Council planning more streetscape greening, lighting upgrades for year ahead

MORE Darwin suburbs are set for facelifts in 2020 with lighting upgrades for local ovals and greening projects planned for streetscapes in the year ahead

More greening projects are planned for Darwin streetscapes in the year ahead. Picture: iStock

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MORE Darwin suburbs are set for facelifts in 2020 with lighting upgrades for local ovals and greening projects planned for streetscapes in the year ahead.

With Gardens, Bagot and Nightcliff oval lights projects kicking off in February, council has improved the amenity and accessibility of a number of their local facilities which they hope will be reflected in community activation this year.

But Acting Lord Mayor George Lambrinidis said it wouldn’t just be sporting ovals but all council venues which would see greater occupancy.

“We take our role of maintaining venues very seriously and our parks team take enormous pride in ensuring all outdoor venues look the very best they can year round,” he said.

“We invested significantly in many venues in 2019 through landscaping and lighting upgrades and we anticipate this investment paying dividends in 2020, with even more events and activities planned for 2020.

“Events create vibrancy and bring visitors to our city, injecting valuable dollars into the community, making them incredibly valuable economically, socially and culturally.”

Landscaping has also improved the liveability of the city with more to come in 2020, with a number of tree planting days already pushing council towards their goal of 8000 new trees by mid-2020.

Previously Darwin Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis labelled greening Darwin as a priority, with the Daly St entrance into the CBD set to become the centrepiece and an icon of Darwin.

“(Daly St) is going to have green grass, it’s going to have proper plants with flowers,” he said.

“I want this place to change from what it was before to something which says we are in the top of Australia in a tropical place.”

Upgrades to council’s 233 venues means there is capacity to host weddings, conferences, markets and festivals among a number of other events, ranging from 10 people to 1000.

Last year, council saw 655 events held across Darwin’s 233 venues.

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“2019 was a huge year for us,” Mr Lambrinidis said.

“I am staggered at the number of events held at City of Darwin venues.”

Annually Darwin council facilitates events such as the Bombing of Darwin Commemoration, and Citizenship Ceremony while GleNTi and BASSINTHEGRASS are also held on council land.