2 June 2004

Chief Minister Clare Martin

Chief Minister Clare Martin today emphasised that the future growth of Darwin required creative people and places as much as a developing a significant resource base and told Territorians to ‘buckle up for a spirited future’.

Opening today’s Charles Darwin University Symposium, Creative Tropical City, Ms Martin said that great growth was expected in a short time frame for the Territory capital and that there was a need to be prepared for great change.

She said that the impact of growth was probably underway already.

“Darwin doesn’t have a model for growth – it is not Helsinki, Glasgow, Singapore, Brisbane or Cairns. Darwin is unique and needs to continue developing its own sense of identity to remain unique among cities anywhere in the world,” said Ms Martin.

Ms Martin said that urban populations are increasing globally and that Darwin will not be exempt from such pressures and had to be ready.

“In 1900, 10 per cent of the world’s population lived in cities. In 2000, this had increased to 50 per cent. In 1950, only New York and London had more than eight million inhabitants. Today there are 22 such cities around the world.

“If Darwin follows these trends there will be a great deal of growth taking place in a very short time giving rise to a need to balance all forms of urban living, the uptake of rural land for development and the need for Darwinians to participate in helping shape the City’s future.

“For example, feedback we have had from community consultation regarding Darwin’s future water front development has, generally, highlighted concerns with any increase of high rise buildings while offering expectations for more shaded open space, big overhangs, decks overlooking the waterfront and cool colour schemes.

“There is a need for balance and there is a commercial reality for high rise buildings. The concept of the ‘skinny’ high rise with just four units per floor designed to make full use of the natural environment by capturing cool breezes for all occupants while providing greater ground level space dedicated to shared gardens is one creative alternative.”

Quoting American population scientist, Richard Florida, Ms Martin explained that the Territory’s growth relied on a number of factors and that it isn’t necessarily resource wealth that draws an expanding population but also creative people moving in.

“Florida chartered the rise and fall of American cities and found that those that prospered are succeeding largely because creative people want to live there. Companies then follow people or in some cases are started by them.

“Florida says that traditional things like sports stadiums, freeways and shopping malls don’t necessarily attract creative people. Abundant high quality amenities and experiences, an openness to diversity of all kinds and opportunity to validate citizens identities as creative people were central themes in attracting people.

“Darwin fits right into Florida’s dynamic formula.

“Instead of subsidising companies, stadiums and retail centres, communities need to be open to diversity and invest in the kind of lifestyle options people really want.”

“We have the opportunity to create a unique people climate built around emerging knowledge industries. Tropical Knowledge and Desert Knowledge are examples of the future industries which will diversify our economy.”

The Symposium continues today and tomorrow. For a detailed program log onto www.cdu.edu.au/cdss or phone 8946 6529.