Safer Communities: New Darwin Rehabilitation Precinct
21 August 2018
NT Government:
The Territory Labor Government has announced the proposed
site of a new
Darwin Rehabilitation Precinct.
The precinct will incorporate the new
Darwin Youth Justice Centre (and
see Don Dale shut down), as well as an Alcohol and Rehabilitation
Centre.
The proposed location is Territory Government owned land at Lot 67,
Hundred of Bagot, Pinelands. The site sits between the Stuart Highway
and Tiger Brennan Drive.
Relocating these services from Berrimah – where Don Dale and the
sobering up shelter are currently located - preserves that area for
future developments more suited to
residential uses, and separates
potential conflicting land uses such as school sites.
It will enable this valuable land to be used for more residential living
in the future that is close to proposed community use facilities and
services.
The development of the Pinelands site into a Rehabilitation Precinct
will allow future opportunities for service providers, training
providers and businesses to collaborate and potentially co-locate there
or the nearby light industrial area.
Before construction commences, public comment will be invited through
the rezoning and development consent processes. Construction of the new
Youth Justice Centre is expected to commence mid-2019.
The Territory Labor Government is investing an historic $229.6 million
over the next five years to continue the overhaul of the child
protection and youth justice systems, and implement the recommendations
of the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in
the
NT.
Quotes from Minister for Territory Families Dale Wakefield
“The Territory Labor Government is fixing the Territory’s broken youth
justice system to create safer communities and get young people on the
right path and away from a life of crime. We are investing in youth
services after the CLP made critical funding cuts in this area.
“People who do the wrong thing must face the consequences because all
Territorians have the right to be safe. But we need to make sure people
get back on the right track – not become lifelong criminals.
“The Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in
the NT report stated that Don Dale is not fit to put young people back
on the right path, and that it needed to close. The infrastructure is
not-fit-for purpose – this has been more than evident over the past few
months.
“The Territory Labor Government in investing $70 million for two new
youth justice centres in Darwin and Alice Springs. The new youth justice
centres will be more secure, fit-for-purpose, and focused on putting
at-risk young people back on the right path.
“We are undertaking the most comprehensive overhaul of the youth justice
system in Northern Territory history with $230 million to be invested
over the next five years to roll out our reforms.”
Quote from Minister for Infrastructure, Planning & Logistics Eva
Lawler
“Before Government can progress the construction of the new Darwin
Rehabilitation Precinct, public comment will be invited through the
rezoning and development consent processes.”
Details about the Pinelands site:
• Lot 67, Hundred of Bagot, Pinelands is 56 hectares
• The land will need to be rezoned to allow for the site to be developed
as proposed. A development consent process will also be required for the
construction of the precinct. Both include a statutory public comment
process which will invite feedback
• This development will carefully consider the safety and security of
this area and may potentially open up further adjoining land for light
industrial use, which may provide additional business opportunities
• The site will be accessed from a future extension of McKinnon Road and
is bordered by Tiger Brennan Drive. There will be no access to the
precinct from Tiger Brennan Drive
• The site is conveniently located near public transport, this will
enable easy access for visitation from family and friends
--ENDS--
Source: Northern Territory Government - www.newsroom.nt.gov.au
Contact: Media Contacts: Minister Dale Wakefield: Paige Nguyen 0428 727 244 Minister Eva Lawler: Kim Stephens 0437 683 144
External Links: N/A
Recent news by: Northern Territory Government