The Fyles Government has awarded a $63 million contract to build the new Mandorah jetty and undertake the associated works, which is $39 million more than it estimated it would cost in 2017, and comes four and a half years after the government declared it a priority project.

The tender document shows the $63,373,129 contract was awarded to SMC Marine for the new accessible ferry jetty at Mandorah that will include dredging works to allow for ferry access, and construction of two breakwaters surrounding the infrastructure. The new jetty is necessary for the Fyles Government to adhere to federal public transport accessibility legislation that came into effect this year but had a 20-year lead up time.

The contract also includes the finalisation of detailed design and construction of a gangway, pontoon, disability access, single-lane boat ramp, carpark, and a ferry passenger terminal.

In a February 2019 press release the Fyles Government declared the Mandorah jetty a priority project to be fast-tracked for construction, and estimated it would cost $50 million, with the original design tender to be finished that month, the design contract to be awarded in April 2019, the construction tender to be released in May 2020, and the jetty finished in May 2022.

At the time, the ABC reported the upgrades for the jetty had been promised in 2014, and again in 2017, and the preferred of four options in 2017, was to build new facilities close to the existing jetty, including a new pontoon, gangway, and rock groyne at a cost of $24 million.

A $1.1m design contract for the project was awarded to Darwin-based Cardno NT in July 2019 but was halted after the Amateur Fishermen’s Association of the NT and disability advocates objected to features of the design.

A July 2020 government press release said COVID–19 had “put several restrictions on how this industry collaboration will occur to optimise the design”.

“Due to this, the earlier announced project timeframes will not be met. It is expected that the design will continue through 2020–21. The timeframes for the next stages of the project will be determined upon finalisation of design,” the government said at the time.

In November 2020, “final” plans for the rebuild were released with then-Infrastructure Minister Eva Lawler saying in a statement a construction tender to commence works was set to be released by mid-2021, with the NT News reporting Ms Lawler stating the project would be complete by the end of 2022.

In December 2021, a government press release stated that a design and construct tender was issued on December 15, with the construction contract to have been awarded, and site works to have begun, in the first half of 2022.

Last October Ms Lawler said that construction tender, which closed in mid-2022, did not result in the successful selection of a contractor due to “cost challenges brought about by uncertain market conditions”.

“While the project has realised some delays including challenging construction market conditions and effects of inflation on materials and supply chains, the Territory government remains committed to delivering this important and significant project,” Ms Lawler said.

Built-in the late 1960s, the jetty was practically destroyed by Cyclone Tracy in 1974. The upgrades are aimed at delivering improved facilities for residents and visitors to Mandorah, Belyuen and the Cox Peninsula.

The Federal Infrastructure and Transport Department told the NT Independent in May the Fyles Government ws acting unlawfully by allowing the Mandorah jetty to breach national disability and accessibility regulations, with the jetty along with several remote NT airports, not compliant with the legislation that came into effect on January 1, but which came with a 20-year lead time.

The department warned the NT government, and any operator or provider that contravenes transport standards, they may be exposed to complaints to the Australian Human Rights Commission, with the potential to be brought before the Federal Court of Australia or the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.

Darwin Community Legal Service senior advocate for aged rights Ramnik Walia told the NT Independent in May his service had facilitated a community meeting in Wagait Beach to discuss the implications for the NT government because the ferry service was non-compliant due to its stairs, with concerns raised about the impact of residents on that end of the peninsula, including the Belyuen community.

This includes people with mobility issues including seniors not being able to take the ferry and spending their money on taxis for the 240km Darwin round trip, rather than on house cleaning, laundry or personal care which is resulting in carers’ burnout.

Mr Walia said no supermarket delivers food to Wagait Beach community and there was no medical centre at Wagait Beach to cater for the medical needs of its residents.

Editor’s note: This article previously referred to Ramnik Walia as a lawyer. This is incorrect and we apologise for the error.