Defence has held a sod turning ceremony to acknowledge commencement of the RAAF Base Darwin Mid-Term Refresh project worth almost $160 million Works commenced on the major capital facilities and infrastructure project in early April The investment will provide upgrades to RAAF Base Darwin to enhance security including a new high-capacity main entrance firefighting water and sewer infrastructure The upgrades will improve the base’s ability to support the significant number of personnel aircraft and support elements that operate from RAAF Base Darwin during major activities and exercises The sod turning ceremony included a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony hosted by the Traditional Owners of RAAF Base Darwin Defence’s Director General Capital Facilities and Infrastructure said the project of $159.9 million would improve the ADF’s ability to operate from RAAF Base Darwin a key node in Australia’s northern network of airbases “This is an important step in achieving the 2024 National Defence Strategy which called for upgraded northern bases to enhance the ability of the Australian Defence Force to project force,” Brigadier Quinn said “These critical upgrades follow recent works to enhance the main runway and taxiways security and resilience of RAAF Base Darwin and ensuring the base remains fit-for-purpose into the future.” Defence awarded Laing O’Rourke as the managing contractor for the delivery of the project Defence seeks to maximise local opportunities to bid for the project which is estimated to support up to 220 jobs in the region “The project will generate significant local economic benefit in the Darwin region and provide opportunities for local and Indigenous businesses and individuals,” Brigadier Quinn said Construction is forecast to be completed by mid-2027 Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δdocument.getElementById("ak_js_2").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()) SPONSORED CONTENT: Facing the Evolving Needs of Maritime Security - APDR IAI Israel's premier defence corporation and a provider of naval and maritime solutions is at the forefront of maritime security South Australia touts defence industry growth - APDR South Australia is leading the nation’s defence industry growth with the state’s economic contribution up 30 pct to $1.9 billion in 2023-24 Work starts on RAAF Base Darwin refresh project - APDR Defence has held a sod turning ceremony to acknowledge commencement of the RAAF Base Darwin Mid-Term Refresh project worth almost $160 million Hanwha Systems wins missile defence deal - APDR Hanwha Systems announced that they will take charge of developing the multi-function radar of LAMD (Low Altitude Missile Defense) Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall expand missile partnership - APDR Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall have expanded their cooperation with the signing of an update to an existing Memorandum of Understanding Daily News Bulletin from APDR for 02/05/25 - GA-EMS, Rafael sign missile partnership - APDR General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems have signed a deal to support Australia’s missile programme Australian Army salutes long-range fires brigade - APDR The Australian Army is realising its long-range fires and littoral manoeuvre transformation as part of the National Defence Strategy. Penten and Amiosec merge into PentenAmio - APDR Penten and Amiosec announced the successful completion of their merger, launching PentenAmio, a leading global provider ... Δdocument.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()) Defence has officially marked the start of a major AU$160 million upgrade to RAAF Base Darwin, with a sod-turning ceremony held to acknowledge the commencement of construction on the Mid-Term Refresh project. Works began in early April on the large-scale infrastructure and facilities upgrade, which aims to bolster the base’s operational capacity, safety and resilience. The investment will deliver a suite of improvements, including a new high-capacity main entrance, a separate upgraded entry for heavy vehicles, and vital upgrades to the base’s potable water, firefighting water and sewer systems. If you check the box above before you log in, you won’t have to log back into the website next time you return, even if you close your browser and come back later. The project is designed to strengthen RAAF Base Darwin’s ability to support the high volume of personnel, aircraft and logistics during major exercises and deployments, solidifying its role as a key hub in Australia’s northern defence network. The ceremonial event, held on Larrakia Country, featured a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony led by the traditional owners of the land on which the base sits. Brigadier Matthew Quinn, Defence’s Director General Capital Facilities and Infrastructure, said the works would significantly enhance the Australian Defence Force’s ability to operate from the strategically important base. “This is an important step in delivering the 2024 National Defence Strategy, which highlights the need to strengthen northern bases to enable the ADF to project force more effectively,” BRIG Quinn said. “These upgrades follow on from recent improvements to the runway and taxiways, building on our efforts to ensure RAAF Base Darwin remains fit for purpose for years to come.” Laing O’Rourke was awarded the managing contractor role in December 2024 and is now overseeing delivery of the project. Defence is working closely with the company to ensure local businesses – including Indigenous enterprises – are well placed to benefit from subcontracting opportunities. The project is expected to support up to 220 jobs in the Darwin region across the construction phase. “The project will bring strong economic benefits to the local community and provide valuable opportunities for both local and Indigenous workers and businesses,” BRIG Quinn added. Construction is scheduled for completion by mid-2027. CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) The Darwin property market has seen its highest annual price growth since mid-2022 with the median home price hitting a fresh peak The latest PropTrack Home Price Index revealed the median dwelling price in Darwin increased 3.78 per cent year-on-year in March to sit at $519,000 with the Darwin market not seeing an annual price increase of more than this since July 2022 “Darwin recorded the fastest quarterly rise across all capital city markets in March 2025,” she said The median Darwin house prices was sitting at $587,000 in March while the median unit price in the NT’s capital was $386,000 “Darwin had previously underperformed compared to other capital with subdued growth and even decline,” Ms Creagh said “The recent upswing reflects a bit of a catch up after a period of softer growth.” Ms Creagh said Darwin remained Australia’s most affordable city though prices were likely to continue to grow in months ahead “As interest rates began to move lower in February we were seeing activity from first homebuyers and upgraders entertaining market,” she said Andrew Harding said Darwin’s price growth was as expected given the current market conditions of affordable real estate coupled with low supply “Darwin has the lowest median price out of any capital city in the country and some of the highest rental yields “The investors are driving the sub-$600,000 market but it’s predominantly locals buying the $1m-plus stock “Enquires across all properties are higher and average auction bidders have gone from 1.2 to four per auction.” Mr Harding said he expected price growth to continue throughout 2025 “The Perth market was dormant for 10 year and had this massive boom,” he said “Darwin has got the same factors occurring as Perth did before it had a huge run.” The PropTrack report showed the national median home price increased 3.91 per cent year-on-year in March to $799,000 The capital city with the highest annual growth was Perth (11.53%) The median home price in Melbourne dropped 2.26 per cent in the same time “Home prices across the country climbed in March following a clear shift in market momentum triggered by the Reserve Bank’s February rate cut,” Ms Creagh said “February’s rate cut boosted borrowing capacities and buyer confidence helping to reignite demand and reverse the small price declines seen in the months prior.” third parties have written and supplied the content and we are not responsible for it completeness or reliability of the information nor do we accept any liability or responsibility arising in any way from omissions or errors contained in the content We do not recommend sponsored lenders or loan products and we cannot introduce you to sponsored lenders We strongly recommend that you obtain independent advice before you act on the content realestate.com.au is owned and operated by ASX-listed REA Group Ltd (REA:ASX) © REA Group Ltd. By accessing or using our platform, you agree to our Terms of Use. Construction of the new Civic Centre building will soon commence The current Civic Centre carpark and nearby entrance will be closed from Monday 28 April and remain closed while works take place The City Library will remain open and will be accessible from the Civic Centre Customer Services’ entry near Civic Park.  Please note that the City Library returns chute will be temporarily unavailable A new Book Drop will be installed at the Cavenagh St side of the Civic Centre soon.  For more information about the project, please go here We apologise for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding City of Darwin is pleased to release a concept design for a new Multigenerational Recreation Space in Waters Ward which has been developed with feedback received from the community the new Multigenerational Recreation Space will provide a recreation space where people of all ages and abilities can come together and interact Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis said the staged and prioritised project will include a multigenerational regional playground and other recreational elements as well as lighting an improved car park and public facilities “Feedback from the community was positive for the development of a new multigenerational recreation space in Malak with over 68 per cent of respondents agreeing with Malak Oval as the most appropriate location and over half of respondents saying they would visit the space with their children,” Mr Vatskalis said.  “Safety and security were key concerns raised by the community and the concept has been developed to address this by incorporating elements such as additional lighting improved visibility throughout the park and location of amenities in high traffic areas “Enhanced parking options were also important and the concept design includes a new and improved car park that can be utilised by people who frequently use the Malak Oval area and the surrounding buildings including the City of Darwin community centre and childcare facility clean and green spaces with ample shade is a priority and the design will increase shading using various methods such as tree canopy this space will cater to the diverse community and benefit residents seniors and people who are new to the area,” he said The first stage of the project will include infrastructure upgrades made to the carpark and access paths as well as the installation of some fixed play equipment with these elements scheduled to be complete in the next financial year The area surrounding Malak Oval was identified as the preferred location for the recreation space due to its proximity to transport corridors local amenities and other recreation and community facilities With the completion of public consultation in August 2024 and endorsed by Council to proceed to detailed design.  City of Darwin committed $500,000 for the investigation consultation and design of the recreation space As per City of Darwin’s Draft Municipal Plan 2025/26 a further $1.5 million will be contributed towards construction in addition to a grant funding promise from the Northern Territory Government of $500,000 To view the results of the engagement, visit engage.darwin.nt.gov.au/waters-ward-multigenerational-recreation-spacehttps://www.engage.darwin.nt.gov.au/waters-ward-multigenerational-recreation-space View all news Is there anything wrong with this page?Back to top Report an issue City of Darwin acknowledges the Larrakia people as the Traditional Owners of the land and waterways now known as Darwin and values the ongoing contribution to enrich and appreciate the cultural heritage of Darwin Council acknowledges and respects Australia’s First Peoples as Traditional Owners of lands and waterways across Country The City of Darwin also values the contribution made to Darwin over the years by people of diverse backgrounds and cultures In the lead up to National Reconciliation Week City of Darwin is joining forces with the Darwin Beach Choir to provide a unique opportunity for the community to learn the Voices for Reconciliation song everyone is welcome to join in at the Darwin Ski Club to learn the song as part of a national program with Reconciliation Australia encouraged everyone to take part in the event noting further events will take place during Reconciliation Week which starts next month.  “The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2025 is Bridging Now to Next which encourages looking ahead to foster a united and respectful nation,” Ms Saunders said "City of Darwin is committed to strengthening the relationship between First Nations people and others as well as celebrating and demonstrating respect for the first people of these lands “This event with the Darwin Beach Choir is a great opportunity to get involved in a fun and engaging way and you don’t need to be an accomplished singer to take part “We will release details about additional Reconciliation Week activities soon,” she said National Reconciliation Week is observed annually in Australia from 27 May to 3 June and aims to celebrate the history and culture of First Nations people Reconciliation Australia are working with Choirs around the country to learn Solid Rock as part of their Voices for Reconciliation program.  City of Darwin is committed to forging stronger relationships with Australia’s First Peoples and organisations acknowledging there is significant learning to be achieved for a shared future I am an Australian Permanent Resident (including Humanitarian Visa holders) I am not a citizen of Australia or New Zealand I am not an Australian permanent resident or Humanitarian Visa holders Still unsure? Contact Student Central Volunteers have shouldered the burden of shorebird conservation in the Top End for more than half a century but new research from Charles Darwin University (CDU) suggests it’s time for the government to take responsibility for all of the Northern Territory’s residents – including those with wings.  The Federal Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 protects 14 shorebird species in protected by the federal Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 – two of which are considered critically endangered Habitat degradation is the leading cause of population decline among these species with 65 per cent of the tidal flats favoured by shorebirds lost over the last 50 years due to rapid changes in land use But study lead author Dr Amanda Lilleyman said 69 per cent of the activities and actions taken in relation to shorebird conservation in Darwin since 1972 have been community-led or research-based Much of these activities included volunteer monitoring programs as well as community-led education and engagement events funded through small grants Dr Lilleyman said her research indicated the high volume of volunteer-led activity meant there were expectations for volunteers to continue leading efforts to protect shorebird populations She held concerns this could lead to volunteer burnout among the birds’ greatest champions “Australia has signed international agreements to protect shorebirds and their habitats but the onus has historically been on volunteers to lead the charge through things like citizen science and community events,” she said “Even though volunteers work hard to raise awareness of the plights of shorebirds the reality is that we will continue to see declining populations if something does not change.” Dr Lilleyman, who is also a committee member for the voluntary BirdLife Top End committee, co-authored the Darwin Harbour Migratory Shorebird Site Action Plan to complement her research alongside fellow committee member Gavin O’Brien.  She said the plan was a blueprint for shorebird management in Darwin Harbour This research contributes to Goals 15 and 16 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals The Artificial Intelligence model was developed to detect changes in forest cover.  Charles Darwin University (CDU) PhD candidate Faisal Bin Badar never imagined his dream to improve education in his home country of Pakistan would evolve into an internationally recognised mission to build adaptable Economic growth doesn’t have to come at a cost to the environment and the ways in which this is possible will be on display at a global conference being held in Australia for the first time.  Charles Darwin University acknowledges the traditional custodians across the lands on which we live and work CRICOS Provider No: 00300K RTO Provider No: 0373 TEQSA Provider ID PRV12069 We use cookies to improve our service. By continuing you agree to our privacy statement. EU/EA members can update your cookie settings here. Local Darwin company DEC Installations has been engaged to transform Smith Street into a dynamic pedestrian hub featuring micromobility lanes improved amenity and artwork from local creatives Work on City of Darwin’s Smith Street Streetscape project will commence on Monday 31 March 2025 with the project expected to be completed by July 2025 Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis said the final design of the Smith Street Streetscape project had been shaped by the community “We undertook considerable community consultation for the Smith Street Streetscape project with nearly 80 per cent of respondents supporting the upgrades,” Mr Vatskalis said “Over half the people surveyed said they would be more inclined to visit the street once the improvements are made greener and more dynamic hub with enhanced pedestrian experience and safety “We are also excited to see the public art components come to life The Smith Street Streetscape project will see greening and cooling elements added to the stretch between Knuckey and Whitfield Streets including additional trees and landscaping improved pedestrian and active transport access and enhancements made to amenity and there will be new pedestrian crossings added at Whitfield Street Some car parks will be removed to make way for more trees in line with the community’s desire to see a cooler alternatively referred to as the Pride Flag will be replaced with the Inclusive Progress Pride Flag with the refreshed design determined in consultation with peak representative bodies The project is funded by the Northern Territory Government and delivered by City of Darwin as part of the Darwin City Deal which aims to position Darwin as a vibrant and liveable tropical city.  For more information, visit Smith Street Streetscape Improvements | City of Darwin | Darwin Council, Northern Territory City of Darwin wishes to advise that the free parking trial in Zone A and Zone B in the Darwin city centre finishes today On-street parking has been free in Zones A and B after 3pm on Mondays until Fridays since December 2024 Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis said City of Darwin will now review the data to measure the success of the trial “Our aim was to support local businesses in the lead up to Christmas and during the quieter non-peak visitor months by offering free parking in Zone A and Zone B in the Darwin city centre,” Mr Vatskalis said “Our goal was to support local businesses by making it easier for residents and visitors to come into the city centre,” Mr Vatskalis said “We understand the challenges businesses face during the non-peak season and we hoped that free parking would make it easier people to visit “We will now speak to retail representatives to understand success of the trial as well as review the relevant data and statistics.” he said While the free parking trial has concluded weekend parking remains free throughout the city except in Zone A on Saturdays from 8am to 2pm All zones are free and unrestricted from 2pm Saturday and all-day Sunday rained down on the harbour in the largest air raid ever conducted against Australia during World War II injuring over 400 people and causing widespread destruction to ships City of Darwin hosted a commemorative ceremony at the Darwin Cenotaph today to reflect on the city’s wartime history and resilience Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis emphasised the significance of the day highlighting its importance in Australia’s national story “The Bombing of Darwin was the largest attack ever carried out by a foreign power on Australian soil with devastating consequences for both servicemen and civilians,” Mr the Bombing of Darwin is recognised as a National Day of Observance honouring those who endured this pivotal moment in Australia's history “February 19 marked a defining moment in the history of our city and shaped our country and collective history The Bombing of Darwin was not just a local tragedy; it was a pivotal event in our national story.  “The impact of war reached far beyond those who remained in Darwin.  the Australian Government ordered the evacuation of the city’s civilian population.  often facing hardship and uncertainty in their new surroundings they found a changed and deeply scarred home “The courage of those who defended Darwin in wartime will always be honoured,” he said The Bombing of Darwin commemorative ceremony included a live re-enactment of the events that took place 83 years ago performances by the Band of the 1st Brigade and the Darwin Chorale For more information, visit darwin.nt.gov.au/community/things-to-do/community-celebrations/bombing-of-darwin To download a media kit, visit darwin.nt.gov.au/bod-media-kit City of Darwin is pleased to announce that an application for development of the new Civic Centre has been approved by the Development Consent Authority and works will commence shortly The new Civic Centre will transform the surrounding area into a welcoming precinct with a community plaza and enhanced connection to Civic Park and Cavenagh Street said the newly developed Civic Centre would create more community amenities and a new and improved library “The new Civic Centre building will be constructed on the current car parking site and will take up a smaller footprint than the existing building so that “The new Civic Centre will be accessible and inclusive featuring a larger library with an expanded footprint as well as meeting rooms and function spaces that can be booked by the community the new building will feature approximately 410 car spaces workers and visitors to the city as well as an improved Customer Service centre the City Library and Customer Service centre remain open and can be accessed via the existing Customer Service entry The existing carpark will be closed for the build and there will be 15-minute parking and accessible bays available on Harry Chan Avenue,” she said City of Darwin is investing $77 million in the new Civic Centre including $30 million to be spent on public carparking and $6 million to be spent on landscaping and revitalisation of the current Civic Centre site The remaining $41 million will be for City of Darwin’s proportion of the new building which will include a larger library and community spaces including Changing Places and other public amenities It will also include space for City of Darwin’s administration and technical services offices which will take up less space than the current office space in the existing building.  The $77 million investment by City of Darwin into the new Civic Centre is comprised of $47 million from reserves which can only be used for public carparking or for development of a new Civic Centre precinct as well as $30 million in external borrowings The use of borrowings for the new Civic Centre will mean that build costs are allocated across multiple future years and ensure intergenerational equity City of Darwin has partnered with local construction company on the project which creates efficiencies in the costs to build the new Civic Centre however City of Darwin will retain majority ownership of the land and the building own and operate floors 11 to 20 of the building said that the development approval brings excitement for DCOH in their efforts to continually grow the NT and its offering “DCOH is excited to partner with the City of Darwin to develop and construct the new Civic Centre,” Mr Dignan said.  “Growing Darwin and the territory is something DCOH prides itself upon and we are thrilled to be taking the next step towards this with the new Civic Centre "A lot of hard work has gone into this architectural landmark project since its inception and DCOH would like to thank the local planners architects and consultants who have contributed thus far.” The new Civic Centre project has been in planning for over four years and the final procurement process had probity oversight in place to ensure all requirements were met.  a new plaza will be created where the existing Civic Centre building is connect with others and engage in community and business activities and events The new plaza will also respect and give prominence to Galamarrma Construction is expected to begin early in the dry season this year and be complete in 2028 For more information visit the project page at darwin.nt.gov.au/projects/civic-centre-redevelopment Darwin is famous for its vibrant street food offerings with visitors and locals flocking to enjoy tasty treats sizzling snacks and mouthwatering meals across the municipality From traveling to Italy with a classic wood fired pizza to enjoying a curly ice cream during a weekend park play date there is a range of street food choices and experiences on offer Expressions of interest for City of Darwin’s Street Food Program open today and close on Friday 28 February 2025.  Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis said he was proud of the city’s vibrant street food program which provided a variety of options at famous locations around the municipality “Our vibrant Street Food Program helps activate the incredible outdoor spaces for which Darwin is famous for with street food available at numerous coastal sunset viewing spots to the many hustling and busting community events on offer each year,” Mr Vatskalis said “Excitingly this year we have a new location available with the revitalised Bundilla Beach area able to host a number of street food vendors from April 2025 “Our Street Food Program adds to Darwin’s thriving food scene as well as enhancing our outdoor offerings and contributing to the local economy,” he said.  Aspiring entrepreneurs can enter the program through a one-month trial permit at a discounted rate to test market viability and refine product offerings The Street Food Program runs from 1 April 2025 until 31 March 2026 carers and friends of the Fun Bus mobile playgroup program to provide their feedback on the service Input received will provide valuable insights to help shape the program ensuring it best meets the needs of attendees encouraged anyone who had attended the Fun Bus to have their say “We are incredibly proud of the Fun Bus mobile playgroup which has been running for over 35 years and is a fantastic resource for the community,” Ms Saunders said “Input received through the survey will ensure we continue to provide the best services and experiences possible to meet the expectations of young participants and families,” she said The Fun Bus is a free accessible mobile playgroup that provides play-based activities for children under five and their parents and carers Operating from outdoor parks during the dry season and City of Darwin’s community centres in the wet season the Fun Bus provides an educational program which is stimulating developmentally appropriate and enhances children’s learning and development.  The Fun Bus is run by City of Darwin in conjunction with the Northern Territory Government in collaboration with United Nations Association of Australia (NT Division) and the Northern Territory Government Office of Gender invites everyone to celebrate International Women’s Day by attending the annual walk through the city centre on Saturday International Women’s Day is a global celebration of women all over the world which seeks to unite friends City of Darwin Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis said International Women’s Day was a time to celebrate the achievements of women who have changed history as well as those who will advance gender equality in the future “City of Darwin is committed to advocating for gender equality and the International Women’s Day Walk is a great opportunity to bring people together from all walks of life to think act and be gender-inclusive,” Mr Vatskalis said “This year’s event features a range of fantastic entertainment City of Darwin’s Fun Bus for little ones to enjoy roving performances and a free community BBQ “The walk will be led by the Darwin City Brass Band and there are long and short options available “Dr Ella Stack was the first female Lord Mayor of an Australian capital city and the first Lord Mayor of City of Darwin and International Women's Day provides a great opportunity to celebrate the progress made by women such as Dr Stack,” he said The theme for International Women’s Day 2025 is For all women and girls: Rights Free bus travel is available on the day and attendees are encouraged to wear purple and bring banners has released a new interactive tool to help make Australia’s tropical capital - Darwin - a more liveable sustainable and resilient city.   Rising temperatures in urban environments across the country are causing increased heat stress particularly for vulnerable populations.  Residents of Darwin, where humid air temperatures have regularly exceeded 35 degrees this summer, can use the Darwin Living Lab portal to assess the heat exposure of their neighbourhood and identify solutions to lower their heat stress.   insights from the project will be applied to other regions throughout Australia.   called on Darwinites to use the Darwin Living Lab portal to help manage the impact of rising temperatures.   “Residents can use the portal to zoom in on their local areas and find solutions like planting more trees around their homes or painting their roof a lighter colour,” Mr Cook said.   “Urban planners can also use it to explore how city features like tree cover and urban density influence heat levels across suburbs.”  CSIRO scientists are using the portal to analyse where Darwin can improve on the 3-30-300 guideline for tree canopy devised by Dutch urban forestry expert Cecil Konijnendijk.   school and workplace should have a view of at least three trees be in a neighbourhood with at least 30 per cent canopy cover and be within 300 metres of high-quality public green space.   “It’s a new metric that's emerging based on what's considered adequate urban tree cover for people to actually benefit,” Mr Cook said.   “It's also about the mental well-being aspects around having visibility and proximity to greenery.    “It's like a benchmark rather than a performance target and poses the question: what's the minimum level of tree canopy that everyone should have access to?”  The portal is part of the Darwin Living Lab project a collaboration with the Australian and Northern Territory Governments and City of Darwin as part of the Darwin City Deal.  CSIRO also runs an Urban Living Lab project at Sydney Science Park in Western Sydney and has plans for another at Ginninderra in Canberra.     said Australian cities are considered among the most liveable in the world but our cities were becoming vulnerable to extreme climate consume immense resources and generate a lot of waste.    “Transitioning our cities to be future ready is critical,” Dr Muster said “The Urban Living Labs aim to develop and accelerate outcomes in liveability sustainability and resilience for national benefit,”   Visit the Darwin Living Lab portal. Explore our Focus on Darwin e-book for stories and conversations on changes in Darwin’s liveability, sustainability and resilience. Shaded surfaces have temperatures up to 21.2°C cooler than sun-exposed surfaces which reduces the urban heat island effect Standing in the shade can make you feel up to 5°C cooler compared to the full sun.   Trees are particularly good at creating shade and they also cool via evapotranspiration (drawing up water from deep in the soil long into the dry season) external blinds and trees can reduce solar gain keeping indoors cooler and reducing energy demand for air conditioning Trees take time to grow and they cannot be planted everywhere Installing engineered shade or the use of green walls with climbing plants can also be good options Breezes can help you stay cooler through increased evaporation of sweat and can help flush out the build-up of heat in the urban landscape Urban and building design should allow for Darwin’s prevailing north-west breezes to flow through the urban landscape opening windows of your home on the windward and leeward sides can encourage cross ventilation and help heat loss.    Choosing light-coloured (cool) roofs can help reduce the cooling load to your home.    Let’s get energy efficient around humidity The humidity in Darwin is a real challenge to staying cool during the build-up and wet seasons While most Darwin households use air conditioners to maintain comfort during the hottest months of the year the increased energy demand increases pressure on your bills while also contributing to greenhouse gas emissions can improve your thermal comfort and reduce air conditioning use Increasing the set temperature of air conditioners to 24-26°C and during the wet season running in dry mode can help reduce energy demand for cooling.    We are committed to child safety and to the implementation of Child Safe principles and procedures We could not sign you up to receive our newsletter Please try again later or contact us if this persists CSIRO acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, sea and waters, of the area that we live and work on across Australia. We acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. View our vision towards reconciliation Find out how we can help you and your business Get in touch using the form below and our experts will get in contact soon CSIRO will handle your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and our Privacy Policy This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment University of Technology Sydney provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation AU View all partners Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton have both committed to stripping a Chinese company, Landbridge, of the lease to operate Darwin Port Landbridge paid A$506 million for the 99-year lease from the Northern Territory government in October 2015 democratically elected representatives like Albanese and Dutton have the power to make such decisions Australians would hope and expect these decisions were driven by the best available advice not domestic political sparring ahead of a federal election This is particularly so when such a move would likely elevate fears among foreign investors around sovereign risk Defence Minister Richard Marles has refused to say if security agencies are recommending Australia retake control of the port nor has the Coalition provided a reason for its new stance Media reports often cite “defence experts” who claim Chinese ownership of the lease involves unacceptable risks it has been the long-standing and consistent advice of Australia’s most senior national security officials that this is not the case Landbridge did not need Canberra’s approval when it secured the port lease in 2015. Nonetheless, the company notified the Foreign Investment Review Board of its interest in submitting a competitive bid for the lease four months before the deal was sealed The Department of Defence and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) “examined it thoroughly” The then-secretary of the Department of Defence We are at one in agreeing that this was not an investment that should be opposed on defence or security grounds Richardson told Senate Estimates in 2015 he was “not aware of any concerns” among the senior leadership in the Australian Defence Forces (ADF) I can sit at the fish and chip shop on the wharf […] and watch ships come and go Some analysts raised concerns after the sale but these were borderline ridiculed by officials with access to the most highly classified national security information Analysts at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, for example, warned that a Chinese company holding the lease “could facilitate intelligence collection” of ADF operations and US Marine deployments Richardson said it was “amateur hour” to suggest Chinese spies could use the port for this purpose He added: “It’s as though people have never heard of overhead imagery” from spy satellites Even more ludicrous were claims the port deal would provide the People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) with “facilitated access to Australia” Richardson labelled this as “alarmist nonsense” Any visits by foreign naval vessels cannot be approved by a commercial port operator They must be signed off on by the Department of Defence Analysts also contended that Landbridge’s chairman, Ye Cheng, was a “senior Communist Party official” and the company was a “commercial front intimately tied to state-owned operations, the party and the PLA” This was debunked by a Chinese law and corporate governance expert Tellingly, when Landbridge found itself in financial difficulty in 2017, it was forced to borrow in high-interest rate debt markets This is common for privately owned Chinese firms but not those with close state and party connections They would be able to access subsidised loans from state-owned banks When Foreign Minister Julie Bishop was asked in 2018 whether she had any lingering security fears about the Darwin Port lease, she replied the Department of Defence “had no concerns […] and that is still the case” As the China-Australia relationship deteriorated in the ensuing years, the Morrison government reviewed the deal in 2021 It found there were still no national security grounds sufficient to overturn the lease Yet another review by the Albanese government just 18 months ago also deemed it “not necessary to vary or cancel the lease”. It concluded: there is a robust regulatory system in place to manage risks to critical infrastructure In announcing his pledge to reacquire the Darwin Port last weekend, Dutton alluded to “advice of the intelligence agencies” pointing to a deterioration in Australia’s strategic circumstances The reality is that if Albanese and Dutton now suddenly and genuinely believed that Darwin might need to serve as a staging post for military conflict with China forcing the sale of a few commercial wharves currently operated by a Chinese company would be a woefully inadequate response They would instead be committing to a massive infrastructure upgrade, most likely in the form of an entirely new port facility. Planning for such a facility was already being mooted in 2019 City of Darwin is pleased to offer free parking in Zone A and Zone B in the Darwin city centre on-street parking will be free in Zones A and B after 3pm during the week Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis said City of Darwin is supporting local businesses in the lead up to Christmas and during the quieter non-peak visitor months “Councillor Sam Weston brought a Notice of Motion to Council to support a three-month trial for free on-street parking in the Darwin city centre which was endorsed,” Mr Vatskalis said “We know it can be tough for businesses during the non-peak season and we’re hoping that this initiative encourages residents and visitors to visit the city centre during the holidays “We are lucky to have an incredible range of retailers and world-class hospitality venues within the city centre and I encourage everyone to make use of this offer to explore our wonderful city,” he said Free parking in the city centre will be available at on-street locations in Zone A and Zone B from 3pm from Monday 2 December 2024 until Friday 28 February 2025 Parking in the city centre remains free all weekend except in Zone A on Saturdays from 8am to 2pm Lake Alexander has been closed temporarily due to elevated levels of bacteria detected during routine water quality monitoring with heavy rainfall and runoff into the lake temporarily reducing water quality As the current quality of the water does not meet the levels required for swimming the lake has been temporarily closed to swimmers and for other water activities whilst further testing is undertaken The public will be advised when the lake is reopened please heed all signs while the water quality testing is being undertaken City of Darwin apologises for any inconvenience related to the closure yet remains committed to maintaining the highest environmental practices to protect the community and our environment.  Lake Alexander has its water quality regularly monitored for public safety.  Please visit darwin.nt.gov.au for updates NEXTDC’s flagship data centre in the Northern Territory and the first of its kind in Darwin to provide 100% uptime plus fast secure and flexible access to major cloud platforms In partnership with Vocus and the Northern Territory Government NEXTDC are committed to driving the economic development for technology capabilities in the region Power your critical operations with confidence NEXTDC’s D1 Darwin data centre is Northern Territory’s first Uptime Institute Tier IV-certified (Design and Construction) data centre This means it is completely fault tolerant with N+1 redundancy for all critical plant and equipment supporting power and cooling availability For the first time in a major metropolitan DC we are using static (battery) UPS supported by MTU (Rolls Royce) engines.   With 24-hour on-site fuel storage and 100% backup of the entire site load Our energy-efficient data centres are designed for reliable you’ll have peace-of-mind and never have to worry about downtime again 2.7MW Piller rotary UPS supported by MTU (Rolls Royce) engines 100% UPS backup of entire site including mechanical for continuous cooling we know that your business depends on the reliability and energy efficiency of your data centre As IT workloads and processors become more dense keeping your environment cool becomes more challenging and uses increased amounts of power That's where our industry-benchmark PUE performance delivers cost saving and ESG performance benefits free cooling CRAC paired with modular cooling tower infrastructure for continued growth providing high levels of reliability and industry leading PUE of 1.2 (yearly average target) or 1.15 (yearly lowest) 24 hours of water stored on-site (minimum) NEXTDC's is your gateway to Australia's dynamic digital marketplace connecting Northern Territory with a national ecosystem of over 750 clouds carriers and digital services providers allowing you to build complex hybrid cloud networks Our AXON virtual interconnectivity platform enables dynamic and scalable connections East and West to NEXTDC’s national footprint of data centres and on-ramps to leading cloud platforms like Microsoft Azure D1 Darwin offers the lowest latency to clouds in Northern Territory with agile D1 will also support Vocus’ in-progress fibre infrastructure deployments in Australia’s north including the Darwin-Jakarta-Singapore Cable system and the Project Horizon fibre between Darwin and Perth via Port Hedland Gateway to NEXTDC’s entire national ecosystem of public and private cloud providers and scalable connections to Microsoft Azure cost effective and low latency point-to-point Cross Connects As soon as you arrive at a NEXTDC data centre you’ll notice our robust physical security measures in place Our state-of-the-art facilities feature anti-scale perimeter and ballistic-rated security office We also provide secure loading docks for deliveries and extensive coverage by digital motion-sensitive CCTV cameras.  But our commitment to security doesn’t stop there We also have stringent procedural and technological safeguards in place such as anti-cloning card encryption and two-factor biometric fingerprint access.   We understand that true security also requires discretion That’s why we’ve chosen to keep some of our most cutting-edge security practices under wraps – because your protection is our top priority ▪ Designed and built to meet minimum requirements for a Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF) ▪ Physical security concept provides the necessary measures to DETER-DETECT-DELAY-RESPOND to any security event at any of the zones ▪ Two factor Biometric fingerprint security for data centre access ▪ Individual credential checks prior to authorisation ▪ Remote monitoring and rack access control via ONEDC® ▪ Monitoring of news and weather for external security risks Experience peace of mind as your compliance risk management is handled by NEXTDC's world-class data centres certified to meet the highest standards for security and PCI DSS certifications ensure that your data is always protected And with our commitment to innovation and sustainability you can trust that our infrastructure and processes are continuously improving to meet your evolving needs Partner with us and join the growing community of organizations who have experienced unparalleled protection Target UI Tier IV Certification of Constructed Facility Target UI Tier IV Gold for Operational Sustainability NEXTDC’s corporate operations have been certified carbon neutral under the Australian Government’s Climate Active Carbon Neutral Standard we're dedicated to providing exceptional customer experiences through state-of-the-art data centre amenities that help you work smarter From versatile meeting rooms and dedicated office spaces to relaxing chill-out suites our facilities are designed to ensure a seamless Supporting large scale delivery of IT equipment.  Customer storage facilities available purpose-built paths from delivery to data hall for rapid install and activation.  Support for escorted access and tours.  Assistance with car parking and meeting rooms 24/7/365 technical and customer support on-site (if required).  Bookable meeting rooms and AV equipment  Dedicated office space for long-term private use (MCX – mission critical office space)  Chill-out and break-out suites equipped with kitchen facilities NEXTDC’s premier data centre in the Northern Territory marks a significant advancement for the region It stands as the first facility of its kind to ensure 100% uptime while offering rapid and adaptable access to major cloud platforms In collaboration with Vocus and the Northern Territory Government NEXTDC is dedicated to fostering economic growth and enhancing technological capabilities in the area Darwin’s data centre is expected to officially launch in August 2024 setting a new benchmark for digital infrastructure in the region NEXTDC is actively engaged in several sustainability initiatives reflecting our commitment to environmental responsibility These initiatives demonstrate NEXTDC's dedication to reducing the environmental impact and promoting sustainability within the industry Interconnectivity plays a crucial role at NEXTDC serving as the backbone of our data centre offerings Here are the key aspects of interconnectivity at NEXTDC:  These features ensure that NEXTDC's customers can leverage robust and scalable connectivity solutions to enhance their business operations and digital initiatives NEXTDC holds several key certifications that reflect the quality Let’s shape the future of your digital infrastructure together or want to experience our cutting-edge data centres firsthand By providing your email address and clicking on the subscribe button, you consent to receiving communications from NEXTDC related to our products, services, and events and agree to the NEXTDC Privacy Statement City of Darwin is calling for community members to express their interest in joining the Tree Advisory Committee to help make Darwin a cool Members of the Tree Advisory Committee advise Council on relevant policies programs and strategies to support City of Darwin’s Greening Strategy Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis encouraged anyone with a background in arboriculture natural resource management or similar to apply “Members of the Tree Advisory Committee support City of Darwin in delivering our Greening Strategy clean and green city and ensure we maintain and grow our urban forest,” Mr Vatskalis said “The Greening Strategy provides a framework for enhancing preserving and protecting the natural environment of Darwin and aims to create a greener future for all “The Tree Advisory Committee acts in an advisory capacity and provides recommendations to advocate inform and support City of Darwin’s greening initiatives,” he said Members of the Tree Advisory Committee are responsible for reviewing and monitoring the implementation of City of Darwin’s Greening Strategy and contributing to the ‘Establishing a Resilient Urban Forest for Darwin’ plan They will also contribute to the ‘Preferred Trees for Darwin’ and ‘Trees Not Recommended to be Planted’ registers as well as making recommendations on suitable tree species for replanting and best practice in re-establishing trees in the municipality.  There are up to two community member roles available on the Tree Advisory Committee with terms running from May 2025 until May 2027 All community member positions are voluntary and the Committee meets a minimum of four times a year Nominations are open now and close at 5pm on Wednesday 9 April 2025.  The daughter of a beloved Darwin supermarket owner who was allegedly stabbed to death inside his store last week has been left angry following another incident one day after the shop's reopening The Darwin supermarket where its beloved owner was allegedly murdered after trying to stop a teen from shoplifting has been targeted again Northern Territory Police were last Wednesday called to Territory Friendly Grocer in the coastal Darwin town of Nightcliff after Linford Feick Locals shopping at the time provided first aid before paramedics took over and started CPR the Canadian-born man could not be saved and died inside his store named in court on Monday as Phillip Randel Maurice Parry allegedly fled on a bike but later that night handed himself into police Mr Feick's family have spent the past several days mourning as they try to come to terms what happened to the beloved store owner and how to move forward Loved ones decided to bravely reopen the supermarket on Sunday Mr Feick's daughter was left stunned after would-be thieves tried to steal from the store just three days after the teen was allegedly caught shoplifting "As a family in mourning and a family business grieving we opened our doors to our beloved customers yesterday," JoAnne Feick wrote to Facebook on Monday night "It is with a heavy heart that I want to let our community know that we had a group of four 'locals' enter our shop and tried to steal from us on this day They were escorted outside and told to leave This was the last thing we and our customers needed Ms Feick thanked locals for showing their support to the family and their business "The community reaching out means the world to us and it has been an absolute strength to help us deal with our tragedy," she said A makeshift floral tribute outside the supermarket has grown in the days following Mr Feick's death highlighting how much he was loved in the community candles and two envelopes reading "dad" and "poppy" were placed under a large tree with residents seen embracing each other The 18-year-old accused of fatally stabbing Mr Feick faced court on Monday where it was revealed he allegedly stole and trespassed two days earlier Darwin Local Court Judge Steve Ledek said Mr Parry had been on bail at the time of the alleged fatal stabbing over some groceries NT News reported he could be hit with another two aggravated robbery charges from April due to police recording the date of birth and the teen's first name incorrectly Mr Parry has been charged with the murder of Mr Feick and for theft and trespass relating to an alleged shoplifting incident two days before the stabbing He did not apply for bail and remains in custody The 18-year-old's family - who police say convinced the teen to hand himself into a police station - were seen in tears at court watching the proceedings The matter returns for a preliminary examination mention on June 25 Image credit: Anastasia Maximova and her artworks City of Darwin is proud to present Beyond Biodiversity the latest instalment in the Lightbox Exhibitions series which celebrates Darwin creatives by displaying their works across the municipality botanical artworks by local award-winning artist educator and researcher Anastasia Maximova will be on display in ten purpose-built lightboxes Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis said the latest exhibition featured watercolour works which celebrate native flora found thriving within Darwin’s rich biodiversity.  “The latest instalment of the Lightbox Exhibitions captures the essence of Darwin’s unique flora,” Mr Vatskalis said “Beyond Biodiversity highlights the native plant species that thrive in the Casuarina Coastal Reserve and the greater Darwin area vibrancy and ecological significance of these species.  “We are proud to continue supporting local artists and creative businesses through our Lightbox Exhibitions which offer a unique way of showcasing art from local artists as well as enriching public spaces with inspiring art,” he said City of Darwin’s Lightbox Exhibitions program features new artworks every six months at three key sites throughout the city the entrance to the Dragonfly Carpark on Cavanagh Street and at the Nightcliff Pool The artworks can be seen any time of the day or night and the program provides an ongoing opportunity for City of Darwin to partner with local lead artists and curators to support and promote Darwin creatives.  Join fellow Bulldogs fans from near and far at the Club’s Official Fan Function in Darwin next weekend including AFL forwards coach Matt Spangher and Development and Player Leadership coach Jarryn Geary ahead of our Round 9 clash with Gold Coast in the Top End Please note those under 18 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for this event *Club figures subject to change without notification. Defender Liam Jones will be sidelined for a number of weeks. The Bulldogs have enjoyed another clean sweep of the coaches’ votes. Keep your radios dialled into Nova all week to hear from your favourite Bulldogs players. A deeper dive into the stats from our win over Port Adelaide. The latest on Adam Treloar, Nick Coffield and more ahead of Saturday's clash in Ballarat. Chris Bell provides an update on Liam Jones and Jordan Croft. Lou Stephenson reflects on the day of activity with Fire Rescue Victoria. The Magpies and Bulldogs clash in round six. Backline coach Daniel Pratt reviews the round 8 victory over Port Adelaide in Ballarat. The Western Bulldogs Official App is your one stop shop for all your latest team News, Videos, Player Profiles, Scores and Stats delivered LIVE to your smartphone or tablet! Western Bulldogs acknowledge that we work, train and play on the traditional lands of the Kulin Nation. We offer our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today. a museum takeover that celebrates the creativity and talent of Darwin's young people music and market stalls of handmade delights MAGNIFY also shines a spotlight on the EXIT Art exhibition which showcases the very best contemporary art and design from Northern Territory Year 12 students Zoom in on the talents of emerging creatives and find out about what the Museum has to offer the young people of Darwin This celebration of creativity has something for everyone including: ​MAGNIFY is recommended for young people aged 15-25 Visit https://launchdarwin.com.au/magnify-art-beats-food/ for all the details Back to Event listings Multicultural Multigenerational Mainstream Dance Association Inc Community organisations can apply for funding to support projects that enrich the diversity of cultural recreational and social opportunities in Darwin through City of Darwin’s Community Grants Program There are two rounds of Community Grants available per year to assist projects that contribute to active reconciliation forge partnerships between community groups and are inclusive and accessible City of Darwin Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis said the grants would support community organisations with capacity-building projects “The Community Grants aim to support projects that build and strengthen partnerships between community groups and organisations and contribute to active engagement and leadership by underrepresented populations from diverse communities,” Mr Vatskalis said “Projects that contribute to Reconciliation by building relationships respect and trust between the wider Australian community and First Nations are also supported “We have previously assisted a range of fantastic initiatives including a sensory garden for people with disability and people with dementia; a targeted dog desexing program; a free arts and culture event celebrating diversity and a Tamil New Year festival and I look forward to seeing the applicants for this round,” he said Community groups of all sizes can apply for funding with grants between $1,000 and $10,000 available for projects that occur between 1 July and 31 December 2025 in the Darwin municipality Applications for Community Grants open from Saturday 1 March and close on Monday 31 March 2025.  Applicants can be not-for-profit organisations or individuals or groups auspiced by a not-for-profit organisation For more information contact City of Darwin’s Community Development Officer on 08 8930 0300 or email communitygrants@darwin.nt.gov After successfully hosting the Australia Cup 2023 and 2024 Final Rounds Playoffs these critical preliminary fixtures of Australia’s largest annual knockout competition will once again play out in the Northern Territory Darwin Football Stadium at Larrakia Park will be the backdrop for two exciting matches to determine who will secure a spot in the Hahn Australia Cup 2025 Final Rounds the Hahn Australia Cup 2025 Final Rounds Playoffs have been moved forward to coincide with the conclusion of the preceding Isuzu UTE A-League Men season This strategic adjustment aligns these fixtures with the relevant competitive domestic season shifting away from a preseason environment to ensure teams can field full in-form squads to enhance the quality and intensity of each match the revised scheduling introduces an exciting mid-week football event during the Isuzu UTE A- League Men Finals Series providing fans with more high-quality football matches at an important point in the season The Hahn Australia Cup 2025 Final Rounds Playoffs feature the four clubs that finish 10th to 13th in the Isuzu UTE A-League Men 2024/25 Regular Season The two victorious teams will qualify for the Hahn Australia Cup 2025 Round of 32 and join the top nine teams from the Isuzu UTE A-League Men 2024/25 Regular Season as well as 21 Member Federation clubs from a variety of levels and locations from right across Australia’s football ecosystem James Johnson said he was delighted to see top-flight football return to the Northern Territory “We've loved bringing the Hahn Australia Cup Final Rounds Playoffs to the Top End as part of our broader strategy to give all corners of the country access to high-quality professional fixtures,” Johnson said “The response from the football community across the Northern Territory has been so pleasing over the last two years and reinforces the strength of football in bringing communities together The ability for these Playoffs to connect the professional level of our game with the grassroots is an invaluable part of our broader work within the region “An event like this wouldn’t be possible without the support of Football Northern Territory and we are so thankful for their contribution to these Playoffs and look forward to another fantastic set of games in Darwin,” Johnson concluded Jamie Montieth welcomed the announcement that the Hahn Australia Cup 2025 Final Rounds Playoffs would return to Darwin “We’re so grateful to Football Australia for their ongoing commitment to bringing the Playoffs to Darwin and their broader support of football in the Territory It’s an honour for Football Northern Territory to host this fantastic event once again,” Montieth said “It’s a wonderful opportunity for our community to engage with some of the best our national competition has to offer while also being a unique destination for fans to travel and support their team – enjoying the football along with everything else the NT has to offer “Off the back of successful events in 2023 and 2024 I know how excited the community will be to have the Playoffs in their backyard once again and we’re looking forward to seeing a packed house at Darwin Football Stadium,” Montieth concluded Broadcast details for the Hahn Australia Cup 2025 Final Rounds Playoffs will be confirmed in the coming weeks Tickets for the Hahn Australia Cup 2025 Final Rounds Playoffs will go on sale from 3.30pm local/4.00pm AEST on Monday, 14 April via Ticketebo Tickets for the Hahn Australia Cup 2025 Final Rounds Playoffs start at $20 Adults $12 Concession* and $50 Family.*Concession Card Holders Students.**Children 12 years and under free Hahn Australia Cup 2025 Final Rounds Playoffs Match Schedule: Tuesday, 13 May 202510th v 13thKick-off: 7.00pm local/7.30pm AESTVenue: Darwin Football Stadium at Larrakia ParkTickets: Via Ticketebo from Monday Wednesday, 14 May 202511th v 12thKick-off: 7.00pm local/7.30pm AESTVenue: Darwin Football Stadium at Larrakia ParkTickets: Via Ticketebo from Monday The Hahn Australia Cup 2025 Final Rounds Playoffs are proudly supported by:• Official Accommodation Partners: H on Mitchell Apartment Hotel & Courtyard by Marriott Darwin.