Latest highlights include the government aiming to get more local businesses benefiting from increased military presence in the NT, and Santos projecting increased production amid its NT expansion plans; meanwhile making resource news is SQM investing in a new NT lithium project, New Frontier starting a geophysical survey at Harts Range, and Merlin Project revealing promising base metal targets.
Despite improving retail spending and rising equipment investment, CommSec’s State of the States report reveals that the Northern Territory remains firmly recognised as the country’s worst-performing economy, ranking eighth out of eight once again.
The Lock the Gate Alliance is challenging the NT Government’s approval of Empire Energy’s Larrimah fracking exploration project in the NT Civil and Administrative Tribunal, the environmental organisation has said.
Channel 9 has axed Darwin’s local nightly bulletin with some staff sacked and others possibly “redeployed” to other areas of the company in a shock move.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro has named former Palmerston CEO Luccio Cercarelli as the new head of the NT public service, an appointment that has left some scratching their heads, given Mr Cercarelli’s lack of experience in the NT Government and his contentious history with Territory developers.
Qantas will resume non-stop flights from Darwin to Canberra and introduce flights from Darwin to Singapore in the coming months, as part of a new long-term agreement between Qantas and the Airport Development Group.
The Finocchiaro Government has ordered a review into the Territory’s horse racing industry, while the Minister responsible has raised the prospect of increasing funding to the industry that is already receiving tens of millions of taxpayers’ dollars annually, while suffering decreased attendance at events and substantial financial losses.
The long-delayed and extremely overbudget Tiger Brennan Drive overpass is limping its way to completion with on and off ramps opening to traffic as of Saturday, but the south end of Berrimah Road will still not be accessible for a while yet, the NT Government has warned.
Latest highlights include the NT’s first magnetite shipment leaving for Asia, the Federal Government committing an additional $200 million to boost the NT’s rare earths mine, and MetalsGrove announcing encouraging exploration findings. Also making resource news is energy company Echelon making further acquisitions in the Territory.
The Finocchiaro Government is pushing ahead with its proposed Territory Coordinator role following a travelling roadshow throughout the Territory, while the Opposition has called on the government to properly consult with the public before rushing through the legislation it says will give an unelected official special powers to circumvent regulations.
Arafura Rare Earths is now searching for more private investment following the Federal Government announcing an additional infusion of $200 million to help develop its rare earths mine and processing facility in the NT, bringing the total public funding commitment to the project to more than $1 billion.
Territorians are being encouraged to have their say on the proposed Adelaide River Off-stream Water Storage (AROWS) project, the largest water infrastructure project in the Territory’s history, with a referral recently submitted to the Environment Protection Authority.
