Revealed: Preferred bid for Darwin’s planned six-star hotel

THE WATERFRONT proposal of Chinese company Landbridge Group has emerged as the preferred bid for a luxury six-star hotel following a Cabinet meeting

Australia’s first six-star hotel, the Palazzo Versace Gold Coast. Darwin could soon have its own hotel to rival it. Picture: Supplied

THE WATERFRONT proposal of Chinese company Landbridge Group has emerged as the preferred bid for a luxury six star hotel following a Cabinet meeting Tuesday.

Chief Minister Adam Giles confirmed Cabinet had ruled out proposals for Cullen Bay and the old Hotel Darwin site on the Esplanade, choosing to proceed “to negotiation” for the third site.

Mr Giles said Jervois Park would not be included in any deal and would be retained as public space.

“Landbridge Group will have to restrict any luxury hotel plans to the Toga site at the Waterfront,” Mr Giles said.

“We agree parks are for people and it will not form part of any negotiation moving forward.

“Any proposal still has to go through the full planning process before it can proceed so the public will have an opportunity to comment on the plans.”

Landbridge Group, which is owned by Chinese billionaire Ye Cheng, has a 99-year lease of Darwin port that takes in the cruise ship facility at Fort Hill Wharf opposite the Waterfront site.

Toga relinquished the land at the base of Administrator’s Hill last month after it indicated it would not be developing it further. A hotel had already been earmarked for the location.

The Waterfront site does not have any services and one of the issues expected to be determined is who pays for the installation.

Cabinet was briefed by an independent panel headed by major projects boss Anne Tan which included Tourism NT head Tony Mayell and Under-Treasurer Jodie Ryan.

Four projects were originally short-listed including Landbridge’s. One of the proponents withdrew leaving the Paspaley Property Group and the Coombes Property Group to press their bids.

The NT News understands the failed bids required “significant” operating subsidies.

The Territory Opposition supports a luxury hotel but has opposed giving up public land including Jervois Park.

Last week it became public Landbridge planned to build within 100m of the open-air Deckchair Cinema after the Darwin Film Society was briefed.

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