City of Darwin to deliver new outdoor fitness stations and upgraded sporting facilities

Darwin Council is investing $5 million towards the Better Suburbs Projects program which will deliver new exercise stations, suburban shopping village beautification, lighting upgrades and improved sporting infrastructure among a range of new community projects.

The funding commitment follows on from the $2.13 million already invested jointly by City of Darwin and the Northern Territory Government in 2020, as part of the COVID-19 stimulus package.

The streetscape beautification projects are part of Council’s continuing focus for greening the city and the tree cover along transport corridors will help reduce the heat island effect in suburban areas.

Through consultation with the Alderman, council officers have identified key areas around the municipality that require an upgrade, new assets or equipment.

Darwin Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis said the Better Suburbs Projects would also help stimulate the economy with works going out to support local contractors.

The Better Suburbs Projects have been broken down into around 20 projects with $750,000 allocated to each ward and another $2 Million for street beautification including works at Malak, Karama and Parap shopping villages.

Some of the upgrades and improvements to be delivered under the Better Suburbs Projects include:

Waters Ward

•             Malak basketball court upgrade

•             Malak Community Centre carpark lighting upgrade

•             Malak Oval Club Room Shade Awning

•             Robyn Lesley Park exercise equipment upgrade

•             Anula Oval spectator seating

•             Kalymnos Drive zebra crossing

•             Manunda Park Installation of wifi

Chan Ward

•             Nightcliff foreshore street food vendors infrastructure

•             Chrisp Street Oval toilet block upgrade and basketball court shade structure

•             Nightcliff shops laneways beautification

•             Nightcliff foreshore planting to assist with erosion mitigation

•             Nightcliff Oval upgrades

•             Rapid Creek laneway upgrade

•             Nightcliff foreshore shade structure

Lyons Ward

•             Goyder Road streetscape beautification

•             Parap Shopping Village beautification

Richardson Ward

•             Buffalo Creek boat ramp upgrade

•             Garamanak Park exercise equipment

•             Perez Street Children’s Crossing

•             Lyons Street children’s crossing

Where necessary, further stakeholder and community consultation will be undertaken for some individual projects before delivery.

Image: Works completed at Holzerland Park, Malak – Budget $130,000 - jointly funded by NT Government and City of Darwin as part of the $2 million Joint Community Projects.