Chinese-backed Landbridge’s plans to build a six-star hotel across from the controversial Port of Darwin has been scuttled after the Northern Territory (NT) government refused to extend its lease. The site is situated on prime waterfront land, adjacent to apartments and the Darwin cruise ship terminal. Landbridge had originally earmarked the site for a $200 million Westin Hotel but had stopped construction 10 months ago and said it was unlikely to continue construction if works did not restart in June 2021. With the deadline passed, the NT government reclaimed the site and will look for new developers instead. “Today is the first-day Landbridge’s option to extend its lease of the Waterfront hotel site expires,” NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner told NT News. “We will now look for a new builder of a luxury hotel at the site,” he added. “I have asked for the process to be paused until we …