City of Darwin reveals plans for new $150 million civic centre

The City of Darwin Council has today advised that it is to lodge an application with the Northern Territory’s Development Consent Authority for the development of the new Civic Centre.

Working with property developer, DCOH, the Council advised of a development that it hopes will transform the central city area into a welcoming precinct with a community plaza.

Advising that said the newly developed Civic Centre is intended to be an inviting place for the people of Darwin, City Lord Mayor, Kon Vatskalis stated “the new Civic Centre will feature a larger library with an expanded footprint, meeting rooms and function spaces that can be booked by the community, new Council Chambers, space for a café and an improved Customer Service centre.

“The existing Civic Centre has served the community well for more than 50 years but is now unserviceable and a new development is required to meet the needs of the community.

“We are committed to the health, safety and wellbeing of our staff, and the existing building does not meet modern standards.

“Importantly, the new building will include approximately 400 car parking spaces that can be used by residents, workers and visitors to the city and our new library.

“Our aim is that, once complete, the area will feature a cool, green community plaza connecting the new building with Civic Park, creating a place where people can visit, connect with others and engage in community and business activities and events.”

The proposal is for the new Civic Centre to be constructed on the car park site next to the current Civic Centre with the existing building, including the library, will remain operational throughout construction.

The redevelopment plan follows the council having undertaken an extensive community and stakeholder engagement process in 2022, input from which has been used to develop the proposed development of the new Civic Centre’s functional design brief.

Council will retain majority ownership of the building, at least 51%. City of Darwin’s $77 million contribution for the proposed development of the new Civic Centre will be funded from existing reserves and borrowings - inclusive of a $30 million investment in a new carpark contained within the building.

The total project cost is expected to be approximately $150 million.

The new building will have a proposed total of 20 floors and will be built to a Property Council Australia (PCA) A-grade standard.

It is proposed that the Council occupies 10 floors of the new building, with two floors for customer service, a new library, new function space, Council Chambers, public meeting rooms and community space. There will also be an additional three floors of office space for staff, as well as five floors of car parking and building operational space.

Construction is expected to commence in the 2025 dry season and completion of the construction is expected in 2028.

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Image: The City of Darwin’s proposed new civic centre. Credit: City of Darwin.