NT Government Approves Ichthys Accommodation Village (Australia)

The Northern Territory Government today announced the development approval required for the Ichthys Project to proceed with construction of its accommodation village at Howard Springs has been granted.

Chief Minister Paul Henderson announced the Territory Government has approved an exceptional development permit for the Howard Springs accommodation village which will house the fly-in-fly-out workforce required to build the LNG plant.

“Pending a Final Investment Decision (FID) work on the village will begin early this year, and I am pleased to say a large amount of construction work is expected to go to local business,” Mr Henderson said.

“The Territory is about to undergo major growth in our resources sector that will underpin our economy for the future – providing more training, job and business opportunities for Territorians.

“Construction of the village is expected to create up to 300 jobs locally, and there will be ongoing opportunities for Territorians with 120-150 staff required to maintain and operate it.

“INPEX has taken on public feedback and incorporated design features such as vegetation buffer zones and low level lighting to minimise potential impact on the surrounding community.

“We’re committed to helping make Darwin the oil and gas hub of north Australia, and construction will begin this year on our new Marine Supply Base.

“We’re committed to continuing to invest in key infrastructure like our world-class Marine Supply Base at East Arm to increase Darwin’s capacity to support offshore oil and gas and attract new investment and business opportunities to the Territory.

“Construction of two-staged $14 million project is already underway to seal fourteen kilometres of Jenkins Road from Stuart Highway to Finn Road, and Finn Road to Channel Island Road, jointly funded by the Territory Government and the Ichthys LNG Project.

“On top of this, INPEX and Ichthys joint venture Total have invested $4 million into improving the intersection at the Stuart Highway and Jenkins Road, as well as the intersection of the Arnhem Highway and Stuart Highway.”

The village is proposed to accommodate up to 2700 people and could accommodate an additional 800 workers if required.

The Ichthys LNG Project helps achieve a number of key targets within the Territory 2030, including continuing to secure new private sector investment in the Territory and to establish Darwin as a key centre for oil and gas operations and maintenance.

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LNG World News Staff, January 6, 2011; Image: Inpex