Darwin Camel Rides: Owner Nader Soliman lodges DA for permanent Mindil Beach attraction

The owner of Darwin’s first camel ride company, which has been delighting punters at the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets this year, now seeks to operate rides along the iconic beach full-time during each dry season.

Mindil Beach could soon be home to a permanent camel ride attraction. Picture: EcOz Environmental Consultants

The owner of Darwin’s first camel ride company, which has been delighting locals at the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets this year, now seeks to operate rides along the iconic beach full-time.

Darwin Camel Rides Pty Ltd, which made its Mindil Beach Sunset Market debut in July this year, has lodged a development application with the Development Consent Authority (DCA) seeking permission to operate beach rides during non-market days.

According to documents filed with the DCA, the new attraction would operate Monday to Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 9am to 6.30–7pm during the annual dry season.

Rides would commence every hour on the hour (maximum 10 a day) with a minimum of two riders required to operate a ride in the hourly timeslot.

Rides would go for 45 minutes, including mounting, dismounting and photos, and would be managed via an online booking system.

Initially, six camels, purchased from an interstate operator and specifically trained as beasts of burden, would be operated, with a minimum of two staff, a tour leader and assistant handler.

If the attraction is successful, additional camels “may be purchased,” the application documents state.

The 100 sqm staging area for the attraction would be located on Crown land between Maria Liveris Dr and Gilruth Ave, at the northernmost part of the site, “where existing shade trees and grassed areas will provide ample space and shade for both camels and customers”.

The DA does not envisage the erection of any permanent infrastructure, with the camels to be agisted off-site and be trucked daily to Mindil Beach, with the transport vehicle to double as the camel enclosure and staging platform.

The company’s proposal is heavily influenced by Broome’s iconic Cable Beach camel rides, which have been operating for about four decades with the consent of Broome Shire Council.

Environmental protections implemented in Broome to protect Cable Beach from degradation could help to guide the City of Darwin’s approach to drafting Darwin Camel Rides’ operating permit, the application documents noted.

To prevent camel dung soiling the environment, “catch bags” would be attached to the saddle and sit under the animals’ tails, collecting the manure as it falls.

The proposed route for Darwin Camel Rides' permanent Mindil Beach attraction. Picture: Tatam Planning Co.

The environmental assessment report submitted as part of the application found that the potential negative impacts of camels on Mindil Beach were the introduction of weeds through imported feed (i.e. hay) and camel manure, increased erosion at the crossing point onto the beach, and trampling of turtle nests.

However, these risks were found to be negligible.

There have been no recorded turtle nests on Mindil Beach, the proposed crossing point onto the beach is a “broad crest with gentle slopes,” beach vegetation is protected by fencing, the dung will be collected in the bag, there is no recorded threatened flora and fauna at the site, and hay is not a preferred feed for camels, the environmental report found.

The application is on public exhibition until November 11.

Nader Soliman, Darwin Camel Rides’ owner and head cameleer, was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Darwin Camel Rides: Owner Nader Soliman lodges DA for permanent Mindil Beach attraction