NT government under fire for building public housing within metres of bottle shops

The Territory government initially opposed a Dan Murphy’s outlet in Darwin. Now it is under fire for hypocrisy building public housing near multiple bottle shops.

Residents of a new social housing project are demanding to know why the complex was located just minutes walk from two takeaway liquor outlets.

The NT News is aware residents of the new Venture Housing units in Nightcliff are unhappy at anti-social behaviour, gambling and public drinking at the premises.

There have been reports of residents being abused by drinkers in the complex car park, fighting among tenants and visitors and the pedestrian gate at one of the units was ripped from its hinges.

Police and Larrakia Nation have received a number of call-outs and there is also frustration that Public Housing Safety Officers are only available during business hours.

Chief Minister and Nightcliff MLA Natasha Fyles this week hosted a pizza afternoon at the complex to meet with residents.

Some residents are unhappy with anti-social behaviour at the new Nightcliff public housing complex.

The event doubled as a debrief as a small number of exasperated residents reeled off concerns about living in the new complex.

As well as the Chief Minister, Department of Housing representatives and an officer representing Housing Minister Selena Uibo attended along with Venture Housing officials.

The NT News has been told government officials were at pains to put the onus for dealing with issues at the complex onto Venture.

“They were happy to listen but weren’t able to make any guarantees around changing conditions there,” a resident said.

“The die’s cast and it’s going to be Stokes Square light from here on.”

A gate off its hinges at the Nightcliff housing complex at the old John Stokes Square

The three social housing units are adjacent to the new Nightcliff police station at the site of the infamous John Stokes Square public housing complex which was demolished in 2019.

The government honoured a commitment by the previous CLP administration to demolish John Stokes Square and residents were relocated across the Top End.

The first two apartments containing 60 units opened in December. Construction crews have just completed the third complex, which is tailored to disability residents.

In 2016 the Gunner Labor government opposed a plan by liquor wholesaler Woolworths to establish a Dan Murphy’s outlet in Millner because of its proximity to Bagot, Kalaluk and Minmarama Park town camps.

The government eventually backflipped and supported Dan Murphy’s, which then later withdraw the proposal for environmental, social and governance reasons.

Housing at John Stokes Square in Nightcliff was demolished in 2019. Pic Glenn Campbell

But now the NT Labor government is being called out for hypocrisy about the location of this latest public housing venture.

There is a gap in the fence leading to the Woolworths and the BWS takeaway liquor outlet about 200m from the complex and about the same distance to the takeaway at the Nightcliff independent grocer on Progress Drive.

The NT government is offering to buy back grog licenses from small supermarkets.

A caller to the NT News, who saw boozing near the public housing complex, was livid.

“This government bans Dan Murphy’s, but they’re happy to locate public housing within minutes walk of two bottle shops - and they even leave a gap in the fence for access to the bottle shop,” he said.

Questioned by the NT News, Ms Fyles played down the nature of this week’s meeting with residents at the complex. “I regularly hold electorate engagement activities and visit the residents at John Stokes,” she said.

Ms Fyles did not respond to questions about the proximity of the bottle shops to public and social housing.

“The design of John Stokes is to provide vulnerable Territorians with access to transport, retail and community support services at their doorstep. Yes, this accommodation was designed as disability and seniors housing, however it is providing a safe place for many Territorians.”

Itinerants regularly sleep under the large overhang awning at Nightcliff Police Station.