Darwin council hones spending focus amid coronavirus crisis, putting non-essential projects on hold

NON-ESSENTIAL council projects will be altered and put on hold during the coronavirus pandemic to ensure resources are spent on essential matters.

NON-ESSENTIAL council projects will be altered and put on hold during the coronavirus pandemic to ensure resources are spent on essential matters.

Rehabilitation of the Garden’s Park Lake, a popular spot for golfers to practise their drives from the range, has been earmarked as one of Darwin council’s long-term projects, with ongoing maintenance works ensuring the sustainability of the lake.

Backfilling the lake, which would include excavating unsuitable built-up material and refilling with concrete backfill, would cost an estimated $4.35 million, while a minor desilting of the lake would cost just over a third of the price at $1.77 million.

Instead current funds will be held in the Asset Refurbishment reserve, with Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis indicating he wouldn’t shy away from dipping into the council’s reserves if he had to during the pandemic.

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General manager engineering and city services Ron Grinsell said the decision had been made based on the funding shortfall to complete any works to the lake at this time.