Support for the Territory LaborGovernments Ship Lift is gaining momentum with the Australian Industry DefenceNetwork NT (AIDN-NT) backing the project.
AIDN-NT has thrownindustry support behind last weeks announcement that the Territory Government willbuild Northern Australias largest Ship Lift. The project will create 100 jobsduring construction, 400 ongoing jobs and inject $260m into the economy everyyear.
The not-for-profitorganisation believes the Ship Lift will transform the local maritime servicesindustry, opening up economic opportunities and creating jobs.
AIDN-NT is the premier representativebody for small to medium enterprises working in the Defence industry in theNorthern Territory. The organisation offers a range of services, training andsupport aimed at enhancing the ability of business to win Defence work andsucceed in the industry.
The nation needs a Ship Lift in Northern Australia to repair and sustainlarge vessels including Naval vessels.
The current commercial Ship Lift facilities in Darwin are aging and small,and the ship lift at the Coonawarra Naval Base is due to be decommissioned by2024.
Anew Ship Lift fits into the AIDN-NTs strategic approach to strengthen theindustry with the recent establishment of a Maritime Maintenance ServiceSupport Alliance. The Alliance is designed to position the local industry as acollective that can service larger national and international opportunities.Similarly, the Alliance will connect businesses with local suppliers who areaccredited, bid savvy and export ready
The Territory Government has committed $100m for the $400mproject at East Arm. Additional funding is being sought through the NorthernAustralian Infrastructure Facility (NAIF).
NAIF Chair Khory McCormick last weekconfirmed the due diligence process to consider a loan for the project is wellunderway. A decision is expected by the end of the year.
Quotesfrom the NT Chief Minister, Michael Gunner:
We will build a new Ship Lift inDarwin.
This will mean more permanent jobs and bring a significant economic injection into the NorthernTerritory.
We know constructing a Ship Lift is theright thing to do for the Territory. The backing of industry heavy weights likethe Australian Industry Defence Network NT, confirms that.
Quotesfrom AIDN-NT CEO, Kerryn Smith:
AIDN-NT isoptimistic about the future of the NT Defence Industry. We are pleased to be able to support the NTGovernment and its plans to build a Ship Lift, and do believe that this iscritical if the NT wants to secure its place as a strategic location thatprovides the necessary support to key allies within global Military andCommercial markets.
We are theessential steppingstone for strategic business to and from the North andSouth.
The NT pridesitself on being collaborative, flexible and agile. We have a resilient and capable localindustry base that can scale up at short notice.
Building aShip Lift will attract significant future investment into our region. We arecentral to Northern Australia and this initiative will cement our role as a keyplayer in supporting key Maritime activities into the future. Now is the time to rally and ensure that wemake this everything it could be.
