Mr WOOD - 2003-05-29
Early last year, it was announced we would have a Chinatown project. The Chinatown project would feature a nine-storey office tower, a retail shopping precinct, food court, two hotels, open air food market, car parks, restaurants, and cafes. In May last year, the government awarded a tender for more than 4000 m of office space in Darwin for the development of Chinatown. In a press release to the NT News dated 6 March 2003, it stated that construction to start next month was for a $20m hotel deal. Can the Chief Minister please tell parliament what the government is now doing to address its shortage of office space?
ANSWER
Well, Madam Speaker, number one we do not have a shortage, and number two is that the Chinatown development is a private development that is a complex one. The financial issues are being worked through. We are very supportive of the Leeon Consortium and this development, which will bring jobs and economic activity to the centre of Darwin. You are right, member for Nelson, they won a tender for 4000 m-plus of office space. It was a fair and open process. We wish Leeon Consortium well in this, their first major development, that there is financial close shortly which, I believe, will be in a couple of months.
ANSWER
Well, Madam Speaker, number one we do not have a shortage, and number two is that the Chinatown development is a private development that is a complex one. The financial issues are being worked through. We are very supportive of the Leeon Consortium and this development, which will bring jobs and economic activity to the centre of Darwin. You are right, member for Nelson, they won a tender for 4000 m-plus of office space. It was a fair and open process. We wish Leeon Consortium well in this, their first major development, that there is financial close shortly which, I believe, will be in a couple of months.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016