The Municipal Plan presents the Lord Mayor and Councillors’ decisions about what to resource and deliver across the City of Darwin in 2022/23.

It is a set of commitments to the community for the coming year about what the City of Darwin is accountable for delivering.  

The document also includes the draft budget.  It lays out what the commitments will cost and where the funds will come from.  

Council is now inviting residents and other stakeholders with an interest in the city to share their thoughts and opinions on the draft document.

The Municipal Plan contains Councils adopted Original Budget for 2022/23. Council has through the Budget Review process amended the Original Budget in accordance with section 203 of the Local Government Act 2019. A link to the latest amended budget can be found here.

View the highlights    Download the 2022/23 Municipal Plan

FAQs

Why does Council need to increase rates?

During the pandemic we had a zero-rate increase in 2020-21 and then a minimal 2.5 per cent rates rise last year. But we have now entered a different economic period affected by rising construction costs and a nation-wide shortage of skilled labour. Consequently, we have honed our budgetary position to fit with the new set of economic realities.

What is 4.5% rates increase going to cost in real terms?

An average residential and commercial property will have to pay an extra $1.50 in rates and a further 29 cents a week for kerbside waste collection and recycling. That’s $1.79 a week, or $93 a year.

How much will Council raise from rates this year?

To ensure we can continue delivering the programs, projects, asset maintenance and services the community expects from City of Darwin we need to raise $80.2m in 2022-23.

Will Council continue with its greening strategy this year?

We are spending $3.2 million on tree planting and maintenance this year to ensure we can have a greener cooler Darwin.

Council is spending a lot on waste management. Why?

We will invest a further $43.6m on waste management this year. This is not just for kerbside waste collection and recycling but for on-going improvements of the Shoal Bay Waste Management Facility. 
City of Darwin is continuing to deal with longer term infrastructure considerations for Shoal Bay which are needed to protect the environment and extend the life of the facility.

What’s in the budget for my Ward?

Darwin’s elected members, including the Lord Mayor, can make decisions on $1.8 million worth of new initiatives for their wards through our Better Suburbs Projects.
This year Darwin’s four Council wards will see projects including streetscaping, creation of an edible forest, the development of a new dog park, new outdoor gym equipment and funding for a canteen at Nightcliff Oval delivered through Better Suburbs Projects.