Airport plan aids NT logistics role

Business Asia, Sept 30, 1999

Australian Transport Minister John Anderson has approved a master plan for the privatised Darwin Airport in another boost to the Top End's stated goal to act as a logistics hub for the region.

Northern Territory Airports operates the civil aviation part of Darwin Airport, with a lease covering about a third of the site, while the rest is owned by the Defence Department.

"The master plan is an important land-use planning tool providing an opportunity for airport users to gain an insight into the operator's long-term vision for the airport," Anderson said.

He acknowledged community concern over the impact on nearby Rapid Creek from any airport development and said he reminded NT Airports of the need for consultation to ensure proposed developments were environmentally responsible.

Separate major development plans must be prepared for particular kinds of developments.

In the case of Darwin Airport, this may include commercial developments associated with the proposed Business Park.

Aside from infrastructure development, the Northern Territory also hopes to build on its growing diplomatic role in the BIMP-EAGA region at this month's finance and investment conference in Darwin.

One of the longer-term objectives of the conference is to establish Darwin's financial presence in the region. It is hoped to develop links between NT-based financial institutions and BIMP-EAGA banks.

Co-financing deals, advisory services and loan syndications are areas that could be jointly handled by these financial institutions.

On the Australian front, the Burke Government hopes to persuade more Australian institutions to refocus their operations in Darwin.

Lobbying is taking place within the NT to convince financial institutions in Sydney and Melbourne to consider converting their local branch operations to regional banking and financial centres, provided their business volumes can justify this move.

-- Asia Pulse, Business Asia