Darwin Film Society asks Lord Mayor to oppose RSL’s plans to rebuild club on Esplanade
THE Darwin Film Society has ‘penned a letter to Darwin Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis asking him to oppose the RSL’s Esplanade Clubhouse proposal
Northern Territory
Don't miss out on the headlines from Northern Territory. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Planned new Darwin RSL clubhouse on the Esplanade expected to win council’s in-principle support
- Darwin council votes against setting RSL Esplanade proposal deadline
THE Darwin Film Society has reached out to Darwin Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis, asking him to oppose recommendations from council staff to provide in-principle support for the RSL’s Esplanade Clubhouse proposal.
It comes ahead of the first RSL proposal to go through Darwin Council’s open session at a council meeting, with plans to erect a $10 million – $12 million family orientated clubhouse.
Darwin Film Society Chair Jeff Coulter said the consequences could be dire for the cinema, which he said receives no government assistance, employs three permanent and 13 casual employees.
Mr Coulter said the cinema also supports local non-for-profit organisations — raising up to $70,000 a year — and aslo supports local food and small businesses, and locally made feature films.
MORE STORIES
Groups in opposition to planned RSL Esplanade development call for land to be rezoned
Proposed Esplanade RSL clubhouse would include cafe, for family-friendly focus
Esplanade or bust: RSL says it won’t rebuild if it can’t use preferred Cenotaph site
“The DFS is not against the RSL moving on after its fire in Cavenagh Street and establishing a new venue – but as the Chief Minister put it earlier this year, it’s ‘a great idea, wrong place’,” he said.
“Apart from what many in the Darwin community see as the inappropriateness of the development on the site for cultural and environmental reasons, it will be the death knell of Darwin’s prime tourist attraction – the Deckchair Cinema.”
Mr Coulter said the beauty and ambience of the area would be impacted by the development, and there were alos noise and light concerns.
“Film-goers would be able to see and hear the proposed development and their clientele from their deckchairs in front of the screen,” he said.
“Noise regulations do not help in this situation, because the level of acceptable external noise is considerably lower for outdoor cinema.”
There was also concern about “the lack of communication” with the cinema regarding the proposal.
“What has consistently been suggested is compromise. Compromise on the part of the Darwin Film Society to accept that Darwin’s premium tourism attraction will be destroyed, and a successful business ended,” Mr Coulter said.
“We ask that the City of Darwin consider deeply any proposal for development on this site – and not leave Darwin open to the risk of losing its ‘jewel in the crown’ of the local tourism industry.”
OFFER EXTENDED: Amazing NT News subscription offer: Read everything for $1 a week
The RSL’s first plans for its proposed Esplanade club will go before Darwin council at Tuesday night’s meeting.
Originally published as Darwin Film Society asks Lord Mayor to oppose RSL’s plans to rebuild club on Esplanade