Hames Sharley awarded Bundilla Beach revitalisation contract
A firm of local architects have been awarded the contract to deliver a masterplan for the revitalisation of Bundilla Beach.
Northern Territory
Don't miss out on the headlines from Northern Territory. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The City of Darwin has awarded a successful, local firm a key role in the future development and revitalisation of a picturesque Top End beach.
Local architects Hames Sharley were given the tender to deliver a masterplan with the aim of reactivating Bundilla Beach reserve to enhance liveability and attract locals and tourists.
The masterplan project team will now deliver a final masterplan for the area before the end of the year, which will allow construction to begin next dry season.
The City of Darwin will provide $500,000 in funding while the NT government will provide $3 million for the first stages of the work.
Hames Sharley will work closely with well-known Territory architect Hully Liveris and Darwin landscape architect Tony Cox from Clouston.
To achieve the most out of the newly appointed masterplan an extensive analysis of the site will be undertaken which will include engineering surveys and geotechnical investigations.
These works will form the foundation of a survey involving concept designs that will be taken to the community and stakeholders through focus groups, door knocking, letterbox drops, meetings and community pop up stalls.
Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis said the aim was to make Bundilla Beach a place locals and interstaters alike would see as extraordinary.
“This is a beautiful place with enormous potential and I’m confident this team will understand the community vision and develop a concept which will revitalise the area,” he said.
“And the wonderful local company, Hames Sharley, came aboard and share our vision of wanting something of global standards, something outside the square which will make visitors pleased.
“We want to make this somewhere extraordinary, there are going to be people who like it and people who don’t but we don’t want to destroy Bundilla Beach, we want to enhance it.
“We want to make it better, make it more attractive, make it beautiful and give it that wow factor people have when they think about other places in Australia.”
Hames Sharley has previously been involved in major planning projects across the Top End including the CDU Casuarina campus and the foreshore planning at Nightcliff including the Café.
Meanwhile, Hully Liveris was the architect for the highly regarded Botanical Gardens Visitor Centre while Clouston was involved in the landscaping for Garramilla Blvd.
Hames Sharley principal studio leader and local Adam Prentice said he wanted to make Darwin “the most beautiful place”.
“It’s fantastic, I grew up in Fannie Bay so it’s an honour to win a project such as this,” he said.
“Our firm is full of experienced master planners and urban designers and architects and we want to bring out the very best out what this place has to offer.
“It’s very early in the process, so extensive community consultation will follow, so we’ve got various groups outlined in the community so everyone can have their say and be involved.”
It comes after the council’s controversial endorsement of a trial RV park on Bundilla Beach in July.
The proposal came under fire from Fannie Bay MLA Brent Potter, who gathered almost 200 petition signatures against the trial.
Fair play or council cluck up?: Chook limits soon enforced
In a change that has ruffled more than a few feathers, Darwin residents could soon be fined more than $9000 for keeping too many chooks.
Aboriginal cops in human rights complaint against NT Police Commissioner
Three serving Aboriginal NT Police officers have lodged a formal complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission alleging ‘racial vilification and derision’ in what is being hailed as ‘landmark case’.