Dan Murphy’s promises $6 million pedestrian safety upgrade to accompany Darwin development

A $6 million pedestrian and safety upgrade to the Bagot Rd and Osgood Dr intersection will help Endeavour Group’s bid to bring Dan Murphy’s to the Northern Territory.

Concept art of the $6 million upgrades to the intersection which would see improved slip lanes and added pedestrian crossings to the Bagot Rd/Osgood Dr intersection. Picture: Supplied

IT’S hoped a $6 million pedestrian and safety upgrade to the Bagot Rd and Osgood Dr intersection will help Endeavour Group’s bid to bring Dan Murphy’s to the NT.

The project would add a pedestrian crossing with traffic lights and slip lanes to the Dan Murphy’s proposal, which will be funded by Endeavour Group and Northern Territory Airports, in partnership with the Northern Territory government.

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But development of the intersection will be contingent on the approval of the liquor shop.

Endeavour Group corporate services general manager Shane Tremble said he hoped the plans would address concerns of pedestrians crossing Bagot Rd, which is six lanes wide at the intersection, to get to the shop.

Concept art of the $6 million upgrades to the intersection which would see improved slip lanes and added pedestrian crossings to the Bagot Rd/Osgood Dr intersection. Picture: Supplied

Concept art of the $6 million upgrades to the intersection which would see improved slip lanes and added pedestrian crossings to the Bagot Rd/Osgood Dr intersection. Picture: Supplied

“We have spent a lot of time having meaningful conversations with local communities to understand their views on the proposed development,” Mr Tremble said.

“It was after engaging with local communities that we were made aware of their concerns about Bagot Rd.

“We have, in partnership with Northern Territory Airports, made a number of changes to the design to ensure that the $6 million upgrade to the intersection provides safe pedestrian access for users.”

Dan Murphy would become the anchor tenant of the proposed $30 million Darwin Airport Central shopping centre.

But NT Airports has said the development would not go ahead without Dan Murphy’s, which would create 200 short-term construction jobs and more than 150 permanent jobs.

Mr Tremble said he understood the social intricacies of bringing Dan Murphy’s to Darwin but said that if approved, the shop would follow strict rules to ensure the safety of the community.

“From our ongoing consultation with local groups and stakeholders we know there are still questions around our proposal, which is why we will continue working with local communities — including Kulaluk and Minmarama communities — and other community groups to understand any concerns they have,” he said.

“We want to listen so we can come up with solutions that are guided by locals.

“If approved, this particular store would have the most stringent set of alcohol control policies in Australia.”

Dan Murphy’s NTCAT hearing, which was scheduled to take place last week, will be heard on August 28.