Chamber excited for cash splash

THREE NT Government infrastructure initiatives have been given the tick of approval from the business community, ahead of tenders being released in coming weeks.

The NT Government will spend just under $40 million to build a 450-space, three level underground carpark, trial a heat mitigation project in Cavenagh St and contribute to the Barneson Blvd project.

NT Chamber of Commerce deputy chief executive Brian O’Gallagher said he welcomed the announcement that the projects were going ahead.

“It’s a good boost to local business confidence and we’re happy they’re about to commence,” he said.

“We certainly hope they’ll be maximising local industry participation — we would definitely hope local companies are involved in all of these projects.”

Mr O’Gallagher called for more money to be invested into Territory infrastructure in the 2018/19 Budget.

“One of the things we’re looking forward to hopefully seeing is further investment in strategic infrastructure across the Northern Territory, which will boost business confidence in the NT,” he said.

In a statement to the Sunday Territorian yesterday, Treasurer and Infrastructure Minister Nicole Manison said the upcoming budget would include two additional CBD revitalisation projects.

The NT Government has put aside $3 million for the additional projects, but it’s not known what they will entail.

Ms Manison said the underground carpark would create 60 construction jobs and 165 other jobs to support the project, and that it would help to reduce heat in the Darwin CBD.

“Building the underground carpark will unlock more green space in the city by replacing three existing heat generating carparks whilst retaining the landscape of the current Parliament House Greens on the corner of Bennett and Mitchell Streets,” she said.

“The current heat generating car parks will be redeveloped as cool and shaded parklands to support public events and improve connectivity.”

The underground carpark will also provide a future cyclone shelter for up to 600 people, and will operate on a 24hour basis.

The Cavenagh St heat mitigation trial, which is being done with combined funding from Darwin council, will see a 50m long green street canopy over the street and cool surface treatments painted on to the road surface.

Temporary planter boxes for medium scale trees and garden walls will also be installed.

It’s expected work will begin on all three projects in coming weeks, soon after the tenders are awarded.