Northern Territory Major Projects Conference in Darwin to Showcase Key Development Plans for Australia’s North

The Northern Territory strategically benefits from physically neighbouring the Asian economies and is well positioned as a transport and logistics hub for business and tourism. To capitalise on its highly advantageous strategic position, infrastructure, particularly road development, finds itself high on the agenda for the NT Government.

The Federal Government will provide the first Northern Australia White Paper to be released later in the year. The White Paper on Developing Northern Australia will set out a clear, well-defined and timely policy platform for realising the full economic potential of the North, identifying the critical, economic and social infrastructure needed to support the long term growth of the region.

The Northern Territory Government is working with the Australian Government to ensure Territory projects are included in the critical infrastructure requirements list as part of the Northern Australia Infrastructure Audit. The Northern Territory Government’s 2014-2015 Budget for its road program is one of the biggest in the Territory’s history with a total of $377.8 million of Northern Territory and Australian government funding.

The NT Major Projects Conference will be held on the 22 and 23 October 2014 at the Darwin Convention Centre. With support from the Northern Territory Government, the NT Major Projects Conference in its 5th year running continues to attract around 400 delegates both from the public as well as the private sector, keen to discuss strategies to develop Australia’s North to its full potential.

The conference begins with a ministerial address by the Chief Minister of Darwin Hon. Adam Giles focusing on major projects shaping the Northern Territory. The Minister for Mines and Energy, Hon Willem Westra van Hothe will present on the challenges, growth, opportunities and initiatives to support the mining and energy sectors. Other speakers from the NT Government include Hon Matt Conlan, Minister for Housing, who will address the delegates on the Territory Government’s Real Housing for Growth Plan and Hon Peter Glen Chandler, Minister for Lands, Planning and the Environment, Northern Territory Government will present on Territory Land Release.

Lord Mayor Katrina Fong Lim, Mayor, City of Darwin, will be giving a presentation on the Darwin City Centre Masterplan. The project has been funded by the City of Darwin, the Northern Territory Government and the Australian Government, under its “Liveable Cities Program”. Mayor Ian Abbott, Mayor, City of Palmerston will present on the Palmerston City Centre Masterplan.

The conference will also include speakers from the NT Government departments such as David McHugh, Chief Executive, Department of Infrastructure – NT who will share his thoughts on the Economic and Infrastructure development in the Northern Territory, Brian O’Gallagher, Managing Director, Office of Asian Engagement, Trade and Investment – NT Government, and Dr. Len Notaras, Chief Executive, NT Health Department who will present on the Palmerston Regional Hospital Project.

At the Conference, you will also hear from Ian Kew, CEO, Northern Territory Airports Pty Ltd, giving a presentation on NT Airports Expansion, Claire Gardiner-Barnes, Chief Executive, Department of Transport, NT and Sam Pearce, General Manager, Corporate Development & Investment, APA Group.

The 2 day event will include presentations and case studies from a diverse field of high profile speakers within the Public and the Private sectors. This event will be a “meeting of the minds” focusing on what projects are in the pipeline, panel discussions, thoughtful exchanges surrounding the NT Government’s Response to the Green Paper on developing Northern Australia. The conference provides the ideal environment for networking and capitalising on the business opportunities being created.

Expotrade, the organisers of this Conference supported by the Northern Territory government have developed an array of top quality B2B events, delivering some of the largest conferences and summits in the infrastructure, banking and finance, information technology, sustainability, lighting and energy sectors.

For more information on the NT Major Projects Conference, please visit www.ntconference.com.au