Huge Northcrest development taking shape

THE pictured aerial photo is of Northcrest, the old Berrimah Farm

An aerial photo of Northcrest, the site of the old Berrimah Farm. Picture: Supplied

THE pictured aerial photo is of Northcrest, the old Berrimah Farm.

It is our biggest private project at the moment, more importantly it involves locals.

The Halikos Group is the developer of Northcrest, a Darwin born company and as a local their focus is on employing locals.

That is local subcontractors, consultants, suppliers at the same time supporting local community groups.

The buy local culture of this project trickles down, let me explain. Halikos for the civil works engaged Yarrawonga based BMD, in turn BMD engaged local company Arafura Traffic Control to do the traffic management of the project, they in turn get their fuel from Territory company Fuel Express.

The Halikos dollars fell down the chain four times to locals. This is a huge project for the NT, it covers 168ha and over a 13-year lifespan will employ 3200 Territorians.

It will provide a total of 2000 single lots, and 1000 other accommodation opportunities. It will, at completion, house 7500 Territorians.

Features of the projects are, one government primary school; all lots will be within 400 sq m of a bus stop; 56,000 sq m of the project has been set aside for retail and commercial facilities; a site has been identified for retirement living and the entire estate is infused with spacious parklands.

At present local home builders are preparing blocks for a display village, to go back to the local content — these builders are also locals.

This is another aspect, locals believing in locals.

You are now able to drive or walk around Northcrest, you will note the wide streets. I would suggest they are more like boulevards, the wide verges and the stunning views across the harbour.

By any measure this is a landmark development on a location that is truly a hub linking Darwin, Palmerston the Northern suburbs and East Arm.

Take a Sunday drive and take a look at our future, you’ll not be disappointed.

— WAYNE ZERBE is PRBA President