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Charles Darwin University contract boosts local jobs

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TK Constructions Director, Thomas Kelly and SHAPE Australia Project Manager, Nathan Whitfield inspect plans for the site hoarding of the Education and Community Precinct. SHAPE Australia are installing signage and hoarding with its local contactor, Darwin company TK Constructions.

A local Darwin company has kicked off work on the site for Charles Darwin University’s (CDU) new Education and Community Precinct.

Shape Australia won a $200,000 contract to install hoardings and signage on site.

Its five-strong local team form part of the 730 jobs supported during construction, which includes 350 jobs on-site and 380 jobs across the supply chain.

Federal Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said site preparations would quickly pave the way for construction on the CDU precinct.

“With communities and businesses right across the nation reeling from the impacts of COVID-19, we know that every single construction job we can support will make a world of difference,” Mr Tudge said.

“Building this world-class university campus is also expected to provide a $600 million boost to the Darwin economy over a 30-year period and create an estimated 54 ongoing jobs every year.

“It will make Darwin even more alive than it already is, boosting local businesses like cafés, restaurants, bars and retail stores by attracting an influx of students and visitors.”

The Morrison Government fast-tracked $74.8 million to bring forward construction on the new precinct.

The precinct was designed to create a hive of activity in the Darwin CBD with centrepiece of the precinct a new state-of-the-art CDU city campus to promote Darwin as a centre of excellence for education in Northern Australia while delivering a better, more seamless student experience.

It will also bring together library and community facilities to establish a dynamic and engaging hub in the heart of the city for locals to enjoy.

CDU Vice-Chancellor Professor Simon Maddocks welcomed the news, saying the precinct was critical to the university’s future success.

“This precinct will help us meet future student demands while offering a state-of-the-art learning facility for the Darwin community to come together and share ideas,” Professor Maddocks said.

“This announcement builds on the momentum achieved by the recent approval of a $151.5 million loan from the Australian Government’s Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility to secure the expansion of our Darwin campus.

“I look forward to seeing this new piece of our university take shape, with construction expected to be complete in time for the 2024 academic year.”

The City Deal is a joint initiative of the Australian and Northern Territory governments and the City of Darwin.

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NAIF loan to CDU expansion receives full approval

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CDU Vice-Chancellor Professor Simon Maddocks, Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia, Keith Pitt and NAIF CEO Chris Wade on site at the announcement in Darwin.

Charles Darwin University’s (CDU) expansion plans have moved forward, with the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) fully approving a loan up to $151.5 million to support the university’s growth.

NAIF’s Investment Decision, which has been approved by the Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia, Keith Pitt, will enable the Darwin City Deal’s Education and Community Precinct to progress, comprising:

  • a new CDU city campus, and
  • a central city library (co-locating parts of existing libraries at CDU and NTG) 

NAIF’s loan is in addition to $97 million already committed by the Commonwealth Government through the Darwin City Deal initiative.

Around 730 jobs will be created during the construction phase including on-site and off-site works.

A public benefit assessment forecast that this project will produce net benefits to the Darwin economy of $599m over a 30-year period through increased urbanisation and economic activity. It is also forecast to support an additional 54 jobs a year in the Darwin economy.    

NAIF CEO Chris Wade said: “NAIF was an early supporter of CDU’s exciting plans, granting a conditional approval last November, and we are delighted the loan has now received full approval.

“The Northern Territory Government Economic Development Framework forecasts there will be 10,000 international students studying in the Territory by 2025 and this new precinct will help the university cater to a significant number of those students. The increase in workers and students will generate more business activity and bolster the local economy.”  

Construction of the new Precinct will start this year and is expected to be completed in time for the 2024 academic year. 

NAIF first provided conditional approval of the loan in November 2019. 

NAIF’s support for CDU comes at a critical time for the Northern Territory economy and will help support the growth in tertiary education in the region for years to come.

In the Northern Territory, NAIF is providing nearly $800m in loans through Investment Decisions and conditional approvals to infrastructure projects, supporting over 1,500 jobs.

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Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility $150m secures Education Civic Precinct

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From left: Darwin Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis, CDU Vice-Chancellor Professor Simon Maddocks, Minister for Northern Australia Senator Matt Canavan and Chief Minister Michael Gunner announcing funding for CDU’s new CBD campus.

Charles Darwin University and the City of Darwin have welcomed the commitment from the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility of a $150 million loan, which will enable the City Deal’s Education and Civic Precinct to progress.

The partners of the City Deal today inspected the site which will incorporate a new CDU city campus, a central city library (co-locating parts of existing libraries at CDU, COD and NTG) and a Darwin civic centre.  

The $150 million loan is in addition to $97 million already committed by the Commonwealth Government through the City Deals program.

“A $250 million development on this site is a game changer for the future of CDU and the Darwin CBD,” said CDU Vice-Chancellor Professor Simon Maddocks.

In partnership with COD and NTG a draft masterplan for the site, on the corner of Cavanagh Street and Garramilla Boulevard, has been developed.

The masterplan stipulates the precinct will be:

  • Iconic and vibrant
  • A world-class student experience
  • Green with innovative tropical architecture and cooling
  • Welcoming and connected at street level
  • Reflective of Larrakia Country and inclusive of diverse cultures.

At the heart of the precinct will stand the heritage-listed boab tree, which was planted in the late 1800s to provide shade in the first Darwin school yard. 

“The tree will provide a physical link to the long-standing use of the site as an education precinct,” Professor Maddocks said.

Every aspect of design of the new precinct must consider the boab, including heights of buildings, proximity of buildings and the underground car park. This will ensure the tree continues to receive maximum sunlight, water and drainage. 

Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis said: “The City Deal partnership has provided a unique opportunity for all levels of government to work together to develop a project that will attract people to the city centre, support our local economy and establish Darwin as a place to live, learn and visit.”

“When the precinct is complete, people will drive up Garramilla Boulevard or walk along Cavanagh Street and when they see this precinct will think – ‘wow!’  It will be different from anything else in Darwin,” he said.

The precinct will take three years to complete, with expressions of interest currently open for detailed concept design.

“With modern, competitive infrastructure in the CBD we’re confident our international enrolments will grow by 500 students to 2500 by the time the city campus is open in February 2024,” Professor Maddocks said.

“By 2028 our projections show this number doubling to 5000 students – all living, studying, working and playing in the CBD.  The impact of this growth on the NT economy has been estimated at $250 million over 15 years,” he said.

To find out more, read the CDU Education and Civic Precinct factsheet.

EOI opens for CDU City Campus development

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Vice Chancellor, Professor Simon Maddocks said contractors can now register for the tender panel for the construction of CDU’s City campus.

Expressions of Interest (EOI) are now open for organisations wishing to tender on the design and development of the Darwin Education and Civic Precinct.

The development is a centrepiece initiative of the Darwin City Deal between the Northern Territory and Australian governments and Charles Darwin University (CDU).

The Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics is supporting CDU in the process.

The development, on the Cavenagh Street Car Park site, aims to give CDU a presence in the heart of Darwin City. The development objectives are:

  • An opportunity to showcase an iconic building that is environmentally sustainable using the latest technology and environmental science
  • A sustainable partnership, benefitting the university, industry, community and government by providing an opportunity to interact directly at many levels to foster greater interaction and synergy
  • To create contemporary learning spaces and places that will attract new students from overseas as well as provide an urban campus experience
  • A vibrant precinct that contributes to the local economy, and helps revitalise the city centre through new construction, building confidence for new investment as well as bringing new jobs and student/staff activity into the city centre

CDU Vice Chancellor, Professor Simon Maddocks said he was pleased to have reached the point where contractors can now register for the tender panel.

“We have been working closely with the Northern Territory Government and the City of Darwin to complete the remaining tasks before construction can begin,” Professor Maddocks said.

“We are now calling for contractors to be part of a short-listed panel that we will use for formal tenders for construction work.

“This process will identify the capacity and credentials of the contractors that go forward to the panel. This will help us get packages of work contracted and underway in the most efficient way possible,” he said.

The EOI closes on 18 December 2019.

Professor Maddocks said the state-of-the-art facilities provided through the new campus and its location in the heart of the Darwin CBD, together with the opportunities created for redevelopment of some of the Casuarina campus, would provide a positive stimulus to student and staff amenities.

“This represents the future for an important part of CDU for generations to come and will give domestic and international students the work, study and accommodation options they are looking for,” Professor Maddocks said.