City of Darwin set to remove footpaths in Anula, Jingili, Moil, Nakara, Tiwi, Wagaman, Wanguri and Wulagi

More footpaths are set to be torn up as the City of Darwin reveals the cost of maintaining ‘obsolete’ paths. See where.

More residential footpaths are in the firing line as the City of Darwin doubles down on its policy to rip up “obsolete” bitumen paths where there is an intact path running parallel.

Councillors set to discuss the issue at its next general meeting on Tuesday, with council officers revealing the financial cost of their potential restoration.

About $14m is the estimated cost of replacing all worn bitumen paths with concrete.

The council report comes in response to a formal request by Councillor Sylvia Lambrinidis-Klonarishas, one of several who are siding with almost 100 residents fighting against the controversial removal policy.

Currently, 3000sq m of obsolete footpaths are removed annually at a cost of $150,000.

Footpath along Curlew Court in Wulagi has recently been removed. Picture: Floss Adams

Under that allocation it would take 27 years for all identified paths to be removed.

“An obsolete footpath is an asphalt footpath that was built in suburbs (generally constructed in the 1970s and 1980s) that has not been replaced (and) is in excess of the service level employed for the type of road as there is a conforming footpath on the other side of the road,” the report said.

“Asphalt typically has a useful life of 25 to 30 years, and as a result there are now a significant number of footpaths that have reached the end of their useful life.

Footpaths have been removed in Wulagi. Picture: Floss Adams

“This also makes them difficult to undertake standard maintenance practices with more costly repairs being required to ensure safety.

“There is no current funding identified to support replacing obsolete footpaths with new concrete paths.”

The policy states that the removed footpaths are replaced with “suitable verge material” of topsoil and dry land grass seeds.

The report says that most of the obsolete paths are in Anula, Jingili, Moil, Nakara, Tiwi, Wagaman, Wanguri and Wulagi.

Footpaths along six residential streets have been targeted for removal in October and November, while four have recently been replaced with dirt and grass seed.

“(Footpath removal) is scheduled for delivery from July to November each year for re-establishment of verge areas to align to the wet season,” the report said.

“This allows for residents to assist with initial watering and establish grass root systems so that the first wet season rains do not result in topsoil removal.”

However the NT News understands that impacted residents haven’t been notified of the removal, let alone asked to water and maintain the verge.

In an NT News poll, almost three-quarters of 160 respondents voted that the council should repair damaged footpaths.

Waters Ward Councillor Brian O’Gallagher has raised a motion for a moratorium on the policy. Picture: Ivan Rachman

Another 12 per cent agreed but only if enough people used them, and 15 per cent said one footpath along a street was enough.

One NT News reader, Chris, said the removal policy was a “mind-boggling decision”.

“Can I request the council provide a nominal $50 supplement towards my water bill as I now have to water it?” he commented.

“Why would any ratepayer use their water, fuel, time, effort (and) maintenance on equipment for a stretch of dirt so the council can rule the ratepayer on its maintenance,” another reader, ‘Long Timer’, said.

Several councillors, including Waters Ward Councillor Brain O’Gallagher, have said they’re looking to reverse the policy.

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Originally published as City of Darwin set to remove footpaths in Anula, Jingili, Moil, Nakara, Tiwi, Wagaman, Wanguri and Wulagi