400 NT jobs to be supported through new road upgrades investment

The Australian Government is fast-tracking the delivery of the Beetaloo Basin gas project – which will boost economic activity in the region – through the Northern Territory’s Gas Industry Roads Upgrades program, funded through the Roads of Strategic Importance (ROSI) initiative. 

“The Australian Government has committed to substantial investments in infrastructure that will support the Beetaloo development, as well as directly benefit local communities, industry and pastoralists. 

“Across Australia, we continue to roll out these types of major projects which lay the economic foundation for our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and to enable the development of local industry, economic growth and job opportunities well into the future,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said. 

The significant investment will help unlock the region to future developments, with it being identified through the Strategic Basin Plan as one of the areas for gas-led recovery. 

The development of the Beetaloo Basin will also help transform the State’s economy through jobs creation as well as supplying Australia’s gas demand over the next decades. 

“These roads upgrades will provide quality infrastructure to support gas development and other industries in and around the Beetaloo Sub-basin. 

“This will support industry and business by providing more reliable freight links that will reduce cost of doing business,” Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia Keith Pitt said. 

According to Northern Territory Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Eva Lawler, upgrading local roads will help open the State to more economic opportunities. 

“Our Government recognises the importance of regional jobs for Territorians. That’s why we are investing in economic enabling infrastructure and upgrades to our remote roads including the $217 million with this announcement to upgrade the Buchanan Highway, Western Creek Road and Gorrie Dry Creek Road. 

“Reliable supply chains are crucial for growing the Territory’s economy by attracting new economic development and supporting our existing industries to grow in remote and regional areas. This investment will help make sure the Territory is Australia’s comeback capital,” Minister Lawler said. 

The Australian Government is investing approximately $4.6 billion towards the Roads of Strategic Importance (ROSI) initiative which aims to provide better connections for regional businesses to local as well as international markets while, at the same time, providing better links to regional communities. 

“ROSI is all about ensuring our key freight roads efficiently connect agricultural and mining regions to ports, airports and other transport hubs. 

“This initiative delivers works such as road sealing, flood immunity, strengthening and widening, pavement rehabilitation, bridge and culvert upgrades and road realignments,” Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz said. 

The $217 million worth of funding for the new Northern Territory Gas Industry Roads Upgrades corridor is anticipated to support over 400 jobs and it builds on the more than $219 million investment for Northern Territory roads from the 2020-21 Federal Budget and the 2020 COVID-19 Stimulus Package. 

The recent funding also includes a $325,000 study for the delivery of a fully operational multimodal facility and rail terminal in the State, which is targeted to meet current and future growth demands of Tennant Creek and the Barkly region. 

This study involves exploring the feasibility and option for the delivery of a multimodal facility, which is going to be done through the investigation of land constraints, infrastructure needs – including road and essential services – needed for the facility and the location for a rail freight terminal for the future Mt Isa to Tennant Creek rail link. 

The proposed facility will be able to provide opportunities for industrial and logistics support for the expansion of industries such as agriculture, pastoral and mining as well as deliver improved interconnectivity to the future Mt Isa to Tennant Creek rail, existing Adelaide to Darwin rail and the Stuart Highway and Barkly Highway. 

The development study is anticipated to begin in early 2021 and completed by the end of the year. 

Source: Northern Territory Government Newsroom; Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development; Infrastructure Magazine; Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia