Research Themes and Major Projects

Whose city is it? Planning and development of Darwin city

Darwin's history is marked by the Australian military, and destruction caused by Japanese bombing in World War II and Cyclone Tracy in 1974. But its identity as an outback town and military outpost is progressively being tested and replaced by private-sector development and the local government's vision of a 'tropical harbour city'.

The city is undergoing radical change with a growing resident population and rapid growth in recreation and consumer industries. The number of multistory buildings is transforming the skyline, and public-private initiated projects, such as the waterfront development, are altering urban spaces.

A critical analysis of the factors feeding such change, its social impact, and changing spaces will provide evidence for the future improvement of planning policy and urban management in Darwin city. The conceptual framework of this project is taken from the theories of growth-coalition and urban regimes.

Key questions of the project include:

Have certain projects appeared as the result of concerted and coherent policy effort?
Does the growth of multistory apartment buildings relate to demand for home ownership of people in the city or to other factors?
Who is and will be living in these multistory apartments?
What are the likely impacts of them on the infrastructure of the city, both physical and social?