Plans released for Northern Land Council’s new head office in Berrimah to include resource centre

A new resource centre filled with historical books, documents and films is coming to Darwin. SEE THE PICTURES.

PLANS have been released for the Northern Land Council’s new head office precinct in Berrimah.

In a development application submitted by Cunnington Rose Town Planning and Consulting, the plans are for an office with ancillary warehouse, transport terminal, industry-light and education establishment at the currently empty 29 Julius St, Berrimah.

It features a striking three-storey main building with a curved exterior facing the Stuart Hwy and along the Julius St entrance, two warehouses and a work shop building.

The architect is Ashford Architects.

The NLC is currently based across three locations, two in the Darwin CBD and one in Winnellie.

The proposed design for the NLC's new head office in Berrimah. Picture: Ashford Architects

NLC chief executive Joe Martin-Jard said the new site would bring the staff from all three locations together.

“Having a new head office – one that is not leased and in a single location — will generate cost savings in the long run, while providing a strong focus on local labour, supplies and services,” he said.

“The economic impacts of the new office precinct to the NT economy will extend beyond the design and construction phase through permanent job creation.

“Our strategy is to consolidate Darwin-based staff and corporate functions in Berrimah and focus our operational footprint across our seven regions and 51,000 Aboriginal constituents living in over 200 communities, homelands and outstations.

“This will enable us to provide better support to our constituents while maintaining Darwin as a base for engagement with government and industry.”

NLC chairman Samuel Bush-Blanasi said he was proud to see the new eco-friendly office precinct take shape.

“We are excited by the design, which will create a sense of place and belonging to NLC’s staff, visitors and Full Council members. The facility will celebrate Top End Aboriginal culture within the design,” he said.

Mr Bush-Blanasi said key design components of the new facility included a resource centre to showcase historical books, documents and films, which would be accessible to the public, a reception that welcomed educational and cultural exchanges, and warehousing, workshop and storage facilities to support NLC fleet management and program administration functions.

The project is being funded through the Aboriginals Benefits Account (ABA).

The proposed design for the NLC's new head office in Berrimah. Picture: Ashford Architects

“The proposal is for an office precinct for the Northern Land Council, designed to meet the current and future operational needs of the organisation,” the application says.

“The precinct comprises a three‐storey office building with basement parking and three single storey warehouse style buildings providing ancillary storage space, fleet garaging and maintenance, minor light industry activities and a training area.

“The architectural design with curved features and timber finishes, as well as the landscape design with native extensive planting of native species will provide variety and visual interest at the street level.

“The verandas on the office building as well as the pool fencing along Julius St will provide passive surveillance opportunities.”

The application says development will meet the needs of the NLC and accommodate the work it does.

“The multitude of land uses included as part of this application reflect the diverse work the organisation undertakes on a day‐to‐day basis,” it says.

The exhibition period closes on July 29.

Originally published as Plans released for Northern Land Council’s new head office in Berrimah to include resource centre