Mr MILLS - 2004-11-30
In the interests of getting the right view on the waterfront development, if you do you sums, you say that 10% of these buildings are above the escarpment - there are 11 of them. Therefore, there are 99 that are not. Add the other 11 and that makes 110. There are 110 buildings on this advertisement, and the title of it says: ‘Let us get the right view’. There are 110, using plan maths. I went across to the display that you have in the mall, the only comprehensive briefing I was able to get with your permission …
Madam SPEAKER: Your question, Leader of the Opposition.
Mr MILLS: I counted the buildings – a true and accurate record over there – there are only 48 buildings represented on this true and accurate balsa wood model. Do you still stand by the accuracy of this advertisement, or do you actually know how many buildings are being planned?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, 90% of the building footprint of what will be in the waterfront redevelopment will be at escarpment level or below. The opposition is trying to damage the whole waterfront proposal. What you see when you actually go down to the shop and look at the model - if you get down on your knees and have a look at what is above – that is an accurate portrayal of the footprint of what will be built - 90% of the footprint of what will be built.
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: You despair with the opposition! What we have is an exciting proposal for Darwin. If you take a look at a document such as the environmental impact statement, interestingly enough – have a look at the documentation associated with it - we are encouraging diversity in building mass and heights to avoid a monotonous harbour front image. It is envisaged that buildings in particular areas will generally not exceed the height of the escarpment …
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: It is not encouraged generally! That is what we have done. We were very clear about protecting the escarpment and those views from the escarpment, which is why, all along, we very clearly said there will be three high-rise on the east perimeter. There will be one – and they are high, but not as high as the CLP’s proposal. We are only at 30 floors; they were at 40 floors. We have identified those and, again, honestly and accurately, identified in the map here in front of you.
When I was struggling to remember who had certified the model, it was a licensed surveyor who said that the model you have of the waterfront is accurate.
Mr Mills: There is 110 over here, and 48 over there.
Ms MARTIN: Forty percent of the waterfront will be public space - if you listened! It will be exciting recreation for Darwinians. We can go to restaurants, we can swim, there is a seawall, you can windsurf in safety. You can go to the wave pool. I am sure that the churlish Leader of the Opposition will never go to the wave pool because, in principle, he does not support the waterfront development.
We have been accurate about this. The government architect, whose job it is to make comment on proposals such as this, has applauded the work done by the proposed developers. He has said Darwin Cove Consortium has looked at view corridors as creating an exciting tropical proposal unique to Darwin. And all we can get from the churlish, anti-development opposition is ‘we don’t like it, we are going to bag it. We are going to bag the jobs, we are going to bag the opportunities for Darwin and we are going to pick at everything trying to demonstrate that something is wrong and there is something you have not been honest about’.
Well, let me say, this is a very exciting project for Darwin’s future and I look forward to 10 years when I can see it realised.
Madam SPEAKER: Your question, Leader of the Opposition.
Mr MILLS: I counted the buildings – a true and accurate record over there – there are only 48 buildings represented on this true and accurate balsa wood model. Do you still stand by the accuracy of this advertisement, or do you actually know how many buildings are being planned?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, 90% of the building footprint of what will be in the waterfront redevelopment will be at escarpment level or below. The opposition is trying to damage the whole waterfront proposal. What you see when you actually go down to the shop and look at the model - if you get down on your knees and have a look at what is above – that is an accurate portrayal of the footprint of what will be built - 90% of the footprint of what will be built.
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: You despair with the opposition! What we have is an exciting proposal for Darwin. If you take a look at a document such as the environmental impact statement, interestingly enough – have a look at the documentation associated with it - we are encouraging diversity in building mass and heights to avoid a monotonous harbour front image. It is envisaged that buildings in particular areas will generally not exceed the height of the escarpment …
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: It is not encouraged generally! That is what we have done. We were very clear about protecting the escarpment and those views from the escarpment, which is why, all along, we very clearly said there will be three high-rise on the east perimeter. There will be one – and they are high, but not as high as the CLP’s proposal. We are only at 30 floors; they were at 40 floors. We have identified those and, again, honestly and accurately, identified in the map here in front of you.
When I was struggling to remember who had certified the model, it was a licensed surveyor who said that the model you have of the waterfront is accurate.
Mr Mills: There is 110 over here, and 48 over there.
Ms MARTIN: Forty percent of the waterfront will be public space - if you listened! It will be exciting recreation for Darwinians. We can go to restaurants, we can swim, there is a seawall, you can windsurf in safety. You can go to the wave pool. I am sure that the churlish Leader of the Opposition will never go to the wave pool because, in principle, he does not support the waterfront development.
We have been accurate about this. The government architect, whose job it is to make comment on proposals such as this, has applauded the work done by the proposed developers. He has said Darwin Cove Consortium has looked at view corridors as creating an exciting tropical proposal unique to Darwin. And all we can get from the churlish, anti-development opposition is ‘we don’t like it, we are going to bag it. We are going to bag the jobs, we are going to bag the opportunities for Darwin and we are going to pick at everything trying to demonstrate that something is wrong and there is something you have not been honest about’.
Well, let me say, this is a very exciting project for Darwin’s future and I look forward to 10 years when I can see it realised.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016