Lyons, NT
In March 2005 CIC Australia, via its wholly owned subsidiary Lyons Development Corporation Pty Ltd (LDC), won a national tender to enter into a joint venture with Defence Housing Australia (DHA) to develop the new suburb of Lyons, in Darwin's northern suburbs.
The suburb of Lyons, which is named after a senior Larrakia elder Tommy Lyons, comprises a total land holding of 77 hectares and 694 dwelling sites. It is the first masterplanned residential community in Darwin's northern suburbs since the 1980's. The venture has been underpinned by DHA's requirement for 315 homes for Defence families over the life of the project.
A key feature of the planning process was a comprehensive and inclusive consultation process with all relevant stakeholders from the Darwin community, NT Government and agencies, Darwin City Council and the traditional owners of Darwin, the Larrakia people. LDC committed to the recognition of the Larrakia cultural heritage and achieved this via the delivery of the Larrakia public art project within the public places in Lyons. The Joint Venture also delivered employment and training of Larrakia people during the development of the suburb.
The masterplan for Lyons took into account the prevailing climatic conditions and the Darwin way of living. Our approach was to create wide lots with large frontages and shallow depth, with lots staggered to create breeze corridors throughout the suburb. A neighbourhood centre, funded by the Joint Venture with additional funding from Darwin City Council, and a large central park provide a focal point for the suburb and have fostered the development of a strong sense of community as Lyons has grown.