General Conditions
1. City of Darwin has Community Centres available for hire at Lyons, Malak and Nightcliff. The facilities are available for hire in accordance with City of Darwin’s current Fees and Charges, which are reviewed annually as part of Council’s budget process.
2. Community Centres are available for hire daily between 6:00 am and 12:00 midnight. The Hirer must ensure the booking period includes sufficient time for setting up before the activity and cleaning and packing up after the activity.
3. All functions and activities must cease by 12:00 midnight and must not continue in the car park or surrounding areas. The Community Centre must be cleaned and the entire facility vacated no later than 1:00 am.
4. The person making the booking must be 18 years of age or older and accepts responsibility for the booking, use and security of the facility for the duration of the hire period.
Cleaning and Use of the Facility
5. The Hirer must leave the Community Centre in a clean and tidy condition. The Hirer is responsible for providing their own cleaning supplies, including items such as detergent, dish cloths and surface cleaning products.
6. The Hirer must ensure that:
• the kitchen, toilets, floors and any outside areas used during the booking are left clean and tidy
• all rubbish generated as a result of the booking is placed in the outside bins provided or removed from the premises
• no loose rubbish is left inside or outside the facility
• all furniture, equipment and appliances are returned to their original position
• no damage or breakage occurs to the facility, furniture, fittings, equipment or appliances
• children under 15 years of age are under the direct supervision of an adult at all times
• all lights, fans and air-conditioning are turned off at the end of the booking
• all windows and doors are closed, locked and secure before leaving the facility
• the facility is only used during the approved booking
• all key(s) are returned as required under these Conditions of Use
• all other Conditions of Use are complied with.
Where the Hirer fails to meet these requirements, City of Darwin may recover from the Hirer any costs incurred for additional cleaning, repairs, replacement of property or other associated expenses.
7. Any litter generated by the Hirer or their guests within the Community Centre or surrounding areas must be placed in the bins provided or removed from the premises.
8. No items are to be attached to walls, ceilings, doors or other surfaces. This includes the use of sticky tape, hooks, Blu Tack or similar products. No alterations may be made to the facility without prior written approval from City of Darwin.
9. Balloons are not permitted within the Community Centres. The Hirer will be responsible for any costs incurred by City of Darwin for the removal of balloons or for damage caused to ceiling fans, fixtures or other property.
10. Where possible, Hirers are encouraged to avoid the use of single-use plastics at the facility.
Alcohol, Food and Smoking
11. The consumption of alcohol is prohibited at Lyons and Nightcliff Community Centres. City of Darwin may approve the consumption of alcohol at Malak Community Centre subject to any applicable approvals and conditions.
12. Food must not be sold or supplied where a licence, permit or other approval is required unless the appropriate licence, permit or approval has been obtained.
13. Smoking is not permitted inside Community Centres.
14. Candles and/or incense used as part of a cultural activity or religious ceremony may only be used with prior written approval from City of Darwin.
Bookings, Cancellations and Regular Hire
15. Regular bookings may be approved; however, regular bookings are not available on Friday or Saturday nights due to high demand.
16. All regular bookings will be reviewed annually. City of Darwin reserves the right to vary or revoke approval for a regular booking where required.
17. Where City of Darwin has approved regular use of a facility and the Hirer repeatedly fails to use the facility on the approved dates or times without notifying Customer Service, City of Darwin reserves the right to revoke the booking arrangement.
18. City of Darwin reserves the right to refuse an application or cancel a previously approved booking. Where City of Darwin cancels an approved booking, any applicable hire fees already paid by the Hirer will be refunded.
19. Requests to cancel or transfer a booking must be provided to City of Darwin in writing at least five business days prior to the approved date of hire. Where the required notice is not provided, the applicable hire fees will be forfeited and payment will still be required.
20. Where the Hirer does not use the Community Centre on the approved date and time and City of Darwin considers the facility to have been fit and available for use, a refund will not be provided unless the cancellation requirements have been met.
Payment and Key Collection
21. All applicable fees relating to the booking must be paid in full prior to the collection of Community Centre key(s).
22. Community Centre key(s) must be collected by the Hirer, or a nominated person who is 18 years of age or older, from Customer Service between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm Monday to Friday prior to the approved hire date.
23. When collecting Community Centre key(s), the Hirer or nominated person must provide a copy of the approved permit and proof of payment. Key(s) will not be provided where payment has not been made in full or the required documentation cannot be provided.
24. Community Centre key(s) must be hand delivered to Customer Service as soon as reasonably practical following the hire.
Access and Conduct
25. The Hirer and their guests must only access and use the areas of the Community Centre included in the approved booking, together with any common areas or amenities necessary for the use of the hired area.
26. All music and general noise must be kept to a reasonable level and must not cause unreasonable disturbance to nearby residents, other Hirers or members of the public. Hirers and their guests must also minimise noise when arriving at and leaving the facility, including refraining from sounding vehicle horns unnecessarily.
27. The Hirer must ensure the Community Centre is not used outside the dates and times specified on the approved permit. Additional time must be approved by City of Darwin and may incur additional hire fees.
Safety and Emergency Requirements
28. The Hirer is responsible for taking all reasonable steps to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all persons attending or participating in activities during the hire period.
29. The Hirer is responsible for familiarising themselves with the emergency evacuation plan and emergency procedures for the Community Centre prior to commencing their activity.
30. The Hirer must ensure that all exits, fire exits, fire equipment, doors and emergency access points remain clear and unobstructed at all times.
31. The provision of appropriate first aid equipment is the responsibility of the Hirer. Hirers are encouraged to ensure suitable first aid equipment is readily available throughout the hire period.
32. All incidents, injuries or damage involving City of Darwin premises or property, or any person attending the facility, must be reported to City of Darwin by close of business on the next business day.
33. Operational issues or emergencies relating to the hired facility during business hours should be reported to City of Darwin on 8930 0300. Issues occurring outside normal business hours should be reported to City of Darwin’s contracted After Hours service on 8930 0900.
Where City of Darwin’s contracted security provider is required to attend a Community Centre as a result of the Hirer’s use of the facility, City of Darwin may recover the associated call-out costs from the Hirer.
Insurance and Liability
34. During the period of hire and where required by City of Darwin, the Hirer must maintain public liability insurance for an amount of not less than $20 million, noting City of Darwin’s interest. Exceptions may apply at the discretion of City of Darwin.
35. The Hirer is responsible for any loss, damage, injury or other liability arising from or in connection with their use of the Community Centre to the extent that the loss, damage, injury or liability is caused or contributed to by the Hirer, their employees, contractors, guests or activities.
Where required by City of Darwin, the Hirer must indemnify City of Darwin against claims, losses, damages, costs or expenses arising from the Hirer’s use of the facility, subject to applicable law.
36. The Hirer is solely responsible for any personal property or other items brought into or left within the Community Centre, including items stored in cupboards or storage cages. City of Darwin accepts no responsibility for loss, theft, damage or deterioration of such items, including damage caused by fire, flood, water leakage or overflow, mildew, heat, pests or vermin, except to the extent that liability cannot lawfully be excluded.
Security and CCTV
37. City of Darwin operates CCTV within Community Centres for the safety and security of Hirers, visitors and Council assets. CCTV footage may be used to investigate incidents, accidents, suspected criminal activity or breaches of these Conditions of Use, in accordance with applicable City of Darwin policies and legal requirements.
Compliance
38. The Hirer must comply with these Conditions of Use, the approved permit and any additional conditions imposed by City of Darwin in relation to the booking.
39. Failure to comply with these Conditions of Use may result in additional costs being recovered from the Hirer, cancellation of the booking and/or the Hirer being refused future use of City of Darwin Community Centres.