Museum plan never washed

REVELATIONS the deeply unpopular plan to construct a $50 million museum at Myilly Point could be scrapped will be welcomed by many who felt the money could be better spent elsewhere

REVELATIONS the deeply unpopular plan to construct a $50 million museum at Myilly Point could be scrapped will be welcomed by many who felt the money could be better spent elsewhere.

Since the Gunner Government announced the museum as part of a plan to revitalise and attract people into the CBD, it has been heavily criticised.

The project was announced in April last year, as part of the Government’s plan to transform the Darwin CBD into a vibrant, world-class tourism destination.

But support for the project from the public never met the Government’s own high expectations for the site.

An NT News online poll found 84 per cent of the 970 voters were opposed to its construction. Our readers begged for the funding to be put towards essential services such as police.

It seems the public have voiced their opinion but, to the Government’s credit, it appears they have listened and taken the criticism on board.

While the Darwin CBD is in need of a revamp and the museum project would have created hundreds of jobs, the $50 million could be used to get other infrastructure projects off the ground.

The devastation caused by Cyclone Marcus, which left thousands of Darwin households without power, highlighted the need for underground powerlines. An infrastructure project such as this would create jobs and give Top Enders the security of knowing their power source would be secure during a cyclone.

It would improve the lives of every Darwin resident and show a commitment to improve one of the basic necessities which cripples a city when unavailable. If the Government does decide to scrap the museum, it might create them short-term embarrassment but, in the long-term, Territorians will be better off.