1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,080 Speaker 1: We know that the City of Darwin of announced that they're 2 00:00:02,120 --> 00:00:06,360 Speaker 1: working with property developers DECO to revitalize the heart of 3 00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:09,560 Speaker 1: the city through the proposed development of a new civic center. 4 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:12,680 Speaker 1: An application is going to be lodged shortly with the 5 00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:16,680 Speaker 1: Development Consent Authority for the development of the new civic center, 6 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:20,440 Speaker 1: which the councils say is going to transform the surrounding 7 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:24,439 Speaker 1: area into a welcoming precinct with a community plaza. 8 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:25,919 Speaker 2: Now joining us in the. 9 00:00:25,840 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 1: Studio is the CEO of the City. 10 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:32,159 Speaker 2: Of Darwin, Samone Saunders. Good morning, morning, Katie. Now tell me. 11 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:36,560 Speaker 1: Where exactly is this happening. What's going to happen? 12 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:40,240 Speaker 3: So next door to our building, we've got our open 13 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:43,320 Speaker 3: air car park that supports the civic center, So the 14 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:46,159 Speaker 3: actual development of the new civic center will sit on 15 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:49,720 Speaker 3: that car park site. So what it means is that 16 00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:52,320 Speaker 3: the City of Darwen will remain in our building, the 17 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 3: library will remain open and our council facilities during the 18 00:00:55,560 --> 00:00:58,480 Speaker 3: build and then once the new building is done, we 19 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:01,400 Speaker 3: will decant and move next store into the new building, 20 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:04,760 Speaker 3: and then at that time there'll be a demolition of 21 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:08,480 Speaker 3: our current building, probably not a full demolition, it'll be 22 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 3: up to elected members in the public, but there'll be 23 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:13,640 Speaker 3: some like the memorial at the front and some other 24 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:15,880 Speaker 3: parts of the facade that are probably they might want 25 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:18,199 Speaker 3: to keep as part of as part of that, all right. 26 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:21,080 Speaker 1: And so I mean, how much is this all costing? 27 00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:22,759 Speaker 1: I guess this is a big question from a lot 28 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:23,200 Speaker 1: of people. 29 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:27,039 Speaker 3: Yeah. So the total project is one hundred and fifty million, 30 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:31,319 Speaker 3: but City of Darwin's part is seventy seven million dollars. 31 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 3: So the other part approximately twenty floors, of which Deco 32 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:39,959 Speaker 3: will have ten floors which will be commercial and they 33 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:42,560 Speaker 3: will pay for and own their own part. And then 34 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:45,400 Speaker 3: City of Darwin will have ten floors that we will 35 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 3: pay for and own. And of the seventy seven million dollars, 36 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 3: thirty million of that is for car parking infrastructure. So 37 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 3: there'll be a new public car part that will be 38 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:57,480 Speaker 3: built that will be owned by City of Darwin, and 39 00:01:57,600 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 3: anybody that uses that car park, the same as if 40 00:01:59,880 --> 00:02:02,400 Speaker 3: you is west Lane or Dragonfly will need to pay 41 00:02:02,480 --> 00:02:04,960 Speaker 3: fees which will ultimately go back to rate payers. 42 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:08,680 Speaker 1: So I guess DECO is kind of underpinning the development 43 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:09,480 Speaker 1: to some degree. 44 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:12,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, So the benefit of working with DCO is that 45 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:15,400 Speaker 3: we can share costs and defray some of City of 46 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:19,200 Speaker 3: Darwin and public costs on foundations and the size of 47 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 3: the building, you know, immediate landscaping, which is of a 48 00:02:22,919 --> 00:02:25,079 Speaker 3: benefit if we just build a standalone building, it would 49 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:28,000 Speaker 3: be more expensive if we were to do it by ourselves. 50 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:29,360 Speaker 4: And it also means. 51 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:32,240 Speaker 3: Then from an activation space, we get more people into 52 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:35,959 Speaker 3: that CBD area, into the precinct, which will be great, 53 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:36,960 Speaker 3: great for the CBD. 54 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:39,359 Speaker 1: So how did you sort of determine I mean, I 55 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:41,800 Speaker 1: would imagine that there was an eye process or whatever 56 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 1: went through to determine who you are going to be 57 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:44,960 Speaker 1: partnering with. 58 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:48,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, so in December last year, City of Darwin put 59 00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:51,640 Speaker 3: out and expressions of interest for do you know for 60 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:53,240 Speaker 3: a partner, do you want to build something with us 61 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:55,080 Speaker 3: or do you just want to build our building? And 62 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:58,960 Speaker 3: through that procurement process we've got to the stage where 63 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:01,600 Speaker 3: DECO is the is the proponent that we're working with 64 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:02,720 Speaker 3: through that. 65 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:05,600 Speaker 4: Through the next stage and a DCA is it. 66 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:08,520 Speaker 1: Odd to sort of be partnering up with a developer 67 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:11,120 Speaker 1: in that since I suppose or you know, I'm assuming 68 00:03:11,560 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 1: like it's on council land, so. 69 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 2: To some degree. 70 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:16,919 Speaker 1: Is it a sort of gifting of the land to them? 71 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:20,560 Speaker 3: No, it's definitely not, and it really it's almost like 72 00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 3: a building that City of Darwen up will own half 73 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:26,360 Speaker 3: and Deco will own half, and Deco actually has to 74 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:29,520 Speaker 3: pay the city for half of the land where it sits, 75 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:32,240 Speaker 3: so that money then has been used to go back 76 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 3: and pay for the building. So there's definitely no gifting 77 00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 3: of land or anything like that. It's all done on 78 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:41,960 Speaker 3: commercial terms and it has added value back for City 79 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 3: of Darwen and ratepayers. 80 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 1: Simone in terms of disruption while that building gets underway, 81 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:49,440 Speaker 1: what is going to happen? I mean, is the current 82 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:52,160 Speaker 1: civic center going to continue to operate? It is by 83 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:52,760 Speaker 1: the sounds of. 84 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:54,680 Speaker 4: It, Yeah, it will continue to operate. 85 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 3: But we'll find that the front entrance that we have 86 00:03:57,200 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 3: to the library, by the car park that will most 87 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:02,040 Speaker 3: likely not wik It won't be accessible. So therefore, if 88 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:04,320 Speaker 3: you're using the library, you'll need to come through the 89 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:06,680 Speaker 3: main area from the fore court past the Tree of 90 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:08,760 Speaker 3: Knowledge and come in that way to our library. 91 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:10,720 Speaker 1: So what's the timeframe for the project? 92 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:13,120 Speaker 3: How long are you thinking it's working through at the moment? 93 00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 3: Will then move to a design and construct contract to 94 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:21,000 Speaker 3: be executed after that, and the Deco's confident that we 95 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:23,400 Speaker 3: can get started in the dry season because if we 96 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:26,680 Speaker 3: start after next dry season, you effectively lose another year 97 00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:29,440 Speaker 3: and then a bill that will take somewhere. 98 00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:31,960 Speaker 4: It's somewhere up to about three years now. 99 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:35,240 Speaker 1: A couple of other things coming through this morning. Somebody's 100 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:38,040 Speaker 1: just someone got in contact with us yesterday afternoon about 101 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:40,520 Speaker 1: the treehouse at the Botanic Gardens. 102 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:41,599 Speaker 2: Now I've got sent. 103 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 1: A photo as well as the treehouse closed. Is that 104 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:45,560 Speaker 1: council's responsibility. 105 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:49,479 Speaker 3: Council has the mpcated land at the Botanical Gardens, but 106 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:53,360 Speaker 3: the actual botanical gardens are with Crown Lands and NTG. 107 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:56,120 Speaker 2: Okay, so all right, we'll follow that up with the government. 108 00:04:56,600 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 1: I also understand that HPA they've been unable to secure 109 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 1: ongoing trash and treasure recycling short tender. What's going on, 110 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:08,200 Speaker 1: so they're not going to continue out there at Sholb No. 111 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 3: So as part of our normal contract renewals, HPA's contract 112 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:15,479 Speaker 3: contract did finish and therefore City of Darwin's required to 113 00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:18,560 Speaker 3: go through a procurement process and you know, requests for 114 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:23,520 Speaker 3: proposals as part of that procurement process, HbA wasn't succeed 115 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:28,440 Speaker 3: the successful proponent ongoing it has been awarded to Resource 116 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:33,040 Speaker 3: Recovery Australia. There are not for profit social enterprise and 117 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 3: they will be will be starting on the first of 118 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:40,680 Speaker 3: February at at Shoal Bay, h Northern Territory based or 119 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:44,800 Speaker 3: know that they're not Northern Territory based. However, the procurement 120 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:48,160 Speaker 3: process had the thirty percent local content waiting that would 121 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:50,600 Speaker 3: have been assessed by the panelers as part of part 122 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:53,880 Speaker 3: of this process, and the City of Darwin team was 123 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:56,400 Speaker 3: really cognizant of the fact of, you know, the great 124 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:58,880 Speaker 3: work that HPA does and the staff that are out 125 00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 3: there and as part of the transitional arrangements interviews for 126 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:07,920 Speaker 3: staff for the new operator a HPA and they'll work 127 00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:11,240 Speaker 3: closely with HPA on that and transitioning staff where possible. 128 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:12,880 Speaker 1: I mean, I know people are going to be listening, 129 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:15,160 Speaker 1: potentially hearing this for the first time. I mean I'm 130 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:17,320 Speaker 1: reading it for the first time seeing now that it's 131 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:21,520 Speaker 1: not going to you know, HPA, which is a local 132 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:24,800 Speaker 1: organization from my understanding that helps people with a disability, 133 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:28,960 Speaker 1: you know, so that tender they're not going to locals 134 00:06:28,960 --> 00:06:31,680 Speaker 1: that have been operating in Darwen and Palmerston for over 135 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:35,560 Speaker 1: sixty years and going to an interstate company. I think 136 00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:37,520 Speaker 1: a lot of people are probably going to be annoyed 137 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:38,599 Speaker 1: by that. Yeah. 138 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 3: I think the thing is that there is an independent 139 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:45,400 Speaker 3: procurement process. So if the thirty percent local content, which 140 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:48,240 Speaker 3: I'm assuming that HPA would have scored, ultimately what. 141 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:50,760 Speaker 4: Is best value for the rate payers of City of Darwen. 142 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:54,520 Speaker 3: So Resource Recovery Australia does do this in other parts 143 00:06:54,520 --> 00:06:58,120 Speaker 3: of Australia and they will still operate a trash and 144 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:02,400 Speaker 3: treasure shop under a slightly different model, and we hope 145 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:06,320 Speaker 3: that HPA and Resource Recovery work really closer together to 146 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:09,479 Speaker 3: get the locals employed back back in the trash and 147 00:07:09,480 --> 00:07:10,440 Speaker 3: treasure shop ongoing. 148 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:14,640 Speaker 1: I mean, so it sounds as though it is more important, 149 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:16,560 Speaker 1: I guess for the council to make sure they're getting 150 00:07:16,640 --> 00:07:19,800 Speaker 1: value for money rather than that local business. 151 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:24,520 Speaker 3: There's a local content requirement and that is absolutely critical. 152 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:27,800 Speaker 3: It's you know, it's something that the council is really 153 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:29,960 Speaker 3: really passionate about making sure we do that. But where 154 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 3: we've got a high local content thirty percent and it's 155 00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:35,600 Speaker 3: still not stacking up on all the other elements. The 156 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:39,280 Speaker 3: procurement process needs to be independent and transparent for best 157 00:07:39,320 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 3: value for the community, and that's I'm not involved in 158 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:44,920 Speaker 3: the procurement process. The team does that in accordance with 159 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:46,040 Speaker 3: our procurement guidelines. 160 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:49,080 Speaker 1: Look, we've got messages coming through about this already. Andrews said, 161 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:51,600 Speaker 1: it's really sad and disturbing that HPA have lost the 162 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:53,560 Speaker 1: dump shop to an interstate company. 163 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:55,200 Speaker 2: I shopped there very regularly. 164 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:58,119 Speaker 1: What a great bunch of people supporting community and those 165 00:07:58,160 --> 00:08:02,239 Speaker 1: in need. Can you please usquestions why they've done this, Katie. 166 00:08:02,440 --> 00:08:04,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, Look, or I can kind of reiterate that Resource 167 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:08,480 Speaker 3: Recovery Australia is a not for profit social enterprise, so 168 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:11,880 Speaker 3: they will continue to operate with that. With that model, 169 00:08:11,880 --> 00:08:14,400 Speaker 3: it's not a commercial operator that is coming in and 170 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:18,000 Speaker 3: that part of their focus is absolutely employing local people, 171 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 3: people with the disability, so they will work to continue 172 00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:23,720 Speaker 3: that part of the business. That their model is the 173 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:26,920 Speaker 3: same the way they operated it is slightly differently though. 174 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:29,040 Speaker 1: I mean, look, I can see the Council is going 175 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:31,320 Speaker 1: to get some pushback on this, even just the fact 176 00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:35,840 Speaker 1: that we've already got those messages coming through and yeah, 177 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:39,160 Speaker 1: like it seems as though people are really not overly 178 00:08:39,240 --> 00:08:41,719 Speaker 1: happy that this is going to happen. I mean, it 179 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:43,960 Speaker 1: doesn't sound like there's a guarantee that those people are 180 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:45,280 Speaker 1: going to keep their jobs, does it. 181 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:48,600 Speaker 3: I can't provide a guarantee that that is between the 182 00:08:48,640 --> 00:08:51,440 Speaker 3: two companies I don't know, or the two organizations. 183 00:08:51,440 --> 00:08:53,679 Speaker 4: I don't know the details. But it is really. 184 00:08:53,559 --> 00:08:57,320 Speaker 3: Important that we have our procurement policies and procedures and 185 00:08:57,360 --> 00:09:01,719 Speaker 3: we need to follow them for equity and transparency. So 186 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:05,439 Speaker 3: for City of Darwen officers to make a different decision 187 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:08,800 Speaker 3: where all based on all the all the elements that 188 00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 3: they're unable to do that, well. 189 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:14,080 Speaker 1: Look at about it, or there doesn't need to be 190 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:16,160 Speaker 1: I guess with something like the dump shop, I guess, 191 00:09:16,320 --> 00:09:19,960 Speaker 1: you know, I can just I can see the City 192 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:21,760 Speaker 1: of Darlin's going to get slammed about this by the 193 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:22,120 Speaker 1: look of it. 194 00:09:22,440 --> 00:09:24,400 Speaker 3: Yeah. Look, it's the end of a contract. So it 195 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:26,240 Speaker 3: will be no different if we were doing the rubbish 196 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:29,640 Speaker 3: collection contract and we had a provider that was successfully 197 00:09:29,679 --> 00:09:32,319 Speaker 3: in the new The difference with this one is absolutely 198 00:09:32,320 --> 00:09:35,040 Speaker 3: it's a not for profit organization that is employing people 199 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:37,800 Speaker 3: with a disability and has been operating there for a 200 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:41,640 Speaker 3: period of time. However, the commercials onto the new arrangement 201 00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:44,720 Speaker 3: for the for the ongoing you know, success and development 202 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:49,120 Speaker 3: of Shell Bay and the broader community. It's been been 203 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:52,000 Speaker 3: determined successful on all those all those merits. But look, 204 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:55,360 Speaker 3: City of Darwin is in contact with HPA. We're also 205 00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:58,320 Speaker 3: in contact with Resource Recovery in Australia and the teams 206 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 3: will facilitate as much as possible with the handover to 207 00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:03,080 Speaker 3: the new organization. 208 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 1: Look, someone's message through should have gone to HPA, big mistake. 209 00:10:06,880 --> 00:10:10,520 Speaker 1: Local company giving local disability people a chance of employment 210 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:14,320 Speaker 1: should not go to an interstate company on any circumstance. 211 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:17,760 Speaker 1: They will not reinvest their profits in the territory. 212 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:20,360 Speaker 3: All I can say is that local people will be employed. 213 00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:22,800 Speaker 3: We are still in Darwin. Resource Recovery Australia is not 214 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:25,600 Speaker 3: bringing people from interstate to do this, so it will 215 00:10:25,640 --> 00:10:28,320 Speaker 3: be local people that will continue to be employed. And 216 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:32,880 Speaker 3: the commercials in the background are different to how they 217 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:37,680 Speaker 3: work currently for for HPA and long term benefit for 218 00:10:37,760 --> 00:10:41,360 Speaker 3: diversion from landfill and all the other things that There's 219 00:10:41,400 --> 00:10:43,560 Speaker 3: a lot of other considerations that have been made. But 220 00:10:43,640 --> 00:10:47,559 Speaker 3: I do you hear the concerns from the public because 221 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:50,000 Speaker 3: HbA has been has been a great operator out there 222 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:53,040 Speaker 3: and has employed people with the disability for a long 223 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:53,680 Speaker 3: period of time. 224 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:55,959 Speaker 1: Yes, yeah, look, you know, like I said, I think 225 00:10:55,960 --> 00:10:57,920 Speaker 1: people are going to be pretty unhappy about this as 226 00:10:57,960 --> 00:10:59,160 Speaker 1: it does sort of filter. 227 00:10:58,960 --> 00:11:00,599 Speaker 2: Through on literally just hearing about it. 228 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:02,400 Speaker 1: Nor I'm reading about it for the first time while 229 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:04,440 Speaker 1: we're live on air, and I can see the feedback 230 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:08,040 Speaker 1: that's starting to come through. Unfortunately though we have run 231 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:10,760 Speaker 1: out of time. CEO of City of Daro and Simone 232 00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:12,839 Speaker 1: Saunders really appreciate your time this morning. 233 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:14,120 Speaker 4: Yeah, great, thanks, thank you.