It’s all happening in the Northern Territory
The Federal Government’s re-announcement of infrastructure funding commitments to the Northern Territory validates the Territory Government’s recent efforts on infrastructure strategy and planning.
Infrastructure Minister Catherine King talking up the Federal Government’s budgeted infrastructure spending in the ABC’s Insiders program, on 16 October 2022.
Last year, the Natasha Files led Territory Government established Infrastructure NT, the Northern Territory’s “i-body”, to develop the infrastructure strategy and plan that will enable the Territory to reach its goal of a $40 billion economy by 2030.
Infrastructure NT, led by Louise McCormick, has obviously established good working relationships with bureaucrats and politicians at the Federal Government level, and provided strong business cases, to be able to capture over 25% of the pre-budget announcements of Federal infrastructure spending for the next 4 years.
Other States, who are complaining about the allocation on a per-capital basis, would do well to take note of the way the Territory Government agency has engaged with its federal counterpart and relevant federal ministers.
The Territory projects that will benefit most from this committed funding are:
the Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct, for which the Territory proposes to fund enabling and common user infrastructure including new wharves and unloading facilities, harbour dredging and rail and road improvements; and
the Regional Logistics Hubs and associated infrastructure improvements that will improve transport links between mines and manufacturing facilities in the Territory and their customers, including via Darwin Port.
The Adelaide to Darwin railway is central to the second project, so the plans of the railway’s new owner, Aurizon, to invest in growing freight traffic on the railway tie in well.
Other notable major projects on the move in the Territory include:
Sun Cable’s massive Australia-Asia Power Link project, which aims to supply solar energy generated in central Australia to Darwin and Singapore;
the Adelaide River Off-stream Water Storage (AROWS) project, that will ensure long term water security for the Territory;
the $515m Darwin Shiplift Facility, presently under construction; and
various private sector mines, including the Finniss Lithium Project, the Mount Peake Vanadium-Titanium-Iron Mine, Verdant Mineral’s Ammaroo Phosphate Fertiliser Project and Arafura resources’ Nolans Project.
Infralegal in the Territory
Infralegal is presently advising the statutory authority that controls the Adelaide to Darwin railway corridor on the proposal to locate Sun Cable’s transmission line within the railway corridor, in conjunction with Darwin-based law firm JKW Law.
Infralegal’s joint venture with JKW Law provides a unique service offering for Territory based infrastructure projects that combines:
Infralegal’s major project experience and ability to provide strategic advice; with
JKW’s strong connection with and commitment to the Territory
Infralegal’s principal, Owen Hayford, was recently invited to speak at Darwin’s Major Project Conference on contracting strategies for major projects in the Territory market.
