World-class surf park in the possible pipeline for $200m Darwin Waterfront redevelopment

A WORLD-class surf park could be built at the Darwin Waterfront as part of a $200 million ‘integrated development’ being discussed as part of the NT’s post-pandemic fightback

A WORLD-CLASS surf park could be built at the Darwin Waterfront as part of a $200 million “integrated development” being discussed as part of the NT’s post-pandemic fightback.

NT authorities have remained tight-lipped on the details but the NT News understands the NT government is in early talks with federal counterparts about a potential “stage two” of the Darwin City Deal.

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This includes a focus on expanding and developing the area at and around Darwin’s waterfront to grow it as a tourism destination.

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An aerial view of the Urbnsurf surf park in Melbourne. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

One of the options being floated is a new water park with a wave-making system that would allow surfing at the Waterfront, similar to Urbnsurf in Melbourne and Surf Lakes’ prototype in Yeppoon.

Government sources said discussions were at very early stages but the idea was supported by the Territory Economic Reconstruction Commission, which teased the concept in its recent report.

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An aerial shot of the Darwin Waterfront

One of the “immediate projects” listed by the TERC in its July report included $200 million for the government-led “Darwin Waterfront Expansion”.

The TERC noted the government’s “vision” for the waterfront expansion and the “potential for this stage integrated development to underpin both liveability to support population retention and growth, and its potential as a domestic tourism destination that makes the best of Darwin’s tropical location”.

The NT Government’s role would be to make the land available and pursuing private funds for the project.

The wave park is expected to be one aspect of the development as it won’t cost $200 million to build.

The Urbnsurf park cost between $30 million and $40 million to build while a similar project in the works on the Gold Coast in Queensland is expected to cost at least $20 million.

A Surf Lakes spokesman said the company was not currently looking at projects in Darwin but would “certainly be interested”.

Urbnsurf was contacted for comment.