NT: Darwin Harbour National Park could be key to government

AAP General News (Australia)
08-21-2001
NT: Darwin Harbour National Park could be key to government

By Rod McGuirk

DARWIN, Aug 21 AAP - Darwin Harbour could be declared a National Park if Northern Territory
independent Gerry Wood becomes king or queen maker.

It would force the key potential customer of Timor Sea gas, Methanex Australia, to
change its plans to build the world's biggest methanol plant on the harbour.

The plant is essential to the viability of the proposed $1.5 billion gas pipeline to
Darwin which Phillips Petroleum recently shelved.

Mr Wood, who could become the key to a minority government for either Labor or the
Country Liberal Party if Labor loses the only undecided seat, Millner, said his environmental
platform of restricted development on the harbour was an important issue.

If Labor falls short of forming government, the 51-year-old former chicken farmer and
Litchfield shire president said he would start questioning the two party leaders.

He said creating the National Park on the harbour could be the pivotal issue.

"I don't call it a marine park because people will worry they can't go fishing," he said.

"I oppose the methanol being on Darwin Harbour because I don't believe it needs to be there.

"There are other options for methanol."

Mr Wood proposes an inland site 25km east of Darwin.

While Labor, without Millner, could form government with only one of the two independents,
the CLP would need both Mr Wood and dumped minister Loraine Braham.

Mr Wood said he contacted Queensland independent Liz Cunningham's office yesterday for advice.

Ms Cunningham supported Peter Beattie over Premier Rob Borbidge in 1998 to create a
Labor minority government.

"I got an idea from Liz Cunningham's office and that is to pop around to the local
shopping centres and ask people: what do you think," Mr Wood said.

"I've been talking to the local motor mechanic and shopkeeper; they say it won't do
any harm if the Labor Party wins.

"I owe it to both parties to talk to them and be fair."

The NT Electoral Office will not finalise the vote in Millner until postal votes are
counted on Friday night.

AAP rmg/ph/de

KEYWORD: POLLNT WOOD

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