City of Darwin seeks proposals for Bundilla Beach masterplan

The City of Darwin is asking the public to submit their ideas to revitalise Bundilla Beach in a new masterplan, following controversy around its temporary RV park trial.

The City of Darwin is looking to the public for new ideas to “revitalise” Bundilla Beach reserve, with construction on a new masterplan for the area expected to begin next year.

Darwin Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis said the plan would consider the site’s social, environmental, and cultural values and would include short and longer-term visions for the “under-utilised” beach.

“For almost 20 years different ideas have been proposed for Bundilla Beach but what has been missing is a masterplan with a solid vision,” Mr Vatskalis said.

“Community feedback will be critical to getting the masterplan right, so City of Darwin will be asking people to have their say on the Bundilla Beach reserve masterplan in the coming months.

Construction on stage one of the masterplan is expected to begin during the 2024 dry season. Picture: Lyn Lowe

“Activating this valued part of Darwin will deliver a revitalised space for the community and visitors to enjoy our green spaces, with flow-on benefits for local businesses.”

Mr Vatskalis said the council would deliver a “prioritised, staged and costed masterplan” for Bundilla Beach, with stage one of the development to be funded by $500,000 from the City of Darwin and $3m from the NT government.

Construction on the first stage of the project is expected to commence during the dry season 2024, with proposals on the masterplan to be submitted by July 13.

It comes after the council endorsed an expression of interest process to seek an operator for a trial RV park on Bundilla Beach earlier this month, despite the majority of respondents to a City of Darwin survey on the issue being against the proposal.

The trial would take place over three months, and would allow up to 20 RV’s during Darwin’s peak visitor season.

The City of Darwin has endorsed an expression of interest process to seek an operator for an RV park trial at Bundilla Beach in Fannie Bay. Map: Supplied

A council spokeswoman said the endorsement of the process was subject to ministerial approval for a three-month exception for an RV park under a trial scheme.

The proposal has come under fire by Fannie Bay MLA Brent Potter, who gathered almost 200 petition signatures against the trial.

Mr Potter welcomed the City of Darwin’s release of the request for proposals, encouraging local businesses to apply.

“There is enormous potential for the Bundilla Beach reserve, and I am keen to see this realised with support from the NT government,” he said.