Darwin RSL ready given six weeks to provide plans to Darwin council to relieve community angst

DARWIN council could set a deadline for the RSL to submit plans to rezone the Esplanade and put forward its proposal for a new clubhouse amid growing concerns from the community

THE Darwin RSL has a plan to rebuild its venue on the Esplanade, just 90 metres from the Deckchair Cinema. Picture: Will Zwar

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DARWIN council could set a deadline for the RSL to submit plans to rezone the Esplanade and put forward its proposal for a new clubhouse amid growing concerns from the community.

A motion being brought to council at Tuesday night’s meeting calling for “any proposals or submissions being due by COB 22 September” would give the RSL six weeks to prepare and submit plans.

Darwin alderman Simon Niblock, who suggested the deadline, said the concept was first raised with council in a confidential sitting in December last year.

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“Since that time there has been much conjecture, discussion and concern in the community around what such a proposal would involve,” he said.

“The lack of clarity and the ensuing uncertainty have resulted in significant angst among the community.”

The NT News first brought the idea to public light in February this year, after a fire destroyed the club’s Cavenagh Street home in 2018.

Concept Art of the Darwin RSL's Esplanade proposal. Picture: Supplied

If approved, council staff would then have a week to prepare a report outlining the proposal and the process and costs associated with rezoning the car park.

Mr Niblock said given the amount of public scrutiny and angst which had been raised, as well as questions which remained unanswered, a timeline would help bring a resolution to the issue, one way or the other.

“To resolve this matter with a fair and proper process, this motion sets a deadline for the submission of proposals regarding the Cenotaph carpark,” he said.

“From that point, council can determine a future course of action.”

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Darwin RSL president Steve Gloster said he thought it was a reasonable proposal given the length of discussions to this point and the upcoming process.

“That’s reasonable enough, I don’t see any problem with that, (council) just want us to put forward some plans for them which I understand,” he said.

“As far as I know everything is going to schedule.”

Council will decide on the mandate at Tuesday night’s council meeting.