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10,000-strong petition to save Deckchair Cinema from RSL development tabled in Parliament

A MAJOR petition to protect Darwin’s Deckchair Cinema, which amassed more than 10,000 signatures, has been tabled in NT Parliament.

A major petition to protect Darwin’s Deckchair Cinema, which amassed more than 10,000 signatures, has been tabled in NT Parliament. Pictured is Deckchair Cinema general manager James Parker. Picture: Che Chorley
A major petition to protect Darwin’s Deckchair Cinema, which amassed more than 10,000 signatures, has been tabled in NT Parliament. Pictured is Deckchair Cinema general manager James Parker. Picture: Che Chorley

A MAJOR petition to protect Darwin’s Deckchair Cinema, which amassed more than 10,000 signatures, has been tabled in NT Parliament.

The petition by the Darwin Film Society aims to protect the Deckchair Cinema following recent advocacy by City of Darwin Mayor Kon Vatskalis to build the Darwin RSL at the Cenotaph carpark.

The society, chaired by Jeff Coulter, has warned the proposed location for the licensed club would disrupt the 26-year-old mainstay on the Esplanade.

The Darwin RSL has a plan to rebuild its venue on the Esplanade, just 90m from iconic Top End attraction the Deckchair Cinema. Picture: Will Zwar
The Darwin RSL has a plan to rebuild its venue on the Esplanade, just 90m from iconic Top End attraction the Deckchair Cinema. Picture: Will Zwar

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The RSL’s plan is to build a new clubhouse in a Darwin Esplanade carpark, with the development to include a family-friendly cafe.

Darwin RSL president Steve Gloster previously said the RSL had engaged with a designer to begin making plans for a new home, which it hopes to build in the carpark next to the Darwin Cenotaph.

“The biggest problem is where we are is not family-friendly,” he said.

“There’s a whole bottom floor cafe (we’re planning) that families can use.”

Mr Gloster said as the RSL developed as an entity it had outgrown its current location and he feared it would be run into the ground if they rebuilt the clubhouse which burnt down in 2018.

The petition, tabled by Port Darwin MLA Paul Kirby, has been referred to the Legislation Scrutiny Committee to consider whether it should be debated.

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Original URL: https://www.ntnews.com.au/news/10000strong-petition-to-save-deckchair-cinema-from-rsl-development-tabled-in-parliament/news-story/241cc474117956fbf3184511e43f6ff2