City of Darwin is calling for public feedback on the Municipal Plan 2025/26, which features a modest rate increase of 2.5 per cent and focuses on prioritising the essentials.
This year's Municipal Plan aims to deliver value to the community by strengthening connections, improving everyday infrastructure and ensuring that services meet the core needs of residents.
Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis said the Municipal Plan and Annual Budget had been developed to support the community while maintaining essential services.
"We understand the pressures of the rising cost of living, which is why we are committed to keeping rates affordable while continuing to invest in services that directly benefit residents" Mr Vatskalis said.
"The 2025/26 Municipal Plan has been developed to ensure that as Darwin grows, we remain grounded in providing practical, reliable solutions that will make life better for residents.
"Our focus remains on providing free events, programs and activities that bring the community together, which is why we have increased funding opportunities by $300,000 through sponsorships, grants and in-kind funding.
"Keeping the city cool, clean and green remains a focus for the community and we will continue to invest in greening our municipality as well as prioritising key initiatives that will advance our Climate Emergency Strategy.
"We have allocated over $9 million to improvements at the Shoal Bay Waste Management Facility, supporting the delivery of a safe and compliant waste and resource recovery facility for the future.
"We will deliver $4.8 million in projects that promote and improve connectivity and accessibility across the municipality, including upgrading footpaths, shared paths and driveways and implementing road and pedestrian safety initiatives.
"We have allocated $1.9 million to undertaking road resurfacing and renewal throughout the municipality as well as $1.8 million dedicated to stormwater upgrades and reconstruction.
"Maintaining these essential assets supports liveability in Darwin and ensures we provide the level of amenity that a modern city requires.
"We are confident that the 2025/26 Municipal Plan will establish Darwin as a vibrant, creative, innovative, connected, healthy and environmentally responsible city," he said.
Additional highlights of the Municipal Plan 2025/26 include:
- $91.5 million capital works program
- $36.33 million for waste management operations and investment
- $9.6 million for maintaining our parks
- $4.8 million for connectivity and accessibility
- $4.2 million for libraries
- $3.2 million for tree planting and maintenance
- $1.33 million for arts and culture
- $1.9 million animal management program
- $1.9 million in community funding through sponsorships and grants
- $0.72 million sport and recreation investment
"We have increased our capital works program to over $91 million which includes an investment into a new accessible and inclusive Civic Centre which will feature a new 410 space multi-storey public carpark, larger library, community meeting rooms and function space, plus new accessible public amenities, and end of trip facilities.
"We will continue to provide essential community services such as libraries, community spaces, community events, arts and cultural activities, recreational facilities and other services.
"This year's Municipal Plan is about making sure that as Darwin grows, we remain grounded in providing practical, reliable solutions that make life better for our city's residents.
"Through several strategic priorities in the year ahead, we will be focus on stabilising our infrastructure, prioritising core services and creating lasting value through targeted, sustainable initiatives," he said.
The community is encouraged to provide feedback on City of Darwin's draft 2025/26 Municipal Plan by 21 May 2025.
To read a copy of the draft plan and have your say, visit engage.darwin.nt.gov.au/draft-municipal-plan-2024-25
