Category: Blog & Opinion
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Landfill and Contamination Legacy of the Kulaluk–Minmarama Lands
A Legacy of Dumping Parts of the Minmarama lease were used as Darwin’s municipal dump, expanded after Cyclone Tracy in 1974. Byrne Consultants (2023) confirm that uncontrolled waste and fill were placed across the lands, leaving a legacy of contamination that still requires assessment before development can safely proceed. In 2021, the NT Environment Department…
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Environmental Significance of the Kulaluk–Minmarama Lands
Ludmilla Creek: Darwin’s Last Living Creek System Most of Darwin’s mid-suburb waterways have been channelised and degraded into stormwater drains, but Ludmilla Creek is different — it is still a living tidal system. Mangroves line its banks, fish and birdlife depend on it, and people still fish and crab here. Ludmilla creek is last remaining…
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Why the Harry Chan Site Should Be Heritage Listed
Darwin once had a thriving Chinatown, centred on Cavenagh and Bennett Streets, stretching across to what is now Civic Park and the Harry Chan site. From the late 19th century, Chinese migrants ran stores, boarding houses, herbalists’ shops, cafés, and gardens here. Chinatown was both an economic hub and a cultural heart for Darwin’s Chinese…
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Candidates win right to ‘reasonably canvass’ without fines after Supreme Court battle against City of Darwin, NT Electoral Commission
From NT News 22/8/25 Candidates can no longer be fined for “reasonably canvassing” during early voting, following a legal stoush with the City of Darwin and the Northern Territory Electoral Commission. The breakthrough came during a Supreme Court hearing on Wednesday, after legal action was launched by lord mayoral hopeful Leah Potter. It was backed…
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Legal action filed against Darwin Council over new civic centre
From NT Independent article: https://ntindependent.com.au/legal-action-filed-against-darwin-council-over-proposed-civic-centre/ A Federal Court application has been lodged seeking to force Darwin Council to hand over documents relating to the deal it struck with developer DCOH to build the controversial 21-storey civic centre-private office tower, along with details of how it is using ratepayer money on the project. An originating application…
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Letter to the editor: Lord Mayor needs to answer many questions over high rise tower development
Feb 6, 2025 Dear Editor, The high rise development project put forward by Darwin Council Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis for a new civic centre combined with private office space is likely to detract significantly from the high quality character, ambience and surroundings of this historic and very attractive area of Darwin city. In addition, it…
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CONTINGENCY PLANS FACTORED INTO PROJECT
From NT News April 20GARY SHIPWAYCity of Darwin says it is confident that the proposed $150m redevelopmentproviding Darwin with a new civic centre and office tower is in alignmentand compliance with the Local Government Act and other applicablelegislation and requirements.The council says contingencies and risks have been factored into theproject plan allaying concerns and questions…
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Residential Development at Lot 2458, 150 Smith Street, Darwin NT – worth a shot
Why is it permitted to exhibit a building with a drawing that does not include the context. This building needs to fit into the precinct, why is that not shown? In a novel approach to getting around planning legislation the proponents offer this: This density for this designed apartment product is required to ensure projectfeasibility…
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Lots 4995, 5961, 6566, 7419 and 7474, Town of Darwin Development Application
PROPOSALThe Northern Territory Government has commissioned the design and construction of the Civic and StateSquare Precinct in order to revitalise the State Square area of the CBD.Works completed to date include the construction of the State Square underground carpark, theconversion of the parliamentary carpark into landscaped parkland, the redevelopment of Liberty Squareand the demolition of…
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2024 06 Royal Darwin Hospital Landscape Master Plan
This submission closes 3 July 2024. https://haveyoursay.nt.gov.au/royal-darwin-hospital-landscaping-masterplan This proposal is a picture with no supporting documents. PLan have emailed in some background questions. The web page (somewhat hopefully) does offer: • enhance the local landscape and amenity using a variety of appropriate plant, tree and shrub species • encourage active mobility of patients, staff and…