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FAQs
- $91.5 million total capital works program
- $36.33 million for waste management operations and investment
- $9.6 million for maintaining our parks, including tree planting and maintenance
- $4.8 million for connectivity and accessibility, including capital expenditure of $700,000 for shared paths, $810,000 for footpaths and $2.5 million for road surfacing and renewal and road reconstruction
- $4.2 million for libraries
- $3.2 million for tree planting and maintenance
- $1.33 million for arts and culture
- $1.9 million animal management program
- $1.9 million in community funding through sponsorships and grants and in-kind funding
- $720,000 sport and recreation investment
- Road resurfacing and local area traffic management works – Chambers Crescent
- Stormwater – Maude Street and Driffield Street
- Driveways – Wulagi and Wagaman
- Footpath reconstruction – Lee Point
- Road from Maria Street to Wagaman Terrace, and Carstens Terrace
- Malak walkway 169 resurfacing
- Waters Ward Multigenerational Recreation Space
Pitch realignment – Malak Oval - Road resurfacing – East Point Road
Road reconstruction – Banksia Street roundabout - Stormwater – Trower Road, Martin Crescent and Floyd Court
- Street lighting – Atkins Drive and from the Ski Club to the Playground
- Pitch realignment Bagot Oval
- Velodrome storage shed and canteen
- Softfall replacement Sunset Park, Nightcliff Beach and Lake Alexander
- Lameroo Beach access ramp replacement
- Que Noy Park retaining wall replacement
- Gardens Oval irrigation pump and tank
- Benison and Bishop Street intersection upgrade
- Stormwater works – Marella Street, Meigs Crescent and Wilmot Street
- Driveways – Nakara and Wanguri
Tiwi walkway 2 resurfacing - Road resurfacing – Henbury Avenue
- Playground refurbishment and softfall replacement - Fong Park
How much will rates rise in the 2025/26 City of Darwin Budget?
To support our community while maintaining essential services, we have carefully managed our budget to ensure that rates will increase by a modest 2.5%. We understand the pressures of the rising cost of living, which is why we are committed to keeping rates affordable while continuing to invest in services that directly benefit residents.
How much does City of Darwin collect each year in rates?
City of Darwin will collect $79.3 million from rates in 2025/26, which is $1.9 million more than in 2023/24.
What do ratepayers get for their money?
In our 112 square kilometres, City of Darwin maintains 590 hectares of green space, 221 parks, 421 kilometres of stormwater infrastructure, 10,127 street and public lights, 128 playgrounds, 633 kilometres of footpaths and walkways, 475 kilometres of roads, 19 sports grounds, nine basketball courts, eight tennis courts, 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.
How much will City of Darwin spend on its operations this year?
We have committed to an operating spend of $148.47 million, which will be focused on stabilising our infrastructure, prioritising core services and creating lasting value through targeted, sustainable initiatives. This is supported by a comprehensive capital works program, with $91.5 million allocated to supporting liveability in Darwin and stimulating the local business economy.
How will City of Darwin be spending its budget this year?
What is the capital program for the year?
Council plans to invest $91.5 million in the maintenance and enhancement of community assets. This investment includes $68 million for the ongoing redevelopment of the Civic Centre. Major sources of funding for the project are $30 million drawn from parking reserves for the carpark and additional carpark spaces components of the project, $30 million from external borrowings, with the remaining funds coming from the sale of land reserve and $3 million from sale of land to DCOH.
In addition to the Civic Centre and Precinct Redevelopment Project, we will commence stage 1 the Waters Ward Multigenerational Recreation Space and renew critical infrastructure, including roadways and stormwater networks.
$9.125 million will be spent at Shoal Bay Waste Management Facility for stage 7 construction and associated works.
Why is there no Better Suburbs program this year?
This year’s Plan prioritises the essentials: strengthening connections, improving everyday infrastructure and ensuring that our services meet the core needs of our residents. It’s about making sure that as Darwin grows, we remain grounded in providing the practical, reliable solutions that make life better for our city’s residents. Through several strategic priorities in the year ahead, we will be focused on stabilising our infrastructure, prioritising core services and creating lasting value through targeted, sustainable initiatives.
Our focus will remain on providing free events, programs and activities that bring the community together, enrich lives and create opportunities for connection and wellbeing. From family friendly events and recreational programs to cultural activities and community initiatives, we are ensuring that Darwin remains a vibrant, inclusive and dynamic city where everyone has access to opportunities to engage, participate and thrive.
What’s in the budget for my Ward?
WATERS WARD
CHAN WARD
LYONS WARD
RICHARDSON WARD
What about kerbside waste collection costs? Are they going up too?
The kerbside waste 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 $14.01 per annum to $364.38, or an increase of $0.27 per week.
Waste management charges have increased by 4% this financial year due to escalating waste collection costs; this increase is in alignment with the long-term financial plan.
When you combine the increase in general rates and the increased costs in kerbside collection, what is the overall cost to the average household?
Combining both the rates and the annual waste charge, an average valued single dwelling property can expect to pay $2,273.55 per annum, or $43.72 per week. This is an increase of just $1.16 per week compared to the 2024/25 financial year.
Why have the waste fees and charges increased?
Waste management charges for residents and commercial operators support both operational costs and significant capital upgrades required for environmental compliance, recycling, and ensuring the long-term capacity of Shoal Bay Waste Management Facility.
City of Darwin residents who pay the waste charge are provided with domestic waste and recycling collection services and free disposal of domestic quantities of household waste in a non-commercial vehicle via Shoal Bay Waste Management Facility access tags.
Waste management charges have increased by 4% this financial year due to escalating waste collection costs; this increase is in alignment with the long-term financial plan and lower than the increase applied last year.
City of Darwin promotes the virtues of our lifestyle. What’s in this year’s budget for lifestyle?
We will invest in creating a connected and energetic community by dedicating $2.72 million for sport and recreation within Darwin. This includes $100,000 for sports facility upgrades, $620,000 to be spent on playground refurbishment, including softfall across the municipality and $2 million for the multigenerational recreation space in Waters Ward.
We will continue to support events and activities by allocating $1.9 million to community groups through sponsorships, grants and in-kind funding.
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