FAQs

This year is a revaluation year, undertaken by the Valuer General of the Northern Territory every three years. 

As part of the budget process, Council determines the amount it must receive as income from rates to be able to provide services and the change in valuation means the rate pool is redistributed, based on unimproved capital values of properties within the municipality.

To enable City of Darwin to deliver on the essential services and community needs outlined in the Municipal Plan the general rate increase applied has been kept to (4%) four percent, which roughly equates to an increase of $1.35 per week for the average residential property.

City of Darwin will collect $78.6 million from rates in 2024/25, which is $3.5 million more than in 2023/24.

In our 112 square kilometres, City of Darwin maintains 590 hectares of green space, 221 parks, 451 kilometres of stormwater infrastructure, 20,050 street and public lights, 19 sports grounds, 122 playgrounds, 609 kilometres of footpaths and walkways, 465 kilometres of roads, seven childcare centres, four libraries and three swimming pools. City of Darwin also operates the region’s only waste management facility, Shoal Bay Waste Management Facility.

We have committed to an operating spend of $141 million, which will provide works and initiatives that directly benefit the community. This is supported by a comprehensive capital works program, with $61 million allocated to supporting liveability in Darwin and stimulating the local business economy.

• $25.8 million for waste management operations and investment 
• $9.5 million in maintaining parks and gardens, including $3.2 million for tree planting and maintenance and $1.1 million for greening
• $8.1 million for connectivity and accessibility, including $850,000 for shared paths and $1.2 million for footpaths
• $4.5 million for libraries 
• $3.2 million for tree planting and maintenance 
• $2 million for arts and culture 
• $1.9 million animal management program 
• $1.6 million in community funding through sponsorships and grants 
• $1.34 million sport and recreation investment 
• $950,000 for Better Suburbs projects

A comprehensive capital works program has been allocated, with $61 million assigned to stimulating the local business economy and supporting liveability in Darwin.

This includes $40 million allocated for the redevelopment of the Civic Centre, which will include community spaces such as a library and town hall, as well as $26 million allocated to more public parking spaces within the city centre.

In the Darwin city centre, we will deliver works to revitalise our footpaths, shared pathways and outdoor areas, as well as streetscaping revitalisation projects in Chapel Lane and Smith Street, in conjunction with the Northern Territory Government, as well as in Cavenagh Street.

The opening of the $26.8 million Casuarina Aquatic and Leisure Centre in mid-2024 and the commencement of transformational works to the Bundilla Beach area are also included.

We are investing $840,000 in public lighting, including projects such as Making Mindil Safe and at the Nightcliff Jetty, to enhance public wellbeing. Additional lighting enhancements and installing specific traffic measures and management works.

City of Darwin is investing $950,000 in the Better Suburbs program for 2024/25, which is made up of the following:

• LORD MAYOR:
  • A $150,000 contribution towards landscaping of Bradshaw Terrace medians – seeing a total of $250,000 allocated to the continuation of the Bradshaw Terrace streetscape beautification from Symes Street to Trower Road through this year's Better Suburbs program.
  • Trower Road landscape design - $40,000 committed to develop a landscape design of the streetscape on Trower Road between Vanderlin Drive and Bradshaw Terrace.
• WATERS WARD
  • Wagaman Oval surrounds upgrade - $96,000 allocated to the development and partial delivery of a Master Plan for the Wagaman Oval surrounds.
  • Park Bollards in Malak - $30,000 allocated to install bollards at Moody Court and Tymn Court.
  • Waters Ward speed check signs - $64,000 for additional speed check signs on Parer Drive, adjacent to Casuarina Senior College and Brolga Street, adjacent to Wulagi Primary School.
• CHAN WARD
  • George Park playground - $65,000 towards installing a new, compliant playground in George Park. 
  • Bagot Park greening and improvements - Community planting day to be delivered at a value of $20,000 to establish a planting buffer around the recreational area, and a further $32,500 for drinking fountains and bike racks at Bagot Park.
  • Camphor Street verge - $15,000 for tree planting and grassing the verge on the corner of Camphor Street and Oleander Street in Nightcliff. 
  • Nightcliff Community Centre upgrades - $15,000 to upgrades for the Nightcliff Community Centre. 
  • Aralia Street upgrades - $30,000 allocated to investigating and planning upgrades for the Aralia Street shops. 
  • Project development - $12,500 allocated for investigating, designing and planning out future projects.
• LYONS WARD
  • Darwin city centre pathways and greening - $175,000 allocated to improving pathway surface treatments and planting trees in the Darwin city centre. 
  • Reflection seat - $15,000 towards installing a seat and associated plants near the Darwin Cenotaph car park to provide an area for people to sit and reflect as they look out over the Darwin Harbour. 
• RICHARDSON WARD
  • Nakara Oval storage shed - $70,000 allocated to the construction of a storage shed at Nakara Oval to support organised recreation at the facility.
  • Alawa toilet mural - $20,000 allocated to commissioning a local artist to paint the exterior of the toilet block on Lakeside Drive in Alawa.
  • Contribution towards landscaping of Bradshaw Terrace medians - $100,000 towards the continuation of the Bradshaw Terrace streetscape beautification from Symes Street to Trower Road. 

The kerbside garbage collection charge increase reflects the cost of collection and contributes towards the current and future costs of operating, maintaining and rehabilitating the Shoal Bay Waste Management Facility. It has been proposed to meet these costs by increasing the levy by $16.68 per annum to $350.36, or an increase of $0.32 per week.

Combining both the rates and the annual waste levy, an average valued single dwelling property can expect to pay $2,212.97 per annum, or $42.56 per week. This is an increase of just $1.67 per week compared to the 2023-24 financial year.

Fees and charges are calculated for residents and commercial operators to cover the operational running costs and significant capital upgrades required for environmental compliance, recycling, and ensuring the long-term capacity of Shoal Bay Waste Management Facility (Shoal Bay). 

Shoal Bay’s waste management fees are similar to, and in many cases less than, comparable interstate facilities.

Since 2016, more than $40 million has been spent on capital upgrades at Shoal Bay to ensure a long-term sustainable future for the facility.

Some commercial waste fees and charges increase is 10 percent plus 5 percent CPI equating to a 15 percent overall increase, which is aligned to the LTFP and considerably lower than the increase applied last year.

We will invest in creating a connected and energetic community by dedicating $1.34 million for sport and recreation within Darwin. 

This includes $400,000 to upgrade sporting change rooms at our ovals, $1 million committed to revitalising playgrounds across the municipality and a two-year plan to develop a multigenerational regional playground in Waters Ward.

We will continue to support events and activities by allocating $1.6 million to community groups through sponsorships and grants.