Darwin’s planned Middle Arm industrial hub could face lengthy delays after Infrastructure Australia rejects business case

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The Northern Territory Government has admitted the timelines for its planned multi-billion-dollar Middle Arm gas and industrial precinct on Darwin Harbour have slipped considerably, suffering delays of at least two years.

Transcript

00:00The NT government's planned gas processing and industrial precinct on Darwin Harbour's

00:08middle arm has already sparked years of Northie community opposition.

00:12We need clean air and we need clean water.

00:16Now the NT Environment Centre has found its start date could potentially be delayed by

00:21years.

00:22This project is a sinking ship. It's not going to happen. It's a figment of the government's

00:26imagination. And it's time to dump the fracked gas and petrochemical hub planned for middle

00:31arm.

00:32The federal government's promised $1.5 billion contribution must be approved by its Infrastructure

00:38Australia body.

00:40But Infrastructure Australia has revealed under Freedom of Information laws it's knocked

00:45back the NT government's business case for the project, which was considered but not

00:50accepted for evaluation in February this year. And it's been sent back for further

00:56development work.

00:57From our department's perspective dealing with the federal government, there's been

01:01an eight to twelve month delay in getting a response back.

01:04Anglers and other groups are worried about the project's environmental impacts. That

01:09process has also been delayed.

01:12The NT Environment Protection Authority has just had to extend the deadline for the NT

01:17government to submit its environment plan by another two years to October 2026.

01:23The Federal Environment Department is carrying out a separate strategic assessment.

01:28We've had some delays dealing with the federal government on the environmental assessments.

01:33And sadly that's taken longer than what it should have.

01:37The Federal Climate Change Department says the EIS timing is a mutter for the NT government.

01:43Green groups are now calling for the federal funds to be reallocated.

01:47An ethical government would invest this money in the clean industries of the future, renewables

01:53and jobs in renewables.

01:55The Federal Infrastructure Minister, Catherine King, says she remains committed to providing

01:59the $1.5 billion for Middle Arm. And questions about the project's timelines should be directed

02:05to the NT government. She says the precinct will include green industries like hydrogen.

02:13For more UN videos visit www.un.org

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