Ms SACILOTTO - 2007-02-14
Last year, you launched the initiative Creating Darwin’s Future: A Tropical Harbour City. Can you please advise the House on the progress of this exciting initiative that supports our great Territory lifestyle?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Port Darwin for her question. It is not only about the CBD and the electorate of Port Darwin, but the very heart of this exercise is centred on the city. It is an exciting project. Community consultation that we have had since I launched it last October has resulted in a lot of input. For example, our website had had 5000 visits. There are 26 000 hits on the same website and for all members who have been at shopping centres and marketplaces with the display, there has been much interest from our community.
As well, a lot of controversy has been generated, a lot of commentary, but that is what this exercise is about. It is about engaging the community of Darwin and Palmerston and the regional area about what the future of this capital city is. We should be very proactive about the fact that we want to have Darwin as the best tropical harbour city in the world. I think we can do it. We are halfway there. As we build for the future, we can really nail that we are the best tropical harbour city in the world. Some of the controversial issues that have been raised will be dealt with by a planning forum held by the minister for planning in April, and there is no doubt about what some of the controversial issues are: building heights are one; building densities are another; the style we are building and whether it is tropical; and aesthetics. They are the kinds of issues, and others, that will be dealt with by a planning forum that is going to be held in April in Darwin.
There is general agreement on that we would like to see a greener city, we would like to see more shade, whether that be built or not, more parklands, more activities, and certainly more for tourists. The idea of a Defence of Darwin museum and an Aboriginal cultural centre are two that have come up, and other ideas are emerging as well.
There is much agreement about how the future of Darwin should develop, and there is a bundle of controversial issues, and it is very exciting that they are being talked about. They are probably the fodder of back yard barbecues, which is fantastic for the future of Darwin.
We have more consultations happening over the next few months. I will be meeting with key industry and community groups in areas like World War II heritage, the environment and development. The displays will again be going around shopping centres in the Darwin and rural area as well as the marketplaces.
It is an exciting project. I have already invited Nicholas Rothwell to the forum. I would be pleased to see him. Let us see all the ideas on the extent of high rise, how high a high rise should be and what constitutes ‘tropical’. Today, talking to the media, there was a general feeling that we have some really ugly buildings here, but you could name one building and you would have two very contrary points of view even on one high rise. There are many around town that some love and some equally hate, so the issue of aesthetics is a real trick. What we want is better tropical design, greater liveability and for Darwin to be the best tropical harbour city in the world.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Port Darwin for her question. It is not only about the CBD and the electorate of Port Darwin, but the very heart of this exercise is centred on the city. It is an exciting project. Community consultation that we have had since I launched it last October has resulted in a lot of input. For example, our website had had 5000 visits. There are 26 000 hits on the same website and for all members who have been at shopping centres and marketplaces with the display, there has been much interest from our community.
As well, a lot of controversy has been generated, a lot of commentary, but that is what this exercise is about. It is about engaging the community of Darwin and Palmerston and the regional area about what the future of this capital city is. We should be very proactive about the fact that we want to have Darwin as the best tropical harbour city in the world. I think we can do it. We are halfway there. As we build for the future, we can really nail that we are the best tropical harbour city in the world. Some of the controversial issues that have been raised will be dealt with by a planning forum held by the minister for planning in April, and there is no doubt about what some of the controversial issues are: building heights are one; building densities are another; the style we are building and whether it is tropical; and aesthetics. They are the kinds of issues, and others, that will be dealt with by a planning forum that is going to be held in April in Darwin.
There is general agreement on that we would like to see a greener city, we would like to see more shade, whether that be built or not, more parklands, more activities, and certainly more for tourists. The idea of a Defence of Darwin museum and an Aboriginal cultural centre are two that have come up, and other ideas are emerging as well.
There is much agreement about how the future of Darwin should develop, and there is a bundle of controversial issues, and it is very exciting that they are being talked about. They are probably the fodder of back yard barbecues, which is fantastic for the future of Darwin.
We have more consultations happening over the next few months. I will be meeting with key industry and community groups in areas like World War II heritage, the environment and development. The displays will again be going around shopping centres in the Darwin and rural area as well as the marketplaces.
It is an exciting project. I have already invited Nicholas Rothwell to the forum. I would be pleased to see him. Let us see all the ideas on the extent of high rise, how high a high rise should be and what constitutes ‘tropical’. Today, talking to the media, there was a general feeling that we have some really ugly buildings here, but you could name one building and you would have two very contrary points of view even on one high rise. There are many around town that some love and some equally hate, so the issue of aesthetics is a real trick. What we want is better tropical design, greater liveability and for Darwin to be the best tropical harbour city in the world.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016