The Town of Palmerston, some 20 kilometres from Darwin, remains one of the highest growth areas in the country. With a continual influx of young families, two new suburbs have been created in the past year. As a consequence, it has one of the youngest populations in Australia, with 27 being the average age.
Mayor Kevin Diflo says this means there is a continual pressure on Council to provide adequate family and youth services. He identifies the principal needs of the community as new sporting and recreation facilities, the creation of employment opportunities through developing local business opportunities and the creation of a pleasant and safe environment.
Local business leaders and community representatives are currently working with Council to promote the Town. Situated on the main Darwin-Alice Springs route, it is ideally located to pick up through traffic. Three hectares of open space in the centre of the Town, where families can shop and meet in safe surroundings, adds considerably to Palmerston’s amenity.
New opportunities are expected to arise as service and commercial industry develop to accommodate the nearby army base. In addition, an anticipated $800 million liquid natural gas project is in the pipeline and expected to bring widespread opportunities.
Critical to the Town’s future is provision of organised activities and facilities for Palmerston’s many young people. Youth in Palmerston have shown that they are keen to assist with this. A public meeting, organised by Council to identify any gaps between existing recreational facilities and specific needs, attracted 40 young people. Those present agreed that young people do not want to be seen as loiterers.
“They have got their message across and at the right time which is most important,” Kevin Diflo said. “It is now important that we can acquire funds to help our young people and their image in the community.”
For further information contact Roydon Robertson, telephone (08) 8935 9922.
