The Fyles Government has secretly constructed new water tanks at TIO Stadium as part of rectification works to address outstanding public safety issues at the venue – despite previously claiming the building was “safe” and allowing people to enter – while not putting the estimated $750,000 in works out to public tender.

The new water storage tanks appear to have been constructed in recent days and form part of a package of other works the NT Independent understands includes the installation of fire pumps, constructing four additional fire hydrants and other “associated works” in the latest effort to make the building fit for public occupancy.

However, the government has refused to explain why it permitted people to enter the facility that clearly did not have the requisite fire-fighting measures in place and would not say if people will be permitted to enter while the unannounced upgrade works take place.

During last year’s Grand Final, government officials disabled the fire alarm system for reasons never explained that would have prevented an activated fire alarm from being relayed to emergency fire services.

The stadium has been unable to obtain an occupancy permit for years, due to a range of outstanding public safety issues – including insufficient fire hydrant pressure – which a 2020 engineer’s report found “may impact life and safety” of people at the premises.

However, Infrastructure Minister Eva Lawler exempted the stadium from requiring an occupancy permit ahead of major events there in 2022, after the NT Independent revealed the facility’s shortcomings, that also included outstanding electrical issues, improper emergency exits and the water pressure issues.

Ms Lawler and Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics chief executive Andrew Kirkman have repeatedly declared the site “safe” despite being unable to explain why, if it was safe, a certifier would not sign off on it.

At parliamentary Estimates hearings in June 2022, Mr Kirkman claimed that “consultants” and the NT Fire and Rescue Service had told him the water “pressure has been above Australian standards” and that there was capacity at the facility to fight fires, which he claimed after rank-and-file firefighters had warned the building did not have the requisite water pressure to protect against a fire.

He refused to explain yesterday why the government would be secretly installing new fire pumps, fire hydrants and water tanks if the water pressure was above national standards.

Two new water tanks have been installed at TIO Stadium despite government claims building was ‘safe’.

Ms Lawler, who made similar unfounded claims about the water pressure being sufficient, also refused to answer questions, including why she permitted people to enter the facility while being aware the fire-fighting infrastructure was substandard and why the secrecy around the new rectification works.

An engineer’s report by BCA Engineers obtained by the NT Independent through FOI laws last year showed the water pressure was “not sufficient” and created unsafe risks. NT firefighters also expressed their concerns in June 2022 that the building presented a “catastrophic risk” ahead of the AFL games last year, which led to NTFRS bringing in an extra water tanker and other equipment to protect the public.

The government has repeatedly failed to address the safety issues at the stadium and delayed the process through a series of embarrassing bungles, including re-hiring the local company that designed the flawed fire hydrant system last year to investigate and “upgrade” it, despite Cardno not having the proper licence to carry out the works.

It was unclear who has been granted the new contract to carry out the latest works at the stadium, estimated to cost of $750,000.

The works did not go to public tender, despite the high estimated value.

Under government procurement rules, the Minister can exempt the department from having to put a tender out to the public “to allow agencies discretion to dispense with specific requirements”. The procurement rules also state “building owners” can “undertake building alterations” without issuing a public tender for the works.

According to the government building permit register, a permit for the new works at TIO Stadium was issued on August 1, with the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics listed as the builder.

The previous contract to Cardno was awarded in May 2022 for $26,000 to assess the “certification requirements” that it had originally failed to properly address when designing the fire hydrant system that another company installed.

The ICAC announced he was investigating Ms Lawler and the department in March 2022, after Ms Lawler issued the exemption for the stadium to require an occupancy permit while he was inquiring into the safety issues. It is unclear where that investigation currently stands.