The Proposal: A New Commercial Hub on Community Land
An application has been submitted to rezone a 5.0-hectare portion of Lot 4806 (133 Bagot Road) from Zone CL (Community Living) to Zone C (Commercial). The proponent, June D’Rozario & Associates, envisions a 10,650 m² commercial development featuring a major supermarket, service station, fast-food outlets, and a medical clinic. They argue this “catchment gap” must be filled for the economic survival of the Bagot Community.
The “Circular Paradox”: Why PLan is Concerned
In our formal submission to the Development Consent Authority, PLan has identified several critical flaws:
- Bypassing Planning Protections: The applicant is attempting to change the Darwin Mid Suburbs Area Plan to fit their development, then claiming the development is “consistent” with the plan they just changed.
- The “Threat of Loss” Claim: The proponent suggests the community risks losing its land due to debt. However, this land is held as a Crown Lease in Perpetuity for Aboriginal communal purposes; the “threat” of foreclosure by private debt collectors remains unproven.
- Outdated Noise Standards: The noise assessment relies on a superseded 2000 standard, failing to account for the modern F-35 aircraft noise profiles now prevalent in Darwin.
Environmental Value: More Than Just “Disturbed Land”
While the proponent describes the site as “disturbed” and overrun by weeds, this ignores the critical role the land plays in the wider ecosystem. Ludmilla Creek stands as the last remaining natural, non-channelised tidal creek system in Darwin’s mid-suburbs, serving as a critical ecological “green spine” that connects inland eucalypt woodlands to coastal mangroves.
This vibrant habitat mosaic supports over 160 bird species and provides essential foraging grounds for migratory shorebirds protected under the EPBC Act, including the Critically Endangered Far Eastern Curlew and the Great Knot. Beyond its biodiversity, the creek acts as vital nature-based infrastructure, offering a natural buffer against storm surges and providing urban cooling that mitigates heat-stress risks for the Bagot and Ludmilla neighborhoods. For the Larrakia and Bagot communities, Ludmilla Creek remains a living cultural landscape, cherished for generations as a site for fishing and gathering bush medicines.
Traffic and Infrastructure Risks
The project proposes new traffic lights at the Bagot Community entrance, contradicting 40 years of strategic planning designed to keep Bagot Road as a high-flow arterial corridor. Introducing a mid-block bottleneck here creates a new “Black Spot” risk and ignores the cumulative traffic load from the already approved Kulaluk development less than 1km away.
What You Can Do: Take Action Now
The community’s voice is essential to ensuring that planning in the Northern Territory remains transparent and strategically sound.
- Review the Plans: View application PA2025/0161 on the Development Applications Online (DAO) website.
- Write a Submission: Address your concerns regarding traffic, the loss of Community Living land, and the ecological threat to Ludmilla Creek.
- Submit by the Deadline: All submissions must be received by Friday, 10th April 2026.
Where to Send Your Submission:
Mail: NT Planning Commission, GPO Box 1680, DARWIN NT 0801
Email: das.dipl@nt.gov.au
Read PLan’s submission here: