Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis opens up about Darwin's transformation from a struggling tropical city to Australia's strategic northern gateway. In this compelling conversation, he reveals the innovative projects reshaping Darwin - from powering 1000 homes with rubbish tip methane to the controversial $300K Cyclone Tracy memorial. Kon shares his journey from a 17-year-old in Greece to leading Darwin's bold vision for the future, including the truth behind the CBD crisis, the $61M development plan, and why creating opportunities for young people drives his mission to revitalise the city.
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Timestamps and Chapters:

00:00 – Welcome to Next Gen North with Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis
00:18 – Why Kon Still Calls Darwin Home
01:48 – How Knee Surgery Shifted the Mayor’s Perspective
02:57 – What Darwin’s Economic Future Looks Like
05:09 – Defence Forces Expansion & NT’s Population Growth
09:10 – Mining, Gas & Rare Earth Boom in the NT
13:43 – The Truth About Darwin Esplanade’s Controversy
20:31 – How Kon Plans to Tackle Anti-Social Behaviour
27:16 – Why the CBD is Struggling & How to Fix It
36:58 – Handling Public Backlash & Big Decisions
43:15 – Cyclone Tracy 50 Years On – Lessons for Today
50:53 – What’s Next for Darwin’s Growth & Innovation
54:46 – Kon Vatskalis on Re-election & Future Plans

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