Territory Development
WRITTEN QUESTIONS
10th Assembly
19/07/2005
19. Territory Development
Ms Carney to MINISTER for Chief Minister
QUESTION
1. Chief Minister Budget estimate for Territory Developmentin 2004-05 was $6.856m; Why the cut of almost half a million to the 2005-06 Budget.
2. Could you please give an insight as to what is happening in the area of Territory Development.
3. Detail the development projects that the Office has had carriage of in 2004/2005 and the projects forecast for 2005/2006.
ANSWER
Answered on 10/02/2006
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1. The decrease from the 2004-05 Estimate to the 2005-06 Budget of $0.5 million is mainly the result of the one-off project funding during 2004-05, offset by full year funding of the Alcan position in Gove.
2. Revised agency arrangements in July 2005 resulted in the transfer of the Economic Development Strategy, Innovation and Knowledge Economy and Tourism Infrastructure functions of the Office of Territory Development to the new Department of Business, Economic and Regional Development.
3. The table below details projects within the Office of Territory Development during 2004-05.
ALCAN G3 Expansion | Facilitation of the $2.0bn expansion of the existing alumina refinery in Gove. |
Blacktip Gas Project | Taskforce leadership and facilitation of the project. |
Trans-Territory Pipeline | Taskforce leadership and facilitation of the project. |
Darwin Helium Plant | On going facilitation of the $33M Helium Plant proposed for Darwin’s Wickham Point. |
Downstream Gas-Based Manufacturing Study | Major economic study of the key parameters associated with a diversity of possible projects arising out of Timor Sea gas projects. |
Construction Costs Study | Update study into the cost competitiveness of Darwin as a location for major capital projects. |
SEAAOC 2005 | Jointly hosted another successful conference focused on oil issues in the region. |
Thailand Study Mission | Chief Minister’s Mission to Thailand to inspect gas and petrochemical products. |
Japan Visit | Chief Minister’s visit to Japan to continue the development of relationships with key petroleum and petrochemical firms. |
International Shipping Links | Participation in negotiations between shipping lines and freight forwarders on new shipping services.
Hai Win trial shipments – Nov 04 and March 05 |
Bootu-Creek Mine | Coordination of development of the $11M Bulk Materials Handling Facility at East Arm. |
Tsunami Relief Efforts | Co-ordinated and funded NT Government assistance to the Tsunami Relief efforts by the Territory community including:
The purchase and provision of 11 containers to move the donated relief aid to Sri Lanka and Indonesia; |
Supply Chain Studies | Australian Wine Exports
Mining and Chemical Reagents Apparel and Footwear Imports Automotive and Tyre Industry Workshop |
Skilled Recruitment Campaign (Stage 2 underway) | Promotion of the employment opportunities in the Territory to key markets in Australia and New Zealand. |
Katherine Investment Attraction Strategy (underway) | Formalising an Investment Strategy focused on Katherine and immediate environs. |
New Tourism Resort | Facilitation of $10M Voyages Wildman River Resort. |
Establishment of NT Research and Innovation BoardNew board established (predominantly private sector) to advise on Tropical/ Desert Knowledge and grants from $1M fund.
Innovation Fund | Grant offers made to 16 projects. |
Innovation Awards | Inaugural Awards for Science and Innovation established. |
Leadership in Desert Knowledge CRC | Convene the Governance theme for the CRC. |
The table below lists projects planned in the Office of Territory Development for 2005-06 prior to the July revised agency arrangements.
Blacktip Gas ProjectWork with Joint Venture on new options for field developments.
Trans-Territory Pipeline | Work with Alcan to capture the key project elements for a future project and undertake an orderly winding down of facilitation efforts. |
Alcan G3 SIA | Manage the issues associated with development of social impact management plans for the G3 Expansion project. |
Tourism Infrastructure | Lead the Tourism Infrastructure Taskforce with a focus on opportunities for private sector investment. |
Defence | Participation in the Defence Taskforce |
Downstream Gas | Lead the Downstream Gas working group established by the Onshore Gas Taskforce. |
Helium Plant | Facilitation of the $33M Helium Plant planned for Wickham Point. |
Indonesia MOC | Negotiation of a Memorandum of Co-operation with the Government of Indonesia on energy projects in the region. |
Construction Cost Study | A new consultancy to update the 2001 study now that 2 real world projects are underway. |
Downstream Gas-Based Manufacturing | A significant consultancy to identify the key economic drivers and impediments to establishing a downstream based industry in the Territory. |
New Shipping Services | Promoting and facilitating the establishment of new shipping services to the Territory based around the rail and port facilities |
Freight Flow Studies | Undertaking supply chain studies to identify new trade opportunities for the Territory, including chemical reagents, apparel and textiles, the needs of Big W (Woolworths) and freight flows from Vietnam to Australia. |
Darwin Business Park | Encouraging and negotiating with prospective investors in the Park |
Katherine Freight Terminal | Facilitating new cold store investments by major Freight Forwarders at the Katherine rail head. |
Bootu Creek | Co-ordination of the development of new bulk materials handling facilities at East Arm. |
Global Freight Connect | Development and hosting of the 2005 Global Freight Connect Conference in October. |
Katherine Investment Attraction Study | A study into the key investment opportunities in the region. |
Tropical Knowledge | Support for the collaborative agreement with QLD and WA, the Seniors Officers Group, North Australian Infectious Diseases Alliance, Tropical Rivers Environmental Project and collaboration between CRC’s based in the North. |
Desert Knowledge | Support to the Southern Region on the arrangements for Desert Knowledge Australia. Theme leadership on Governance and coordination of across Government participation and commitment to the Desert Knowledge CRC. |
NTRIB | Support the operations of the Board including the administration of the Innovation Fund grants program. |