The Territory Labor Government’s $100 million plan to revitalise Darwin CBD continues to gather pace with local company PTM Group awarded a contract to construct a 55 metre cool, green canopy over Cavenagh Street.

Deputy Chief Minister Nicole Manison said Darwin is the capital of Northern Australia and will have life breathed back into it through innovative projects.

“We need to revitalise the Darwin CBD to support local business and create more jobs – the city centre has been ignored for too long and is very tired,” Ms Manison said.

“Recent heat mapping of Darwin city centre has identified Cavenagh Street as one of the hottest locations in the city – we need to cool it down to attract more tourists and locals into the centre.

“To reduce temperatures, we will construct a structure and do other cooling works at Cavenagh Street as part of a heat-mitigation trial.

“The project will see a large-scale pergola utilising Stringybark timber supplied by Gumatj Corporation with two species of vines creating shade and providing cooling to the street.”

Construction of the $2.7 million project will commence this month and take approximately 21 weeks.

The Cavenagh Street project will see:

• Shade structures, new trees and a green wall as part of the upgrade of the Cavenagh and Bennett Street intersection improving the tourist experience

• Greening the street –planter boxes for medium scale trees and garden walls for instant greenery

• Cool surface treatments – new technology paints to reflect UV, and alternate road mix and pavement products along Cavenagh Street

• Environmental monitoring– through sensors installed as part of the Switching on Darwin Smart Cities project

Ms Manison said this work could position the Northern Territory as a global leader in heat mitigation projects and research.

“As this work commences and other revitalisation projects such as the State Square redevelopment come online, we will continue to work closely with the Australian Government to secure a Darwin City Deal,” she said.

*Artist impression attached