Council recognises the importance of laneways in the community to connect people and provide access to community facilities such as parks, shops, schools and sporting venues.

Project information

In early 2019, Council began trialling treatments in various laneways across three Palmerston suburbs to assess if the measures taken will help discourage anti-social behaviour in these areas. Spatial mapping was used to identify the laneways most suitable for the trial as well as a combination of lighting assessments, police reports, resident feedback and site inspections.

Following community consultations, treatments are currently being trialled at the following locations. 

Laneways with temporary night-time closures are in place between the hours of no earlier than 9.00pm and no later than 6.30am.

Laneway	Treatment
1.Manson Court to Bonson Terrace, Moulden	Lighting upgrade
2. Bonson Terrace to Staghorn Court, Moulden	Lighting upgrade and temporary full-time closure
3. Staghorn Court to Gumnut Way, Moulden	Lighting upgrade with motion sensor and motorbike treatment plus temporary full-time closure
4. Staghorn Court to Livistona Park, Moulden	Lighting upgrade with motion sensor plus temporary full-time closure
5. Gumnut Way to Livistona Park, Moulden	Lighting upgrade with motion sensor plus temporary full-time closure
6. Livistona Park to Melastoma Drive, Moulden	Lighting upgrade with motion sensor and motorbike treatment plus temporary full-time closure
7. Politis Court to Strawbridge Park, Moulden	Temporary full-time closure
8. Politis Court to Strawbridge Crescent, Moulden	Temporary full-time closure
9. Priest Circuit to Phineaus Court, Gray	Lighting upgrade
10. Priest Circuit to Emery Avenue, Gray	Lighting upgrade with motion sensor plus temporary night-time closure
11. Helio Court to Sibbald Park, Woodroffe	Temporary night-time closure
12. Altair Court to Capella Court, Woodroffe	Temporary night-time closure
13. Castor Court to Temple Terrace, Woodroffe	Temporary night-time closure
14. Capella Court to Temple Terrace, Woodroffe	Temporary night-time closure
15. Zenith Circuit to Star Court, Woodroffe	Temporary night-time closure
16. Sibbald Crescent to Gunter Circuit, Woodroffe	Temporary night-time closure
17. Sextant Court to Harrison Circuit, Woodroffe	Temporary night-time closure
18. Bailey Circuit to President Park, Driver	Temporary night-time closure
19. Tilston Avenue to Caladium Court, Moulden	Temporary night-time closure
20. Strawbridge Crescent to Chung Wah Terrace crossed with Cobham Court to Lockwood Court, Moulden	Temporary night-time closure

Consultation 

Stage 1: (Feb-March 2019) Council spoke to residents to gather feedback on how people use the laneways before trial treatments were put in place.
Stage 2: (August 2019) Trial treatments were in place for approximately three months. Council sought to collect feedback to help evaluate the impact of the treatments. This feedback was considered in conjunction with data from police and pedestrian counters to help inform how Council will proceed with future laneway treatments. 
Stage 3: (October and November 2019) Council continued to trial laneway treatments including temporary night-time and full-time closures, which were implemented from the end of November 2020.
February-March 2020: A number of adjustments to the trial treatments agreed in November took place between November 2020 and January 2020. A community meeting was held on 5 March 2020 allowing for the results of survey information to be provided as well as gain additional comments on the trials and future management of laneways. This information was presented to the Council Meeting on 17 March with Council agreeing to add further 8 laneway locations for temporary night-time closures..
June 2020: A further report was presented to the Council Meeting on 16 June resolving in the development of a Laneway Management Policy which will be presented to the 2nd Ordinary Council Meeting in August 2020. In the interim, Council also resolved to defer implementing any further treatments prior to the development of this Policy. In addition, Council resolved to continue with the current treatments that are in place, with a review of these treatments to be undertaken no later than the 2nd Ordinary Council Meeting in November 2020. 

Future Laneways: Council is developing a policy to deal with the future treatment of laneways. Residents are able to provide feedback about implementing trials in laneways however the consideration of treatment options may be undertaken on a quarterly basis.

Next steps

As per the decision of Council at the Council Meeting on 17 March, consultation on the potential closure of two laneways in Politis Court, Moulden is scheduled to be undertaken in July and August. Feedback and results from this consultation and along with the draft Laneway Management Policy will then be presented to the 2nd Ordinary Council Meeting in August 2020 assisting Council’s future decision.

Contact

If you would like to discuss the consultation or have any other questions relating to the trial, please contact Council by email laneways@palmerston.nt.gov.au or phone: (08) 8935 9922.