Middle Arm precinct to be ready by 2026 with capacity for Panamax cargo ships to dock

With the commonwealth’s $1.5bn locked and loaded, Infrastructure Commissioner Louise McCormick has rolled out Middle Arm’s works schedule. See the progress.

The new Middle Arm sustainable development precinct will have the capacity to dock giant Panamax class cargo ships when it is built.

The new infrastructure will be in addition to existing facilities at Darwin’s East Arm port.

Planners expect industry will begin setting up at the Middle Arm precinct by 2026.

NT government Infrastructure Commissioner Louise McCormick said shared infrastructure construction bankrolled by $1.5bn from the commonwealth will need to be in place before industry can move in.

Panamax cargo ship will be able to land at Middle Arm

Ms McCormick said the project was in the planning phase, which included community and stakeholder consultation and preparing for strategic environmental approvals.

“Government will submit its draft environmental assessment in mid-2023,” she said.

“A supplementary submission will follow, with environmental approval granted or refused sometime in 2025. Current timeframes see works potentially starting on site in late 2025 or early 2026.

“The $1.5bn shared infrastructure works will need to be in place prior to our potential private sector investor projects commencing construction. The shared infrastructure includes a Module Offloading Facility (MOF) and product jetties, dredging and a hardstand.

A Module Offloading Facility under construction for Inpex in Darwin

“Many people who live in the Top End may remember when Inpex was commencing construction with the dredging, MOF and hardstand and this is very similar.

“The module offloading facility, hardstand and shipping channel enable the private sector projects to bring in their large manufacturing modules for construction on their respective site allocations.”

As well as the module offloading facility, the commonwealth’s $1.5bn contribution will develop other shared marine infrastructure including up to five product jetties, a channel for shipping access and a land-based hardstand.

“The project development will inform the final dimensions, however we are planning for up to Panamax-sized vessels and the import of modules in the thousands of tonnes, which are too heavy and large for our existing commercial transport infrastructure,” Ms McCormick said.

NT Infrastructure Commissioner Louise McCormick. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Other shared infrastructure, yet to be funded, includes roads, drainage, wastewater, renewable power transmission, provision for a carbon capture reticulation network and other services including water and telecommunications.

Ms McCormick said the new precinct would capitalise on the Top End’s access to natural gas and renewable energies to grow manufacturing, value add jobs and support economic growth.

“Middle Arm is already home to two of the Territory’s largest private sector investments which are gas plants operated by Inpex and Santos. Both of these companies are working towards decarbonising their operations to be net zero operations,” she said.

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“Sustainable outcomes including protecting Darwin Harbour and surrounds is at the core of our planning and project development. The master planned precinct will have a focus on renewable hydrogen production, low emission hydrocarbons, advanced manufacturing and critical minerals processing.

“The beauty of a master planned precinct is that we can incorporate a circular economy approach right from the start. What this means is waste products from one proponent may become the feedstock for another proponent.

“This is not only environmentally smart, but economically smart.

“It is important to note that the strategic environmental assessment approach the government is taking will provide clear limits and conditions on the acceptability of development activities at Middle Arm to preserve and protect cultural, environmental and social values.”