Holtze Land Company wins tender to develop Greater Holtze

Two Territorian companies will develop hundreds of lots at Holtze, expected to hit the market late next year. Here’s why the Opposition warns ‘millions are being poured’ into the wrong place.

The development of up to 11,000 new homes in Darwin has reached a new milestone, with two Territory companies being awarded the tender to develop the Holtze Land Release.

Next week’s NT budget announcement is also expected to invest $43.1m to deliver Holtze, with the first land titles expected to be sold in late 2025.

Holtze Land Company (HLC), a joint venture between AKJ Development and HB Constructions, will develop 550 lots in the first tranche of development.

“We are so excited to be able to deliver affordable housing in Northern Australia, which is much needed,” HLC director Jessie Risk said.

“The Holtze Land Company partnership between AKJ Developments and HB Group, is a true Territory alliance. Together, we will deliver jobs, training, opportunities and homes for Territorians, by Territorians.”

Halkitis Brothers Group director Nick Halkitis and AKJ Services owner Jessie Risk have been awarded the tender to develop up to 11000 lots in the Greater Holtze area, working under the joint venture Holtze Land Company. Picture: Fia Walsh.

HB Group director Nick Halkitis said the development process would take eight or nine years, “delivered on a staggered basis to not flood the market with properties”.

Mr Halkitis said they hoped to employ between 50 and 60 to be on site at any one time, all of them Territorians.

Budget 2024 will also have $11m allocated to bring forward the design and delivery of enabling infrastructure to support the development of Farrar West by the Larrakia Development Corporation, as part of the settlement of the Kenbi Land Claim.

Twenty-six million dollars will also be invested to develop Brewer industrial precinct in Alice Springs.

Chief Minister Eva Lawler said the development would support the construction industry, get more Territorians into work, and deliver affordable housing.

She said five per cent of the new builds would be social housing, and land would also be set aside for a school or other community facility, along with a small shopping area.

“This land will be similar land to subdivisions that we already see in Palmerston, and the Planning Commission has done the work out here around the land use plan to make sure that there are lots available that average Territorians can afford to buy and build on,” she said.

Holtze Land Company has won the tender to develop the Greater Holtze area in Darwin. Picture: Fia Walsh.

A question remains over which council will gain control of Holtze and its thousands of. While currently in the Litchfield catchment, the government has hinted a lack of capacity could see the new development handed to Palmerston Council to govern.

“If you ask me personally, I think it should be Palmerston, I’m the local member in Palmerston,” Ms Lawler said.

“But that decision will be made by the Local Government Minister.

“They’ll do a proper process, going through the criteria around who can provide the best services for the people who are going to be living here.”

Ms Lawler said Holtze’s LGA would be known by the time the first residents move in.

NT Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro was clear about which council would oversee Holtze under a CLP government: “That should be obvious: it’s Litchfield,” she said.

Ms Finocchiaro said her bigger concern was the amount of money being put towards Holtze when other developments remained undelivered.

“We know across Zuccoli, Durack, (Pinelands), Lyons, Muirhead and Northcrest, there are thousands of blocks that need to be developed.

“So whilst we’re supportive of the government doing that forward planning for new development sites, were very concerned that they’re pouring tens of millions of dollars into infrastructure that could be better spent focusing on delivering the development that Labor has already committed to.”