CDU city campus development to proceed as project wins approval from Planning Minister Eva Lawler, subject to conditions

CHARLES Darwin University's controversial CBD campus project has been given the green light by Planning Minister Eva Lawler, subject to a number of conditions that will need to be met prior to development beginning.

An artist’s impression of Charles Darwin University's Darwin CBD campus. Picture: ARM Architecture

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CHARLES Darwin University's controversial CBD campus project has been given the green light by Planning Minister Eva Lawler, subject to a number of conditions that will need to be met prior to development beginning.

Minister Lawler said protection of the existing baobab tree, energy efficiency mechanisms and the colour schemes and materials to be used in the final design would need to be endorsed prior to the development going ahead.

“Our Government’s vision is for Darwin to be a cool, sustainable and attractive city, and development should reflect these principles,” she said.

“I have imposed conditions that must be endorsed prior to work on the development beginning.”

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The conditions of approval are:

• A Tree Protection Plan and Tree Protection Zone for the baobab tree and milkwood trees must be prepared by a suitably qualified arborist in accordance with the relevant codes and standards.
• Additional details addressing energy efficiency through passive climate control measures for improved tropical design to support cooling, heat mitigation, greening, water use, energy efficiency and waste reduction.
• Additional information addressing the colours and materials to be used in the final design, with a view to ensuring the building appropriately references Darwin’s heritage, multicultural nature and climate.

Minister Lawler said the project would stimulate the economy and would provide a cultural and community hub in Darwin.

“The Charles Darwin University city campus is a major project that will create 730 jobs during construction and bring more people into our beautiful city,” she said.

“It will also position us to boost the number of international students in the Territory to our aim of 10,000 by 2025.

“This will add an extra $200 million to the Territory economy annually and support hundreds of ongoing jobs in a range of sectors.”

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Approval will now allow the project to move to the next stage.

“Two tender packages have already been released and can now progress to contract stage,” a CDU spokesperson said.

“The next package will be for the building and landscape works and the tender documents will be issued shortly.”