Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Those messages coming through on the text line this morning
(00:02):
zero four double nine seven double one three six zero.
Now we know the City of Darwin say they're confident
that the proposed one hundred and fifty million dollar redevelopment
providing Darwin with the new civic center and office tower
is in alignment with compliance with the local government to
act and other applicable legislation and requirements. Now, according to
(00:25):
report in the Northern Territory News, the council says that
contingencies and risks have been factored into that project plan,
alloying any concerns and questions that have been asked about
any cost overruns and their impact on rate payers. Now.
The comments come after opponents to the City of Darwin's
new civic center reportedly filed an application during last week
(00:48):
in the federal court requesting the disclosure of council documents
relating to this twenty one story one hundred and fifty
million dollar development. Now. That federal court application, according to
the was made by Darwin legal firm De Silver. Hebron
On behalf of a number of nominees now joining me
in the studio to talk more about this and other
(01:10):
council matters is the CEO of the City of Darwin,
Simone Saunders. Good morning to you, Good morning Katie, Thanks
so much for your time this morning. Now, Simona, you
concerned their opponents to the City of Darwin's new Civic
Center have filed this application during last week to the
federal court requesting the disclosure of council documents.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Look, the City of Darwin has put this out already
hast part of the media and the statements that we've
we're confident that we've followed all the requirements to meet
our legislative and statutory requirements in relation to the civic center.
It has been over a four year process to get
us to this stage where where you know, building is
imminent of the new Civic Center. And yeah, we're confident
(01:51):
that everything's been done. Under the Local Government Act, there's
certain documents that you keep within confidentiality and the claw
applicable clause, and we've done that in accordance with that.
And what happens over time is more information or council
make additional decisions or we have the upcoming municipal plan,
and when decisions are made, they're then released into the
(02:11):
public domain. At that time when those council decisions are
made and ratified.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
So it doesn't sound as though all documents are going
to be disclosed.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
No, it depends where they are within the process and
what happens. Twice a year, council reviews or confidential decisions
and decisions that are holding confidence and then they release
them as they need to once certain conditions. Conditions are met.
A lot of the time documents are kept confidential so
that they don't prejudice a procurement process. If you're talking
you're going to spend X amount of dollars, and then
(02:39):
you do a procurement process, you can end up in
circumstance where the community will pay more for those for
those actual services. So we're confident in that and we'll
just let the court process run through and the lawyers
will will liaise on City of Darwin's behalf.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Someone I know that a member of the group had
said that they're concerned that this project is going to
cost more than that one hundred and fifty million dollars.
What happens if there is an overrun.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
So with the project, the City of Darwin portion is
the seventy seven million, So with DECO they will they
will decide and manage their part of that costs. It
will be a fixed price contract that we've entered.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Into, so it's fixed price.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
It's a fixed price, and as with all projects that
we see in the territory, there may be unknown conditions,
but there's contingencies and the risks of that have been
managed really closely by the City of Darwin. I'll just
go to the casualin or quite a can leisure center
came in four months early and came in on budget.
So what City of Darwin does is that we change
(03:37):
scale and scope as we need to within these projects.
But we're confident that the seventy seven million allocated meets
you know, the quantity surveyor requirements to build what we're
looking to build for the community.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
So if there's an overrun, if those costs go up
in some way, then you will modify the.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Project if we need to. But within the contract there's
contingencies already built into a building contract that there will exit.
Spectations are that there will be overruns and then City
of Darwin, a council through the municipal plan process, may
allocate additional funds to hold as contingencies. As part of
that process. And that will be in the public domain
when the draft municipal plan comes out.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
So what are I mean, what are some of those
contingencies that might come into place if required.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
So what we see in the territory mostly is when
we break ground, and this would have happened on State
Square as well, that when we go we don't know
necessarily what the conditions underground, if you've got any any
what they the latent conditions that might be there. So
that's that's one element. The other thing, though, that may
be part of it, is we're getting certain materials that
(04:40):
we're you know, have escalated in price over that time,
but they're all things that can be managed by the
City of Darwin through the process.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
I mean, have you anticipated or estimated how much it's
going to cost to run each year?
Speaker 2 (04:52):
The final pricing of that hasn't been done because again
what componentries you end up putting in the building depends
on what the final run costs. But what council is
really keen to do, and one of the decisions of
council is where possible where we can afford climate or
environment efficiencies within the building. So that might be sensors
(05:13):
when you walk into a room to activate air conditioners
or fans and the like that they will be built
into the building. So the more that we can spend
potentially on some of those items factored into the building,
the less the cost then to run lighting and other
things in the building.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
All right, now I want to ask moving along, is
there an update on Lake Alexander. Has it opened again?
Speaker 2 (05:34):
It has opened again, So Lake Alexander is good, good
for swimming again? That opened last week? All right.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
There's always a few people getting in contact with us
about Lake Alexander. Another one that I'm keen to get
a bit of an update from from one of our listeners.
Has there been an update on the fence at the
per Rap Childcare that you and I have spoken about
on a few occasions.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Yep, So the fence and the Pup childcare. The City
of Darwin team was already in me during the time
that we were talking, and they've met with the Body
corporate and the Body Corporate is now getting a full
scope of works which includes fencing and trenching in every
all the works that need to be done. And City
of Darwin's commitment is still fifty percent to that to
(06:15):
that fence as needed. But at the moment, we're just
waiting for that information back now.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
One of the other issues that people do continue to
contact us about is the Smith Street works. I know
that for some of those businesses, they are you know,
really making call outs on social media to say, hey,
we're still opened because they've got massive fences up in
front of their businesses. I was down there on the
weekend and saw it like it really does look like
everything's closed. Unfortunately, yeah, look it is.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
It is disruptive to the business is when we do
works works on the streets. So City of Darwin you know,
does apologize for any inconvenience that we do cause during
that time. You know, I guess being on the radio,
shout out to anybody that knows and goes to those
businesses to continue the custom during the period of time. Fortunately, though,
to do the works, we do need to make sure
(07:03):
that the safety fencing is in place. We're going to
be doing work to you know, it's greening and cooling,
so there is by claims going in. So we do
have to have that work over a period of time
where possible. Though we're working with a contractor to get
works done at night where possible, and we really want
to get it into the shortest window of time to
(07:24):
get the works done.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
How long is it going to take to finish.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
So that the scheduled finished time is in late July.
It may extend to August, but we're hoping that it
will be late July. So we just really need to
work on doing that as soon as possible and wherever
that will work with a contractor to get that done.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
I mean that is like it is taken quite a
while for those businesses. I've no doubt that they are
going like they're going to lose revenue and I'm sure
it'll look lovely once it's finished. But I mean, is
there any compensation to those businesses? Is there anything that
can be done to try to support them further?
Speaker 2 (07:58):
No, Look, it's a really tricky trade. City of Downe
was given the three million dollars from the Northern Territory
government with a specific project to green and cool that
Smith Street, and I guess the same as recently we
saw Cavanah Street the upgrade and the medium done there
and that had disruption onto businesses there. We got you know,
negative feedback in relation to that. I guess it looks
(08:20):
great now people are happy. But unfortunately, when we are
doing this greening within the city and especially in the CBD,
there is going to be inconvenience that needs to be called. Well.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
I mean, even as we're talking now, somebody said, Katie,
can you please ask the council about the works on
Smith Street. There has been a lot of dissatisfaction on
social media about the effect that it's having on businesses
on the street. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
Look, all I can do is apologize again on behalf
of City of Darwin. It's I guess really we're the
do the works green and cool and upgrade, upgrade our
CBD or wet we can't do the work.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Do you feel as though there was adequate consultation with
those businesses beforehand?
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Yeah, we did station in the middle of last year
the full consultation and eighty percent of residents or people
that participated in that engagement said that they were they
wanted to see the greening and cooling and they picked
the option with the Byklanes. Then in February of this year,
we put out the initial letters to all stakeholders in
(09:20):
the city, so that includes the businesses saying hey, this
work is pending, and then a week before it starts.
There's also letters and as a result of those letters,
there's always the opportunity for briefings with City of Darwin
offices ad needed for particular areas of the works.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
All right, well, Simone Sawnd is the CEO of the
City of Darwaen. We are going to have to leave
it there. As always appreciate you joining us in the studio.
Thank you very much for your time.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Thank you
Those messages coming through on the text line this morning
(00:02):
zero four double nine seven double one three six zero.
Now we know the City of Darwin say they're confident
that the proposed one hundred and fifty million dollar redevelopment
providing Darwin with the new civic center and office tower
is in alignment with compliance with the local government to
act and other applicable legislation and requirements. Now, according to
(00:25):
report in the Northern Territory News, the council says that
contingencies and risks have been factored into that project plan,
alloying any concerns and questions that have been asked about
any cost overruns and their impact on rate payers. Now.
The comments come after opponents to the City of Darwin's
new civic center reportedly filed an application during last week
(00:48):
in the federal court requesting the disclosure of council documents
relating to this twenty one story one hundred and fifty
million dollar development. Now. That federal court application, according to
the was made by Darwin legal firm De Silver. Hebron
On behalf of a number of nominees now joining me
in the studio to talk more about this and other
(01:10):
council matters is the CEO of the City of Darwin,
Simone Saunders. Good morning to you, Good morning Katie, Thanks
so much for your time this morning. Now, Simona, you
concerned their opponents to the City of Darwin's new Civic
Center have filed this application during last week to the
federal court requesting the disclosure of council documents.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Look, the City of Darwin has put this out already
hast part of the media and the statements that we've
we're confident that we've followed all the requirements to meet
our legislative and statutory requirements in relation to the civic center.
It has been over a four year process to get
us to this stage where where you know, building is
imminent of the new Civic Center. And yeah, we're confident
(01:51):
that everything's been done. Under the Local Government Act, there's
certain documents that you keep within confidentiality and the claw
applicable clause, and we've done that in accordance with that.
And what happens over time is more information or council
make additional decisions or we have the upcoming municipal plan,
and when decisions are made, they're then released into the
(02:11):
public domain. At that time when those council decisions are
made and ratified.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
So it doesn't sound as though all documents are going
to be disclosed.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
No, it depends where they are within the process and
what happens. Twice a year, council reviews or confidential decisions
and decisions that are holding confidence and then they release
them as they need to once certain conditions. Conditions are met.
A lot of the time documents are kept confidential so
that they don't prejudice a procurement process. If you're talking
you're going to spend X amount of dollars, and then
(02:39):
you do a procurement process, you can end up in
circumstance where the community will pay more for those for
those actual services. So we're confident in that and we'll
just let the court process run through and the lawyers
will will liaise on City of Darwin's behalf.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Someone I know that a member of the group had
said that they're concerned that this project is going to
cost more than that one hundred and fifty million dollars.
What happens if there is an overrun.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
So with the project, the City of Darwin portion is
the seventy seven million, So with DECO they will they
will decide and manage their part of that costs. It
will be a fixed price contract that we've entered.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Into, so it's fixed price.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
It's a fixed price, and as with all projects that
we see in the territory, there may be unknown conditions,
but there's contingencies and the risks of that have been
managed really closely by the City of Darwin. I'll just
go to the casualin or quite a can leisure center
came in four months early and came in on budget.
So what City of Darwin does is that we change
(03:37):
scale and scope as we need to within these projects.
But we're confident that the seventy seven million allocated meets
you know, the quantity surveyor requirements to build what we're
looking to build for the community.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
So if there's an overrun, if those costs go up
in some way, then you will modify the.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Project if we need to. But within the contract there's
contingencies already built into a building contract that there will exit.
Spectations are that there will be overruns and then City
of Darwin, a council through the municipal plan process, may
allocate additional funds to hold as contingencies. As part of
that process. And that will be in the public domain
when the draft municipal plan comes out.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
So what are I mean, what are some of those
contingencies that might come into place if required.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
So what we see in the territory mostly is when
we break ground, and this would have happened on State
Square as well, that when we go we don't know
necessarily what the conditions underground, if you've got any any
what they the latent conditions that might be there. So
that's that's one element. The other thing, though, that may
be part of it, is we're getting certain materials that
(04:40):
we're you know, have escalated in price over that time,
but they're all things that can be managed by the
City of Darwin through the process.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
I mean, have you anticipated or estimated how much it's
going to cost to run each year?
Speaker 2 (04:52):
The final pricing of that hasn't been done because again
what componentries you end up putting in the building depends
on what the final run costs. But what council is
really keen to do, and one of the decisions of
council is where possible where we can afford climate or
environment efficiencies within the building. So that might be sensors
(05:13):
when you walk into a room to activate air conditioners
or fans and the like that they will be built
into the building. So the more that we can spend
potentially on some of those items factored into the building,
the less the cost then to run lighting and other
things in the building.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
All right, now I want to ask moving along, is
there an update on Lake Alexander. Has it opened again?
Speaker 2 (05:34):
It has opened again, So Lake Alexander is good, good
for swimming again? That opened last week? All right.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
There's always a few people getting in contact with us
about Lake Alexander. Another one that I'm keen to get
a bit of an update from from one of our listeners.
Has there been an update on the fence at the
per Rap Childcare that you and I have spoken about
on a few occasions.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Yep, So the fence and the Pup childcare. The City
of Darwin team was already in me during the time
that we were talking, and they've met with the Body
corporate and the Body Corporate is now getting a full
scope of works which includes fencing and trenching in every
all the works that need to be done. And City
of Darwin's commitment is still fifty percent to that to
(06:15):
that fence as needed. But at the moment, we're just
waiting for that information back now.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
One of the other issues that people do continue to
contact us about is the Smith Street works. I know
that for some of those businesses, they are you know,
really making call outs on social media to say, hey,
we're still opened because they've got massive fences up in
front of their businesses. I was down there on the
weekend and saw it like it really does look like
everything's closed. Unfortunately, yeah, look it is.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
It is disruptive to the business is when we do
works works on the streets. So City of Darwin you know,
does apologize for any inconvenience that we do cause during
that time. You know, I guess being on the radio,
shout out to anybody that knows and goes to those
businesses to continue the custom during the period of time. Fortunately, though,
to do the works, we do need to make sure
(07:03):
that the safety fencing is in place. We're going to
be doing work to you know, it's greening and cooling,
so there is by claims going in. So we do
have to have that work over a period of time
where possible. Though we're working with a contractor to get
works done at night where possible, and we really want
to get it into the shortest window of time to
(07:24):
get the works done.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
How long is it going to take to finish.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
So that the scheduled finished time is in late July.
It may extend to August, but we're hoping that it
will be late July. So we just really need to
work on doing that as soon as possible and wherever
that will work with a contractor to get that done.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
I mean that is like it is taken quite a
while for those businesses. I've no doubt that they are
going like they're going to lose revenue and I'm sure
it'll look lovely once it's finished. But I mean, is
there any compensation to those businesses? Is there anything that
can be done to try to support them further?
Speaker 2 (07:58):
No, Look, it's a really tricky trade. City of Downe
was given the three million dollars from the Northern Territory
government with a specific project to green and cool that
Smith Street, and I guess the same as recently we
saw Cavanah Street the upgrade and the medium done there
and that had disruption onto businesses there. We got you know,
negative feedback in relation to that. I guess it looks
(08:20):
great now people are happy. But unfortunately, when we are
doing this greening within the city and especially in the CBD,
there is going to be inconvenience that needs to be called. Well.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
I mean, even as we're talking now, somebody said, Katie,
can you please ask the council about the works on
Smith Street. There has been a lot of dissatisfaction on
social media about the effect that it's having on businesses
on the street. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
Look, all I can do is apologize again on behalf
of City of Darwin. It's I guess really we're the
do the works green and cool and upgrade, upgrade our
CBD or wet we can't do the work.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Do you feel as though there was adequate consultation with
those businesses beforehand?
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Yeah, we did station in the middle of last year
the full consultation and eighty percent of residents or people
that participated in that engagement said that they were they
wanted to see the greening and cooling and they picked
the option with the Byklanes. Then in February of this year,
we put out the initial letters to all stakeholders in
(09:20):
the city, so that includes the businesses saying hey, this
work is pending, and then a week before it starts.
There's also letters and as a result of those letters,
there's always the opportunity for briefings with City of Darwin
offices ad needed for particular areas of the works.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
All right, well, Simone Sawnd is the CEO of the
City of Darwaen. We are going to have to leave
it there. As always appreciate you joining us in the studio.
Thank you very much for your time.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Thank you
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