New cafe proposed for Austin Lane, Darwin CBD

A new cafe in one of Darwin’s laneways has been proposed, with alfresco dining and a vertical wall garden. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE PLANS.

A RUN-DOWN loading bay could soon be transformed into an alfresco cafe, under a new proposal earmarked for Austin Lane.

If approved, it would be located nearby to the popular Loading Bay and Charlie’s gin bar.

The proposed 20 sqm cafe tenancy, which fronts onto the narrow laneway in Darwin’s CBD, would include outdoor dining and a vertical garden.

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The development has been proposed by MasterPlan NT and would take out a small ground-floor tenancy in the six-storey CentrePoint Paspalis tower at 48-50 Smith Street.

A render of the new cafe on Austin Lane. Picture: Gabbert Design.

“The development involves conversion of part of an existing loading bay adjacent to an entry/exit of the complex to a small cafe (coffee shop) facing Austin Lane,” the development application said.

“The proposed cafe will not impede the operations of the loading bay,” it said.

The application seeks approval for two tables of outdoor dining.

In the documents however, MasterPlan acknowledged there wouldn’t be any additional carparks to service the new eatery.

The new cafe on Austin Lane will include a vertical garden and alfresco dining. Picture: Gabbert Design.

“The proposed development is not in accordance with the requirements for carparking,” the application said.

“Our assessment concludes however that the land use can be approved by the consent authority despite the nonconformance.”

The application claimed the cafe would only add pedestrian traffic to nearby footpaths and was “unlikely” to generate extra road traffic.

MasterPlan argued nearby public transport and the West Lane Carpark qualified the cafe to have a reduction in carparking requirements.

Measuring in at 20 sqm, the cafe is the latest in a string of small laneway projects aimed at rejuvenating Darwin’s sleepy CBD.

“As part of a broader program to improve the facilities of the Paspalis Centrepoint development, the owners are committed to enhancing the street level activation of Austin Lane,” the application said.

Local watering hole Babylon recently indicated it would seek permission to serve drinks in Austin Lane.