The NT Government says it has listened to the community and scrapped the Myilly Point museum of the NT.
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“We promised to restore trust in Government by doing the right thing for Territorians,” Chief Minister Michael Gunner said.
“We have heard loud and clear that many Territorians do not support a Myilly Point museum and want us to focus on jobs, investing in schools, children and safer communities.
“We got it wrong. The community has voiced genuine concerns about a new museum and we have listened.
“We are still determined to activate Myilly Point as community space because it has been sitting vacant for too long – we want to breathe life into as an important link between the CBD, the Gardens and Mindil Beach.”
Mr Gunner said two aspects of the museum project that received community support during consultation was for a children’s playground and landscaping improvements at Myilly Point.
“We have listened to this feedback and, in the short-term, will invest $3 million into landscaping the site’s road frontages and building a children’s adventure playground on a small section of land,” he said.
“Any longer-term plans for the remainder of the site will be developed with the community, including traditional owners and representatives of the Stolen Generation. We will work with the community to ensure the history of the site is recognised, including the housing of the Kahlin compound there.
“What I can assure people is we will not do what the former CLP Government had planned and build apartment blocks there – that is not smart or appropriate.”
Mr Gunner said Government would work with Friends of Kahlin and other representatives of the Stolen Generation on plans for a nationally significant Centre for the Stolen Generation.
“When we announced plans for Myilly Point museum, we promised members of the Stolen Generation they would be part of the overall project and that we would recognise their stories and the injustices they endured. We will honour our commitment.”
Mr Gunner said Government would:
- Keep the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) at Bullocky Point.
- Use the $50 million currently allocated to the museum in 2019/20 (minus $3.8 million funds allocated to concept report/consultation and new works announced today) for other projects as part of the $100 million CBD revitalisation plan
- Continue with the $100 million plans to revitalise the Darwin CBD, including redeveloping State Square by creating more green space and cooling the area by undergrounding carparks around Parliament and the Supreme Court plus building a fine art gallery, creating a shade cover over Cavanagh Street as a cooling trial, relocating University students into the CBD, relocating the bus terminal and funding more street art.
- Use the concept plans for the Myilly Point museum and cultural precinct to drive community discussions about future plans for the site.