Plan progressing to move Casuarina interchange to Trower Rd

A notorious bus interchange plagued by anti-social behaviour could be shifted with talks under way to free it up for future development.

THE Territory government is close to finalising a decision to relocate the Casuarina bus interchange.

The government has been considering whether to relocate the interchange from its current Bradshaw St location.

The terminus is a known point of anti-social behaviour and where large groups of people congregate.

Last year, former City of Darwin alderman Gary Haslett shared images of himself bloodied and bruised on social media after a vicious afternoon assault at the interchange.

Sentinel Property Group, the new owners of Casuarina Shopping Square, have been seeking the change to free up land for potential housing developments.

It plans to relocate the interchange from Bradshaw St to Trower Rd but a final site is yet to be selected.

The NT News understands the government has finalised a decision to shift the interchange, although further stakeholder consultation is required.

This includes with City of Darwin and bus operator CDC.

A spokesman for Infrastructure Minister Eva Lawler said the government was looking at an alternative site.

“The Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics has been working closely with the Sentinel Group on development plans for the centre,” the spokesman said.

“This includes discussions about the future location of the bus interchange to ensure this infrastructure is ideally located to meet the needs of centre patrons and the community.”

Previously, Sentinel owner Warren Ebert told the NT News he wanted to free-up about 54,000sq m for development by relocating the bus interchange.

Sentinel Property Group’s Warren Ebert says there are big plans for the area. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

He revealed the long-term plan was to develop Casuarina into a town centre and to build on the existing retail function with residential developments such as student, senior or worker accommodation.

Sentinel paid $418m for Casuarina in what Mr Ebert said was a once-in-a-lifetime deal.

“You cannot build another Casuarina,” he said.

“You cannot get another 12ha in the centre of Darwin.”

Mr Ebert said additional housing was urgently required to support the NT government’s plan to grow out the Territory economy to $40bn by 2030.

City of Darwin and CDC have been contacted for comment.