Tiwi Partners Pty Ltd has been picked by the federal government to build a $7 million explosive ordnance storage facility in Darwin.
Defence industry minister Melissa Price announced that the Indigenous construction company had won the contract for the project, and that the work was likely to engage 95 workers for the project’s building phase.
“This is a significant investment in the Northern Territory economy which is supporting local businesses and jobs in the Top End,” Price said.
“It’s also part of the $2.1 billion Navy Capability Infrastructure Sub-program, delivering maritime and landside facilities across Australia.”
Once complete, the new ordnance facility will support the navy’s Arafura class offshore vessels operating in the northern part of Australia.
The construction will include a special-purpose earth-covered building to be built within RAAF Base Darwin’s existing explosive ordnance precinct.
Price added that 96% of the project’s sub-contract work would go to local industries within 50 kilometres of the air force base.
“Our investment in RAAF Darwin was brought forward as part of the government’s $1 billion investment package to boost Australia’s defence industry during the COVID pandemic,” the minister said.
“This package saw $190 million of investment just in the Northern Territory to support jobs and the local economy.”
In September Price met with Northern Territory’s Master Builders group to discuss the federal government’s $3.5 billion infrastructure plan for defence, which will be part of a larger $8 billion 10-year investment plan for the territory.
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