Pooch paradise: First stage of massive $20m Palmerston project nearly complete

The initial stage of a multimillion-dollar project will soon open and our furry friends will be the first to benefit. Here’s everything you need to know.

Listen up dog lovers – there will soon be a new place to hang out with your pooch.

Canines young and old can run amok in a new dog park in Zuccoli, with the first part of a multimillion-dollar hub nearly completed.

The dog park forms stage one of the $20m Zuccoli Community Centre, a pipeline of projects designed to transform the east Palmerston suburb.

It is on track to be open by the end of November.

Contractor Sterling NT is fitting the final features including water play areas, park lighting, shade structures and landscaping.

Renders show how the new Zuccoli Community Centre will look. Picture: Supplied

The park will be split into active and quiet areas to suit dogs of all dispositions.

City of Palmerston Mayor Athina Pascoe-Bell said the council was excited to see the project nearly finished.

“Stage one works are well and truly under way,” she said.

“The site’s been cleared, headworks have been put in.

“Stage one will have two areas in it and some play equipment for dogs, as well as a toilet block.”

About 47 hectares of crown land was handed over to the City of Palmerston in March to build the Zuccoli Community Centre.

The entire hub, which is yet to secure funding, is planned over a five-year build.

The masterplan includes a range of drawcards for kids and adults alike.

The Zuccoli centre will benefit humans and pets. Picture: NT Government.

“The completed project will have two buildings, one will be a children’s library, the other one will be a community centre,” Ms Pascoe-Bell said.

“There will also be a community garden, pump track, a playground, and a skate park.

“Palmerston doesn’t have a lot of community facilities and in that eastern area of the city, the house blocks are substantially smaller than the older suburbs.

“This is planned to be a place where people can go to meet, gather, catch up with friends and take their dogs for a run.

“There will be enough there that the whole family can go and have something to do.”

The dog park is jointly funded with $250,000 from the NT government and $350,000 of federal support.

Palmerston ratepayers are footing the rest of stage one’s $1.2m price tag.

A $19m revitalisation of the Palmerston Swimming and Leisure Centre is also under way.

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