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Darwin City Deal

The Northern Territory Government has entered into an agreement with the Commonwealth to work together to create a City Deal for Darwin that will drive investment, and make life better for residents, business and the Territory.

The Darwin City Deal initiative is a joint project between the Northern Territory Government, the City of Darwin and Charles Darwin University to design a 10-year plan for the Darwin city centre that sets a long term and sustainable vision for the future.

Vision

Cavenagh street

Darwin will be a thriving, vibrant, cool capital city, a trading hub of the north, and a destination to visit and a place to call home.

Given the importance of our future innovation, education, workforce and enterprise development, the city vision aspires to see Charles Darwin University grow by providing key facilities for student living and learning spaces as a centrepiece of the city.

This vision builds on existing evidence, plans and engagements  including:

View the Flythrough

The Darwin CBD Flythrough Concept outlined a draft vision for creating a vibrant Darwin city centre, showcasing the possibilities for:

  • State Square
  • The Mall
  • Smith Street
  • Cooling and greening
  • Heat mitigation and urban design

It set out an overall concept for how Darwin’s city centre could be transformed into a cooler, more pedestrian-friendly place, creating a vibrant economic hub, linking the Waterfront to Cullen Bay through the heart of the city and reflecting the rich heritage and stories of the people of Darwin.

Concepts and themes have been refined since the flythrough was released based on community and stakeholder feedback.

Find out more about:

Have your say

Initial feedback on the Darwin City Deal flythrough concept closed on 14 September 2017 with 649 submissions received. A summary report of the feedback is available here (pdf)

Heat mitigation

The NT Government commissioned the University of New South Wales (UNSW) to conduct a study of inner city heat, humidity and wind movement. The study used thermal imaging and drone monitoring to map the city’s temperatures.

The initial report identified hot spots in the city, developing and evaluating heat mitigation scenarios and proposing solutions for the city of Darwin. Following the study, a number of greening and cooling initiatives will be trialled as part of the program to revitalise the Darwin CBD.

Cavenagh Street heat mitigation trial

Cavenagh Street will be used as a testing ground for heat mitigation strategies for Darwin, between Bennett Street and Knuckey Street.

This location was selected following the heat study which showed Cavenagh Street to be one of the hottest locations in the CBD, with surface temperatures exceeding 60 degrees in some locations.

Pending the success and what is learnt from the trial, there is the potential for mitigation methods to be used in other locations. This work could position the Northern Territory as a global leader in heat mitigation projects and research.

Heat mitigation initiatives along Cavenagh Street will be constructed in five zones, with each location trialling different options.

Find out more

Artist concept
Artist concept

State Square Underground Carpark

The heat study showed that the surface carparks around the State Square area act as heat sinks, generating high temperatures that the wind blows through the city centre. A new underground carpark will be constructed next to Parliament House which will allow existing asphalt carparks in the area to be greened.

Heat mitigation study

The urban heat island (UHI) effect in which urban areas exhibit higher temperatures than the surrounding rural or suburban areas is well documented in hundreds of cities around the world including major cities in Australia.

The Government commissioned the University of New South Wales (UNSW) to conduct a study of inner city heat, humidity and wind movement. The study used thermal imaging and drone monitoring to map the city’s temperatures.
The initial report summarises the UNSW investigation of the characteristics of the urban heat island of Darwin, NT, identifying hot spots in the city, developing and evaluating appropriate UHI mitigation scenarios and proposing optimum UHI mitigation solutions that could be tailored for the city of Darwin.

Some of the recommendations to achieve a cooler inner city include greening and shading and new-generation paint and paving products. Further mapping of temperature over a twelve month period will be undertaken to continue to build a consolidated picture of temperature, hotspots and mitigation technologies.

Heat study
Executive summary
Final report
Conclusion

A presentation of recent research into the effects of heat and climate took place in Darwin on 22 September 2017. Copies of the presentations can be accessed below:

Cavenagh Street impression