Cyclone Marcus’ $15 million clean-up effort

DARWIN Council’s clean-up effort following Cyclone Marcus has cost ratepayers $15 million

Council workers remove emaining damaged trees, almost five months after Cyclone Marcus at Fannie Bay on Wednesday, August 15, 2018 Picture: Keri Megelus

DARWIN Council’s clean-up effort following Cyclone Marcus has cost ratepayers $15 million as staff come to the end of the mammoth task.

Five months after the category two tropical storm swept through Darwin, 50 trees remain on the council’s clean-up list.

Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis said there were just 48 dangerous or damaged trees remaining to be tended to after Cyclone Marcus, as the black wattle was removed from a Fannie Bay street yesterday. The ficus was trimmed back to prevent future damage.

Mr Vatskalis said council had also implemented a tree committee to ensure Darwin’s arboreal future was structurally and environmentally sound.

“Yesterday we agreed to the tree committee who will put in place a group of people who will advise council what kind of trees are the most appropriate trees to plant in future so we do not repeat the exercise we’ve seen in the last five months,” he said.

“The total cost so far is about $15m, most of which will be covered from our insurer (TIO) and the NT Government.”

Mr Vatskalis said the joint effort from council workers and the defence force had cleared 400km of verges and had removed a majority of 10,000 felled trees.

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“Even though a lot of work has been done there is still a lot of damage that remains evident with fallen trees and tree stumps across our open spaces, playgrounds that are still in need of repair,” Mr Vatskalis said.

Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis talks during a presser at Fannie Bay on Wednesday, August 15, 2018. Picture: Keri Megelus

“Council staff will (still) be working on the cyclone recovery for many months to come, so we do ask members of the community to be patient as we undertake our recovery works.”

Mr Vatskalis said it was time for Darwin residents to prepare for the incoming wet season, with a council.

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“Be alert — (cyclone season) happens every year, not once in a lifetime, we know it’s going to happen every year,” he said.

“Have a look at where you live, if you’ve got loose things that can hit your house.”