By Carol Phayer

Just like everything in life there are positives to be found in negatives.

It has been really nice to observe families and people using and discovering our beautiful outdoor spaces and we sure are blessed with them – all our great walkways and bike paths around our foreshores and parks.

It really makes you realise how important these spaces are, especially in built-up areas and how important it is to preserve and protect them.

In Australia by common law, the foreshore land remains public land for public access.

That is the site for the “six-star” luxury Westin Hotel on the Waterfront near Fort Hill wharf. Construction on the hotel began in March 2019, and was expected to be finished in 2022, but the developer now says it won’t be finished until sometime in 2023.

The CLP, our Territory Government at the time, gave away one of our prime pieces of land to the Landbridge Group, the same company that bought, sorry, leased the Darwin Port for 100 years.

So here goes, I will tackle the first issue, that with a bit of common sense could be easily resolved.

The Landbridge group indicated even before the COVID-19 new world, that there would be a delay of two years on this site for any construction, so with the COVID-19 we could see the delay lasting even longer.

Meanwhile, all access to the foreshore and fishing spots have been fenced off, but the old road and access is still there.

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So why can the fence not just be shifted back a few metres so that people can continue to walk, run and fish in this area?

There is no construction apart from the fence. The area has not changed since the construction began, apart from one or two pot holes that may take a couple of hours to fix. It is not hard, just takes a bit of common sense.

Historically significant site deserves significant design

My second part is more controversial. I have always believed that this historic and significant site deserves really special architecture and development, not just a vehicle for some short term jobs. Great architecture and development has the potential to really enhance a city and bring tourists to it.

To achieve this you need to understand what your strengths and weaknesses are and what people want when they come to the Top End.

I get that it was done to stimulate the economy by having this large scale construction site up and running, but many issues have arisen that need more consideration.

After many years in business I know that people want to experience our beautiful environment and our unique culture – not buildings they can see in any other city, and that is exactly what the proposed development looks like.

One of the biggest sucker-punches in proposed developments is the artist’s impressions; the finished product never or extremely rarely comes out like that.

I think a more interesting development that works with the history, our beautiful harbour and allows for shared spaces along the foreshore would have so many more benefits for years to come.

I have no issue with high-rise and high-density, but it really has to be done right with the emphasis on humanity and not just profit.

This development even has a skywalk that will be going through the gardens of our historic Government House.

We have enough hotels in Darwin, what we need is a unique resort experience.

The Waterfront has turned into one of the best developments in Darwin, it brings families and people together with many activities. That is what we should be building on this site.

I would hate to see it brought down with just another standard hotel, which would be fine in the CBD, but this site deserves so much more.

In the meantime please make some noise. Contact your local member and the media to ensure we get our public access to the foreshore back now.

Carol Phayer is a Darwinite and local business owner, running the Art WareHouse and Happier Endings Funerals. This is her second opinion piece for the NT Independent.