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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.