Mr WOOD - 2005-08-25
During the Estimates Committee, it was said that building approval problems related to the WOW Sight and Sound building complex at Berrimah had caused access problems for the neighbouring Sundowner Caravan Park. You also said that, in relation to that site, that there were issues relating to access to the Stuart Highway. Have the access issues been sorted to the satisfaction of the caravan park? Could you explain the purpose of, the cost of, and who is paying for the new roadworks presently being constructed within the Stuart Highway reserve adjacent to the WowOW site and the caravan park.? And, aAre these new roadworks the result of any planning or building deficiencies related to that particular issue?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. As he rightly pointed out, there have been access problems with that particular development. The construction was not the same as the plan submitted to the Development Consent Authority in 2004. There was an impasse in terms of the developer and the proprietor of the caravan park in that the developer and the building have encroached very close to the road that was the access point at the back of the complex into the caravan park. That road is owned by council, and there are ongoing negotiations.
I am advised that agreement was reached between the proprietors of the caravan park and the developers of the WOW complex to build an access point from the Stuart Highway on to the access road, and, thereby, into the WOW complex. Government has not put money into that access road. It has been funded by the two proponents I have mentioned. I believe it is a good solution.
Unfortunately, it should not have happened in the first place. If the developer had built the original building to the plan as specified - , and this is a bit of a warning to developers who want to vary their plans;, - the developers got out of this one, - but it could have been very difficult for them. I hope that answers the member for Nelson’s questions. Basically, it was an agreement between the proponents and the Darwin City Council to build the access road, at their cost, also.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. As he rightly pointed out, there have been access problems with that particular development. The construction was not the same as the plan submitted to the Development Consent Authority in 2004. There was an impasse in terms of the developer and the proprietor of the caravan park in that the developer and the building have encroached very close to the road that was the access point at the back of the complex into the caravan park. That road is owned by council, and there are ongoing negotiations.
I am advised that agreement was reached between the proprietors of the caravan park and the developers of the WOW complex to build an access point from the Stuart Highway on to the access road, and, thereby, into the WOW complex. Government has not put money into that access road. It has been funded by the two proponents I have mentioned. I believe it is a good solution.
Unfortunately, it should not have happened in the first place. If the developer had built the original building to the plan as specified - , and this is a bit of a warning to developers who want to vary their plans;, - the developers got out of this one, - but it could have been very difficult for them. I hope that answers the member for Nelson’s questions. Basically, it was an agreement between the proponents and the Darwin City Council to build the access road, at their cost, also.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016