Positive signs six-star hotel could still be built in Darwin, says Infrastructure Minister Eva Lawler

The NT government is still optimistic a luxury six-star hotel could become a reality in the Darwin CBD despite developer Landbridge abandoning plans to proceed with the original project, according to Infrastructure Minister Eva Lawler.

The abandoned hotel building site at the Darwin Waterfront, as of September 2020. Picture: Che Chorley

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THE NT government is still optimistic a luxury six-star hotel could become a reality in the Darwin CBD despite the original developer abandoning plans to proceed with the project, according to Infrastructure Minister Eva Lawler.

Landbridge has scrapped plans to build a $200m Westin hotel at the Darwin Waterfront near Government House and the Darwin Port Cruise Ship Terminal, with the NT government reclaiming the site earlier this month after the 12-month construction extension it gave the company expired.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner last week revealed the NT government was preparing to open up an expressions of interest process for the land’s further use and yesterday Ms Lawler told Mix 104.9’s Katie Woolf the government had reasons to be positive about its future.

An artist’s impression of the original planned hotel at the Darwin Waterfront. Picture: Supplied

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“We’re going to open a register of interest by the end of this month, (and) that register will go out for approximately 12 weeks,” she said.

“We think that there will be some very strong interest in that site from other groups, and then, once that register of interest is closed, we’ll have a good look at that.

“We have heard that Westin are still interested in having a six-star hotel in Darwin, as well. So things are looking positive.

“Unfortunately for Landbridge … it must have been a business decision for them. But (the site) is some of our most beautiful land, some of our most attractive land, so it will be a wonderful site for a hotel, and I’m sure there’ll be substantial interest in that.”

The abandoned hotel building site at the Darwin Waterfront, as of September 2020. Picture: Che Chorley

Ms Lawler said she still supported a hotel being built at the site but was also open to other project ideas.

“It is beautiful land and I think it’s ideal land for a new hotel,” she said. “We haven’t had a new hotel in the CBD built for a long time and to have a six-star hotel would add to our international tourists.

“Hopefully we start seeing (them return) in the next few years and that’s how long it would take to build obviously, a hotel of that size. It would provide another string in the bow for Darwin, really and for tourism in the NT.”