Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for consideration and report: Multi-user barge ramp facility—East Arm Darwin, NT.

It is proposed that the Department of Defence and the Northern Territory government's Land Development Corporation construct a hardened barge ramp, a marshalling area located adjacent to the ramp and a roadway to link the barge ramp to the existing staging area at East Arm in Port Darwin in the Northern Territory. The proposed works will support the Royal Australian Navy's new landing helicopter dock capability. Defence is providing an $18.3 million capped contribution to the project, which is valued at $20.2 million excluding GST, which includes management fees, construction costs, environmental management measures, contingencies and an allowance for escalation. The Land Development Corporation is funding the remaining costs associated with the project. The Land Development Corporation and Defence have reached an in-principle agreement which addresses access rights for Defence, appropriate governance and maintenance arrangements. Subject to parliamentary approval, Defence will finalise the deed of licence agreement. Construction is expected to begin in mid-2015 and should be completed by mid-2016. I commend the motion to the House.

Question agreed to.

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