We love the Territory. So .. let's get it turbocharged!
Imagine a beach club like Ku Da Ta in Darwin …
There has been a lot said about the sad events over the last week and other troubling issues in the past few months. And rightly so.
There is a heavy fog of frustration and sadness being felt by many Territorians.
But we MUST NOT give up on our home.
Because deep down we all know how much potential the Territory has and how much good there already is here.
Her Territory is a massive advocate for this place, and we think we should use this time to go hard and turbocharge opportunities and create some positivity.
Yes, we need to fix the social problems - but not at the expense of creating game changers for the Territory lifestyle.
Here’s 10 things we reckon would build some positive momentum. And they can be done.
1) Bid for licenses in the BIG 4 national sporting competitions
The success of the Darwin SALTIES in the semi-professional NBL1 has shown people want it!
Darwin is a capital city - and the Territory is hugely important to Australia - BUT we will never be seen as anything other than a small-time place if we don’t compete on the national stage at the highest level in major sports. It’s holding us back.
We need AFL/AFLW, NBL/WNBL, NRL/NRLW and Netball teams to unite behind, feel proud about and cheer together. It will help attract tens of thousands of people here, keep thousands of people here, give us more fun things to do and inspire local kids by providing a sporting pathway. The success of the Darwin SALTIES in the semi-professional NBL1 has shown people want it and the positive vibes it will deliver.
2. An International standard Darwin waterpark
The lazy river ride at Waterbom is .. the BOMB!
Have you been to Waterbom in Bali? It’s amazing .. and it attracts people to Bali and keeps them there.
We live in a hot place and have a young population with lots of kids. And we want to atract tourists and keep them here. This project does both and would be amazing. Build it and they will come. Not a small half-effort one .. a BIG one with slides through crocodiles pens and thrills that people can only get here and promote to the world on their social media.
3. A beach club like Potatohead or Ku De Ta in Bali
Imagine a beach club in Darwin …
See everything we said above.
Ignore the nimbys (because they tried to block the Foreshore Cafe but now go there for coffees) and set-aside prime piece of coastline for this. Again, no half-efforts … - it can’t be out of the way, it needs to be in the action and be a feature of Darwin. This project will attract and keep young people here. It will help remove the perception of many interstate that we are a backwater.
4. Build a coffee shop on the Darwin Esplanade
Hey remember that time all the NIMBY’s tried to block this amazing thing being built in Nightcliff. Nah, neither do they cause they all go there now :) PHOTO COURTESY OF FORESHORE CAFE and TERRITORY SAVVY
Ignore the nimbys. Repeat. Ignore the nimbys. They will try and stop everything good .. and will then use it once it’s built.
The Esplanade is aweome but hardly used. That’s insane. Nice coffee shops and maybe even food vans would bring to life a real asset.
5. Lots more shade structures (like Cavanagh Street) down streets
More of these WITH BETTER VINES
It’s hot here. The shade structure looks magic at night and cools during the day. Just because the vines haven’t grown much, don’t give up. Do lots more and do them better. They would make our city be more like Singapore and would really add a vibe the CBD.
Greening our cities - especially Darwin - is a winner … the more trees, vines, and plants the better.
6. Hold a Darwin international comedy festival each year
Again, not a half effort. We are talking 2 weeks. And with International and national acts.
7. More dog parks
Gratuitous sausage dog photo (he is thinking I wish this balcony was a dog park)
Pets make people happy. And pet parks help create community connection.
8. More public sporting facilities
It’s hard to find a basketball court, tennis court, netball court, soccer goals (and the list goes on) to go to with the kids. Part of the problem is that many school facilities either need a good upgrade or are not accessible to the public.
9. Hello MYER or David Jones - Darwin wants you.
Ok. It was tried around 10-15 years ago, and Myer was infuriatingly stubborn with its position (which was no by the way) .. so the chances are zero to none. Plus these big stores want a gazillion people living in a capital city before they will even contemplate taking the plunge …. but we can always dream.
10. Bring IKEA and Aldi here
In the same kind of vein, but better, we saved the best for last.
Everyone we know or speak to wants an IKEA and/or ALDI. Both would be game changers and hugely popular. Plus we could by cool stuff for our homes all the time.
