The Federal Government has committed $440 million to a network of Northern Territory Regional Logistics Hubs, which have been accepted onto the Australia National Infrastructure Priority list.
The Northern Territory Government said this is a significant step forward for the project and the Territory as the Stage One Business Case and the program is now listed as a national infrastructure priority.
The proposal identifies the need for appropriately located terminals, rail sidings and warehousing along the Darwin-Tarcoola rail line.
The Regional Logistics hubs are increasingly important to capitalise on the Northern Territory’s rich resource base in gas and minerals deposits, rare earths and solar irradiance.
The estimated total investment from several proposed projects in the mining, minerals and energy industries across the Northern Territory is over $38 billion.
This investment is expected to support an estimated 6,000 construction jobs. Much of the investment and employment increase will occur in remote and very remote regions with higher proportions of First Nations people.
To realise this opportunity, the capacity and efficiency of rail freight and logistics infrastructure along the primary north-south Darwin-Tarcoola rail corridor will need to be upgraded.
The infrastructure will support the development and operation of projects in resources, agriculture, renewable energy and construction, which is essential to achieve the State Government’s goal of a $40 billion economy by 2030.
Additionally, the regional logistics hubs will increase supply chain capacity across the Northern Territory to benefit communities and increase employment in remote areas.
Northern Territory Minister for Infrastructure Planning & Logistics, Eva Lawler, said projects like the Northern Territory Regional Logistics hubs greatly support the State’s ambitious target of a $40 billion economy by 2030.
“By improving rail efficiency and intermodal capacity along the north-south corridor we will support rail volumes and remove investment barriers for development of proposed mining, agriculture and energy projects across the Territory,” Ms Lawler said.
“Having projects accepted onto the Australian National Infrastructure Priority list is great news for the Northern Territory, I will continue to work with the Federal Government and Infrastructure Australia to ensure the best outcomes are achieved.”
