I'm just back (via Adelaide) from a week in Darwin, where I managed 48 hours
of birding before vanishing into the meeting for which I was purportedly
there. I won't waste your time on "what Ian did next", but I was intrigued
by the complexity of gaining entry to the excellent Darwin Sewage Ponds - in
the normally exceedingly laid-back NT!
Firstly they needed 48 hours notice (ie a call from Canberra) to assemble
the required paperwork, which I then had to make arrangements to go in and
sign on the Monday, to visit on Tuesday.
# There was a letter signed by the Manager Water Operations, NT Power and
Water, which detailed conditions of entry and which I had to countersign to
accept said conditions.
# There was a "Deed Poll, Release and Indemnity", which I had to sign and
have witnessed**.
# There was an "Induction for Visitors to Darwin Region Wastewater Treatment
Ponds", which emphasised yet more conditions of entry. These included the
requirement to wear "fully enclosed footwear as a minimum". (In Darwin - and
goodness knows what a maximum might be!) This too I had to sign and have
witnessed.
I then had to pay $50 deposit on the key.
Then, before visiting, I had to phone both the caretaker and supervisor of
the ponds to announce my visit. (And I've just noticed that I was supposed
to advise them that I am no longer there - oops!)
Finally, back to the office (across town) to return key and retrieve my $50.
This is not a complaint - at all times my contact at the office was a model
of NT friendliness and helpfulness. And it was all worth it, highlights
being large flocks of gorgeous White-winged Black Terns, many of them in
near breeding plumage, and a single male Garganey, apparently a rare visitor
these days.
But I shall never again skip signing the visitors' book at Jerra because
it's too onerous...
cheers
Ian
**This began "The Releaser hereby:- 1. Releases, indemnifies and forever
holds harmless Power and Water with respect to any and all causes of action,
claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings of whatsoever nature, which
the Releaser, or any person on behalf of the Releaser, may now have or at
any time thereafter may have but for the execution of this Release and
Indemnity, could have against Power and Water with respect to or in any way
connected with the use of any assets, facilities or property of Power and
Water." It continued...
---
Ian Fraser,
Environment Tours; Vertego Environmental Wordsmithing
GPO Box 3268, Canberra, ACT 2601
ph: 02 6249 1560 fax: 02 6247 3227
---
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