Fannie Bay Land Up for Sale
The Land Development Corporation (LDC) has officially opened an Expression of Interest (EOI) process for a prime residential development site at Waratah Crescent, Fannie Bay. Located just 5.8 km from the Darwin CBD and overlooking Waratah Oval, the 9,150-square-metre site is being marketed as a rare freehold opportunity in a highly sought-after coastal suburb.
The site is currently zoned for Medium Density Residential (MR) use. Crucially, the LDC is offering the land with vacant possession and absolutely no development conditions, giving the highest bidder complete freedom over how the site is transformed. The EOI process closes at 4:00 PM ACST on 20 September 2026, with the government seeking offers upward of $5.5 million.
PLan’s View: A Short-Sighted Sell-Off Devoid of Consultation
PLan NT strongly opposes this sale, viewing it as an unacceptable sell-off of former community-purpose land. This parcel sits directly within an established, sensitive aged-care precinct where public space, specialized services, and community alignment should be the absolute priority.
Alarmingly, this major decision has been made completely devoid of community consultation. By handing a blank canvas to private developers with “no development conditions,” the government is permanently surrendering control of a strategic public asset. Instead of engaging with local residents or planning for the long-term needs of the neighborhood’s vulnerable aged-care population, the priority has shifted entirely to securing a commercial payout. PLan calls for an immediate halt to the tender process until genuine community consultation takes place and the long-term public value of this precinct is secured.
As published in NT Independent 5 August 2026
Dear Editor,
The government-owned property developer, the Land Development Corporation, is seeking expressions of Interest from private developers to purchase 7 Waratah Crescent, Fannie Bay, for medium-density residential development.
The former Sports House site was zoned community purposes for more than 50 years.
In 2013, it was rezoned to medium density residential despite overwhelming community opposition. In 2014 it was transferred to the LDC and converted to freehold. Although the LDC holds the freehold title, this is still public land because the LDC is wholly owned by the Northern Territory government.
Since 2014, close to $1 million of public money has been spent demolishing Sports House and pursuing unsuccessful residential development proposals.
After years of advocacy, Southern Cross Care was finally able to secure about one-third of the original site to build its Pearl dementia care facility. The Fannie Bay community has consistently argued that the remaining land should also be used for the expansion of much-needed aged care services, not sold to a private developer.
Waratah Crescent is a narrow dead-end cul-de-sac. It’s the only access road into Pearl Aged Care and Retirement Resort.
During sporting events at Waratah Oval, every available parking space is taken. Cars line the street, spill onto the grass verges and adjoining Philip Street.
Adding hundreds more residents and cars through a medium-density residential development at 7 Waratah Crescent that may include apartment buildings would create dangerous bottlenecks for Pearl residents needing emergency services. It would also severely worsen traffic congestion for Fannie Bay residents entering and leaving Fannie Bay.
In established suburbs such as Fannie Bay, where roads, on-street parking, water, sewerage and other essential infrastructure are already at or near capacity, increasing residential density without first considering whether that infrastructure can safely accommodate more residents and vehicles is irresponsible.
Why has there been no opportunity for the Fannie Bay community to have a say before the LDC sells this public land to a private developer?
Sonja Pastor, Fannie Bay