Intrapac launches Lloyd Creek housing development bid in Darwin, years after Noonamah Ridge rejection
Melbourne-based real estate developer Intrapac Property has written to Planning Minister Josh Burgoyne requesting an amendment to the Northern Territory's planning scheme to allow a new development named Lloyd Creek Rural Village.
The proposal would see about 4,000 homes built on a site south of Humpty Doo, a rural area suburb 36 kilometres south of Darwin, in an area currently zoned for rural living.
It comes as the NT capital, like many Australian cities, is facing an ongoing shortage of housing, with a recent report
Lloyd Creek is being proposed by Melbourne-based developer Intrapac.
(
Supplied: Intrapac
)
Intrapac chief executive Maxwell Shifman said his vision for Lloyd Creek "speaks to that local, rural character".
"One of the things we're aiming to do here is really deliver some housing typologies and some lot types you haven't seen in the territory for a long time — really bringing it back to that sort of local, tropical-style housing on a slightly larger lot," he said.
The proposed site of the Lloyd Creek housing development is currently bushland.
(
ABC News: Sam Parry
)
In 2014, Intrapac Property proposed another development on the same parcel of land — a precinct called Noonamah Ridge that would have featured 4,200 homes.
That proposal was rejected by former planning minister Eva Lawler in 2020, following
Mr Shifman said the new plan for Lloyd Creek Rural Village responded to previous community concern about potential impacts on the local rural lifestyle, and now proposed housing connected to town water instead of bores.
Noonamah Ridge was rejected by the former NT Labor government.
(
Supplied: Intrapac
)
"We've now got the Strauss Water Treatment Plant that's under construction and we'll be able to tap in and deliver potable water to the site, so that takes up one of the key criticisms of the proposal," Mr Shifman said.
The application also said the rural village's proposed land offerings would range from about a quarter-acre up to five acres, with no more than 1.5 dwellings per hectare on most of the site.
Photo shows
A woman wearing a black t-shirt, standing next to a tall man, orange shirt, straw hat and eye-patch. Standing on front porch.
Darwin, Australia's smallest capital city, has been ranked the country's second-most-expensive place to rent a house, along with Canberra.
However, in two higher-density sections the proposal refers to as "rural activity centres", that number could be as high as 10 dwellings per hectare.
Many residents in the surrounding area live on much larger acreage.
Opposition to development remains
Ms Purick said the proposed Lloyd Creek village was the "wrong kind of development" for the rural area, and pledged to support other locals as they relaunched their fight against the proposal.
"They have stock animals, they have farming activities, they have mango orchards and the like, and that comes with certain activities," she said.
"Having small, urbanised blocks right across the road from you will bring a clash of cultures. There's no doubt about it.
"If Intrapac is so keen to have a presence in the territory, [it should] go and talk to the NT government about developing Weddell, which already has big chunks of major infrastructure in place."
Kezia Purick says the proposed Lloyd Creek development would clash with existing rural blocks in the area.
(
ABC News: Hamish Harty
)
Weddell — a proposed satellite city 30 kilometres south of Darwin — has been
Labor had plans to establish Weddell while in government in 2009, before the Country Liberal Party shelved the project after taking power in 2012.
In response, Mr Shifman said his company was not competing with Weddell.
"It's a very different offering. Weddell would need significant infrastructure upgrades before it's up and running," he said.
"It's not a simple matter of, 'there's land there, develop it'."
Max Shifman says the proposal suits Darwin's rural area.
(
Supplied
)
Intrapac's application to the government is out for public feedback until May 16.
Photo shows
The proposed Noonamah Ridge development site
The company behind the proposed Noonamah Ridge development in Darwin's rural area begins its charm offensive to win support.
Asked whether he supported the proposal, Mr Burgoyne said it was "important for consultation processes to run their course to ensure that community expectations are being met".
"We promised to rebuild the territory economy and as the minister responsible for the Planning Act and NT Planning Scheme, I will not rule project proposals in or out until all information and necessary feedback has been considered," he said.
Intrapac has estimated the Lloyd Creek Rural Village would inject about $3.5 billion into the NT economy during the construction phase and create about 300 ongoing jobs.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
AI training pilot to upskill more than 30,000 teachers
More than 30,000 teachers could be trained in the use of artificial intelligence technology as part of a year-long trial spearheaded by US tech giant Microsoft and Australia's Future Skills Organisation. The firms will announce the pilot program in Canberra on Wednesday in collaboration with 13 industry and education partners, and in a move designed to promote wider adoption of AI technology. The plan to boost Australia's AI use comes a day after the Productivity Commission recommended schools deploy the technology for both teachers and students, and after it named AI adoption as one of its priorities for the year. Artificial intelligence technology is also expected to be a major focus at the federal government's Economic Reform Roundtable next week. The Future Skills Organisation's pilot program, called Skills Accelerator AI, is designed to reach more than 30,000 vocational education and training staff, as well as the students they teach. Equipping educators with AI tools and teaching them how to use them would be vital to boosting productivity and creating new industries, Future Skills Organisation chief executive Patrick Kidd said. "We did some research across the finance, tech and business sectors and found that more than 60 per cent of people are using AI but less than 30 per cent have been trained in it," he told AAP. "(AI is) happening, it's here, now we need to make sure that we're starting to put some shape around it so that we're doing it responsibly, safely and effectively." The training program will include access to a wide range of AI tools, he said, as well as mentors and examples of effective AI use from industry partners. Groups involved in the program include TAFE in Queensland and South Australia, the Swinburne University of Technology, the Commonwealth Bank, Business NSW, and the National AI Centre. Targeting teachers in the first phase of the pilot would help to spread AI education widely, Microsoft Asia small and medium enterprise corporate vice-president Rachel Bondi said, and to encourage its responsible use. "(AI is) reshaping every job and we have to make the training available to all roles and all jobs and not just in certain sectors that may have received that type of training before," she said. "We're hoping that this collaboration of everybody coming together is really going to pave a way for a national approach." Federal Skills and Training Minister Andrew Giles said he hoped the partnership would help to create "practical, scalable training" for Australian workers. In a report issued before the government's economic roundtable, the Productivity Commission recommended state and territory governments train teachers in the use of AI technology and that schools use the tools to assist students and teachers. AI technology is expected to be a major focus at the three-day event in Canberra after the Tech Council predicted it could add $115 billion a year to Australia's economy by 2030. More than 30,000 teachers could be trained in the use of artificial intelligence technology as part of a year-long trial spearheaded by US tech giant Microsoft and Australia's Future Skills Organisation. The firms will announce the pilot program in Canberra on Wednesday in collaboration with 13 industry and education partners, and in a move designed to promote wider adoption of AI technology. The plan to boost Australia's AI use comes a day after the Productivity Commission recommended schools deploy the technology for both teachers and students, and after it named AI adoption as one of its priorities for the year. Artificial intelligence technology is also expected to be a major focus at the federal government's Economic Reform Roundtable next week. The Future Skills Organisation's pilot program, called Skills Accelerator AI, is designed to reach more than 30,000 vocational education and training staff, as well as the students they teach. Equipping educators with AI tools and teaching them how to use them would be vital to boosting productivity and creating new industries, Future Skills Organisation chief executive Patrick Kidd said. "We did some research across the finance, tech and business sectors and found that more than 60 per cent of people are using AI but less than 30 per cent have been trained in it," he told AAP. "(AI is) happening, it's here, now we need to make sure that we're starting to put some shape around it so that we're doing it responsibly, safely and effectively." The training program will include access to a wide range of AI tools, he said, as well as mentors and examples of effective AI use from industry partners. Groups involved in the program include TAFE in Queensland and South Australia, the Swinburne University of Technology, the Commonwealth Bank, Business NSW, and the National AI Centre. Targeting teachers in the first phase of the pilot would help to spread AI education widely, Microsoft Asia small and medium enterprise corporate vice-president Rachel Bondi said, and to encourage its responsible use. "(AI is) reshaping every job and we have to make the training available to all roles and all jobs and not just in certain sectors that may have received that type of training before," she said. "We're hoping that this collaboration of everybody coming together is really going to pave a way for a national approach." Federal Skills and Training Minister Andrew Giles said he hoped the partnership would help to create "practical, scalable training" for Australian workers. In a report issued before the government's economic roundtable, the Productivity Commission recommended state and territory governments train teachers in the use of AI technology and that schools use the tools to assist students and teachers. AI technology is expected to be a major focus at the three-day event in Canberra after the Tech Council predicted it could add $115 billion a year to Australia's economy by 2030. More than 30,000 teachers could be trained in the use of artificial intelligence technology as part of a year-long trial spearheaded by US tech giant Microsoft and Australia's Future Skills Organisation. The firms will announce the pilot program in Canberra on Wednesday in collaboration with 13 industry and education partners, and in a move designed to promote wider adoption of AI technology. The plan to boost Australia's AI use comes a day after the Productivity Commission recommended schools deploy the technology for both teachers and students, and after it named AI adoption as one of its priorities for the year. Artificial intelligence technology is also expected to be a major focus at the federal government's Economic Reform Roundtable next week. The Future Skills Organisation's pilot program, called Skills Accelerator AI, is designed to reach more than 30,000 vocational education and training staff, as well as the students they teach. Equipping educators with AI tools and teaching them how to use them would be vital to boosting productivity and creating new industries, Future Skills Organisation chief executive Patrick Kidd said. "We did some research across the finance, tech and business sectors and found that more than 60 per cent of people are using AI but less than 30 per cent have been trained in it," he told AAP. "(AI is) happening, it's here, now we need to make sure that we're starting to put some shape around it so that we're doing it responsibly, safely and effectively." The training program will include access to a wide range of AI tools, he said, as well as mentors and examples of effective AI use from industry partners. Groups involved in the program include TAFE in Queensland and South Australia, the Swinburne University of Technology, the Commonwealth Bank, Business NSW, and the National AI Centre. Targeting teachers in the first phase of the pilot would help to spread AI education widely, Microsoft Asia small and medium enterprise corporate vice-president Rachel Bondi said, and to encourage its responsible use. "(AI is) reshaping every job and we have to make the training available to all roles and all jobs and not just in certain sectors that may have received that type of training before," she said. "We're hoping that this collaboration of everybody coming together is really going to pave a way for a national approach." Federal Skills and Training Minister Andrew Giles said he hoped the partnership would help to create "practical, scalable training" for Australian workers. In a report issued before the government's economic roundtable, the Productivity Commission recommended state and territory governments train teachers in the use of AI technology and that schools use the tools to assist students and teachers. AI technology is expected to be a major focus at the three-day event in Canberra after the Tech Council predicted it could add $115 billion a year to Australia's economy by 2030. More than 30,000 teachers could be trained in the use of artificial intelligence technology as part of a year-long trial spearheaded by US tech giant Microsoft and Australia's Future Skills Organisation. The firms will announce the pilot program in Canberra on Wednesday in collaboration with 13 industry and education partners, and in a move designed to promote wider adoption of AI technology. The plan to boost Australia's AI use comes a day after the Productivity Commission recommended schools deploy the technology for both teachers and students, and after it named AI adoption as one of its priorities for the year. Artificial intelligence technology is also expected to be a major focus at the federal government's Economic Reform Roundtable next week. The Future Skills Organisation's pilot program, called Skills Accelerator AI, is designed to reach more than 30,000 vocational education and training staff, as well as the students they teach. Equipping educators with AI tools and teaching them how to use them would be vital to boosting productivity and creating new industries, Future Skills Organisation chief executive Patrick Kidd said. "We did some research across the finance, tech and business sectors and found that more than 60 per cent of people are using AI but less than 30 per cent have been trained in it," he told AAP. "(AI is) happening, it's here, now we need to make sure that we're starting to put some shape around it so that we're doing it responsibly, safely and effectively." The training program will include access to a wide range of AI tools, he said, as well as mentors and examples of effective AI use from industry partners. Groups involved in the program include TAFE in Queensland and South Australia, the Swinburne University of Technology, the Commonwealth Bank, Business NSW, and the National AI Centre. Targeting teachers in the first phase of the pilot would help to spread AI education widely, Microsoft Asia small and medium enterprise corporate vice-president Rachel Bondi said, and to encourage its responsible use. "(AI is) reshaping every job and we have to make the training available to all roles and all jobs and not just in certain sectors that may have received that type of training before," she said. "We're hoping that this collaboration of everybody coming together is really going to pave a way for a national approach." Federal Skills and Training Minister Andrew Giles said he hoped the partnership would help to create "practical, scalable training" for Australian workers. In a report issued before the government's economic roundtable, the Productivity Commission recommended state and territory governments train teachers in the use of AI technology and that schools use the tools to assist students and teachers. AI technology is expected to be a major focus at the three-day event in Canberra after the Tech Council predicted it could add $115 billion a year to Australia's economy by 2030.
Perth Now
3 hours ago
- Perth Now
‘Boycott': Aussies fume over Netflix's latest price hikes
Aussie Netflix users have been quick to call out the streaming giant following its sixth price increase since entering the Australian market in 2015. On Wednesday, the platform announced all subscription tiers would be impacted as early as September this year. Understandably, it's not been met with open arms by users already impacted by the cost-of-living pinch. Taking to social media, users even threatened to 'cancel' their subscriptions as they vented their frustrations. 'Greedy company. Raising prices multiple times per year will only push more ships into the sea,' one person said. 'Boycott Netflix. Raising prices again...,' another added. Aussies react to Netflix price rises. Credit: Supplied In response to the promotion of the Netflix original film My Oxford Year, other Netflix subscribers argued the quality of content available for streaming didn't warrant the uptick in price. 'Worst content on your platform in history losing so many shows and you think you need a price increase 😂,' one user said. 'Another price increase? Cancel time,' another chimed in. Subscribers on Netflix's two standard plans will be forced to part with an extra $2 every month, with the 'standard with ads' option shifting from $7.99 to $9.99, and the ad-free Standard plan now set at $20.99 monthly. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have become regular features on Netflix. Credit: Netflix / Netflix Premium subscribers are looking at the steepest leap, with a $3 rise, taking the plan from $25.99 to $28.99. According to tech site Tom's Guide, Netflix's initial prices for Australian users were $8.99 monthly for a basic ad-free plan and $14.99 for premium access, making today's Premium option nearly double the cost. Netflix said the higher prices would allow them 'to bring you even more exciting, new entertainment', promising 'fresh, can't-miss shows and movies every week'. Netflix (inclusive of price updates) $9.99/month - inclusive of ads $20.99/month - Standard ad-free $28.99/month - Premium ad-free Amazon Prime $9.99/month — inclusive of ads $12.98/month — ad-free Stan $12/month — Basic ad-free $17/month — Standard ad-free $22/month — Premium ad-free Apple TV+ $12.99/month — ad-free Disney+ $15.99/month — Standard inclusive of ads $20.99/month — Premium ad-free Binge $10/month — Basic inclusive of ads $19/month — Standard ad-free $22/month — Premium ad-free Paramount+ $6.99/month — Basic inclusive of ads $10.99/month — Standard ad-free $13.99/month — Premium ad-free Australian streaming platform prices compared. Credit: Supplied
AU Financial Review
4 hours ago
- AU Financial Review
The $1.1b bet on fuel's cheap-and-cheerful future
If there's one thing fuel group Ampol didn't lack, it's scale. Now it is buying more after it agreed to acquire EG Group's Australian service station portfolio for $1.1 billion, Is it a good thing? We're normally harsh on acquisitions. Too often they torch shareholders' capital, particularly when it comes to steady, old Australian companies chasing elusive growth (Aurizon, Orora, Boral, Telstra, BHP, Link Market Services etc).
