City Council silence: Speculation swirls around ‘Foundation Stone’ costs

Criticism is swirling around Smith Street’s “Foundation Stone” mobility hub, but the City of Darwin is stony silent on how much it all cost. Read the details.

The City of Darwin has remained tight-lipped over the costings of its “Foundation Stone” mobility hub installed on Smith St. Picture: City of Darwin

The City of Darwin’s latest addition to the city’s works of art has been lauded by council for its “practical and symbolic significance”, but not everyone is convinced.

Council has remained stony silent over the costs of its “Foundation Stone” mobility hub which sits on Smith St, as the artwork draws a wide-range of opinions on social media.

Foundation Stone was created by artist Lee Harrop.

It is three giants pieces created from Mt Bundy granite, a locally quarried stone used throughout Darwin in roads, footpaths, facades, flooring and furnishings.

The City of Darwin did not directly respond to questions about the cost of each giant stone, how much it cost to transport and install them, or if it had a response to critics who questioned the project.

“By highlighting the material’s origin and widespread use, the piece prompts reflection on extraction, permanence, and the built environment’s relationship to place,” a spokesperson for City of Darwin said.

The Smith Street Streetscape project is funded entirely by the Northern Territory Government as part of the $3 million Darwin City Deal announced in mid-2023, however the project itself is delivered by the City of Darwin.

It plans to add more greenery and pedestrian crossings, new street furniture and public art from local creatives, and dedicated bicycle and e-scooter lanes as part of the upgrades.

Foundation Stone will serve as a mobility hub. Picture: City of Darwin

In theory, it is supposed to serve as a mobility hub, which enables multiple modes of transport such as walking, cycling, public transit and ridesharing to cross.

“These hubs often feature amenities like seating, signage, lighting, bike racks, and shelter, making them inviting, function spaces that facilitate movement while also encouraging people to pause and engage with their surroundings,” a spokesperson for the City of Darwin said.

The whole Smith Street Streetscape project was anticipated to be completed by July 2025. Picture: City of Darwin

“Blending aesthetics with utility, Foundation Stone offers a moment of stillness within a zone of movement — connecting people not just physically, but emotionally and intellectually, to the city’s foundations.”

There was a mix of responses on Facebook, with one user sharing, “we’re so lucky here in Darwin to have artists of Lee’s calibre. Public art for the win”.

But some users on Reddit were far more critical, with many users upset that a number of car parks had to be removed in place of the art.

“I saw this last night and I can safely say that these upgrades are a disaster. It has taken MONTHS as well,” one user said.

Works for the Smith Street Streetscape project commenced on March 31 and it was expected to be completed by July 2025.

Originally published as City Council silence: Speculation swirls around ‘Foundation Stone’ costs