A taskforce has been established to bring TIO Stadium and other government buildings up to code

The NT government has established a taskforce to ensure a crucial piece of NT infrastructure earns an occupancy certificate.

A TASKFORCE has been established to ensure TIO Stadium has a valid occupancy certificate, following an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) investigation.

Marrara’s premier sporting stadium has yet to be certified under the Building Act 1993, with the ICAC launching an investigation into the matter in March.

The stadium is one of a few government buildings developed prior to the formation of the Act that never received an occupancy certificate.

As a result the NT government have established a Building Compliance Taskforce to bring the stadium up to code to gain the certificate.

The NT government has also extended the declaration exempting TIO Stadium from the Building Act requirements for at least six months past June 30.

Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Minister Eva Lawler said the issue was a historical one as structures built in the 1980s and 90s did not receive occupancy certificates.

Ms Lawler did not specify how many or which buildings didn’t have a current occupancy certificate.

However, a list of sites the taskforce will look into will be revealed at a later date.

“The issues we face getting occupancy certificates for Marrara Stadium has revealed we need to have a taskforce that addresses these issues,” Ms Lawler said.

“This is a historical, legacy issue we have in the NT. There are a number of government buildings in the NT that do not have an occupancy certificate and did not have one when they were built.

“We need to be able to do work at Marrara Stadium to get this building compliant. Our contractors have been working tirelessly to get the occupancy certificate.”

A taskforce has been formed to advise governemnt on how to ensure TIO Stadium can have a valid occupancy certificate. Picture: Ivan Rachman

Heading the taskforce is Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics chief executive Andrew Kirkman.

“The taskforce will be providing advice to government on how to ensure we achieve compliance for our older buildings,” Mr Kirkman said.

“Safety is always paramount. At Marrara Stadium we have spent a couple of million dollars in the past couple of years replacing the roof, upgrading fire systems and a range of other work.

“This is a matter of ensuring the paperwork that’s attached to these buildings is compliant under the Building Act.”

The CLP’s infrastructure, planning and logistics spokesman Gerard Maley questioned why the government had taken so long to act on the issue.

“Eva Lawler has been the Minister responsible for the last six years. She has known about the issues for that entire time, yet has sat on her hands,” he said.

“We welcome the Taskforce to finally rectify the issues Minister Lawler has known about for the last six years, and question why it has taken her so long to act.”

The findings of the ICAC investigation have yet to be released.

It is not known if it the investigation is complete.

In March, ICAC commissioner Michael Riches said concerns about the compliance of TIO Stadium were brought to his attention by multiple parties.

“The investigation I have commenced follows matters that have been brought to my attention about the facility and its compliance with the Building Act 1993, together with correspondence and information that I have received over the last several weeks from members of government, and others,” Mr Riches said at the time.

“The facility does not have, and has never had, occupancy certification.”