Changes to the City of Darwin’s land selling policy unanimously passed at June council meeting

Public land can no longer be sold without public consultation under new changes to the City of Darwin’s land disposal policy. Find out what the new changes are.

Darwin councillor Ed Smelt was the catalyst behind the changes. Picture: Darcy Fitzgerald

City of Darwin has approved a change to its land disposal policy that would now require it to give residents at least four weeks’ notice before it can sell public land, a move that one councillor lauded as a “big win for transparency”.

Council could previously sell public land without any community notice.

Under the new changes to the ‘Land acquisition and disposal policy’, council is required to issue a public notice of intention on the City of Darwin website and social media accounts.

It must also undertake a community engagement process in agreement with the City of Darwin Community Engagement Policy.

The proposed changes passed 8/0 at the council’s latest meeting. Picture: Thomas McLean

There are various circumstances that can allow an alternative process, which can be read under section 3.2 of the official policy.

Some circumstances include: where the total cost of the public sale process exceeds the expected community benefit; disposal of land to the Northern Territory government to facilitate a strategic project; or where City of Darwin is bound by contractual obligation such as to a tenant with a first right of refusal.

Community consultation would be reported to the council at least four weeks, and council would then make a decision on what to do with the land.

Community consultation is not binding.

The change was first introduced by Councillor Ed Smelt in January, following community uncertainty about the sale of the Parap Pool Caretaker’s Residence.

After months of behind-the-scenes deliberations, it was passed 8/0 at the council’s most recent meeting in June.

City of Darwin councillor Morgan Rickard, Member for Fannie Bay Laurie Zio, councillor Ed Smelt and councillor Sam Weston. Picture: Supplied

Mr Smelt said in a social media post that the change was a “big win for transparency” and community input.

“My advocacy has paid off,” he said.

“Now our community can be heard, as it should be. This builds trust and increases public transparency at Council.

“I want to thank staff and my fellow Councillors for their unanimous support of my advocacy and the new policy.”

The move also drew attention from the CLP Member for Fannie Bay, Laurie Zio, who thanked Mr Smelt for his work in a social media post.

“Glad our community consultation for residents in Parap was a catalyst for this work in council,” she said.