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Draft Municipal Plan 2026/2027

Consultation has concluded

City of Darwin is proud to present our draft Municipal Plan 2026/2027 for public feedback.

This year’s draft Municipal Plan is focused on a reset; it is a purposeful recalibration, prioritising essential infrastructure, asset renewal and long-term sustainability to ensure the city is operating at its best.

We have committed to enhancing quality of life for residents through an operating expenditure of $158 million, which will deliver services, programs and initiatives that directly benefit the community.

Highlights of the Municipal Plan include:

$23.56 million on capital works program
$2.05 million investment in sports and recreation facility, including stage 2 of the Waters Ward Multigenerational Recreation Space, playground and softfall refurbishment and a land-based fishing platform at Bundilla
$5.3 million for libraries (including capital funding)
$31.92 million in waste management
$10 million for maintaining our parks, including $3.3 million for tree planting and maintenance
$2 million for animal management
$1.6 million on supporting our community through sponsorship, grants and in-kind support
$1.75 million in creating a safer Darwin, including the Safer Cities program and the public places and suburban ranger programs
$9.2 million to support connectivity and accessibility, including road and path networks

Have your say

You are invited to have your say on the draft 2026/2027 Municipal Plan, with public feedback open until 4:00 pm Wednesday 20 May 2026.

Please complete the online survey below to share your views.

You can read the draft municipal plan here: Draft Municipal Plan 2026/2027

Physical copies of the survey, as well as printed copies of the draft 2026/2027 Municipal Plan are available at Customer Service Centre of the Civic Centre, Harry Chan Avenue, Darwin and all four public libraries located across the municipality at:

City Library, Harry Chan Avenue, Darwin
Casuarina Library, Bradshaw Terrace, Casuarina
Nightcliff Library, Pavonia Place, Nightcliff
Karama Library, Kalymnos Drive, Karama

We will also be available at various markets throughout the engagement period. Visit us at:

Nightcliff Market - 9:00 - 11:00 am on Sunday 3 May 2026
Parap Market - 8:30 - 10:30 am on Saturday 8 May 2026
Rapid Creek Market - 8:30 - 10:30am on Sunday 9 May 2026

For more information, please contact 8930 0300 or email engage@darwin.nt.gov.au

City of Darwin is proud to present our draft Municipal Plan 2026/2027 for public feedback.

This year’s draft Municipal Plan is focused on a reset; it is a purposeful recalibration, prioritising essential infrastructure, asset renewal and long-term sustainability to ensure the city is operating at its best.

We have committed to enhancing quality of life for residents through an operating expenditure of $158 million, which will deliver services, programs and initiatives that directly benefit the community.

Highlights of the Municipal Plan include:

$23.56 million on capital works program
$2.05 million investment in sports and recreation facility, including stage 2 of the Waters Ward Multigenerational Recreation Space, playground and softfall refurbishment and a land-based fishing platform at Bundilla
$5.3 million for libraries (including capital funding)
$31.92 million in waste management
$10 million for maintaining our parks, including $3.3 million for tree planting and maintenance
$2 million for animal management
$1.6 million on supporting our community through sponsorship, grants and in-kind support
$1.75 million in creating a safer Darwin, including the Safer Cities program and the public places and suburban ranger programs
$9.2 million to support connectivity and accessibility, including road and path networks

Have your say

You are invited to have your say on the draft 2026/2027 Municipal Plan, with public feedback open until 4:00 pm Wednesday 20 May 2026.

Please complete the online survey below to share your views.

You can read the draft municipal plan here: Draft Municipal Plan 2026/2027

Physical copies of the survey, as well as printed copies of the draft 2026/2027 Municipal Plan are available at Customer Service Centre of the Civic Centre, Harry Chan Avenue, Darwin and all four public libraries located across the municipality at:

City Library, Harry Chan Avenue, Darwin
Casuarina Library, Bradshaw Terrace, Casuarina
Nightcliff Library, Pavonia Place, Nightcliff
Karama Library, Kalymnos Drive, Karama

We will also be available at various markets throughout the engagement period. Visit us at:

Nightcliff Market - 9:00 - 11:00 am on Sunday 3 May 2026
Parap Market - 8:30 - 10:30 am on Saturday 8 May 2026
Rapid Creek Market - 8:30 - 10:30am on Sunday 9 May 2026

For more information, please contact 8930 0300 or email engage@darwin.nt.gov.au

Consultation has concluded

2026/2027 Municipal Plan

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Thank you to everyone for having their say!

After a comprehensive community engagement process, City of Darwin’s 2026/27 Municipal Plan has now been endorsed by Council and will come into effect on Wednesday 1 July 2026.
The 2026/27 Municipal Plan outlines City of Darwin’s commitment to delivering essential services while prioritising investment in critical infrastructure and asset renewal.
Feedback received during the consultation process demonstrated broad community support for the Municipal Plan 2026/27, with nearly half of respondents supporting the plan's overall direction and priorities and others expressing support for some elements of the proposal. The endorsed Municipal Plan balances these aspirations with City of Darwin’s responsibility to maintain and renew essential infrastructure, ensuring the assets and services our community relies on remain fit for purpose.
You can view the Final Municipal Plan 2026/2027 Here.

Engagement process
City of Darwin is committed to open, transparent and responsive community engagement. City of Darwin recognises that residents and other stakeholders have diverse opinions, innovative ideas and a wealth of life experience, and that this information allows Council to better understand issues and provide services that are tailored to community needs. Although community engagement does not replace the decision-making functions of Elected Members, it enhances and informs this decision making. Responsibility for the final decision rests with Council. Elected members were provided a feedback report as well as copies of each submission made to the municipal plan for consideration. This feedback report informed their decision to endorse the final Municipal Plan 2026/2027.
You can view the Draft Municipal Plan 2026/2027 Engagement Report Here.

Whats in the plan?

We are prioritising the essentials: strengthening connections, improving everyday infrastructure and ensuring that our services meet the core needs of our residents. It is about making sure that as Darwin grows, we remain grounded in providing practical, reliable solutions that make life better for our city’s residents.
The Municipal Plan outlines an operational expenditure budget of $157.77 million, and a further $23.56 million in capital against an operating income of $145.38 million. The document also highlights several priority projects, which have been raised by Elected Members as important to them and the Darwin community.

Highlights

$ 23.56 million total capital works program

$ 31.92 million waste management operations and investment

$ 10 million maintaining our parks, tree planting and maintenance

$ 9.2 million connectivity and accessibility

$ 5.3 million for libraries

$ 2.05 million playground recreational spaces and refurbishments

$ 2 million animal management program

$ 1.65 million in funding through sponsorships, grants and in-kind support

Priorities that are being progressed include:

Road surfacing and renewal

Road reconstruction

Storm water upgrades and reconstruction

Shoal Bay Waste Management Facility

Playgrounds

Civic Centre and Precinct Redevelopment project

For more information, please contact 8930 0300 or email engage@darwin.nt.gov.au.
Thank you to everyone for having their say!

After a comprehensive community engagement process, City of Darwin’s 2026/27 Municipal Plan has now been endorsed by Council and will come into effect on Wednesday 1 July 2026.
The 2026/27 Municipal Plan outlines City of Darwin’s commitment to delivering essential services while prioritising investment in critical infrastructure and asset renewal.
Feedback received during the consultation process demonstrated broad community support for the Municipal Plan 2026/27, with nearly half of respondents supporting the plan's overall direction and priorities and others expressing support for some elements of the proposal. The endorsed Municipal Plan balances these aspirations with City of Darwin’s responsibility to maintain and renew essential infrastructure, ensuring the assets and services our community relies on remain fit for purpose.
You can view the Final Municipal Plan 2026/2027 Here.

Engagement process
City of Darwin is committed to open, transparent and responsive community engagement. City of Darwin recognises that residents and other stakeholders have diverse opinions, innovative ideas and a wealth of life experience, and that this information allows Council to better understand issues and provide services that are tailored to community needs. Although community engagement does not replace the decision-making functions of Elected Members, it enhances and informs this decision making. Responsibility for the final decision rests with Council. Elected members were provided a feedback report as well as copies of each submission made to the municipal plan for consideration. This feedback report informed their decision to endorse the final Municipal Plan 2026/2027.
You can view the Draft Municipal Plan 2026/2027 Engagement Report Here.

Whats in the plan?

We are prioritising the essentials: strengthening connections, improving everyday infrastructure and ensuring that our services meet the core needs of our residents. It is about making sure that as Darwin grows, we remain grounded in providing practical, reliable solutions that make life better for our city’s residents.
The Municipal Plan outlines an operational expenditure budget of $157.77 million, and a further $23.56 million in capital against an operating income of $145.38 million. The document also highlights several priority projects, which have been raised by Elected Members as important to them and the Darwin community.

Highlights

$ 23.56 million total capital works program

$ 31.92 million waste management operations and investment

$ 10 million maintaining our parks, tree planting and maintenance

$ 9.2 million connectivity and accessibility

$ 5.3 million for libraries

$ 2.05 million playground recreational spaces and refurbishments

$ 2 million animal management program

$ 1.65 million in funding through sponsorships, grants and in-kind support

Priorities that are being progressed include:

Road surfacing and renewal

Road reconstruction

Storm water upgrades and reconstruction

Shoal Bay Waste Management Facility

Playgrounds

Civic Centre and Precinct Redevelopment project

For more information, please contact 8930 0300 or email engage@darwin.nt.gov.au.
Consultation has concluded