Dan Murphy’s Darwin store application saga set to drag into an astonishing fifth year

A DECISION to delay a hearing into a proposal to establish a Dan Murphy’s in Darwin means the long, drawn out application saga will now drag into an astonishing fifth year

A DECISION to delay the final directions hearing into a push to establish a Dan Murphy’s in Darwin means the long, drawn out application saga will now drag into an astonishing fifth year.

A key figure involved in the application has suffered a heart attack, meaning the final directions hearing will have to be delayed.

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The medical episode occurred earlier this month and meant several orders issued by the NT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NTCAT), requiring the applicants to provide expert evidence could not be fulfilled by their due dates.

“On 22 October 2020, NTCAT received further correspondence from the applicant’s solicitors elaborating upon the circumstances that were causing delay in finalising the applicant’s evidence,” NTCAT president Richard Bruxner said.

Concept art of a $6 million upgrade Dan Murphy’s would make to the intersection near its planned store which would see improved slip lanes and added pedestrian crossings to the Bagot Rd/Osgood Dr intersection. Picture: Supplied

“In summary, they said that the delay was the combined result of the unexpected illness of one of the applicant’s key officers as well as a variety of legal and practical impediments resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

It means a directions hearing, originally scheduled for November 6, will now be held on Friday, November 20, while the final five-day hearing set for Monday, December 14 has been scrapped with no future date yet set.

Mr Bruxner said all parties had agreed to reschedule the directions hearing given the circumstances.

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“I consider that it is appropriate to make consent orders to the effect proposed,” he said.

“It is clear, having regard to the matters identified by the applicant, that it would not be possible to adjust the existing timetable in a way that allowed all parties a sufficient opportunity to be ready for a December hearing.”