City of Darwin councillors rally to fight against ‘obsolete’ footpath removal policy

A cohort of councillors has revealed its stance in the wake of the City of Darwin’s policy of removing footpaths. Find out how the move is influencing our local government representatives.

At least six City of Darwin councillors have pledged to fight against the council’s controversial footpath policy.

The move comes weeks before residents are expected to lose their paths to patches of dirt.

Plans are in motion to rip up footpaths in Larrakeyah, Moil, Anula, Wagaman, Tiwi and Wanguri in October and November.

Several have already been removed in Wulagi, Nagala and Jingili.

But in Tuesday’s general meeting, a swag of elected representatives said they would support a motion to alter the policy before the paths were removed.

It comes as council officers reveal it would cost at least $14m to replace all of the city’s decrepit bitumen footpaths with suitable, 1.5m wide concrete paths.

That figure does not include additional environmental factors, such as removing and replanting trees where necessary.

Chan Ward Councillor Morgan Rickard is in support of preserving footpaths. Picture: NT Greens.

Chan Ward Councillor Morgan Rickard said he would support a move to boost funding for the footpaths’ repair in next year’s budget.

“I’d like to think that we design our city and try to construct our city in a way that addresses the needs of those who are least able to access the modes of transport to move around,” Mr Rickard said.

“Ideally, that’s the kind of city I want to live in.

“I realise that best practice and ‘the ideal’ in those sorts of things comes at a cost.

“To be fair to the staff who have to manage these programs, they can only do with what they have a budget to do.

“I think that comes to a very important point for us as an elected member group, especially as we come into setting our budget for the next year.”

Richardson Ward Councillor Jimmy Bouhoris has said he would support changing council’s footpath removal policy. Picture: Supplied

Mr Rickard’s Chan Ward counterpart, Councillor Ed Smelt, is also in support of repairing footpaths rather than removing them, along with Richardson Ward Councillor Jimmy Bouhoris, and councillors Sylvia Klonaris, Brian O’Gallagher and Kim Farrar from Waters Ward.

City of Darwin Mayor Kon Vatskalis also expressed his support in Tuesday’s council meeting.

Under the current policy, which was voted in by councillors about eight years ago, 3000sq m of old footpaths are set to be ripped up annually at a cost of $150,000.

“This was one of the biggest reasons I got onto council,” Councillor Bouhoris said.

“We’ve been hearing it for months, even years.

“We are a service delivery entity, we work for the ratepayers.

“There’s a level of expectation out there by the community on what they want as a service.

“It’s all good to say that we’ve got these strategies in place … but they’re not seeing the tangible outcomes or what they think is that level (of service).

“This is a council elected member issue, this is a policy issue and hope to see it get changed.”

At least six councillors and the Mayor of Darwin City have said they would support a move to preserve worn footpaths, rather than rip them up and replace them with dirt. Picture: iStock

Wulagi resident and regular footpath user Rachel Pickett, who has mobility issues, said she was relieved to see councillors fighting for their preservation.

“I don’t agree with one-sided policy but if that’s their policy and that’s what budgeted for why didn’t they contact the community and ask which side to remove?,” Mr Pickett said.

“I don’t agree with parking dirt there either, it’s cheap and nasty.

“I’m happy that it sounds like there’ll be some change

“Hopefully they can put a pause on the current policy.”

A motion to change the policy is expected to be raised at the City of Darwin’s next ordinary meeting on October 11.

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Originally published as City of Darwin councillors rally to fight against ‘obsolete’ footpath removal policy