Coleman’s submit development application for Ducks Nuts, cinema site on Mitchell St

A bold application has been submitted to transform a former entertainment spot in Darwin’s CBD. See the pictures.

Spectacular plans have emerged for the old Ducks Nuts and BCC Cinema sites on Darwin’s Mitchell Street entertainment strip.

A new application is seeking to reactivate the discontinued Ducks Nuts liquor licence to create a public bar and refurbish the existing building.

The plan includes increasing the liquor license at the Ducks Nuts bar from 10am to 2am to 10am to 3am, excluding Good Friday and Christmas Day.

Lodged by town planners Cunnington Rosse on behalf of the Coleman family, the proposal will seek to transform the former cinema into a separate licensed venue.

The development application has been lodged in two parts and treats Ducks Nuts and the old cinema as two separate sites.

Proposed renovations at the old Ducks Nuts site in Mitchell Street Darwin.

The application relate to buildings at 4 Briggs Street, 72-76 Mitchell Street and 2 Mott Court.

According to the development application lodged with the NT government on Monday, the proposal specifically includes:

• Facade alterations to the Briggs and Mitchell streets frontages to refurbish and expand the existing alfresco areas;

• Internal alterations and refurbishments, including the removal of internal partitioning, provision of a new cool room, new parking bays, kitchen and refurbishment and expansion of existing bathroom facilities, a refurbished gaming room and new fixtures and fittings;

• Minor alterations to the existing car parking area to formalise waste storage area and loading bay.

“The proposed use is primarily for the purpose of alcoholic beverage sale and consumption on premises, with the ancillary sale of food and entertainment activities (including gaming),” the application said.

New facades will be built for the two sites under the development plan.

The application stated the plans incorporated innovative building design, site layout and landscaping that responds to and encourages pleasant microclimates, including through breeze capture and shading.

“An increase in activity, together with the proposed alterations to the entrance and alfresco areas enable an improved interaction between the public and private realms,” the application said.

Ducks Nuts opened in 2008 and eventually closed its doors during the 2017 economic downturn.

The cinema lasted another 13 months before screening its last film in October 2018.

The Coleman family owns the Landmark in Palmerston and Breezes in Muirhead.