Melaka director Michael Sitzler shares new details on Alice Springs apartments
The developer behind an approved apartment proposal in the Red Centre has shared new details on its construction, such as how long it will take, and the eye watering sum it will cost. Find out more.
Northern Territory
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Alice Springs can expect a new apartment block in the heart of town in “approximately four years”, the developer behind the proposal says, as he reveals the eye-watering sum it’s going to cost to build them.
Melanka director and development manager Michael Sitzler said it’s going to cost “about $100 million” to build the 144 new apartments planned for 94 Todd St in the town’s CBD.
“That’s just the forecast cost at this stage and we’ll have to go and test it in the market in the upcoming months,” he said.
He’s estimating construction to begin at the site as early as September this year, and he said the new apartments are going to take four years to build.
“So the exceptional development application has been approved and we now go through a phase of finalising the design based on that approved design and then we’ll have to price that in detail and then make a final investment decision to proceed,” he said.
“So obviously colours and things might change a bit as we move closer to commencement and a few, you know, little tweaks here and there.
Melanka’s exceptional development permit (EDP) was approved by NT planning minister on February 11.
The site for the new apartment has sat empty since 2008, when a backpackers was demolished on the site.
It’s the third time an EDP has been approved for the site, with others approved in 2010 and 2015.
Melanka’s first lodged their latest proposal for the site in July 2024, and originally sought to build 174 apartments on the site.
The project was scaled back to accommodate for greater setbacks for the apartments.
Melanka’s current apartment proposal is part of the Territory government’s regional accommodation project, but Mr Sitzler said the project is a “purely privately funded development”.
The government will acquire 50 per cent of the apartments, with punters able to lease the others, Mr Sitzler said.
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