NT Major Projects Conference Update
Lidiar Group NT’s Arthur Dimitropoulos is at the 12th Annual NT Major Projects Conference in Darwin. With a focus on the Territory Government’s record $4.07bn capital works program, so far, the conference has set the scene for the significant investment being made in public infrastructure to support the Territory’s growth. Here’s Arthur’s recap on the first day.
“The mood in the conference, much like the recent NT Resources Week conference, was very positive, as the vision for the Territory’s future investment in projects to support new industries, growing sectors, population growth and more were outlined,” said Arthur.
“It was also a great opportunity to hear first-hand about progress being made on key projects and the opportunities for industry to be involved in their future delivery. The three projects Arthur has held a special interest in were, the Darwin Ship Lift Project, and the Adelaide River Off-Stream Water Storage (AROWS) Project and SunCable. Each one is critical to the Territory’s development, but with each facing different challenges, it was good to gain a perspective on those challenges and to hear the approaches taken to resolve them.
Ship Lift Project
Despite facing significant negative press in recent years, the Ship Lift Project has shown commendable progress in its design phase, reaching a point where the early works program can move forward. This milestone has paved the way for the imminent implementation of a procurement strategy, which notably highlights the involvement of local content. The project, however, has encountered hurdles, particularly due to geotechnical conditions that have impacted design specifications for marine piling and dredging, contributing to the well-publicised delays. Additionally, thorough detailed design considerations, as well as the planning of construction methodologies and phasing, were key points that were addressed.
Adelaide River Off-Stream Water Storage (AROWS) Project
The Adelaide River Off-Stream Water Storage (AROWS) Project, highlighted through both a presentation and an exhibition stall, is a visionary two-stage development approach aimed at ensuring the sustainability of Darwin’s future water supply. The first stage of the project is focused on bringing the disused Manton Dam back into service. The second and more long-term stage involves a novel approach to water storage: diverting overflow from the Adelaide River into an adjacent naturally occurring ridge-formed basin, to serve as catchment. This innovative method minimises the environmental impact typically associated with traditional dam construction. The collected water will then be piped to a treatment facility in Darwin and integrated into the existing water supply network, catering to industrial, commercial, and residential needs. This project is of critical importance as Darwin’s water demand is projected to double by 2050, and without such infrastructure, the urban water supply faces a substantial risk. Environmental assessments are currently underway, and conceptual designs have been commissioned, with the goal of completing construction by 2029 and having the infrastructure fully operational by 2030.
SunCable
While SunCable was placed into administration earlier this year, a surprisingly positive forecast has emerged for the project’s future. A restructured, phased approach is now being proposed, yet, retaining the ambitious goals to significantly bolster generation, supply and integration of renewable energy capacity into the Darwin grid, by a factor of nearly four (according to current consumption demand), amounting to 3.9GW per annum. Additionally, the project still aims to establish a deep-sea power cable to deliver 15% of Singapore’s current power demand, equivalent to 1.75GW annually. SunCable’s strategy capitalises on the global push towards decarbonisation, recognising the challenges that the Asia-Pacific region faces in achieving these targets. It also plans to explore the advantages of international electricity trade across regional grids. Australia’s potential as a solar power juggernaut, alongside technological advancements in critical project components such as solar panels, cabling, and battery technology, are seen as pivotal factors for SunCable’s success.