$80k cooling evaluation of Cavenagh St shade structure the latest blight on a flawed project
THE NT government’s $80,000 spend on a university evaluation of its heat mitigation works, including the Cavenagh St shade structure, is the latest blight on what was supposed to be a project that would cool one of Darwin’s hottest locations.
Opinion
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SO the Gunner government has paid $80,000 to a university to evaluate its heat mitigation works, including if the shade structure is performing its core function of providing shade.
Well, the staff at the NT News are not scientists, but any Joe Blow who has walked past the $2.7m Cavenagh Street structure would be able to tell you it hasn’t cooled the area, it hasn’t provided shade and it has provided only some greenery.
Can we have $80,000 please?
The costly study is the latest blight on what was supposed to be a project that would cool one of Darwin’s hottest locations.
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When the project was announced in May 2018, then Deputy Chief Minister Nicole Manison said the structure would make a profound difference on the stifling build-up days.
That claim is yet to come into effect.
Since then the structure has become the giant white elephant of the Darwin CBD.
Horticulturalists claimed the government planted the wrong vines, and the vines were also “overzealously” pruned, stunting their growth.
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Yet, when questioned about the progress of the vines in September, Infrastructure Minister Eva Lawler said she remained confident that after a good wet season the coverage would improve.
The project in theory would have a positive impact on the CBD, but how long will the public have to wait before it comes to fruition?
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