geo textbook geoactive chapter 3

4‘Darwin: Australia’s Asian gateway.’

Darwin: an Australian community

[4.1] Aerial view of Darwin

In this chapter you will…

106 Geography for Australian Citizens

learn about:✪ factors that contribute to Darwin’s sense of

identity✪ factors causing change in Darwin✪ individuals, groups and levels of government

involved in the process of change✪ community responses to change✪ the purpose, structure and actions of

community groups in responding to change.

learn to:✪ define the community✪ describe the factors causing change in Darwin and the impacts of change on

the community✪ analyse the strategies of individuals, groups and different levels of

government in responding to change✪ explain the impacts of change on the community of Darwin✪ identify a community group and describe how it responds to change✪ interpret maps using geographical tools✪ interpret population pyramids.

Darwin: a changing Australian community

Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, its seat of government, and a major commercial and administrative centre. Darwin was named by Lieutenant Stokes in 1839 during an exploratory voyage around the coast of northern Australia in the HMS Beagle.

He named the city after the famous scientist and naturalist Charles Darwin, who had earlier sailed with him on the Beagle. However, it was not until 1869 that European Australians finally successfully settled in the area. The first European settlement – Palmerston – was under South Australian administration and remained so until the Northern Territory was ceded to the Commonwealth in 1911.

Europeans, of course, were not the first to live in the Darwin area. Tens of thousands of years before European settlement, the area was inhabited by the Larrakia people, who moved about their country hunting and fishing. The arrival of Europeans threatened the lives of the Larrakia. Europeans brought diseases that the people had not been exposed to before, and as the Europeans established settlements and cleared the country, the land and

sea resources, which the Larrakia had relied upon, began to diminish. Nevertheless, the Larrakia people have survived in Darwin and they continue to maintain their culture.

DarwinLocation: 12° 40'S 130° 80'E

Area: 210 496 square kilometres

Population: Darwin – 114 400; Palmerston – 71 900; Litchfield – 25 900

Indigenous population: 9.7 per cent

Age structure: 22.6 per cent of the population between 0 and 14, and 14.9 per cent 55 years and over (2006)

Median age: 32 years

[4.2] Key to map of DarwinDarwin Harbour is twice the size of Sydney Harbour in area; however, it is much shallower.

The Northern Territory comprises approximately 17.5 per cent of the landmass of Australia but is inhabited by only 1 per cent of Australia’s population.

1074 : Darwin: an Australian community

[4.3] Topographic map of Darwin


Darwin is located in the tropical north of Australia, and is closer to many Asian cities than to Sydney or Melbourne. It is strategically located as a major potential gateway to Asia – Australia’s frontier city as [4.4] shows.

Despite its proximity to Asia, Darwin is quite different from many Asian cities to its immediate north, particularly in terms of population size. Darwin’s population has been constrained by poor soils and a harsh environment.

frontier citya city located on the

boundary of two regions

Factors contributing to the sense of identityTropical climateDarwin has a tropical monsoon climate with a distinctive wet season in the summer months and a dry winter. Most of the rain falls as a result of the summer monsoon, between December and March. On average Darwin is Australia’s wettest capital, with a mean annual rainfall of 1706.5 millimetres. During ‘the wet’ the humidity is regularly over 80 per cent. During the dry season from May to August there is little or no rainfall, temperatures are a little cooler and the air is much less humid [4.7]. Due to Darwin’s location, 12°S of the Equator, the city experiences very little temperature variation, with warm temperatures all year round.

[4.4] Darwin is strategically located as a gateway to Asia

[4.6] Diners at the wharf precinct in Darwin

[4.5] Darwin city is mostly low rise with a tropical and relaxed atmosphere

20

15

10

5

0

25

400average

maximum

Tem

per

atu

re

Precipitatio

n

averageminimum

mmC

300

200

100

0

30

35

J F M A M J J A S O N D


The lifestyle in Darwin is relaxed and leisurely as the climate and coastal location encourage outdoor living for much of the year. People tend to dress casually to suit the tropical climate.

During the wet season, low-pressure systems form across northern Australia. Tropical cyclones occur during this period from October to April.

Cyclone TracyAt 1 am on 25 December 1974, Cyclone Tracy devastated Darwin. It had a profound effect on the changes that have occurred in Darwin in the past thirty-five years.

The tropical cyclone originated on 20 December 1974 in a tropical low that had developed in the Arafura Sea between Timor and Irian Jaya. By 21 December, the low had intensified and moved south. By 24 December it was heading directly for Darwin and in the early hours of Christmas Day wind gusts of up to 217 kilometres per hour were recorded at Darwin airport.

After Cyclone Tracy new construction standards and building codes were introduced. There are now annual public awareness campaigns about practical safety

measures for dealing with cyclones. Residents are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the general system of cyclone warnings and stages. These are broadcast regularly on radio and TV as a community service. Many households keep a well-stocked cyclone emergency kit.

After Cyclone Tracy, Darwin had to be virtually rebuilt. As a result it is a very new city. There are not many buildings in Darwin older than 35 years.

low pressurean area in which warm

air is rising; it cools, condenses into cloud and

rain may fall

[4.7] Climate graph for Darwin

[4.8] There are public awareness programs about safety in the event of a cyclone in Darwin

[4.9] Most of Darwin’s houses, many of which were built of fibro sheeting on stilts, were destroyed by Cyclone Tracy


Darwin’s populationCultural diversityDarwin is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Australia with people from 130 countries speaking sixty languages. In the 2006 ABS census, 20.6 per cent of Darwin’s population was born overseas. The three most common languages spoken at home other than English were Greek, Chinese languages and Australian Indigenous languages.

Indigenous populationIndigenous people make up a significant proportion of Darwin’s population – 9.7 per cent of Darwin’s population identified themselves as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander in the 2006 ABS census. This contrasts with the figures for Australia as a whole in which 2.3 per cent of the population identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

The Chinese communityChinese people originally came to the Northern Territory in the nineteenth century to work as labourers in mines and on roads. Today they continue to be an integral part of the Darwin community, playing a significant part in the social, cultural, political and economic affairs of Darwin.

The Chinese community is particularly active. This is evidenced through the activities of the community organisation the Chung Wah Society. The society aims to:✪ promote harmony and goodwill between Chinese residents in the Northern

Territory and people of other nationalities✪ promote the general, cultural, educational and social interests of its members✪ provide and maintain the Chinese temple as the centre of worship.

An initiative of the Chung Wah Society was to establish the Northern Chinese Museum in Darwin in the 1990s. The museum contains a wealth of information on the history of the Chinese in the Northern Territory. It pays tribute to the ancestors of Darwin’s Chinese community and the contribution they have made to Darwin’s multicultural society.

Aboriginal people own approximately half of the Northern Territory under the Land Rights Act.

In the late nineteenth century, there were up to seven times more Chinese in the Northern Territory than any other ethnic group.

[4.10] Darwin is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Australia


The Greek communityA long-established and significant Greek community resides in Darwin. Greek people began migrating to Darwin in the early twentieth century. A large group of people came from the island of Kalymnos in the 1950s. Today there is still a large group of Greek-born people living in Darwin, although their numbers are declining as the population ages. In 2006, Greek was still the most common language other than English spoken by Darwin residents at home, with 2.3 per cent speaking Greek at home.

Darwin’s Greek community continues strong cultural traditions through organisations such as the Greek Orthodox church and the Greek school in Nightcliff, and maintaining the Greek language and organising the annual Glenti Festival, which attracts Greek people from all over Australia.

South-East Asian communitiesSouth-East Asian communities, in particular Filipino, Timorese and Indonesian, are well represented in Darwin. They play an important economic, social and cultural role in Darwin.

While some of Darwin’s East Timorese community have lived in Australia for decades, many arrived over the past two decades to escape the Indonesian occupation of East Timor. The Darwin community’s support for the East Timorese was seen when they rallied to their defence when the Department of Immigration refused to grant some refugees visas, saying that it was safe for them to return to East Timor. The difficulty for many of these people is that their children have been born in Australia and it is the only life they know. They are also worried about there being few job prospects for them in East Timor. The opposing argument is that many of these people would have the skills to assist in reestablishing the newly independent East Timor.

Darwin’s sister cities are Ambon in Indonesia, Anchorage in Alaska, Haikou in the People’s Republic of China, Kalymnos in Greece and Milikapiti on Melville Island in the Northern Territory.

The ‘young’ capital of AustraliaDarwin is the youngest capital in Australia, with 32 the median age of the population compared with 36.6 years for Australia as a whole. Only 5 per cent of residents are over 65 compared with 13 per cent nationally. The age structure of Darwin’s population can be compared with the age structure of Australia’s population in [4.12] and [4.13].

[4.11] The strong Asian presence in Darwin is particularly evident at the markets where there is a range of Asian foods available

04011

Source: 2006 Census of Population and Housing Australia

100 yearsand over

males

females

0-4

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65-69

70-74

75-79

80-84

85-89

90-94

95-99

0123456789 6 7 8 9543210

04012

Source: 2006 Census of Population and Housing Australia

100 yearsand over males

females

0-4

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65-69

70-74

75-79

80-84

85-89

90-94

95-99

0123456789 6 7 8 9543210


Impact of Darwin’s location on the populationMany Anglo-Celtic Australians in Darwin do not originate from Darwin. They have come to Darwin for work or for a change in lifestyle. They find themselves in a remote location far from family and friends. As a result, for these people Darwin tends to be a social place where people forge and develop new links within the community.

Aboriginal people have a strong sense of identity in Darwin. They make up a large percentage of the population of Darwin and the Northern Territory. Here there has been much greater recognition of their rights and responsibilities as traditional owners of the land and sea than in many other parts of Australia.

Many Aboriginal people in Darwin have a high level of confidence and pride in their Aboriginality and a strong sense of identity. There is a high level of social and cultural interaction between those Aboriginal people living in Darwin and those living in the communities of the ‘top end’.

The ancestors of many Asian–Australians in Darwin were among the first non-Indigenous settlers. Others have arrived more recently, following political and social change in their home countries, including a significant East Timorese community. For many of these people, they are living in a climate that is very similar to where they have come from. They are also not far from family and friends in their home country and so can maintain close links.

Sporting lifePeople in Darwin tend to play several sports. The Northern Territory has one of the highest sport and recreation participation rates in Australia. There are a number of major sporting facilities located in Darwin, including the Marrara Sporting Complex,

Source: ABS 2006 Census of Population and Housing, Darwin (Statistical Division) – NT, 2068.0

[4.12] Population pyramid for Darwin, 2006 [4.13] Population pyramid for Australia, 2006


Hidden Valley Motor Sports Complex, Darwin Turf Club and Gardens Oval Complex, as well as many other sporting ovals. In addition, a range of major sporting events are held in Darwin:✪ the city hosts the Arafura Games every two

years, which attracts 4000 competitors from a range of Asia–Pacific nations and from northern Australia

✪ the Darwin Cup Carnival, one of the highlights of the Northern Territory’s sporting calendar, is an eight-day horse-racing carnival beginning on the first Monday of August every year

✪ the annual Australian Rules football match in which an AFL team plays a Northern Territory side made up of Indigenous players [4.14]

✪ the annual World Solar Car Challenge starts in Darwin in September each year and ends in Adelaide several days later

✪ the Territory round of V8 super cars.

MarketsMarkets are a popular attraction for both residents and tourists in Darwin. There are markets at Parap every Saturday morning and Rapid Creek every Sunday morning, as well as the very popular Thursday sunset market at Mindil Beach. In the dry season, the markets at Mindil Beach attract huge crowds. People start to arrive at about 5.30 pm. They bring tables and chairs and settle under the coconut palms to watch the sunset. A huge array of foods is available including Thai, Sri Lankan, Indian, Chinese, Malaysian, Italian and Greek. There are also cake stalls, fruit salad bars and handicraft stalls.

[4.14] AFL is a very popular sport in Darwin

[4.15] Pandanus basket weaving by Aboriginal women is an example of the many cultural activities at the markets

[4.16] Beautiful tropical flowers can be purchased at the Parap market

[4.17] Tourists and locals alike enjoy eating a variety of Asian foods in the relaxed atmosphere of the markets


Learning about …1 Describe the location of Darwin.2 Describe the climate in Darwin.3 List the factors that contribute to a sense of community in Darwin.4 Describe the changes that Cyclone Tracy brought about in Darwin.5 Describe the age structure of Darwin’s population.

Learning to …1 Refer to [4.2 and 4.3] and answer the following questions.

a State the scale of the Darwin topographic map.b State the direction of:

i Stuart Park from Nightcliffii Karama from The Narrows.

c Name and give the area reference of two recreational facilities in Darwin.d State the grid reference of:

i Mindil Beachii Marlows Lagoon.

e Measure the straight line distance from Emery Point to East Point.f Calculate the area of the garbage tip in AR 0929.g Calculate the density of buildings in AR 1524.h Using evidence from the topographic map, explain why Darwin has developed in

the direction of Palmerston in the south-east, rather than north of existing northern suburbs such as Karama.

i Use the topographic map of Darwin to create your own map showing the general pattern of land use in Darwin.

j Compare the scale of the topographic map of Darwin with the scale of the map of Australia [4.4]. State which map has the larger scale and which map has the smaller scale. Explain.

2 Refer to [4.7] and complete the following.a Calculate the average annual precipitation for Darwin.b Which three months have the highest precipitation in Darwin?c Calculate the total precipitation in these three months.d Compare the precipitation in the wettest three months with the precipitation in the

driest three months.e Describe the temperature variation in Darwin throughout the year.

3 Visit the Cyclone Tracy section of the Northern Territory library’s website at www.ntlib.nt.gov.au/tracy. Select either the ‘basic’ or the ‘advanced’ Cyclone Tracy links and complete one of the following activities.a Click on ‘Cyclone Tracy’. Use the information to write a short script for a weather

forecast for 24 December 1974.b Click on ‘Cyclone Tracy’. Write a newspaper article on the impact of Cyclone Tracy on

Darwin or the reconstruction of Darwin after Cyclone Tracy.c Click on ‘Meteorological information’. Use the information to prepare a poster on

cyclones and their impact.d Click on ‘Oral histories’. Use these as a basis for a role play about life in Darwin.


4 a Refer to [4.12] and [4.13].i Calculate the percentage of Darwin residents under the age of 45.ii Calculate the percentage of Australian residents under the age of 45.iii Calculate the percentage of Darwin residents over the age of 60.iv Calculate the percentage of Australian residents over the age of 60.

b Write a paragraph comparing the age structure of the population pyramid for Darwin with the age structure of the population pyramid for Australia.

5 Visit the home page of the Chung Wah Society at www.chungwahnt.asn.au. Write an article for a magazine that discusses and raises awareness of the history and contribution of Chinese people in Darwin.

6 You have been asked by the Northern Territory government to produce a brochure on housing in Darwin to distribute to prospective residents. Your brochure should include:a a description and illustration of types and styles of housing in Darwinb information about the cost of both rental housing and housing for sale in Darwinc a discussion of price variation according to location of housing within Darwin. The website www.realestate.com.au will be useful in researching information for

your brochure.

Factors causing change in the communityPopulation growthBetween June 2001 and June 2006, the population of Darwin statistical division, which includes three statistical subdivisions (Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield), grew by 7500 people to 114 400, an average growth rate of 1.4 per cent per year. Current projections by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) estimate that by 2021 the population of Darwin could be between 126 500 and 184 500.

In recent years, the biggest growth area in Darwin has been in Darwin’s satellite city of Palmerston. Palmerston, located 20 kilometres south-east of Darwin, was

established in 1981 when the supply of new residential land in Darwin was diminishing. It is now one of Australia’s fastest growing towns. Between June 2001 and June 2006, Palmerston’s population increased by 3300 people at an average growth rate of 2.8 per cent per year reaching 25 900. Population projections conducted by the ABS have estimated that Palmerston’s population will reach between 36 000 and 42 000 in 2021.

Within Palmerston there are two major shopping centres, nine primary schools and a high school. There is also the Palmerston campus of the Charles Darwin University (formerly the Northern Territory University).

[4.18] Population of Palmerston, 1986–2006

Year Population

1986 5706

1991 7804

1996 12 750

2001 20 788

2006 25 900

[4.19] Fairway Waters is a typical development in Palmerston


Urban consolidationIn recent years, while a number of Darwin’s outer suburbs have experienced a decline in population numbers, the inner city and inner suburbs have experienced a population increase due to urban consolidation. This is particularly evident in the inner suburbs of Larrakeyah, Stuart Park and The Gardens, where a number of townhouses and high-rise units have been built. Cullen Bay [4.20] is a residential development that includes both detached houses and medium- to high-density residential development. Bayview Haven is a relatively new residential development on reclaimed wetland near Stuart Park, located 2 to 3 kilometres north of the city centre [4.21]. It is one of the larger subdivisions in Darwin, incorporating both single-house and multi-house development.

urban consolidationmaking use of existing

services and encouraging medium- and high-density residential

development to prevent urban sprawl

[4.20] Cullen Bay, in inner-city Darwin, is a commercial and residential development built around a marina

[4.21] Bayview Haven

Responding to developmentDue to the fact that there has been increasing interest from developers in the central Darwin district, the government has introduced more specific planning documents for central Darwin precincts, including planning guidelines.

TourismTourism is extremely important to the Northern Territory economy and to Darwin. As an industry it is one of the Northern Territory’s biggest employers, accounting for more than 11 per cent of wage and salary earners. This compares to only 7.1 per cent nationally.

The dry season is the tourist season in the Northern Territory, as the weather is more pleasant at this time of year and it is much easier to access the national parks.

[4.22] Darwin’s skyline is changing as high-rise apartments are being constructed along the foreshore


Many tourists come to Darwin on their way to Kakadu National Park, Litchfield National Park and Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge. However, Darwin also has many of its own attractions including the Mindil Beach markets, the botanic gardens, the nature parks just outside Darwin, Indo Pacific Marine, Crocodylus Park, and many arts and cultural attractions such as the museum and art gallery, Darwin Entertainment Centre and the Darwin Symphony Orchestra.

A major attraction for business travellers in particular is the new Darwin Convention Centre, which opened in 2008. The centre has seating for up to 1500 delegates and 4000 square metres of exhibition space. The centre is already attracting international conferences as well as being a venue for other activities such as exhibitions and conferences.

The presence of tourists in Darwin is noticeable, with a large number of motels, backpacker hostels, caravan parks and hire car companies. Tourism has been a growing industry in Darwin and the Northern Territory over the past decade. The Ghan tourist service (see page 121) has contributed to increased tourist numbers, along with improved air links and visits by cruise ships.

[4.23] Darwin Convention Centre is attracting business travellers [4.24] Crocodiles are an attraction for tourists to the Top End

The Darwin Symphony Orchestra is renowned for performing in a variety of interesting places, including Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge.

[4.25] Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge


Air linksNorthern Territory tourism suffered severely with the closure of Ansett Airlines in 2001. However, more recently, new air links have opened up. Virgin Blue initially introduced flights from Brisbane to Darwin in December 2001. This was followed by flights from Sydney to Darwin in June 2003 and direct flights from Melbourne to Darwin in April 2004.

International air links have also improved. In September 2006, Tiger Airways began flying between Singapore and Darwin. In February 2008 Qantas commenced its Singapore–Darwin–Cairns route. Royal Brunei airlines also provide services to Darwin. These air links from Asia are helping Darwin to establish itself as a ‘value priced’ gateway to Australia.

[4.26] Darwin is increasingly a stop for cruise ships

[4.27] Darwin is home to the Fremantle Class patrol boats that patrol the Australian fishing zone and support Coastwatch and immigration activities throughout the northern sea approaches

Cruise shipsIn recent years increasing numbers of tourists have arrived in Darwin by cruise ship, with over 40 ships arriving in 2007. The government is particularly keen to

attract these ships due to the enormous contribution both the passengers and crew make to the Northern Territory economy. In 2006 it was estimated that the cruise ship industry generated $13.4 million in expenditure for the Northern Territory. Government estimates indicate that each passenger spends $180 a day, while each crew member spends $150 a day.

A new cruise ship terminal is currently being built as part of the Darwin Waterfront and Convention Centre development.

Defence facilitiesIn recent years, due to its strategic location, Darwin has seen a growth in the presence of the Australian defence forces. The defence sector has a long history in Darwin, beginning with the development of the Larrakeyah army base in 1933. During World War II, Darwin was a major strategic post. It was also the target of a number of Japanese bombing raids. Between 1942 and 1943, Darwin was attacked sixty-five times by Japanese aeroplanes. Many vessels and over 50 per cent of Darwin’s buildings were destroyed.

As a result of the major relocation of Australian defence capabilities to the


Northern Territory and to Darwin, the Northern Territory is currently home to 10 per cent of Australia’s combat forces and attracts 6 per cent of the national defence budget.

Darwin supports five major defence establishments:✪ Robertson Barracks [4.28]✪ Larrakeyah Barracks✪ HMAS Coonawarra

✪ RAAF Base Darwin✪ RAAF Base Tindall (at Katherine, 300 kilometres away).

The location of the defence forces in and near Darwin contributes an enormous amount to the local economy, creating opportunities for local businesses to compete for maintenance and support contracts with the defence forces and supply goods and services to defence force personnel.

The presence of the forces and their families also has had a huge impact on housing in Darwin. Currently, Defence Housing Australia (DHA) manages over 1800 properties on and off bases in Darwin. Many of these houses are located in Palmerston.

[4.28] Robertson Barracks, Darwin

The gateway to AsiaIn the twenty-first century, Darwin is trying to establish itself as the gateway to Asia. Billions of dollars have been spent by the Commonwealth and Northern Territory governments, and the private sector, on a number of developments including the:✪ East Arm wharf and container terminal✪ development of Timor Sea oil and gas✪ $5 billion liquified natural gas plant and pipeline from Bayu-Undan✪ Austral–Asia Railway, linking Adelaide to Darwin.

Kupang

Oecusse

DILI

EAST TIMOR

GREATER SUNRISE

EVANS SHOAL

DARWIN

NORTHERNTERRITORY

WESTERNAUSTRALIA

W.A.

N.T.

ABADI-1

KELP

ELANG/KAKATUAJAHALBULLER

BUFFALOLAMINARIA

BLUFF

OLIVERTENACIOUS

PETREL

TERN

BLACKTIP

BARNETT

0 100 200

BRONTOSAURUSMAPLESWAN

PUFFINPADTHAWAY

TAHBILKCRUX

TITANICHTHYSBREWSTER

AUDACIOUSJABIRUCHALLIS

PROMETHEUSSKUATALBOT

MONTARA& BILYARA

SPARKLECORNEA

DINICHTHYSGORGONICHTHYS

SCOTT REEFBRECKNOCK

PRODUCING OIL FIELDS

SHUT DOWN OIL FIELDS

DISCOVERED UNDEVELOPEDOIL FIELDSDISCOVERED UNDEVELOPEDGAS FIELDSPROPOSED GAS PIPELINE

POSSIBLE GAS PIPELINE

LAMINARA • Also includes Corellina

GREATER SUNRISE • Includes Sunset Sunrise,

Loxion Soals, Bard and Troubadour

ELANG/KAKATUA • Also includes Elang West & Kakatu North

KRILLHINGKIP CHUDITCH

BAYU-UNDANASHMORE AND CARTIER

ISLANDS ADJACENTAREA

JOINT PETROLEUMDEVELOPMENT AREA

TIMOR SEA

INDIAN OCEAN


Development of the Port of DarwinDuring the 1990s, the Northern Territory government focused on improving the freight and shipping facilities in Darwin, with the development of the East Arm wharf – $200 million was spent on the first two stages of this development. Trade through the Port of Darwin includes:✪ livestock exports✪ offshore oil and gas rig services✪ container and general cargo✪ dry bulk✪ petroleum and other bulk liquids✪ cruise and naval vessels.

[4.29] The East Arm Port is the only natural deep-water port on a 1500 kilometre stretch of the Australian coast

Development of the Timor Sea oil and gasNorth of Darwin, in the Timor Sea, there are extensive oil and gas resources. The area is administered by the Northern Territory, Western Australia and the Timor Gap Joint Authority. The Northern Territory government administers the Ashmore Cartier Islands Adjacent Area on behalf of the Commonwealth government and the NT Adjacent Area.

There are currently five producing oil fields in the Timor Sea and a number of major gas fields that are being considered for development. The Bayu-Undan gas field was discovered in 1995 and is currently being developed. This field will have twenty-six wells and is expected to provide condensate (a light oil used in refineries) and liquid petroleum gas (LPG) for about twenty years. Conoco Phillips, an American energy company, has confirmed its plans to pipe gas 500 kilometres from the Bayu-Undan field to Darwin. It will be converted into LPG by a new plant being built at

Wickham Point then will be shipped to Japan for sale to the Tokyo Electric Company and Tokyo Gas.

The Northern Territory government stands to gain considerably from the Timor Sea oil and gas operations. In addition to royalties the government receives as a percentage of exploration and operational expenditure, Darwin is benefiting and will continue to benefit through its role as a logistics base. Oil and gas operations are able to take advantage of supply vessels and the helicopter support and servicing facilities based in Darwin.

[4.30] Timor Sea oil and gas fields

Bayu-Udan Gas Fact Sheet, Office of Territory Development, Department of the Chief Minister

0429

STUA

RTH

IGH

WA

Y

Darwin1420km

Tennant Creek 475 km

1.1 million sleepersproduced and 1550 000tonnes of ballast

Completed25 September 2003

No. of personnel434

Tracks laid1420 kilometres

Inaugural journeyFreightLink train,Adelaide to Darwin,15 January 2004

Length offreight trains1.8 km

Sleepers2 million

Rails146000 tonnes

Bridges90

Ballast2.835 million tonnes

Alice Springs 0km

First train leaves Alice Springs and heads for Darwin on15 January at 2.15 pm

Adelaide

900 000 millionsleepers producedduring constructionat Katherine Factory

Katherine1108km

First train fromAdelaide arrives17 January at 1.30 pm


Austral–Asia railwayIn September 2003 the long-awaited 1420 kilometre rail link between Alice Springs and Darwin was finally completed, creating a 3000 kilometre link between Adelaide and Darwin. The first freight train completed its journey along the rail line in January 2004 [4.31]. The railway had been planned for many years. When the Commonwealth took control of the Northern Territory in 1911, part of the plan was to build a railway linking Adelaide with Darwin. However, no date was ever specified, and for many years the line only reached as far as Alice Springs.

The Austral–Asia railway project was a joint initiative between government and private interests. The federal government and the South Australian and Northern

Territory governments provided a combined $480 million, while the other two thirds of the $1.3 billion project was funded through Asia–Pacific Transport, the parent company of Freight Link.

Currently there are five freight trains a week between Adelaide and Darwin. The freight trains are 1.8 kilometres long and are capable of carrying 250 containers. Previously, with the line ending in Alice Springs, freight from Adelaide had to be offloaded and transferred to road trains.

In addition to the freight trains, the railway is being used by the Ghan tourist service. The Ghan, run by Great Southern Railway, leases the track for two passenger services a week between Darwin and Adelaide. It also stops at Alice Springs and Katherine.

There is still some scepticism about how viable the railway will prove to be. While many hope that it will assist Darwin in becoming a major hub for exports to Asia, this hinges on its ability to compete with the road train business as well as attract enough international shipping to Darwin in order to be able to export goods. Currently there are already well-established shipping routes from Asia to Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, where the bulk of Australia’s population lives. To be successful the railway has to be able to compete with these established shipping routes.

[4.31] The Austral–Asia railway, the world’s newest transcontinental railway connecting Adelaide with Darwin

[4.32] The Ghan sleeper train provides transport and an experience for tourists


The Indigenous populationThe Larrakia and native titleLarrakia is the language group name for the Aboriginal people of Darwin. There are over 1600 Larrakia people in Darwin today, made up of eight major family groups comprising a number of interrelated individual families. There is much evidence of the long-established habitation of the Darwin area by the Larrakia people:✪ there are hundreds of named and registered Larrakia sacred sites in the Darwin

area✪ there is significant archaeological heritage including shell middens along the

mangrove fringes of the harbour coastline✪ oral traditions and written documentation of unbroken relationship with the land,

sacred sites, stories and resources.The Larrakia people have lodged land claims under the Aboriginal Land Rights

(Northern Territory) Act 1976 and the Native Title Act 1993. One of the oldest land claims is the Kenbi (Cox Peninsula) land claim, originally lodged in 1978. In December 2000 the Aboriginal Land Commissioner recommended that the land under claim be handed back to the traditional owners. In 1996 the Larrakia also lodged a native title claim to available vacant crown land in Darwin. In April 2006 the Federal Court determined that native title did not exist in the claim area. The Larrakia appealed the decision, but in April 2007 the appeal was dismissed by the full Federal Court.

Since 1997 the Larrakia people have been represented by an umbrella organisation, the Larrakia Nation Aboriginal Corporation (LNAC). The LNAC, with the assistance of the Northern Land Council (NLC), has successfully negotiated several native title agreements with the Northern Territory government and commercial developers. As a result of these, developments such as the Wickham

Point LNG plant have been allowed to proceed and lengthy and costly court battles have been avoided. The agreement has also made it possible for the Larrakia to undertake property development projects, including a housing development in Palmerston, which may bring substantial economic benefits to the Larrakia people.

The LNAC provides services for Indigenous people living within the Larrakia Nation. In particular, the organisation focuses on providing a positive future for the young and growing Indigenous community in Darwin through employment and enterprise initiatives. They are working to address a number of challenges, including high unemployment, family violence, substance abuse and high levels of incarceration in the community.

shell middenssignificant archaeological

sites that contain evidence of past

human activity

incarcerationbeing in jail

[4.33] The Larrakia are the traditional owners of Darwin


The itinerant Indigenous populationThe election of the Labor government in the Northern Territory in 2001 has seen a major change in the treatment of Darwin’s itinerant Indigenous population. Previously the Country Liberal Party government had taken a very hard line on the itinerant population and had enacted laws to control public assembly. These laws were revoked early in the term of the current Labor government.

Most of the itinerant people come from top end Aboriginal communities. They come to Darwin for a whole range of reasons, including medical appointments, meeting family and friends, sporting activities and entertainment, or because of the limited opportunities in Aboriginal communities for jobs and fulfilment. They stay in Darwin and many are homeless. Many congregate around local shopping centres, drinking and engaging in anti-social behaviour.

In 2003, the government introduced a strategy to deal with this population, now known as ‘The Community Harmony Project’ (formerly the Darwin and Palmerston’s Itinerants Project). The project includes:✪ intervention strategies to reduce anti-social behaviour✪ provision of adequate infrastructure including shelters, day and community

facilities, accommodation✪ health treatment and care services including expansion of current available services.

The strategy experienced considerable success and hundreds of people were flown back to their communities. The government established an office in Darwin to book their travel and had paid for it upfront. Repayments came out of each individual’s welfare payments in the following weeks. Accommodation was built in Darwin for the itinerant people that need to be there, and day activities such as painting and carving were introduced to keep them off the streets.

The Larrakia people have played a role in reducing the anti-social behaviour of the itinerant people. Larrakia Nation cultural protocols require visitors to respect Larrakia country in the same way Larrakia or other visitors might respect other people’s country. Larrakia people visit shopping centres and other places where the itinerant people congregate and work to educate visitors to improve their behaviour and respect local traditions.

Forty other service agencies in Darwin have also been involved. For example, Mission Australia, a non-denominational Christian organisation, introduced a day patrol to keep track of the itinerant people and look after their basic needs.

A community group responding to changeThe Environment Centre Northern Territory The Environment Centre Northern Territory is a non-government organisation established in 1983. Since this time it has fought active and determined campaigns for environmental protection and management throughout the Northern Territory.

A long-standing and significant effort has been the Environment Centre’s campaign to protect the marine environment of Darwin Harbour, which has been threatened as the city of Darwin has grown and developed. Darwin Harbour is a tropical estuary of approximately 450 square kilometres, including 23 kilometres of inter-tidal mangrove and salt marsh communities.

estuarya body of water where

salt water and fresh water mix

inter-tidalthe region between the high-tide mark and the

low-tide mark

salt marshlow coastal grassland

found in estuaries


The mangroves provide nursery habitat for marine life and are home to waterbirds and other fauna. They also provide protection from storm surges and coastal erosion, and improve water quality by acting as a sink for sediments and nutrients.

The harbour is also home to a huge variety of species of coral, forty-eight species of waterbirds, including twenty-five listed under international migratory bird agreements, five species of marine turtle as well as other species including dugongs, threatened Irrawaddy River dolphins, saltwater crocodiles and fish.

In addition to drawing attention to the environmental value of Darwin Harbour, the Environment Centre has promoted the cultural and social values of the harbour. These include both the use of the harbour by Aboriginal people for traditional foods – an essential part of their culture – and the use of the harbour for recreational activities. These include fishing, diving, sailing and water skiing.

The Environment Centre’s campaign to protect Darwin Harbour has had wide community involvement, with support from members and volunteers and donations from the public. Campaign activities have included lobbying the government and publicising the issues through the media and through its own newsletter. The Environment Centre has also been involved in the development of the Darwin Harbour Plan of Management through the Darwin Harbour Advisory Committee.

In December 2003, the Northern Territory government finally released the Darwin Harbour Plan of Management. The Environment Centre was pleased that this, along with the declaration of the harbour’s mangroves as a conservation zone, signalled that the government was taking positive steps to protect the harbour. However, it warned that the success of the plan depended on the successful implementation of key recommendations.

By 2006 community concern had again grown about the future of the harbour. The Environment Centre called for action saying that the harbour was under threat from poorly planned and poorly assessed development. They voiced concerns that the Darwin Harbour Advisory Committee, created by the government in 2003, had no power to stop the development. The centre called on the government for increased funding to prevent the harbour from becoming polluted, overdeveloped and ecologically impoverished.

[4.34] Extensive mangroves occur on the tidal flats in the Darwin Harbour region


A government responding to change‘Creating Darwin’s Future’In 2006 the Northern Territory government undertook a community consultation project about how to make Darwin a better place to live, work and play. The overall aim of the project was to develop ‘a vibrant, 24 hour city where residential, commercial and entertainment centres come together in an environment that has a strong tropical focus’.

The project used community feedback to develop the ‘Creating Darwin’s Future – A Tropical Harbour City’ strategy. As a result of the feedback, the government is proceeding with three key themes in its future development of Darwin: ✪ recreation and lifestyle – making sure that the features that make the Darwin lifestyle

special are protected and enhanced✪ tourism and heritage – building on Darwin’s unique history, heritage and physical

features to protect heritage and attract new visitors✪ development – striking the right balance as Darwin’s industries, business and

population grow.In the first stage of the project, five key actions are being implemented, focusing on

the central business district (CBD):✪ building a World War II museum next to Parliament House, commemorating the

defence of Darwin✪ creating a ‘ribbon of green’ right around the CBD, stretching down to the botanic

gardens✪ giving State Square an extreme makeover, creating a focal point for people and

visitors in the CBD✪ changing the planning scheme to ensure that the CBD has a tropical and people-

friendly feel to its streets and buildings✪ ensuring that anti-social behavior in the CBD is controlled and minimised.

The government is now working on the second stage of its community consultation.

[4.35] An oblique aerial photo of Darwin


Learning about …1 Describe the population growth that has been experienced by Darwin in recent years.2 Explain why tourism is so important to Darwin and the Northern Territory economy.3 Discuss the impact of the defence forces on the community of Darwin.4 Discuss the economic impacts of the following on the community of Darwin:

a the East Arm wharf and container terminalb the development of the Timor Sea oil and gasc the Austral–Asia railway, linking Adelaide to Darwin.

5 Analyse the role played by each of the following in dealing with Darwin’s itinerant Indigenous population:a the Northern Territory governmentb the Larrakia peoplec community service organisations in Darwin.

6 Describe the role of the LNAC in creating changes and improvements in the lives of the Larrakia people.

7 Explain what the Environment Centre is and its purpose. Outline the actions that the Environment Centre has taken in responding to the development of Darwin Harbour.

Learning to …1 You have been commissioned by Palmerston City Council to produce either a radio or

television advertisement to encourage people to live in Palmerston. Use the information on the Palmerston City Council website at www.pcc.nt.gov.au to assist you to write your script.

2 Hansard is the title for the official printed report of parliamentary debates. The Hansard for the Northern Territory parliament can be found on the Northern Territory government website at www.nt.gov.au.

Under NT Government click on Hansard and Legislation. Then click on the parliamentary record for the current assembly. Click on ‘question by subject’. Compile a summary of the main issues facing the community of Darwin at present. In your summary:a clearly outline the issuesb provide an overview of the people involvedc note the changes that are likely or unlikely to come about.

3 Write a feature article for a newspaper about Darwin and the changes it has experienced in recent years. In your article:a describe the factors causing changeb explain the impacts of change on the communityc analyse the strategies and actions of individuals, groups and governments in responding

to change.

4 Visit the website of Mission Australia at www.missionaustralia.com.au and search for Darwin. Investigate the role played by Mission Australia in dealing with the social problems in Darwin. Prepare a written or oral report on your findings.

5 Visit the Northern Territory government’s ‘Creating Darwin’s Future’ webpage at www.futuredarwin.nt.gov.au/index.html. Click on the interactive map to explore the location and photos of the government’s future plans for Darwin.

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