Site preparation is underway for Darwin’s new Civic Centre, with City of Darwin officially handing the site to DCOH for preliminary works ahead of construction. 

The Civic Centre redevelopment will convert the surrounding area into a welcoming precinct with a community plaza and enhanced connection to Civic Park and Cavenagh Street.

Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis, said that once complete, the Civic Centre area will be completely transformed, and the new building will become the administrative and cultural hub of the city. 

“We are confident the new Civic Centre will be a place for the community, providing a centralised, accessible space where people can engage in community activities,” Mr Vatskalis said.

“We are working with DCOH to create a space where people can visit, connect with others and take part in a variety of activities and events.

“The new Civic Centre will include new and exciting features that can be enjoyed by everyone, and we’re looking forward to getting the project underway.

“We know from community consultation that the library is the reason most people visit the Civic Centre, and the new building will feature a new and improved library with an expanded footprint and enhanced library services.

“People also want to see meeting rooms available for hire, with feedback that there are limited options in Darwin, and the new Civic Centre will feature meeting rooms and function spaces that can be booked by the community.

“Parking is important, and the redeveloped Civic Centre will include approximately 410 car spaces, owned by City of Darwin, that can be used by residents, workers and visitors to the city.

“Accessible public facilities such as toilets and showers and end of trip facilities are also critical and we are pleased to be able to provide these in the final building, for everyone in the community to utilise,” he said.

The new Civic Centre building will be constructed on the current car parking site and will take up a smaller footprint than the existing building, with the surrounding area transformed into a cool, green community plaza.

While works take place, the City Library and Customer Service centre will remain open and can be accessed via the existing Customer Service entry, in front of Civic Park. 

Additional 15-minute, 30-minute and accessible car parking bays have been created on Harry Chan Avenue as well as additional parking spots created outside the Courthouse on Cavenagh Street. 

Traffic control devices will be in place for the duration of the project to ensure public safety while the works are being undertaken, with property and pedestrian access maintained as much as possible. 

The Civic Centre will include space for City of Darwin’s administration and technical services offices, which will take up less space than the current office space in the existing building. 

City of Darwin has partnered with local construction company, DCOH, on the project to create project enhancements and efficiencies, however City of Darwin will retain majority ownership of the land and the building.

City of Darwin is investing $77 million in the new Civic Centre, including $30 million to be spent on public carparking and $6 million to be spent on landscaping and revitalisation of the current Civic Centre site.

The $77 million investment by City of Darwin into the new Civic Centre is comprised of $47 million from reserves which can only be used for public carparking or for development of a new Civic Centre precinct, as well as $30 million in external borrowings, allowing build costs to be allocated across future years and ensuring intergenerational equity.

DCOH will fund, own and operate floors 11 to 20 of the building, which will be used for commercial use, not residential.  

Managing Director and CEO of DCOH, Shane Dignan, said the DCOH Civic Centre team is working diligently to progress the project ensuring smooth construction works throughout the duration of the build.

“Taking the time to be thorough across each stage of this construction will help ensure success of the project with quality outcomes that speak to the work DCOH does,” he said.

The new Civic Centre project has been in planning for over four years, and the final procurement process had probity oversight in place to ensure all legislative requirements were met. 

Construction is expected to be complete in 2028.

For more information visit the project page at darwin.nt.gov.au/projects/civic-centre-redevelopment