What business leaders think of new ship lift for Darwin

UPDATE: The Territory Government has made the right call to go ahead with a new ship lift facility at East Arm key business groups say but Opposition leader has questioned the viability without Defence involved.

Artist impression of the new ship lift at East Arm. Picture: Supplied

The Chief Minister has made the right call to follow through on its previous statement that the NT would go it alone with a new ship lift facility at East Arm if no federal funds were forthcoming, key Business groups say.

Chamber of Commerce NT chief executive Greg Bicknell and Master Builders NT chief executive Dave Malone said the ship lift was one of the critical pieces of infrastructure identified to bring new business and jobs to Darwin at the Business Economic Recovery summit earlier this year.

RELATED

CHIEF MINISTER accused of begging for ship lift money

FEDERAL Government says no to ship lift money

CHIEF Minster says Feds should put up $300m for ship lift

Both applauded the Chief Minister for making the decision to bite the bullet after previously saying the NT Government would build the facility with or without Federal Government support.

“It would have been great to have federal help with the ship lift, but the chief minister’s decision not to wait is a good one,” Mr Bicknell said.

“This is positive for the economy because its not just about lifting ships out of the water, it is about all the positive effects that flow on from that.

“It’s good that we can pitch for both Defence and non-defence business.”

LAST CHANCE! Offer ending! NT News subscription offer: $5 a month for the first three months

Mr Malone said it’s now time to get on with this project with as much urgency as we can possibly muster.

“Darwin and the Territory will have another crucial piece of infrastructure in place when this project is complete,” he said.

“That is why we joined with other industry groups in calling for the ship lift at the business summit earlier this year, in our joint full page newspaper adverts, and in our lobbying with both sides of politics during the recent Federal election.

“So we back this decision 100 per cent.

IN OTHER NEWS

“We would encourage the chief minister to immediately appoint a project Czar — someone who will make sure that while every ‘i’ is dotted, and every t is crossed, no time is wasted getting this project to a final investment decision — and then most crucially, underway.

“This is about more industry, more jobs and a very large investment in our future.”

While the opposition Leader Gary Higgins reaffirmed the CLP’s support for Darwin’s ship lift but questioned where the current government would receive the missing $300 million.

Mr Higgins said he had received no confirmation on whether the Defence would commit to the project.

“The feasibility is on Defence actually committing to having their boats serviced with that ship lift,” he said.

“It becomes the bread and butter that keeps it going. We haven’t had that commitment.”

The CLP government committed $100 million to assess the feasibility of the project, but it was always estimated to be a $400 million project.

“My concern would be the level of commitment from the Territory government here,” Mr Higgins said

“I think there’s too many questions around this for Territorians to be singing and dancing about this.”