Gunner rubbishes rumour of secret Glyde Point naval port plan

CLAIMS a top secret naval port is in the works at Glyde Point, north of Darwin, have been rejected

Chief Minister Michael Gunner has poured cold water on suggestions a top secret new naval port is in the works at Glyde Point, north of Darwin.

CLAIMS a top secret naval port is in the works at Glyde Point, north of Darwin, have been rejected.

On Sunday, the ABC claimed “secret planning” for the new port “which could eventually help US Marines operate more readily in the Indo-Pacific” was under way, citing unnamed sources.

But the report has been rubbished by both Defence and by NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner.

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The construction of a port facility at Glyde Point has been floated by various governments over recent decades but Mr Gunner said yesterday the project was still some way off.

“There’s a lot of exciting things happening in the Territory but that’s not currently one of them,” he said.

Mr Gunner said the Federal Government had invested $20 billion in defence infrastructure in the NT but the Glyde Point project was not part of the 20-year plan for those funds.

“We’re obviously looking at a $500 million investment in the Larrakeyah navy barracks – that’s on its way right now – and following that, another $200 million package out at that navy barracks,” he said.

Mr Gunner has been lobbying Canberra to fund a ship lift in Darwin Harbour that would service naval vessels.

He said that project was still the NT Government’s priority.

“There’s long-term plans well into the future for something to happen out at Glyde Point that’s marine related but at the moment all of our priorities are for the ship lift,” he said.

“The Australian Government’s currently investing in the Larrakeyah navy barracks, there’s the enhanced air arrangement with the Americans at the moment, we’ve got the marines rotating through here, that’s all the things that are on the table and happening.

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“If the Australian Government wants to talk to us about a significant investment here in the NT, we’d welcome it, but I’d like them to start at the ship lift first.”

Northern Australia Minister Matt Canavan said last week the Commonwealth would consider helping fund the ship lift if they could “convince Defence it’s a value-for-money proposition and stacks up with their plans”.