New $64m Mandorah marine facility to be completed by 2025
Residents have waited years for upgrades to Mandorah jetty, and the government has now put a completion date on the project. Read what to expect.
Northern Territory
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Ten months out from the next general election, the Territory government has re-promised to honour an earlier commitment to upgrade the Mandorah jetty.
The government has committed $63m to the project – $13m more than when it was last announced in 2021 – and almost $40m more than was flagged at an earlier 2017 announcement.
Territory Development Minister Eva Lawler described the upgrade as “complex work”.
The tender was awarded to marine infrastructure specialist SMC Marine with opportunities for NT businesses to subcontract.
The project will include two breakwater structures, improved disability access, carpark upgrades, a new terminal building and a new boat ramp.
The builders are hopeful the project will be completed by the end of 2025 with design drawings expected by the middle of next year ahead of the August election.
“Ostojic has already been engaged as a subcontractor to do rock walls and the dredging work out there,” Ms Lawler said.
Despite previous government announcements raising expectations for Mandorah and Cox Peninsula residents that their juddery old jetty would be made safer and more accessible, Ms Lawler said the delay reflected the complexity of the jetty upgrade.
She said the existing facility did not meet national disability provisions.
“This project has taken longer than we hoped” she said.
“The absolute reality around this was there was originally an expression of interest that went out and showed a wide price range of between $24m and $80m.
“There were about five companies interested in that initial work in 2017 and that made us realise this absolutely was going to be a project that needed to be worked on to get a really quality product at the end.”
An unsuccessfully tender was issued during Covid-19 and then again this year, when SMC Marine was selected.
“This is complex work,” Ms Lawler said.
“We know the range of the tides in the Territory and the quick flowing current that’s there as well.”
SMC Marine’s director Peter Phillip said the company “loves” building good quality assets for the public.
“We love coming to the place, teaming up with locals, design and using the local geology and thanks to our completely local designers and Ostojic we’ve managed to tailor solutions that work for Darwin.”
Executive Director of Infrastructure NT Shane Dahlhelm said it was a design and construct contract and package.
“That takes a fair bit just to consider what is best for the Territory, what is best value for money, what is an ongoing cost maintenance and what is Disability Discrimination Act compliant.”
No mangroves will be removed from the site in line with environmental monitoring.
Member for Daly Dheran Young said Mandorah ferry services would not be disrupted during the works.
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Originally published as New $64m Mandorah marine facility to be completed by 2025
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