Coronavirus NT: What you can and can’t do this Easter long weekend

TERRITORIANS have been warned to stay at home this Easter and follow social distancing restrictions or risk hefty fines. Here’s what you can and can’t do this weekend.

Only people from the same household can go fishing together, whether that is immediate family members or housemates.

TERRITORIANS have been warned to stay at home this Easter and follow social distancing restrictions or risk hefty fines. Here’s what you can and can’t do this weekend.

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CAN I CATCH UP WITH FAMILY?

NT Government advice is to keep visits to family and friends to a minimum, with limits on any gatherings that exceeds 10 people (not including those you live with) limited.

Police will continue physical distance monitoring and enforcing the public gathering limit of 10 persons. Everyone attending a gathering that breaks these rules could cop a $1099 fine.

The public can be assured that fines will be issued to anyone not respecting the community and doing the right thing.

CAN I GO FISHING?

Only people from the same household can go fishing together, whether that is immediate family members or housemates as long as: you provide proof you all live at the same address, you are not sick and you are not in self-quarantine.

At this stage, if you are travelling to sites that don’t require passing through a remote community (like Shady Camp or Corroboree Billabong) you should be able to do so.

This includes fishing in Darwin Harbour, Dundee, Leaders Creek, Bynoe Harbour, Channel Point, Adelaide River (mouth), Cox Peninsula and Shoal Bay.

You can also refer to this map for the designated areas and boat ramp locations.

If you go fishing, do it locally if you can and do not overcrowd any areas, including boat ramp car parks.

If the boat ramp is busy, either stay in your car until physical distancing can be practised or move to another location/boat ramp.

All NT remote communities have been closed to all non-essential travel, and access permits for the purpose of going fishing will not be granted.

This means you won’t receive an Aboriginal Land permit if your fishing activities require you to either; stop at a remote community, pass through a remote community or enter into a designated area.

If a river or boat ramp is located inside/or abuts a designated biosecurity area, launching a boat/fishing from that location (like the Daly and East Alligator rivers, and Cahill’s Crossing), is not permitted.

CAN I GO CAMPING?

All campgrounds, swimming spots, multi-day walks and high-use day areas in Territory Parks and Reserves have closed to restrict the spread of COVID-19.

As a result of Commonwealth Biosecurity Act 2015 declarations, many parks and reserves are also now closed due to Vehicle Control Points preventing unauthorised access into the designated areas.

Territorians are encouraged to stay home, if you can. Camping at home in your own backyard this Easter is a great option.

If you do need some fresh air over the long weekend, some areas remain open so you can visit a park or reserve near you for walking, bike-riding, birdwatching or other solo or small-group activities.

The following parks and reserves or parts of parks and reserves remain open – howeverno camping or swimming is permitted:

Top End:

Adelaide River Foreshore Conservation Area

Black Jungle / Lambells Lagoon Conservation Reserve

Blackmore River Conservation Reserve

Buffalo Creek Management Area

Casuarina Coastal Reserve

Charles Darwin National Park

Djukbinj National Park

Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve

George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens (walks only)

Harrison Dam Conservation Reserve

Holmes Jungle Nature Park

Knuckey Lagoons Conservation Reserve

Leaning Tree Lagoon Nature Park

Litchfield National Park (Tolmer Falls, Wangi Picnic Area, Termite Mounds, Table Top Swamp)

Mary River National Park (Mary River Billabong, Bird Billabong, Home Billabong, Mistake Billabong, Jimmy’s Creek Walk)

Oolloo Crossing Conservation Area

Shoal Bay Coastal Reserve

Manton Dam – for fishing activities only. No water based sporting activities.

Tree Point Conservation Area

Katherine Region:

Judbarra / Gregory National Park

Joe Creek

Nawulbinbin walk

Escarpment walk

Gregory’s Tree

Tennant Creek and Barkley Region:

Attack Creek Historical Reserve

Barrow Creek Telegraph Station Historical Reserve

John Flynn Historical Reserve

Karlu Karlu / Devil’s Marbles Conservation Reserve – No Camping

Tennant Creek Telegraph Station Historical Reserve

Central Australia:

Alice Springs Telegraph Station Historical Reserve – All walks and cycle trails.

Arltunga Historical Reserve

Central Mount Stuart Historical Reserve

Corroboree Rock Conservation Reserve

Heavitree Gap Police Station Historical Reserve

John Flynn’s Grave Historical Reserve

Native Gap Conservation Reserve

N’dhala Gorge Nature Park

Ryan Well Historical Reserve

The Simpsons Gap area of Tjoritja National Park, including the Simpsons Gap cycle path

Trephina Gorge Nature Park

Yeperenye / Emily and Jessie Gap Nature Park

CAN I GO TO CHURCH?

There will be no Easter religious gatherings held in places of worship this year.

Churches and other places of worship remain closed to the public.

Services may be conducted and live streamed providing only essential staff are present, the venue/facility remains closed to the public, and physical distancing principles are adhered to.

Any church wishing to conduct religious services, including Easter services, must use the minimum number of participants required to deliver and live stream the service, which may include a priest, attendants, organist, videographer and sound recordist.

CAN I TRAVEL INTERSTATE?

Most states and territories have closed their borders – meaning you can’t travel, even if you wanted to.

Queensland, WA, South Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania have shut their borders to almost all Australians, except for essential workers.

You should reconsider all non-essential travel. There are strict border controls in place for all arrivals to the Territory, including returning Territorians.

CAN I TAKE MY KIDS TO THE PLAYGROUND?

The Federal Government has directed for outdoor gyms, skate parks and public playgrounds to be closed.

CAN I TAKE MY PET FOR A WALK OR RIDE MY HORSE?

Pet owners should continue to exercise their pets as part of standard care for their animals.

Horse and pony riding can continue to occur but must be solitary and no organised gatherings of horse riders clubs or pony clubs are to occur. Clubs are closed but the animals still need to be cared for and this includes regular exercise.

CAN I PLAY GOLF?

No. The NT’s Chief Health Officer has advised all 11 golf courses in the NT to close down.

CAN I PLAY SPORT?

A person must not organise or participate in a sporting activity engaged in by more than two people, unless the persons ordinarily reside together in the same residence.

While sporting facilities are closed to the public, staff can still access the premises to perform work that is required for the running of the business and to ensure the business can reopen once restrictions are lifted.

Restrictions on gatherings and advice to practice physical distancing measures still apply.

CAN I STILL BUY GROCERIES?

You’re still allowed to head out to the grocery shop.

Security guards and police officers are expected to manage the queues at Woolworths at peak times, and enforce the 1.5 metre social-distancing rules.

SUPERMARKET OPERATING HOURS

CASUARINA SQUARE:

Good Friday — CLOSED

Easter Saturday — 10am to 5pm

Easter Sunday — 10am to 3pm

Easter Monday — 10am to 3pm

WOOLWORTHS

Good Friday — CLOSED

Easter Saturday — 8am to 10pm

Easter Sunday — 8am to 10pm

Easter Monday — 8am to 10pm

COLES

Good Friday — 11am to 5pm

Easter Saturday — 7am to 10pm

Easter Sunday — 7am to 10pm

Easter Monday — 8am – 10pm

BIG W

Good Friday — CLOSED

Easter Saturday — 9am to 5pm

Easter Sunday — 9am to 5pm

Easter Monday — 9am to 6pm

KMART

Good Friday — CLOSED

Easter Saturday — 8am to 8pm

Easter Sunday — 10am to 5pm

Easter Monday — 10am to 5pm