Community groups hit back at Throb venue proposal for East Point Reserve

AN open-air ‘sunset lounge’ at East Point proposed by the owners of a popular Darwin nightclub is set to face significant blowback, as opposing groups prepare to wage a campaign against it.

Concept plans for The Throb on Point Coastal Sunset Lounge. Picture: Supplied

• Throb reveals plans for new open-air venue at East Point Reserve

AN open-air “sunset lounge” at East Point proposed by the owners of a popular Darwin nightclub is set to face significant blowback, as opposing groups prepare to wage a campaign against it.

The Throb on Point Coastal Sunset Lounge, a “family-friendly” initiative of Throb Nightclub owner Tim Palmer to help the longstanding business survive the economy crushing pandemic, would be built on land at East Point facing the sea at Dudley Point.

Community members, including the Fannie Bay Equestrian Club (FBEC), yesterday lashed out against Mr Palmer due to a perceived lack of consultation and changing designs.

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Darwin council and the NT Government also had to defend their involvement in the process, particularly after the council granted the venue a temporary permit during a confidential meeting last Tuesday.

FBEC president Jurgen Dous said the club had significant concerns about how Mr Palmer planned to address environmental, traffic, zoning, security and noise issues.

Mr Dous said other interest groups in the area had reached out to FBEC in a bid to organise a campaign against the proposal.

Concept plans for The Throb on Point Coastal Sunset Lounge. Picture: Supplied

He also took aim at the difference in design plans that FBEC had been shown and what had been released publicly.

Mr Palmer said he was “disappointed” at FBEC’s strong opposition despite discussions between the pair.

“The consultation process has really just started now,” he said.

Mr Palmer said the idea for the East Point venue, which would operate only in the Dry, came about a week after Throb was forced to shut.

The idea was presented to the council two weeks ago.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner confirmed the Government had been in talks with Mr Palmer but the project would still need to go through the appropriate channels.

Concept plans for The Throb on Point Coastal Sunset Lounge. Picture: Supplied

Mr Palmer said he was not getting “any free money” from government and had been told to apply for cash via the $89 million Local Jobs Fund, which includes Business Investment Concessional Loans of up to $3 million.

“We want locals to be creative and look for new ways to do business, attract customers and protect jobs during the coronavirus crisis,” Mr Gunner said.

“Any proposal needs to pass the community test. It has to go through the same process and pass the same tests.”

The permit granted for Throb’s venue at East Point ends on October 31. Mr Palmer has five-and-a-half months to get all other relevant approvals in place, including liquor licensing and planning approval.

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A council spokeswoman said the meeting was confidential as it contained “commercially sensitive information”.

Mr Palmer confirmed the council had agreed to give him a peppercorn lease first before moving to a commercial lease.