Council confirms Darwin Cenotaph redevelopment won’t impact on area’s capacity to host other events, such as GleNTi

PLANS to refurbish the Darwin Cenotaph, and add an eternal flame and a forecourt, won’t compromise the area’s capacity to host major events such as GleNTi, Darwin council has confirmed

Plans to refurbish the Darwin Cenotaph, and add an eternal flame and a forecourt, won’t compromise the area’s capacity to host major events such as GleNTi, Darwin council has confirmed. Picture: Che Chorley

PLANS to refurbish the Darwin Cenotaph, and add an eternal flame and a forecourt, won’t compromise the area’s capacity to host major events such as GleNTi, Darwin council has confirmed.

Darwin council approved proposals from the Darwin RSL to redevelop the area for $1 million, including new landscaping, LED lights and an eternal flame in a concreted forecourt on the Esplanade side of Bicentennial Park.

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However, questions from Alderman Peter Pangquee confirmed the proposals wouldn’t impact on the area’s capacity to host other large scale events such as Glenti, the organisers of which had hoped to host the sprawling, annual Greek festival at the Cenotaph site this year.

“What we are putting in place in partnership with the RSL is a forecourt area of remembrance that then leads all the way through to the Cenotaph,” Chief executive Scott Waters said.

“We don’t think it will (compromise on the land’s usage).”

Darwin General Manager Community and Regulatory Services, Polly Banks, said council had taken inspiration from King’s Park in Perth, which had a distinguished area where “people can sit there and enjoy the grass (and) it wouldn’t be appropriate to have other uses in that space”

However, Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis said use of the land for other events would have to be considered by council.

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“We make the decision as council about that,” he said.

“The only problem GleNTi had was to co-ordinate with the Australian Army and Queen’s Birthday (activities organisers) to bring the cannon fire and commemorations together … but it’s something council decides, not the RSL.”

Council confirmed the space was “always intended as a multi-purpose space”.

While the initial works have been given a completion date of the end of June, further works will also be planned.

“We are working on stage two, which will be part of remembering the civilians who were very much affected by the bombing of Darwin and other military conflicts which have affected the city of Darwin over many years,” Mr Waters said.

Council said it would not take on any financial burdens from the proposed project.

Originally published as Council confirms Darwin Cenotaph redevelopment won’t impact on area’s capacity to host other events, such as GleNTi