Intrapac launches Lloyd Creek housing development bid in Darwin, years after Noonamah Ridge rejection

Australia Broadcast Center

28-04-2025

The company behind a controversial planned housing development in Darwin's rural area that was rejected due to local opposition has relaunched its bid to build thousands of homes on former pastoral land.
Melbourne-based real estate developer Intrapac Property has written to Planning Minister Josh Burgoyne requesting an amendment to the Northern Territory's planning scheme to allow a new development named Lloyd Creek Rural Village.
The proposal would see about 4,000 homes built on a site south of Humpty Doo, a rural area suburb 36 kilometres south of Darwin, in an area currently zoned for rural living.
It comes as the NT capital, like many Australian cities, is facing an ongoing shortage of housing, with a recent report
Lloyd Creek is being proposed by Melbourne-based developer Intrapac.
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Intrapac chief executive Maxwell Shifman said his vision for Lloyd Creek "speaks to that local, rural character".
"One of the things we're aiming to do here is really deliver some housing typologies and some lot types you haven't seen in the territory for a long time — really bringing it back to that sort of local, tropical-style housing on a slightly larger lot," he said.
The proposed site of the Lloyd Creek housing development is currently bushland.
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In 2014, Intrapac Property proposed another development on the same parcel of land — a precinct called Noonamah Ridge that would have featured 4,200 homes.
That proposal was rejected by former planning minister Eva Lawler in 2020, following
Mr Shifman said the new plan for Lloyd Creek Rural Village responded to previous community concern about potential impacts on the local rural lifestyle, and now proposed housing connected to town water instead of bores.
Noonamah Ridge was rejected by the former NT Labor government.
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"We've now got the Strauss Water Treatment Plant that's under construction and we'll be able to tap in and deliver potable water to the site, so that takes up one of the key criticisms of the proposal," Mr Shifman said.
The application also said the rural village's proposed land offerings would range from about a quarter-acre up to five acres, with no more than 1.5 dwellings per hectare on most of the site.
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A woman wearing a black t-shirt, standing next to a tall man, orange shirt, straw hat and eye-patch. Standing on front porch.
Darwin, Australia's smallest capital city, has been ranked the country's second-most-expensive place to rent a house, along with Canberra.
However, in two higher-density sections the proposal refers to as "rural activity centres", that number could be as high as 10 dwellings per hectare.
Many residents in the surrounding area live on much larger acreage.
Opposition to development remains
Ms Purick said the proposed Lloyd Creek village was the "wrong kind of development" for the rural area, and pledged to support other locals as they relaunched their fight against the proposal.
"They have stock animals, they have farming activities, they have mango orchards and the like, and that comes with certain activities," she said.
"Having small, urbanised blocks right across the road from you will bring a clash of cultures. There's no doubt about it.
"If Intrapac is so keen to have a presence in the territory, [it should] go and talk to the NT government about developing Weddell, which already has big chunks of major infrastructure in place."
Kezia Purick says the proposed Lloyd Creek development would clash with existing rural blocks in the area.
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Weddell — a proposed satellite city 30 kilometres south of Darwin — has been
Labor had plans to establish Weddell while in government in 2009, before the Country Liberal Party shelved the project after taking power in 2012.
In response, Mr Shifman said his company was not competing with Weddell.
"It's a very different offering. Weddell would need significant infrastructure upgrades before it's up and running," he said.
"It's not a simple matter of, 'there's land there, develop it'."
Max Shifman says the proposal suits Darwin's rural area.
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Intrapac's application to the government is out for public feedback until May 16.
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The proposed Noonamah Ridge development site
The company behind the proposed Noonamah Ridge development in Darwin's rural area begins its charm offensive to win support.
Asked whether he supported the proposal, Mr Burgoyne said it was "important for consultation processes to run their course to ensure that community expectations are being met".
"We promised to rebuild the territory economy and as the minister responsible for the Planning Act and NT Planning Scheme, I will not rule project proposals in or out until all information and necessary feedback has been considered," he said.
Intrapac has estimated the Lloyd Creek Rural Village would inject about $3.5 billion into the NT economy during the construction phase and create about 300 ongoing jobs.