A multimillion dollar expansion of airport facilities in Darwin, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs is on the way, with official Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) loan documents signed, sealed and delivered.
Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Matt Canavan said the official signing of documents between the NT Government and Northern Territory Airports Ltd for its $150 million NAIF loan paved the way to start works on upgrading storage and energy infrastructure at the three airports.
“This is a great example of how the NAIF is helping deliver jobs, economic growth and enhanced industrial and business activity across Northern Australia,” Minister Canavan said.
“Ticking off on the loan agreement opens the door for this project to create over 1,500 much-needed jobs in the NT. It will also add extra muscle to the NT’s agricultural export potential and tourism activity by allowing bigger planes to carry more visitors into the NT, and carry more of the NT’s iconic produce such as mud crabs, barramundi, mangoes and melons to the world.”
CLP Senator for the Northern Territory Dr Sam McMahon said the Government’s Developing Northern Australia agenda, including the NAIF program, was a blueprint for creating more jobs and economic opportunities for Territorians.
“Each dollar invested in these improvements to the hard infrastructure of these airports is an investment in the people of the Territory,” Senator McMahon said.
“Boosting the operational capacity of each airport will create more economic opportunities for each community. The construction phase is expected to generate around 980 jobs, and those positions will support around 500 indirect supply chain jobs. Northern Territory Airports also expects 142 new ongoing positions to open up thanks to this project. Northern Territory Airports has also committed to a 10 per cent Indigenous employment target through their Indigenous Engagement Strategy.”
NT Airports CEO Ian Kew said NT Airports was looking forward to working with the government to expand export potential in the Northern Territory.
“We are pleased to announce construction has commenced on the $15 million Cold Storage, Freight and Training Facility at Darwin International Airport. When completed the new infrastructure will be a game changer for NT exporters including farmers and Agribusinesses. This project will have major flow-on benefits across the community allowing local businesses to take advantage of the overseas demand for fresh Australian produce and seafood,” Mr Kew said.
Northern Territory Airports Ltd will use the loan funds to upgrade storage and energy infrastructure, including:
- Construction of a cold storage, freight and training facility at Darwin International Airport (DIA);
- Construction of solar energy farms at DIA, Alice Springs and Tennant Creek airports
- Resurfacing of Alice Springs airport’s runway, taxiways and apron and installation of new runway lighting
In addition, NT Airports is proposing to invest in a large off-site multi-user battery to support facilitation of additional solar renewable energy investment in the NT. The battery would provide an ancillary service to manage the network connection of renewables.
The NAIF loan is on top of $4.8 million announced last year for construction of the Cold Storage, Freight and Training Facility at Darwin International Airport, under round two of the Building Better Regions Fund. To date, NAIF loans totalling almost $345 million have been approved for four projects in the Northern Territory, helping to create an estimated 2,300 jobs.
