TheTerritory Labor Government is revitalising and transforming Darwins CBD fromwaterfront to waterfront, to bring more people into the city, create localjobs and stamp Darwins position as the Capital of the North.
Government today announced it haspartnered with the Cullen Bay Marina Management Corporation to revitalise,beautify and transform the popular Cullen Bay Marina Precinct as part of therevitalisation program (which starts at the Waterfront Precinct and follows anatural path to the extended CBD area at Cullen Bay Marina).
A $10 millioncapital grant to the Cullen Bay Marina Management Corporation is funding madeavailable through specific infrastructure grant funding from 2017-18.
TransformingCullen Bay will include greening, cooling and making the area more pedestrianfriendly by connecting businesses with the Marina and the beach. It will work in tangent with DarwinsCivic and State Square precinct revitalisation, which is being undertaken aspart of the $200 million Cities Deal.
Work onrevitalising Cullen Bay is expected to create 60-80 jobs, lift theattractiveness of the precinct and generate income for local businesses throughincreased visitation to restaurants and retail outlets.
Work isexpected to begin by the end of the year with completion late next year.
A key electionpromise for the Territory Labor Government was the urban redevelopment andrevitalisation of all towns and cities across the Territory. *
Theredevelopment projects create local jobs and make more liveable centres forTerritorians, as well as attract people from interstate to visit and live here.
As noted by the Member for Port Darwin, PaulKirby:
The Cullen Baybeautification project will create attractive, cool and shady precincts that alongwith the Waterfront, book end our wonderful CBD.
Theres anatural flow from one to the other that will improve the liveability of thetown and become even more of a draw card for families and tourists.
We promised tolift the CBD from waterfront to waterfront in Darwin and were delivering withareas that pay homage to our tropical lifestyle.
With 60-80jobs supported during construction and the inevitable flow-on of increasedtrade and visitors, the beautification of Cullen Bay makes sense.
As noted by Cullen Bay Marina ManagementCorporation Chief Executive, Carmen King:
"Cullen Bay Marina ManagementCorporation is excited to partner with the NT Government to transform CullenBay into a family-oriented village with greatly improved pedestrian activation.
Stage 1 of the beautification projectis long overdue and will bolster Commercial trade and provide a neededconnection to the CBD and waterfront.
The completed project will complementthe beautiful sunset grassed area and will enhance tourism and liveability inDarwin.
Quotesfrom Activate Darwin advisory board member, Jason Hanna:
Transforming public spaces is at the top of our agenda atActivate Darwin and this funding commitment will make a huge difference toCullen Bay.
If we want to encourage new residents and new businesses toinvest in the city we need to make sure there are places for everyone to enjoy,from waterfront to waterfront.
The focus on shade and greening and creating the rightenvironment for year round events and activities will bring more people intothe city.
Quotesfrom Boatshed Coffee House owner, John Bonnin:
Stakeholders in Cullen Bay have workedvery hard for a long time to make their business dining and retail destinationsin Darwin.
This project will return Cullen Bay asan extension of the CBD and the Waterfront to destination status for bothlocals and tourists alike, as it was when it was first built.
Cullen Bay is already but thisinvestment will only increase visitation, and create a link from the Waterfront,through the CBD to Cullen bay, encouraging more foot traffic to the area.
*See attachment for additionalinfrastructure the Territory Labor Government has invested in to beautify oururban centres since being elected in 2016.
**Also see attached conceptimages of the proposed revitalisation and beautification project.
