‘(They need to) improve Darwin’s liveability to help attract and retain skilled workers and their families’: Darwin industry heads put anti-social behaviour as top priority for incoming council

ADDRESSING crime and anti-social behaviour is the most pressing issue prospective Darwin council nominees face heading into the August election, according to a number of key industry figures

ADDRESSING crime and anti-social behaviour is the most pressing issue prospective Darwin Council election candidates face heading into August, according to several key industry figures based in the municipality.

The Real Estate Institute of the NT and the Chamber of Commerce have banded together to call on council to fix Darwin’s crime issue.

“(Council needs to be) working with the Territory government and community organisations to improve safety and security in the CBD and throughout the city,” Chamber chief executive Greg Ireland said.

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“(They need to) improve Darwin’s liveability to help attract and retain skilled workers and their families.”

REINT chief executive Quentin Kilian said ultimately, there needed to be a balance of aldermen elected to council to ensure all issues could be covered and addressed.

“It’s like putting together a good team at work or a good board,” he said.

“You need a balance of skills you need a balance of thinking, as in, you need people who are risk takers but you also need at the same time people who are slightly more risk averse to balance out the arguments. But what you do need is positive people.”

Reducing red tape was among Hospitality NT chief executive Alex Bruce and Property Council of Australia NT executive director Ruth Palmer’s priorities, along with improving the liveability and development of Darwin.

“(I’d like to see them) introducing 30-day approval time frames for City of Darwin applications for property owners and businesses,” Ms Palmer said.

“Successful candidates in the 2021 City of Darwin elections should have … a positive attitude towards development and urban design, as done properly, development will assist with the revitalisation of the CBD.

“They should have a strong vision for Darwin that ensures our capital city is a vibrant and safe place to live, becomes the capital of the north and has a strategic masterplan for future development.”

REINT boss Quentin Kilian says Darwin council needs to be made from a balance of varying elected members. Photograph: Che Chorley

Mr Bruce said the council needed to have aldermen who “understood business and who supported initiatives that can help us grow” such as the recent myDarwin scheme.

Planning Action Network convener Nick Kirlew said the group hoped the council’s governance, transparency and representation improved and called for more accountability from elected members.

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“The community is being treated poorly. To see hundreds of community members attend a council meeting shows that council is out of touch,” he said.

“Open discussion with community should not be via the CEO, representatives should be front and centre on discoursing with community.”

Other issues the key figures noted were carparking, encouraging population growth, ward representation and development and greening, all while supporting the economy within their municipality.

Council elections take place in August this year.