Mr MILLS - 2004-11-30
The CLP’s statement of intent for the wharf precinct was to develop it as a primary focus for leisure and entertainment activities. Permanent residential was deemed to be non-compatible, and building heights were to be limited to 15 m below the escarpment. You intend to push through a planning scheme amendment to allow construction of buildings that, generally, in the central wharf precinct area will be 36.5 m AHD and 50.9 m AHD. Given that the maximum height of the escarpment is only 25 m, how do you expect Territorians to have any belief in your plans for the wharf precinct development when you are clearly not telling the truth?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I refer to my previous answer: we are telling the truth. The facts that are represented by the model - and I certainly hope the Opposition Leader went to the Mall and had a look at the model. How can he stand in here and spout such rubbish, if he actually looked at the model and understood what it was doing?
Ninety percent of the proposal at the waterfront is either at escarpment level or below – 90% of the buildings. We made no pretence that everything would be below escarpment level. There are three quite significant high-rise to east of the waterfront on that Stokes Hill area, there is one in the Fort Hill area of 11 storeys, and there are also higher buildings of 11 storeys at the end of those fingers, at the piers going into the water.
Can I point out to the Leader of the Opposition that the proposal that they had for the waterfront, was never taken to a project. We came to government and activated the waterfront. We presented a different kind of proposal there; we have a convention centre as the trigger for that development. It is certainly a development that has been warmly welcomed. It is one that will be dynamic and will really attract Darwin people to go there. One of the attractants is the fact that 40% of it will be open space; it will be recreation space for local people. It is a very exciting and forward-looking development.
While we are talking about escarpment, the official height of the escarpment is 27.5 m, as defined by the Lands department.
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: We have had the testing done, it is 27.5 m. I say again that it is very important that the Opposition Leader comes into this House and gets his facts right. Ninety percent …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The fact is the height of the escarpment is 16 …
Madam SPEAKER: That is not a point of order.
Ms MARTIN: It is not a point of order.
Mr Mills: How about the Chief Minister getting her facts straight.
Madam SPEAKER: Ninety percent of the waterfront will be on or under the height of the escarpment. We have been very clear about what will be above that. When you listen to someone like the government architect, Bob Nation, talk about the proposal, he is very clear on the way it has captured those viewing corridors, combined high rise in one area with open space in another, and how we have the best of both worlds. We have a very exciting project and most Territorians are very proud of it.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I refer to my previous answer: we are telling the truth. The facts that are represented by the model - and I certainly hope the Opposition Leader went to the Mall and had a look at the model. How can he stand in here and spout such rubbish, if he actually looked at the model and understood what it was doing?
Ninety percent of the proposal at the waterfront is either at escarpment level or below – 90% of the buildings. We made no pretence that everything would be below escarpment level. There are three quite significant high-rise to east of the waterfront on that Stokes Hill area, there is one in the Fort Hill area of 11 storeys, and there are also higher buildings of 11 storeys at the end of those fingers, at the piers going into the water.
Can I point out to the Leader of the Opposition that the proposal that they had for the waterfront, was never taken to a project. We came to government and activated the waterfront. We presented a different kind of proposal there; we have a convention centre as the trigger for that development. It is certainly a development that has been warmly welcomed. It is one that will be dynamic and will really attract Darwin people to go there. One of the attractants is the fact that 40% of it will be open space; it will be recreation space for local people. It is a very exciting and forward-looking development.
While we are talking about escarpment, the official height of the escarpment is 27.5 m, as defined by the Lands department.
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: We have had the testing done, it is 27.5 m. I say again that it is very important that the Opposition Leader comes into this House and gets his facts right. Ninety percent …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The fact is the height of the escarpment is 16 …
Madam SPEAKER: That is not a point of order.
Ms MARTIN: It is not a point of order.
Mr Mills: How about the Chief Minister getting her facts straight.
Madam SPEAKER: Ninety percent of the waterfront will be on or under the height of the escarpment. We have been very clear about what will be above that. When you listen to someone like the government architect, Bob Nation, talk about the proposal, he is very clear on the way it has captured those viewing corridors, combined high rise in one area with open space in another, and how we have the best of both worlds. We have a very exciting project and most Territorians are very proud of it.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016