The monstrous – 800%  –  cost blowout of the shiplift facility is in company with:

• The Arts/Cultural museum in Smith Street – $100 million with no occupational use in sight.
• The Nightcliff Police Station is a $12 million edifice that serves no real purpose.
• The Bundilla Beach sculpture which cost $700,00 all up, which has little cultural value or relevance.
• Very limited CBD accommodation for students, challenges the Darwin University Campus in Cavanagh Street. Sequentially, accommodation should have been first, and the facility next.
• The building of a new 21-story Civic Centre next door to the current premises, but nineteen floors higher.

There are many examples of vision outstripping the essence of reality in terms of project planning and development. Too often the cart is put before the horse.