By Carl Pfeiffer

A new open-air Bali-like sunset lounge set to be built at East Point Reserve will not impact the environment around it, according to the owners of nightclub Throb.

Yesterday the NT Independent exclusively revealed the first details of the new venue, which is proposed to be built near Dudley Point and will be called “Throb on Point”.

Throb owner Tim Palmer compared the venue to the iconic KU DE TA beachfront club in Bali and said it would be a family-friendly location.

“Why should people be flying to Bali to experience that, why should tourists be flying over our head to experience that,” he told Mix 104.7.

“It won’t be a banging nightclub, yes it will go a little later on Friday and Saturday night, but we have done acoustic management plans and spoken to the pony club.”

The Mindil Beach Life Saving Club, Fannie Bay Equestrian Club and Darwin Triathlon Club, who all operate in the area, were notified of the proposal last week and have significant concerns about the development.

But Mr Palmer said he was confident any worries could be overcome.

“I grew up on East Point Road, it’s my backyard, I have as much care for East Point as all of these people invested in it,” he said.

““We understand the flora and fauna concerns and we’ve addressed that.

“We are not going to go in there with all sound boxes blazing.”

The U-shaped venue will be capable of housing 500 people, be constructed facing the sea and include a pool, large dancefloor, stage and two large spinning mirror balls on towers.

It will be open seven days from midday until midnight except Friday and Saturday nights when it will have a liquor licence until 4am.

Darwin Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis said council had approved the proposal but the owners still faced liquor licencing and planning approvals as well as community consultation before it could go ahead.

“I think it’s a great idea – first of all because it’s going in too far away from any residential area so there’s not going to be any impact with regards to noise,” he said.  

“You can sit there in seats and watch the sunset and create an atmosphere like Bali.

“My personal opinion is that it’s going to be a great attraction.”  

Mr Palmer said the venue was based on a temporary design and should it receive full approvals would be only operating up until October 31.

“It is just for the dry season, we go back to Throb in the city in the wet,” he said.

“It’s a temporarily facility and will have very minimal impact on the surrounds, we are not touching one tree.”

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