CNC Project Management wins tender for ‘Territory Energy Link’ Elliott-Darwin gas pipeline
The $936,000 tender for a major gas infrastructure corridor planned for the NT has been awarded, but not everyone is happy about the plan. Read why.
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A Melbourne-based company has been awarded a nearly million dollar NT government tender to help develop a high pressure gas pipeline corridor between Elliott and Darwin aimed at opening up the Beetaloo Basin by enabling transport of Beetaloo gas to Darwin.
The $936,100 Territory Energy Link contract was awarded to Melbourne company CNC Project Management earlier this month, to provide technical advice on corridor planning and pipeline development, to ensure the 670km priority section is development-ready by 2028.
Formerly known as the Tennant Creek to Darwin Infrastructure Corridor, the Territory Energy Link project will deliver a buried services corridor designed to carry gas, water, optical fibre, hydrogen and other utilities.
In 2020, CNC also received more than $327,000 for studies on the Tennant Creek to Darwin pipeline corridor.
While the government says the project is key to unlocking private investment and accelerating projects that will rebuild the Northern Territory economy, not everyone is happy with it going ahead.
A Mataranka business owner says taxpayer money going towards the major gas infrastructure corridor planned would instead be better spent on Territorian businesses and people.
Des Barritt, Mataranka resident and owner of the Little Roper Stock Camp, did not want to see the project go ahead.
“This pipeline will cause a lot of people between Elliott and Darwin considerable pain,” he said.
“While the government is cutting back funding for tourism and funding for water resources, they have found a million dollars to support this fracking project that shouldn’t even be happening.
“I set up a business here with my own money to employ local people and promote the Territory without wrecking the environment. Fracking puts sustainable businesses like mine and many others at risk.
“I’m totally amazed how much the government continues to spend on supporting the gas industry, which has resources well beyond what the NT government does.”
Logistics and Infrastructure Minister Bill Yan said the Territory Energy Link project was a flagship initiative.
“The Territory Energy Link is the kind of enabling infrastructure that delivers real outcomes – not just talk,” Mr Yan said.
“It will connect the Beetaloo to Darwin and the world, laying the foundations for billions in investment and thousands of local jobs.”
Energy Minister Gerard Maley said the project reflected the government’s strategic and proactive approach to attracting major investments in the NT.
“Securing of tenure is commonly cited as one of the largest material risks to project viability by proponents, and our government has pledged to provide certainty and security to industry and investors, to unlock decades of prosperity for Territorians,” Mr Maley said.
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Originally published as CNC Project Management wins tender for ‘Territory Energy Link’ Elliott-Darwin gas pipeline
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