Place and Liveability in Darwin

City of Darwin is working with the community to create a Place and Liveability Plan that aims to enhance the quality of life and wellbeing of people living within our community by fostering a stronger sense of place and improving the liveability of Darwin by 2050.

The Place and Liveability Plan (The Plan) builds on all the work that that has been carried out in recent years to create a capital city that is liveable, healthy, cool, clean, green, smart, vibrant and creative.

When developing this draft Plan, community engagement aimed to capture diverse perspectives on the unique needs, values and characteristics of Darwin. The engagement approach was designed to provide avenues for people of all age groups, genders and cultural backgrounds to contribute to the plan and identify their aspirations for a more liveable Darwin into the future. Questions focused on what liveability means to individuals and asked them to prioritise key liveability principles, to share their ideas for what could make Darwin more liveable.

Full details of the engagement process are provided on the Liveability Platform.

Community engagement results, Darwin's existing Area Plans, neighbourhood features, infrastructure, facilities and demographic information has helped us develop the draft Plan.

We are now inviting you to provide feedback on the draft Plan, platform and toolkit. Your feedback will help inform the final Place and Liveability Plan 2050.

The Place and Liveability Plan is an opportunity for the people of Darwin to help shape the future of Darwin as a place and to be more liveable by 2050.

Pilot Projects Completed - November 2024

City of Darwin appointed a local Larrakia artist, Naomy Briston of Numus Designs, to participate in two pilot projects in Casuarina and Karama.

Ms Briston created and used stencils to paint a public walkway connecting Strele Crescent and Trower Road in Wanguri in the Casuarina area, as well part of a footpath in Robyn Lesley Park in Karama. Her artwork reflects local flora and fauna.

To monitor movement in the project spaces, City of Darwin temporarily installed smart poles. The data collected through these is helping inform future projects and understanding of the walkway and path users.

The community is invited to provide feedback at both locations through a QR code short survey or directly through the Liveability Dashboard.

Karama project and community event - Saturday 23 November 2024

Community members were invited to attend an event on Saturday 23 November 2024 where Ms Briston, along with the Gardens for Wildlife program leaders were present. They shared information on supporting local wildlife in Darwin gardens. The Australian Native Bee Association also attended to talk about the native bees that inhabit Darwin gardens.

To coincide with the pilot project which is testing liveability principles of physical connectivity, safety and security and open space and recreation, Karama Community Garden held an open day.

The event was held at Robyn Lesley Park. The community enjoyed barista-made coffee and a light morning tea, while they checked out the artwork. People also painted their own version of the flora and fauna which they took home on canvas.

Students from Karama Primary School also participated in the footpath painting with Ms Briston on Friday 22 November 2024.

Above image is the footpath at Robyn Lesley Park, before the pilot installation.

Casuarina project

At Casuarina, Ms Briston painted the walkway using stencils to reflect flora and fauna, and solar lights were installed along the walkway (at ground level). This project aims to make improvements to amenity and test whether the lights and painting change the way people feel about using the walkway day-to-day.

Painting took place on Thursday 21 November 2024 and involved representatives from the nearby Mimik-Ga Centre. Lighting was installed on Friday 22 November 2024.

The image above is the walkway looking towards Trower Road, Wanguri prior to the project.

Check out our Liveability Dashboard! This platform provides insights into our Place and Liveability pilot projects.

Expression of Interest for Artists to contribute to the Place and Liveability Plan project - NOW OPEN!

City of Darwin is calling for Expressions of Interest from Darwin-based artists to help deliver two pilot projects as part of the Place and Liveability Plan.

It's an opportunity to reflect the flora, fauna or bush tucker of Darwin through two art activities - in Karama and Casuarina.

Please view the full EOI and criteria on the right-hand side of the project page. Your EOI must be submitted by 4.00pm 23 October 2024 via email: darwin@darwin.nt.gov.au.

City of Darwin is creating a Place and Liveability Plan with guidance from the community!

The City of Darwin is working with local consultants, Jacobs, to develop a Place and Liveability Plan for Darwin. The plan will build on the work City of Darwin has already undertaken towards creating a safe, liveable, healthy, cool, green, clean, smart, prosperous, vibrant and creative city.

The Place and Liveability Plan will:

• Capture the unique needs, values and character of Darwin’s people and communities
• Reflect Darwin’s diversity
• Contribute to a holistic plan for how Darwin can become more liveable in the future
• Consolidate a range of innovative projects already being delivered by City of Darwin.

As part of the plan’s development , a community survey ran between 29 June and 25 August 2024, seeking community input on what makes Darwin liveable. Survey participants were asked to share their thoughts on what can be done to make Darwin more liveable into the future.

The survey closed on 25 August and the Engagement Report is available on the top right of this page for viewing.

Work with City of Darwin and community consultation has identified four principles that are key across the project and important to people when they think about Darwin as a liveable city. Principles include:

• Open space and recreation
• Arts and culture
• Physical connectivity.
• Safety and security.

If you would like further information, you can contact Jacobs via email: cassandra.buckley@jacobs.com or email engage@darwin.nt.gov.au