deemed clear for operations. 

Parks

• Berry Springs Reserve - Expect to have reopen to public 22/3. 
• Buffalo Creek - Boat ramp and adjacent picnic area open 19/3.
• Casuarina Coastal Reserve - Cliff area to Surf Club is open noting other areas will have staged openings over the next week.
• Charles Darwin National Park - expect to have access and main picnic area open to the public by 21/3 noting bike paths and other areas of the Park will remain closed until further notice.
• George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens - expect to reopen Botanic Gardens on 21/3 noting rainforest walk will remain closed until further notice.
  
• Holmes Jungle Nature Park - expect to have top section open 21/3 noting lower section will remain seasonally closed.
• Howard Springs Reserve - Expect to have main picnic area and rock pools reopen to public 24/3 noting walking track to be closed for several weeks.
• Lee Point - Open noting tree fall damage and clean up works to continue.
• Territory Wildlife Park - expected to reopen 21/3.
• All other Parks in the Darwin region are open (including Manton dam). Seasonal open and closure information for parks in Darwin, can be found at https://nt.gov.au/leisure/parks-reserves/check-park-open-darwin
  

A team from Alice Springs staff will arrive this week and will focus on opening walking and cycling tracks across all Darwin parks by 29/3. We aim to have as many of the internal parks activities as possible operational before the Easter long weekend and we thank the public for your patience.

 Arts, cultural and sporting facilities reopened

• Aviation Museum
• Browns Mart
• Defence of Darwin Experience
• Fannie Bay Goal
• Frogs Hollow
• Lyons Cottage
• Marrara Indoor Stadium
  
• Museum and Art Gallery of the NT
• Northern Territory Library
• Qantas Hangar
• Tactile Arts

 Arts, cultural and sporting facilities currently closed

• Hidden Valley Raceway - closed until further notice.
• Leanyer Waterpark – expect to open 21/3 noting limited services. Water slides will remain closed until further notice.
• Palmerston Waterpark – expect to open 21/3 
• Taminmin Library - expect to open 21/03

Keep up to date with Department of Tourism and Culture facilities https://dtc.nt.gov.au/closures and follow the secrureNT Facebook page for Government updates https://www.facebook.com/secureNT/

Media contact: Department of Tourism and Culture 0448 698 409.