Darwin city council release draft 2023-24 budget, rates rise

Rates and parking fees are in for a shake-up while the council will likely spend more on night patrols and lighting. See the list of the draft budget highlights.

City of Darwin mayor Kon Vatskalis and chief executive Simone Saunders have released their 2023-24 draft budget and municipal plan. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Darwin ratepayers are set to cough up an extra $111 a year, the council has flagged.

Households will pay an extra $2.14 more per week for rates and waste collection increases if the Darwin council’s draft 2023-24 municipal plan and budget is endorsed.

However Darwin mayor Kon Vatskalis said the council worked hard to keep the rates increase below inflation.

“In the face of a seven per cent CPI increase, City of Darwin has managed to keep the increase in the general rate to just five per cent,” he said.

City of Darwin mayor Kon Vatskalis says the draft budget is responsible in light of economic pressures and inflation. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“It’s a very small rate increase under the circumstances.

“We have to find a way to provide the services we want but at the same time keeping a balanced budget.”

The rate increase is slightly higher than last year’s hike of 4.7 per cent.

Mr Vatskalis described his council’s plan as “responsive, responsible and relevant”.

The budget’s largest spend is set to be on waste management, totalling $27.8m.

More than $19m will be spent on capital works, with the redevelopment of Casuarina pool at the top of big-ticket items.

The $27.8m redevelopment of Casuarina Pool is scheduled ot be complete by the end of 2023. Picture: Floss Adams.

The northern suburbs pool project, partly funded by the federal government, has blown out of its initial budget by $1.7m to a total $26.7m due to asbestos removal and electrical works.

Night patrols and increased lighting throughout the Darwin region are also set to get a significant leg-up in a bid to stamp out antisocial behaviour.

The plan includes an extra $350,000 on the previous budget for night patrols, totalling almost a million dollars.

The patrols operate through Darwin city, Bundilla Beach, Parap, Fannie Bay, Malak and Karama and are set to increase over weekends.

A further $800,000 will be spent on street and public lighting.

City parking fees are set to both increase and decrease, depending on the zone. Picture: Floss Adams.

There are also proposed changes to parking fees in Darwin city.

Zone A parking, which is largely street parking besides CBD businesses, is set to increase by 30 cents per hour.

However some off-street car park fares are likely to drop by 30 per cent.

Council chief executive Simone Saunders said the move was expected to result in people using multi-level car parks rather than street parks.

“If you’re coming into town for the day and you’re working in town, we really encourage you to utilise the off street car parking and West Lane or Dragonfly for your all day parking,” she said.

Ratepayers can have their say on the draft municipal plan online survey before May 17.

Councillors will then vote on the plan after reviewing feedback.