NT government splashes $80,000 on Cavenagh St shade structure cooling evaluation

THE Territory government has been criticised for spending $80,000 on a Sydney university study to evaluate the success of its $2.7m Cavenagh Street shade structure in cooling the Darwin CBD.

The Cavenagh St shade structure last month. Notice the lack of shade. Picture: Che Chorley

• ‘Overzealous pruning’ to blame for lack of shade at Cavenagh St structure nearly two years on
• $2.7m Cavenagh St shade structure unlikely to ever have shade, experts say

THE Territory government has been criticised for spending $80,000 on a Sydney university study to evaluate the success of its $2.7m Cavenagh Street shade structure in cooling the Darwin CBD.

Tender details obtained by the NT News show the Department of the Chief Minister awarded $80,000 to the University of New South Wales (UNSW) on January 2, 2019.

The UNSW Faculty of the Built Environment, led by Professor Mattheos Santamouris, was paid to supervise and evaluate the “cooling performance of the shading and greenery mitigation structure”.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of the structure by heat sensors is ongoing and is due for completion in 2021.

The construction of the shade structure was undertaken by a local firm, and included the use of timber cladding sourced from Gumatj Corporation Ltd in East Arnhem Land. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford

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Infrastructure Minister Eva Lawler said the evaluation would also cover the government’s other heat mitigation projects, such as the demolition of the Chan building.

The Cavenagh Street shade structure, which was built as a “trial project” in 2018, has been the centrepiece of the government’s heat mitigation efforts in the Darwin CBD.

However, two years on, the structure still isn’t providing much shade.

The Rangoon Creeper and Orange Trumpet vines planted for the structure in November 2018 were meant to have grown to completely cover the arc by May this year, but the vines still appear to have only just broken through the canopy.

An artist’s impression of what the vine shade structure over Cavenagh St is intended to look like. Picture: Supplied

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said she found it unbelievable that the government would “waste” $80,000 of taxpayers’ money on the evaluation.

“Anyone could stand under the shade structure, look up, and tell you that it’s not doing its job!” she said.

“This Gunner Labor government has some hide with the way it spends Territorians’ money. This is like an episode of the ABC’s Utopia comedy. Sadly, in the Territory, this is real life.”

Ms Lawler said reviewing the way the heat mitigation projects worked was an important part of determining the next steps for cooling the Darwin CBD.

“Projects such as the State Square underground car park, Chan Building demolition and the Cavenagh Street shade structure are an important part of heat mitigation,” she said.

The controversial shade structure on Cavenagh St yesterday, where vines have failed to cover the canopy after two years. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford

“(It) creates a goal to create a greener and cooler city, while unlocking Darwin’s potential as an attractive, bustling and connected capital.

“The University of New South Wales specialises in heat mitigation reporting and will work together with the government.”

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The government has previously blamed overzealous pruning and a plant disease for the delayed growth of the shade structure vines.

Former parks superintendent John Antella said expecting those species of vines to grow over the structure was “a bit like expecting a Toyota Corolla to go where you need a Toyota LandCruiser”.