The $3.3 million Darwin shade structure built in 2018 continues to sizzle in the sun without cover from its slow-growing vines. Through a Freedom of Information request, the ABC has obtained new temperature data from underneath the NT government project.
cooling performance of a multi-million dollar NT government shade structure is worsening as sun continues to sizzle through its frame due to slow-growing vines.
Temperature measurements provided to the government in January have been released following a Freedom of Information request, with the ABC also able to reveal $155,000 was spent on the structure's maintenance and repairs in the past financial year — more than three timesData from the Cavenagh Street site was recorded by University of New South Wales researchers as part of a government-funded climate study, the cost of which has also increased from $80,000 to $110,000.
The Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics did not provide a time frame as to when it expected the vines to completely cover the structure. "The dirt, the actual media is quite dry, and upping the irrigation would make a huge difference even ."That suggests to me that the irrigation across the whole is just a little bit down — the plants a little bit rundown and it's not running at optimum speed."
It cost millions to build. Now this 'shade' structure is costing taxpayers $100,000 a year to maintainThe 'silver tsunami' is coming, and experts warn Australia needs to do moreNo more weekend BBQs, family visits or going out.