We like to say that Darwin is dynamic, different and diverse. As such, the duties of Elected Members and office staff are certainly different with everyone pitching in for the annual pre cyclone season clean up.
The lessons of Cyclone Tracy are long remembered so each year residents are asked to look around their properties and clear out anything that could be come a dangerous missile in the event of a cyclone.
Last year around 450 tonnes of materials were collected using 30 trucks, four utes, two backhoes, two armed services Mack trucks, one armed services loader and one van.
In previous clean ups, some of the more unusual items collected other than building materials lying around in backyards, included half a resuscitation dummy, a wheelchair, a boat hull and even a coffin.
With the amount of material collected over two weekends, this creates a huge logistical exercise for the Shoal Bay Waste Facility especially in the recycling area.
When we do have to batten down the hatches during a cyclone warning, staff have also been known to take dogs home from the pound to ensure their safety.
