Aurecon awarded The Ghan Darwin terminal relocation study

A tender to explore moving The Ghan’s Darwin station has been awarded.

PLANS to move The Ghan’s Darwin station closer to the city are progressing, with the tender into its feasibility being awarded to national firm Aurecon.

The engineering consultancy firm will investigate a strategic new location for Darwin Passenger Rail Terminal, currently at East Arm, to reposition it to a more urban and accessible area.

Aurecon will conduct the feasibility study over the next six months, exploring design requirements and how it could incorporate retail, restaurants, warehousing and distribution centres. It will also consider rail track treatment and rail station infrastructure, requirements for bus, taxi and private carparking, and car train loading facilities.

Two sites in Palmerston will be assessed: Tivendale between Tiger Brennan Dr and Kirkland Rd, or Archer south of Catalina Dr. A suitable site requires serviceable land 2km long without road crossings to allow The Ghan to park, have sufficient move to manoeuvre and be serviced.

Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Minister Eva Lawler said the relocation would be a key component of future economic and tourism growth.

“The consultancy work will set out the pathway of where the railway terminal could go and how we can maximise it for our urban centres, bringing more Territorians and visitors into our local businesses, and generating more economic activity,” she said. Ms Lawler said the feasibility study would also consider how the terminal will integrate with the Palmerston to Darwin transit system.

In a previous statement, The Ghan operator Journey Beyond expressed its support for the relocation. “The current terminal is not ideally located close to town,” it read.

“We are supportive and will work closely with the NT government as they consider terminal relocation to an area more conducive to tourism.”

The current terminal is subleased by the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics from Land Development Corporation, which intends to use the site for greater industrial purposes in the future. The tender found the terminal is not compliant with the Disability Discriminations Act standards and is far from transport.