Ozanam House relocation plan dates blow-out
St Vincent de Paul has given the NT News an exclusive first look at its Ozanam House relocation facility. See the photos.
Northern Territory
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Suburban Coconut Grove could be home to the relocated Ozanam House clean-up facility for at least five years - not two years as approved by Development Consent Authority.
With the relocated centre expected to open first-thing Monday, the Catholic Church is already pivoting for the facility to remain in Coconut Grove beyond two years if approved by the government.
In April, the DCA approved St Vincent de Paul’s submission to relocate Ozanam House from Stuart Park to the new site at 115 Dick Ward Drive, despite overwhelming objections from Coconut Grove business operators and residents.
Conditions of the permit approval included the site not be used as a ‘habitable room’, and that use of the land for the community centre stops within two years of the certificate of occupancy being issued.
St Vincent de Paul chief executive Rob Lutter last week finally agreed to take face-to-face questions from the NT News after declined interview requests by the organisation and responses to question via prepared media statements.
He said St Vincent de Paul had begun consulting with Coconut Grove business operators and residents, months after the development consent approval process began earlier this year.
During that process, 82 submissions were lodged against the development compared to just eight that supported the move.
Mr Lutter denied St Vincent de Paul had breached faith with the Coconut Grove community.
He also denied the organisation did not want to hear criticisms of the project before receiving a tick from the DCA in April to relocate.
“We were aware that there was concerns from our neighbours,” he said.
“We do care. We’ve been here for 30 years.”
He disagreed the Ozanam House relocation would add a significant new use to the Gwalwa Daraniki Association site, which is diocese land.
“We went through the due process that was provided to us and the advice that we were given from our planner” Mr Lutter said.
The DCA determination was for the centre to operate for two years in Coconut Grove from the date of issue of the occupancy certificate, but Mr Lutter has his sights on potentially five years.
“I can’t guarantee anything,” he said.
“At the moment we’re negotiating with Northern Territory Government on finding a permanent home. So working with Larrakia Nation on that. There is an opportunity as you know, that we can reapply, that can happen.
“Our original application was five years I believe, the DCA suggested three and then it came down to two. It’s not very flexible, we want to move to a permanent site. That’s our number-one aim.”
He revealed the organisation’s preferred site was on diocese land on Vanderlin Drive near the water park, but St Vincent de Paul’s application was knocked back by the previous Labor Government around May 2023.
“We went through a process putting together a project plan for that site and we spent quite a large amount of money,” he said.
“We put together a report and a project plan for the cabinet at the time ... and it basically was put on hold by the cabinet.
“They didn’t reject the proposal, my understanding is it was put on hold. We are looking at other sites as well but that is our preferred site, and it always has been.”
Gates at the new centre open at 6.30am Monday, with participants assembling in a lawned-area prior to the commencement of services at 7.30am.
He confirmed the old Stuart Park site would be redeveloped for essential worker accommodation.
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