FAQs

City of Darwin is committed to delivering quality services for Darwin residents. 

The current civic centre, built before Cyclone Tracy, has reached the end of its design life and does not meet the current and future needs of our community. The new Civic Centre will support organisation efficiencies that will drive improved customer service.

This significant project will be central to City of Darwin’s approach to economic recovery, jobs and CBD enhancement. A focus will be to create community spaces to produce a central hub for community members to come and enjoy a variety of services.  

Assessment of redevelopment options have shown that the full redevelopment would best meet the long-term needs of our community. Redeveloping the existing building may cost less in the short term, however, it would not bring the building up to required standards and would be a short-term fix. It would have minimal benefit to the community in improved customer experience or modern, accessible and collaborative community spaces. 

The option for a complete redevelopment will be fit for purpose and deliver value to the community for years to come.

Council is consulting with stakeholders and the community in February and March for the first stage of consultation in 2022 to develop a better understanding of what they’d like to see incorporated into the public access areas of the new Civic Centre. 

There will be a second stage of consultation to seek community feedback on the initial concept designs for the building.

The feedback gathered during Stage 1 consultation will inform the functional design brief and concept design.

Council has dedicated a $30 million investment for the redevelopment of the Civic Centre.

City of Darwin will lead the Civic Centre to complement the Civic and State Square Masterplan and it will be funded by Council’s Sale of Land Reserve and Car Parking Reserves.

No, City of Darwin is leading the redevelopment of the Civic Centre to complement the Civic and State Square Masterplan. The new Civic Centre is not a City Deal project and will be built and designed separately on the existing site of the Civic Centre and adjacent car park. The new Civic Centre will be linked to the new Civic and State Square development through landscaping and pedestrian connectivity.

City of Darwin is redeveloping the Civic Centre to create a functional and innovative space where the whole community can come together to celebrate, play, commemorate, learn, collaborate and meet. This redevelopment is central to City of Darwin’s approach to economic recovery, jobs and CBD enhancement.

 The new Civic Centre will include office space, public car park and significant public access spaces such as the City Library, and Council is asking the Darwin community for their input in developing a landmark building that will be highly valued and meet the needs of current and future generations.

The new Civic Centre will remain on the current site adjacent to Civic Park, a strategic location that connects the CBD, Darwin Waterfront and Parliament House.  The site includes the area of the current Civic Centre building and the adjacent car park. The footprint for the building will be determined as planning progresses. The site is 17 Harry Chan Avenue, Darwin City.

 Please see an image of the Civic Centre redevelopment site on the fact sheet and Engage Darwin site for more information.

The Large Banyan Tree, known as Galarmarrma (Tree of Knowledge), outside of the Civic Centre is a site of cultural importance to the Darwin Community and will be protected during this redevelopment.

 Council are committed to preserving the tree and it will become a feature in the redevelopment of the Civic Centre.

The Large Banyan Tree, known as Galarmarrma (Tree of Knowledge), outside of the Civic Centre is a site of cultural importance to the Darwin Community and will be protected and become a feature of the new Civic space.

 The Civic Centre redevelopment is still in its early stages and as the project plan is still being developed, Council do not yet know what the new Civic Centre and changes to the Civic Park will be, however City of Darwin are committed to retaining the natural beauty and structure of our parks and town area and will take this into account when designing the new building.

The Council are in the first stage of the Civic Centre redevelopment and have not yet decided on the facilities the new building will include.

 Council is asking the Darwin community for their input in developing a landmark building that will be highly valued and meet the needs of current and future generations. Consultation for this redevelopment is currently in progress and will run from 17 February to 20 March 2022.

All feedback from the community on the redevelopment will be collated and delivered in a report to Council on the conclusion of the consultation.

A local design company has been engaged to scope the functional design requirements for the Civic Centre. The community feedback will be used to incorporate into the design brief.

An Expression of Interest will be released in February to explore industry capability and availability in relation to the new building. Options will include the exploration of benefits that industry innovation can bring to a development of this nature.