Darwin City’s laneways and small streets will be transformed to create enjoyable places for locals and enticing visitors to stay longer, the Northern Territory Government announced today.
The Government, in partnership with the City of Darwin Council and Federal Government, has launched Laneways and Small Streets: An action plan for Darwin City.
It is a commitment from the historic Darwin City Deal between the three levels of government to position Darwin as a vibrant and liveable city, the Government said in a statement.
“By investing in our public places, the Territory Labor Government will keep more locals, tourists and investors coming into Darwin, creating jobs and boosting the economy,” said Northern Territory Chief Minister, Natasha Fyles.
“Austin Lane and Spain Place are vibrant and inviting spaces, showcasing the benefits of improving the amenity of public spaces and reclaiming these places for people.
“I encourage traders and property owners in the laneways and small streets with innovative ideas to work with both the NT Government and City of Darwin to realise the shared vision for activated public spaces.”
The Action Plan aims to coordinate existing and future work and investment in several laneways and small streets in the Darwin Central Business District.
Twelve actions have been identified to be delivered jointly by the NT Government and the City of Darwin Council, who the Government says will work closely with traders, property owners, Larrakia and other organisations as required with a focus on:
• Place-making;
• Activation; and
• Economic enablers that encourage private investment.
To support the Action Plan, the Northern Territory Government has allocated $1.35 million to revitalise Chapel Lane and the nearby easement alongside Mitchell Street between the Hilton Hotel and TIO Building, in collaboration with the City of Darwin.
“The Darwin City Deal is a great example of what we can achieve when all levels of government work collaboratively with stakeholders and, most importantly, the local community,” said said Member for Solomon, Luke Gosling.
“It’s about transforming spaces into places – places locals and tourists actively seek out as destinations to eat, play and stay.
“We’ve got restaurants, bars and street art that would give even the best Melbourne streets and laneways a run for their money, of course, with a Territory flavour.
“Territorians know what’s best for the Territory, and I encourage the local community to make sure their voice is heard by jumping online to complete the survey and provide their feedback,” he said.
The initiatives complement existing work by the Northern Territory Government and the City of Darwin Council to improve amenities, connectivity and safety in laneways and walkways within the city centre including:
• completed $3 million upgrades to Austin Lane and Spain Place improving and activating the areas;
• monthly Austin Lane dry season markets; and
• street art through the annual Darwin Street Art Festival.
“Making public places more attractive, inviting and usable is a great activation tool,” said Minister for Business, Jobs and Training, Paul Kirby.
“Gone are the days of laneways being synonymous with skip bins and storage. Today they’re about vibrancy, gathering and fun.
“This investment will continue to give people more reason to come to and enjoy time in the City, which is great for local businesses.”
Locals and visitors are being invited to have their say on the Chapel Lane redevelopment project, which aims to encourage movement through the space, enhance the quality of the pedestrian experience, and provide opportunities for improving economic outcomes for surrounding businesses.
To view the Action Plan, visit Transforming Public Spaces https://activatedarwin.nt.gov.au/city-projects/transforming-public-spaces.
