THE KEY TO A BETTER CITY “It is time to ensure that Darwin has all the essential ingredients of a great city – and a plan to deliver for them” A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Darwin is currently facing significant economic challenges following the wind-down of the Ichthys Inpex construction phase and the decline of the mining sector. CBD office vacancies have risen once again and have been the highest in the nation with the lowest demand for three consecutive years. City retailers face stiff competition from expanding “This is a thought suburban centres, and the growth in the CBD residential population is slowing. piece presenting However, it is in such times where the opportunities and ideas rather than drive for change can be the greatest. fixed solutions. This thought piece sets out initiatives to help overcome economic challenges and trigger renewed focus on There is no silver Darwin CBD as the hub for economic growth in the NT. bullet.” The Property Council of Australia is committed to driving discussion on a range of matters to ensure the CBD is thriving for the benefit of its residents, visitors, traders and property owners. This thought piece presents ideas rather than fixed solutions. There is no silver bullet. What is clear is that a unified vision and approach is essential if we are to position the city for its future. Darwin is at a crossroads. After a historic residential, commercial, retail and industrial construction boom, our city is under pressure. Despite a rush of major projects and development, there is an overwhelming sense that there is something of a vacuum, with no clear vision or focus on how the city should move forward. Darwin City is the heartbeat of the Territory. It is the engine room that needs to fire on all cylinders. We can make this happen with the right policy and regulatory changes. Ruth Palmer Executive Director Property Council of Australia - NT Division 2 A Call to Action A MESSAGE FROM OUR THE PROPERTY COUNCIL’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KEY ADVOCACY PLATFORM Our five-point plan for prosperity, jobs and strong communities. Postcode 0800 Make the residential densification of the inner city a key government priority - barriers must be removed and the right incentives provided Darwin CBD Shopping-town Coordinate and centrally manage a new CBD retail strategy Brand Darwin City Our CBD needs an identity. We need to develop a Darwin CBD brand and develop a strategy to promote it A shared city agenda Form a joint body between local bodies Plan Darwin Undertake new initiatives to plan ahead, including securing inner-city transit corridors and programs to create a more walkable city 3 What stakeholders are saying • There needs to be regulatory reform to • Student housing would be a welcome unlock opportunities and revitalisation addition to the city environment • City destinations are disparate and • The CBD lacks density poorly connected • The relationship between City of Darwin • CBD retail is under-performing and the NTG needs to be stronger • A greater diversity of users is required in • The relationship between Industry and the city to sustain retail the City of Darwin needs to be stronger • Events and markets should focus on • Too many agency approvals are required providing activation in places where it is for minor and major matters and also missing projects • City landlords need to work together • There is a lack of common vision for the CBD • There is no overall compelling retail offer in the CBD • The core CBD is still too “business only” – little activity after 3pm • The CBD lacks the amenities and services found in the suburbs • Darwin as a place is not marketed, tourism has a Territory-wide focus • • Anti-social behaviour is a major issue in • the CBD for retailers • • A diversity of spaces and options for • residents and businesses is important for city diversity and city vitality • 4 A Call to Action There are a range of factors in play 1. POLITICAL 4. PLANNING • The prosperity and vitality of the CBD • A city planning strategy should be and inner city must be a priority for the introduced – setting the groundwork government, in acknowledgment that for a new City Planning Scheme. The NT when the city thrives, greater Darwin and Planning Commission and NTG need to the rest of NT thrives. listen to Industry’s concerns and come to a compromise position. The Central • The City of Darwin and agencies must Darwin Area Plan should be the guiding be made aware that business and the document for this process. community is making an urgent call to action that the management and • The federal government through the development of the city requires new Smart Cities Plan is actively working with energy. the NTG and CoD on a Darwin City Deal 2. COMPETITIVE 5. CULTURAL AND SOCIAL • Cities, not countries, now compete for • State migration patterns have seen the NT investment and attention. With over being the loser. 100 cities in China having more than 1 million people, our city must act in a • A thriving CBD is crucial for wider nimble, coordinated way to survive and economic confidence, retaining talent, prosper – leveraging off our competitive community pride and vitality. advantages, and developing a strong brand to attract people, investment and • Economic sentiment and a major-project visitors. hangover have created an environment where some consider CBD investment as 3. ECONOMIC unnecessary. • New initiatives and policy tools are required to drive economic development and attract investment. • The CBD workforce has shrunk. Retail is experiencing high vacancies and dramatically lower rents in some areas. Commercial vacancies are at an all-time high. • Residential property prices and rents have fallen which is depressing residential investment. A thriving CBD is crucial for wider economic confidence, retaining talent, community pride and vitality. 5 POSTCODE 0800 POSTCODE 6 A Call to Action 1.1 IT’S TIME TO GROW THE DARWIN POPULATION provided with well-appointed parks and facilities i.e.; ACTIONS Zuccoli, Northcrest, Bellamack and Muirhead. New • Make the residential city residents are not receiving the same investment in new or existing spaces. However, the Bicentennial densification of the CBD a key playground has provided a much-needed face-lift for government priority – barriers the Esplanade. must be removed, and the right For too long, policy makers have presumed the CBD incentives provided. residential growth will flourish due to CBD proximity alone – policy changes, new infrastructure and • Cultivate existing new initiatives are required to maintain and spur neighbourhoods as the momentum. desirable places to live, work THE SOLUTIONS and play. It is time for a Postcode 0800 Project – similar to that undertaken in Melbourne. (Melbourne 3000.) A • Ensure Darwin reflects its project that provides an all-government commitment identity through beautiful to treating the CBD like a greenfield area in terms of new infrastructure coordination and facilitating streets, buildings and precincts growth. THE CHALLENGE This requires a commitment by NTG and CoD to plan for school sites, road, cycling and pedestrian Darwin’s CBD population is at a low base. Darwin’s connections and open space. population density is 44.98 people per square There is a need to position residential development kilometre, which ranks as the least populated capital as the priority of densification– due to the CBD’s city in Australia. Darwin’s population density is only accessibility and agglomeration, commercial and 10 percent of Melbourne’s population. It is one of the retail uses will always possess a natural advantage so it is important that policy tools are used to incentivise least populated cities by world standard. residential development. The estimated population of Darwin CBD is 6,700. Investment needs to be directed to fund essential infrastructure in the CBD as a means of servicing Densification is key to growing and diversifying the existing and future residents. Funds should be CBD economy – driving demand for retail, services, directed to the acquisition of land for pocket parks (or hospitality, and leisure as well as creating vibrancy upgrades to existing or under-utilised) new laneway and activity throughout the day and night. connections, streetscape upgrades, CBD recreation centres and other community facilities. The CBD population is low – perpetuating a commercial character that is not conducive to Implement improvement schemes in areas where council or other factors are inhibiting residential residential growth, desirable neighbourhoods outside densification. of the CBD are more attractive. The Territory Government should partner with For residents already living in the CBD, some core industry to drive innovation by piloting a commercial essential services are missing. to residential conversion project in the CBD with a low -grade commercial building. (A vertical inner-city The right facilities - whether it is recreational, retirement village could be a potential candidate for education or retail facilities - are essential for this process.) residential growth but conversely may not transpire Amendments need to be made to the Planning without this growth in the first place. Scheme so that new residential developments in the CBD can compete with developments outside of On some measures, new residents in greenfield the CBD. We need to make it easier to carry out new areas have better access to facilities and services residential developments in our CBD. than those in the CBD. New suburbs for example are 7 1.2 A CITY OF NEIGHBOURHOODS THE CHALLENGE Great cities of the world are filled with well-known desirable inner-city neighbourhoods that are perceived and managed as distinct places. While some of Darwin’s inner-city neighbourhoods have distinct identities; such as Larrakeyah for its history, location and leafy streets; Bayview for 6,700 its marina views and access and the restaurant ESTIMATED POPULATION OF scenes of Cullen Bay – others have been DARWIN CBD overlooked or left behind.