Mr NATT - 2006-05-04
Can the minister advise the House how Budget 2006-07 will deliver jobs and economic growth to the Territory through expenditure and infrastructure at Darwin’s port?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for his question. The port is a crucial element in the Territory’s push for trade into Asia and our development as an economic centre. As most here today would be aware, the development of bulk materials handling at the port is of crucial importance to build trade through our port. This year will see a continuation of the government’s $20m investment in bulk handling infrastructure at East Arm Port. This investment, along with the railway, has encouraged development at Bootu Creek. Members would be aware that the projected output of Bootu Creek is approximately 600 000 tonnes per year, and there have been a couple of trial shipments from Bootu Creek through the rail. We are getting very close now to the first shipment of ore from Bootu Creek by ship, which is very exciting. The Bootu Creek project is projected to have a life of over 10 years.
Also on the horizon is the Frances Creek iron deposits. That will probably run at between one million and 1.5 million tonnes per year. That is getting very close also. The port is coming to agreement with Territory Iron about the rate that will be applied to export that particular commodity, mainly into the Chinese market.
Some of our infrastructure is getting a bit old. The portainer crane has been there some 20 years and, whilst the crane itself is very solid, the electronic componentry of that crane is nearly beyond its use-by date, so $1m will be invested in updating that..
There will also be $1.1m for works at Fisherman’s Wharf. A number of people would have noticed that that wharf has been out of commission for some months now. The sheet piling on that wharf will be replaced and it will be available again for use by our fishing industry.
Madam Speaker, the port is of crucial importance to us. Every day we see more and more ships, including the LNG tankers, using the harbour and the port. We are investing more money into our port and we believe it is a sound investment for the future of the Territory.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for his question. The port is a crucial element in the Territory’s push for trade into Asia and our development as an economic centre. As most here today would be aware, the development of bulk materials handling at the port is of crucial importance to build trade through our port. This year will see a continuation of the government’s $20m investment in bulk handling infrastructure at East Arm Port. This investment, along with the railway, has encouraged development at Bootu Creek. Members would be aware that the projected output of Bootu Creek is approximately 600 000 tonnes per year, and there have been a couple of trial shipments from Bootu Creek through the rail. We are getting very close now to the first shipment of ore from Bootu Creek by ship, which is very exciting. The Bootu Creek project is projected to have a life of over 10 years.
Also on the horizon is the Frances Creek iron deposits. That will probably run at between one million and 1.5 million tonnes per year. That is getting very close also. The port is coming to agreement with Territory Iron about the rate that will be applied to export that particular commodity, mainly into the Chinese market.
Some of our infrastructure is getting a bit old. The portainer crane has been there some 20 years and, whilst the crane itself is very solid, the electronic componentry of that crane is nearly beyond its use-by date, so $1m will be invested in updating that..
There will also be $1.1m for works at Fisherman’s Wharf. A number of people would have noticed that that wharf has been out of commission for some months now. The sheet piling on that wharf will be replaced and it will be available again for use by our fishing industry.
Madam Speaker, the port is of crucial importance to us. Every day we see more and more ships, including the LNG tankers, using the harbour and the port. We are investing more money into our port and we believe it is a sound investment for the future of the Territory.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016