Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Infrastructure

INVESTING OUR MONEY IN THE BEST WAY

Public and private infrastructure spending – everything from ports to roads and roadhouses – has always been critically important to the Northern Territory economy.  The Territory Government has undertaken broad review of the infrastructure framework to ensure expenditure is coordinated, connected and cohesive.  The new...

Equatorial Launch Australia Infrastructure

BLAST OFF FOR OUR SPACE INDUSTRY

The Northern Territory is audaciously winning a share of one of the world’s most exciting industries – launching rockets into space.  Cynics scoffed when Equatorial Launch Australia, Gumatj Aboriginal Corporation and the Territory Government announced in 2017 that negotiations were underway to build a space base in Arnhem...

Darwin Convention Centre Business

FUTURE BRIGHT FOR CONVENTION CENTRE

Darwin Convention Centre is bouncing back from the covid pandemic with more energy than ever.  A national medical conference was held at the oyster shell-shaped centre in May and the first international conference in two years is scheduled for September.  At least four more international events will be held next...

Gabbert Design Infrastructure

GABBERT THRIVES ON VISIONARY PROJECTS

Darwin-based Gabbert Design is creating the master plan for the Little Paradise Development for Groote Holdings Aboriginal Corporation’s wealth-creation projects on Groote Eylandt. The most stunning is a six-star clifftop eco-resort, an idea undergoing financial feasibility studies. Designer Wayne Gabbert has also designed the...

Gumatj Corporation Indigenous Affairs

GUMATJ PREPARE FOR A BRIGHT TOMORROW

That will mean the end of mining royalties and other payments to the Yolngu people, who anthropologists say have owned the land for more than 50,000 years. Traditional Owners are not sitting back and waiting for the worst – they are working hard to secure their future. As they say: “We have lived on this land for thousands of years –...

Master Builders Business

SHIFTING HEARTS AND MINDS

That was my challenge to a number of local business owners recently. A question designed to test them out on how attractive investing is in our part of the world. And most answered with an interesting twist. Paraphrasing, they said: “My heart says the Territory, but my head probably says south-east Queensland, Sydney or Melbourne.” Each...

Master Builders Business

TIME TO SPEND BIG ON NEW-AGE TECH

That became obvious to me in 2018. At the time we were standing in a giant exhibition hall staring at a small stud wall, forming part of a reasonably sized expo booth. I could see the yellow pine timber frame just fine. But even better I could also see what needed to be built but had not yet been installed – electrical conduits and fittings,...

SANTOS Business

FULL STEAM AHEAD FOR BAROSSA

The Barossa Gas Project, which is approximately 300 kilometres off the Northern Territory coast, locks in Darwin LNG’s future for the next 20 years. It is one of the lowest cost new LNG projects in the world. “Barossa will give Santos and Darwin LNG a competitive advantage in a tightening LNG market,” Santos Managing Director and...

Sunbuild Business

SUNBUILD TO CARRY ON SHINING

But they aren’t leaving just yet. The couple, who have dedicated nearly half of their working lives to building one of the Northern Territory’s most respected businesses, will retire in five years. In the meantime, they are setting up a management board to run the company. Neil will be chairman. His sons, Chris and Lindsay, will...

ANT Galactic Business

ANT GALACTIC THRIVES ON GOOD TEAMWORK

Ant Galactic, which is a merger of Ant Asbestos Solutions and Ant Construction and Development, has offices in Alice Springs and Darwin. Owner Anthony Lillicrap went into business on his own in 2013 after gaining invaluable experience in Alice and remote communities as an apprentice and then qualified carpenter. Ant Galactic now has about...

Sitzler Business

SITZLER LEADS WAY IN DEFENCE WORK

About $3.5 billion worth of military projects are underway or in the pipeline – and there are billions of dollars more to come. Economists estimate that every dollar spent on construction yields $3. Sitzler, which has grown into a national construction company since being formed in Darwin 45 years ago, has won a string of major defence...

On Country Construction Business

BUILDING FOR CHANGE

On Country Construction has completed two projects – building an office and warehouse for global business Schneider Electric and Outback Stores. It is also working on the new $10 million Katherine Government Centre. Another project is close to On Country Construction’s heart – building a new office and warehouse complex for 100...