Reconstruction

The permit system

In an effort to minimise Darwin's population, a system was introduced where all persons remaining in Darwin required a permit to do so.

Permits were issued only to people judged to be essential to the relief or reconstruction effort. The permit system remained in force for several months, and was used to prevent early return by many evacuees. The legal basis of the permit system was extremely doubtful.

Post-cyclone Tracy

By 1 January 1975 Darwin's population was little more than 10,000, and by May 1975 it had recovered to 30,000 - the influx being dominated by newcomers (especially construction workers) rather than returning evacuees.

The liner Patris was tied up at Darwin waterfront for nine months to provide emergency accommodation for up to 900 people; "Tracy Village" was set up for construction workers; 1700 demountable dwellings and caravans were brought to Darwin and located on house sites; hotels and hostels were fully utilised; and where possible short term repairs were undertaken to make damaged houses habitable. In May 1975 contracts were let to four firms to construct 2,000 homes.

In September 1975, still not one new house had been completed.

Stung by criticism of this situation, the Commission took a number of steps to eliminate delays. When it was wound up on 12 April 1978 the Commission had completed 3,000 new dwellings, mostly in the re-built northern suburbs. It had also assisted the repair of many damaged pre-existing homes.

Meanwhile, the NT Housing Commission and the private sector had also contributed to the redevelopment of the housing stock to the point where, by mid 1978, the city could again house its pre-Tracy numbers.

Cyclone Building Codes

The early reaction to Tracy by building standards controllers was draconian, but a second post-cyclone building code achieved a reasonable balance between the need to assure the integrity of housing on the one hand and the need to enable new housing to be built with reasonable speed and at realistic cost.

Salient features of Darwin's post-cyclone building codes (now adopted nationally for cyclone prone areas) include requirements that buildings be clad to protect them against flying debris, and that their roofs be tied to the foundations.