Exact Contracting awarded $134 million contract to construct Manton Dam project

The NT government says it’s taken “a major step forward in securing the future water supply of the Darwin region” by awarding a contract to construct a dam to a local company.

Manton Dam is set to receive a million dollar facelift after the government awarded a construction contract to a local company.

A $134 million contract has been awarded to upgrade a popular waterskiing and fishing spot south of Darwin.

Exact Contracting were chosen to deliver the Manton Dam return to service project, which will see the dam pumping more than 7000 megalitres into Darwin’s water supply, alongside getting a facelift.

Under a new management plan, the dam will stay as a recreational facility, but the new water treatment plant “will adopt state of the art technology to ensure the dam meets stringent drinking water quality standards,” according to Chief Minister Eva Lawler.

Key pillars of the project are the construction of the new water treatment plant at Strauss, a new 22km pipeline running from Manton to Strauss along Stuart Highway, and a new pumping station at Manton Dam.

Ms Lawler said construction will begin this year and be completed in the second half of 2026.

Exact Contracting on its website describes itself as “an Australian-owned company established in Alice Springs in 1992”.

“Exact Contracting employs over 500 people nationally and is highly regarded for its capability to deliver safe and innovative quality services and products to its customers,” their website states.

Manton Dam is a popular recreation area.

Ms Lawler said the peak of construction will see 250 Territorians working on the project, which is stage one of the Darwin Region Water Supply Program.

Once completed, the dam will supply “an additional 7300 megalitres a year into the Darwin region water supply system,” according to Ms Lawler.

“This project is a big step in securing the Territory’s water supply for the next fifty years, it is also a major step towards reaching our goal of a $40 billion economy by 2030,” she said.

The federal government has also chipped in to help secure Darwin’s long term water supply, which also includes the Adelaide River off-stream water storage project – which recently had a $6 million contract awarded to deliver the final design.

Federal Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek said the federal government was working closely with the Territory to ensure water security.