Mr BONSON - 2006-11-28
Creating Darwin’s Future was launched last month and a consultation program is now well under way. Would the minister update the House on progress so far?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I would be delighted to. With Creating Darwin’s Future - and it is a stimulating document – we are talking to the people of Darwin, and in the rural area you will be pleased to know, member for Nelson. This document is a collation of some of the ideas which have been around for a while about the future of Darwin, and also some proposals for the future which are new. We are saying to the people of Darwin: ‘What are your views? Here is a document to stimulate your ideas and how would you like to contribute?’
The display we have is travelling widely. We have been to shopping centres, lunches, forums, residents meetings, and there are a lot more discussions to go. Our community is very enthusiastic about feeding back ideas, and every member who has been part of that feedback session would say: ‘Absolutely’. Some of the feedback is, unequivocally, that we have a green Darwin, but we have to do much better. What our community says is that they want more greenery, gardens, shade - either trees or constructed - and better use of the harbour. We have one of the world’s great harbours and, yet, we do not take much advantage of it. They want better use of our beaches, the walking tracks around the water’s edge, and more water travel and recreation on our water. More activities for tourists is an important and key feature, as well as ideas such as the World War II museum, the Aboriginal culture centre, and more outside dining. These are things our community thinks would be attractive for tourists and locals. I want to compliment one eight-year-old whom I asked one week what he thought about it. He came back a week later and said: ‘I’ve thought about my ideas for the future of Darwin; basically it is not a specific idea, but it is about sustainable development’. He said: ‘We need sustainable development that does not add to climate change’. I thought that was a great idea and it came from a small person.
However what is generally agreed is that we need action. This is a document people want to talk about. What we want from this, when the ideas are put together - and that will be with a group of industry and both levels of government - is that we need a plan for the future and we need action on it.
The minister for Planning and Infrastructure’s forum next March will be a key component of that, looking at the planning laws, the Building Code, and some of the critical issues we are facing regarding building heights and those kinds of things which are still contentious for the people of Darwin. It is an exciting process; it is looking to the future, and it is how we build what is a great tropical city into what must be the best tropical harbour city in the world.
Madam Speaker, it is exciting times, and I table another copy of this.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I would be delighted to. With Creating Darwin’s Future - and it is a stimulating document – we are talking to the people of Darwin, and in the rural area you will be pleased to know, member for Nelson. This document is a collation of some of the ideas which have been around for a while about the future of Darwin, and also some proposals for the future which are new. We are saying to the people of Darwin: ‘What are your views? Here is a document to stimulate your ideas and how would you like to contribute?’
The display we have is travelling widely. We have been to shopping centres, lunches, forums, residents meetings, and there are a lot more discussions to go. Our community is very enthusiastic about feeding back ideas, and every member who has been part of that feedback session would say: ‘Absolutely’. Some of the feedback is, unequivocally, that we have a green Darwin, but we have to do much better. What our community says is that they want more greenery, gardens, shade - either trees or constructed - and better use of the harbour. We have one of the world’s great harbours and, yet, we do not take much advantage of it. They want better use of our beaches, the walking tracks around the water’s edge, and more water travel and recreation on our water. More activities for tourists is an important and key feature, as well as ideas such as the World War II museum, the Aboriginal culture centre, and more outside dining. These are things our community thinks would be attractive for tourists and locals. I want to compliment one eight-year-old whom I asked one week what he thought about it. He came back a week later and said: ‘I’ve thought about my ideas for the future of Darwin; basically it is not a specific idea, but it is about sustainable development’. He said: ‘We need sustainable development that does not add to climate change’. I thought that was a great idea and it came from a small person.
However what is generally agreed is that we need action. This is a document people want to talk about. What we want from this, when the ideas are put together - and that will be with a group of industry and both levels of government - is that we need a plan for the future and we need action on it.
The minister for Planning and Infrastructure’s forum next March will be a key component of that, looking at the planning laws, the Building Code, and some of the critical issues we are facing regarding building heights and those kinds of things which are still contentious for the people of Darwin. It is an exciting process; it is looking to the future, and it is how we build what is a great tropical city into what must be the best tropical harbour city in the world.
Madam Speaker, it is exciting times, and I table another copy of this.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016