Re-elected Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis says Darwinites can see improvements after four years
The first Lord Mayor of Darwin to win re-election in nearly two decades, Kon Vatskalis has opened up about why he thinks residents wanted him back in a landslide and what he’ll do next.
Northern Territory
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MORE greenery, rooftop bars, a second waterfront precinct and a rejuvenated CBD will be the major priorities of the freshly re-elected Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis.
Mr Vatskalis became the first Lord Mayor to win re-election in nearly two decades.
The latest figures from the Electoral Commission showing him winning in a landslide, securing 16,852 first preference votes of the 30,668 ballots cast in Darwin.
No other candidate received over 4000 votes.
Speaking to the NT News, Mr Vatskalis said he was chuffed about being re-elected but wouldn’t waste any time getting back to business.
He said plans to turn the former site of the Lameroo Baths along the Darwin Esplanade into a stunning beachfront development were still in progress, with Mr Vatskalis due to meet potential investors in Sydney once Covid-19 restrictions ease.
Mr Vatskalis also indicated his support for more activation of quiet areas of the CBD, such as the Smith Street Mall.
“Look at the Mall today – all lights, everything else, but nothing is open after five o’clock because there’s no restaurants,” he said.
“If you put a restaurant there, they will come in.”
Mr Vatskalis’ election promises to permanently do away with alfresco dining fees and offer motorists 30 minutes of free parking in Darwin City parking spots would play a major role in activating the city.
Rooftop bars and recreation spaces would also be encouraged in developments.
He expressed confidence he would be able to work with at least five fresh aldermen to pass these reforms.
When asked why Darwinites overwhelmingly chose to re-elect him, Mr Vatskalis said it was because residents could see the material difference his council had made over the past four years.
“The city looks greener … and much, much more beautiful and cleaner than before,” he said.
Darwin Council will plant another 8000 trees in the coming year and 5000 trees every year after that, as part of a push to cool the city.
Mr Vatskalis flagged that his pioneering MyDarwin scheme, which generated $6 for every dollar spent during the pandemic, would become the template for how the city would respond to any further economic downturns.
“I knew (MyDarwin) was going to be successful, but I never knew it was going to be so successful,” he said.
“What I found out from businesses later is that (voucher users) up-spent.
“Instead of spending $10, they would spend $15 or $20.”
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