Protecting the Territory lifestyle

Budget 2024 promotes the Territory as an exciting place to live, work and visit by providing support for major events, sports, tourism and the arts and cultural sector to enhance the Territory lifestyle and draw domestic and international visitors to the Territory.

Territory parks

The Territory is well known for its spectacular nature, culture and adventure experiences throughout our national parks and reserves. Budget 2024 supports the Territory’s natural assets, through:

• $10.8 million for Alice Springs parks and tourism infrastructure upgrades
• $5.6 million for a new multi-day walking track at Watarrka National Park
• $2 million for water security planning and design at Tjoritja (West MacDonnell) National Park.

Darwin Convention Centre hotel

The Darwin Convention Centre hotel is a key part of the masterplan to redevelop the Waterfront into one of Australia’s leading integrated lifestyle and tourism destinations.

The hotel will offer 236 rooms and provide new, upscale accommodation options for corporate and leisure visitors. The hotel is expected to open late 2026, and have positive flow-on effects for local businesses and tour operators.

Environmental management

Budget 2024 continues to invest in environmental protection and promote sustainable use of the Territory’s natural assets, through:

• $5.3 million over four years and $1.5 million each year thereafter to enhance crocodile management and deploy new technologies to improve detection
• $3.1 million to continue the Remote Power System Strategy program to support government’s renewable energy target of 50% by 2030
• $2 million for a regional monitoring program in the Beetaloo Sub-basin
• $1 million for buffel and gamba grass management
• $1 million to increase support for Bushfires NT
• $1 million for green energy solutions and sustainability infrastructure at Territory Wildlife Park.

Sports

Budget 2024 continues to grow sporting opportunities for Territorians and attract top class sporting events to the Territory, through:

• $6.5 million over two years for infrastructure upgrades at Woodroffe Oval for a multi-sport facility
• $3 million to upgrade playing fields at the Tracy Village Sports Precinct to support a new home ground for Hellenic Athletic Club
• $3 million for disability access upgrades at the Hidden Valley Motor Sports Complex
• $1.7 million for permanent track and service modifications to Hidden Valley to support the FIM Motocross World Championship.

Screen industry

Budget 2024 supports the screen industry with funding of $5.2 million in 2024-25, including an additional $3 million over two years from 2024-25 to support the Screen Territory Funding Program, which includes the Production Attraction Incentive Program, story and games development, project production, career development and industry partnerships.

Screen Territory has a strong pipeline of screen productions spanning feature films, series and documentaries which are looking to film in the Territory over the next few years.

Events

Budget 2024 provides $41.5 million to support the Territory’s festivals and major events, including:

• BASSINTHEGRASS
• Parrtjima – A Festival in Light
• Supercars, Finke Desert Race, Red CentreNATS and FIM Motocross World Championship
• National Rugby League and Australian Football League matches
• Darwin Festival
• community festivals and events
• million dollar fish competition
• Territory Day.

Printable fact sheet

Get a printable copy of the protecting the Territory lifestyle fact sheet PDF (872.6 KB).