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An update from the Office of Northern Australia
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OUR NORTH | OUR FUTURE

Newsletter 25 
4 August 2021

From the General Manager 

It was great to have the Hon David Littleproud MP visit Darwin last month following his appointment as the Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia. Minister Littleproud and Special Envoy for Northern Australia, Senator Susan McDonald, will lead the Australian Government’s northern Australia agenda to continue economic development in this important region. 

Our collective focus remains on improving supply chain efficiencies, digital connectivity, water infrastructure, addressing skills gaps, and building on the pilot Regions of Growth. The Office of Northern Australia (ONA) is working with Minister Littleproud and Senator McDonald, and our key partners at the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility and CRC for Developing Northern Australia, to continue to drive outcomes through the northern agenda. 

This is an exciting time for ONA as we transition from the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications in early September. We will have new contact details and will share these shortly. You can continue to connect via our website northernaustralia.gov.au.

The Developing Northern Australia Conference will be hosted in Darwin from 16 to 18 August. This important event creates opportunities to network with key industry leaders, and share research, developments and progress that contribute to northern Australia’s sustainable development. If you are planning to attend the conference, come and say hi to the ONA team at our stall. If you cannot attend in person, be sure to check out how you can participate online

Linda Lee
General Manager 
Office of Northern Australia

Showcasing the culture of Indigenous people

This year's NAIDOC Week theme‘Heal Country’ provided an opportunity for Gail Mabo, a Merium woman from Mer Island in the Torres Strait Islands and daughter of the community leader and land rights advocate Eddie Koiki Mabo to reveal the large scale painting that showcases the culture of Indigenous people in north Queensland. 

The painting acknowledges the traditional owner groups of north Queensland including the Gurambilburra Wulgurukaba, Bindal, Nywaigi, and Gugu Badhun People and reflects the spirits of the land and the importance of connection to country. 

The painting will be mounted to the exterior of the new six-storey car park currently under construction at the Mater Private Hospital in Townsville which is supported by a $19.75 million loan from the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) and is expected to be operational by mid-2022.

NAIF’s loan will accelerate the carpark’s development, expected to be operational by mid-2022. The carpark is a critical part of the Mater Private Hospital’s overall redevelopment. It will assist in reducing congestion in surrounding neighbourhoods and improve employee safety. 
 

Artist Gail Mabo and Mater Private Hospital Townsville Executive Officer Libbie Linley. Picture: Townsville Bulletin

Complete the Census and help shape our nation 

The Census, held on Tuesday 10 August 2021, is a snapshot of who we are and tells the story of how we are changing as a nation. The Office of Northern Australia relies on Census data, and other data sources, to continue building a robust evidence base that supports northern economic development. 

Northern Australia is home to 1.3 million people with many remote communities. It is particularly important for those living in regional and remote areas to complete this year’s Census as the data is used to inform governments, community and business on how to create better outcomes in our communities, and for health services, education and aged care planning.

This year, you can complete the Census online, on a mobile device, or on paper. If you or someone you know needs assistance to complete their Census form, Census field staff can help in person, over the phone and online. The Census is conducted between July and August in remote areas so that Census staff can visit households in those communities. 

FIND OUT MORE

CRCNA new project – high density tropical orchards

Across northern Australia, traditional low-density horticultural production systems continue to be highly susceptible to tropical cyclones. This contributes to stagnated sectoral growth and missed economic opportunities.

Under a new Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia (CRCNA) project, jackfruit crops will be grown within high-density production and trellis planting systems. These ‘next-generation systems’ will be assessed for their cyclone resilience, production capacity and profitability.

Under the project, trial sites have been established across Carnarvon and Kununurra in Western Australia, Darwin in the Northern Territory, and Bellenden Ker, Mutchilba and Giru in Queensland.

The demonstration sites represent the broad range of climatic conditions applicable to northern Australia – from the monsoonal tropics in Western Australia and Northern Territory, to the wet tropics and dry tropics in Queensland.

As at 30 July 2021 the CRCNA has invested more than $19 million towards 53 projects with a total value exceeding $55 million. 

READ MORE

Developing Northern Australia Conference 

The 2021 Developing Northern Australia Conference will be held from 16 to 18 August at the Darwin Convention Centre, with the theme ‘Rebound and Resilience: Leveraging the North’s Potential for Australia’s Recovery’. The conference will open with a keynote address from the Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia, the Hon David Littleproud MP. The Special Envoy for Northern Australia, Senator Susan McDonald, will also present a keynote address.  

The conference provides a platform to unite leaders, decision makers, industry representatives and community members working to advance our northern region. This long-standing event is a platform for key industry leaders to network, share research, developments and case-studies contributing to the advancing northern Australia. The Office of Northern Australia is a proud sponsor of the event.

REGISTER NOW

Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility: New Chair and board members 

Businesswoman Tracey Hayes from the Northern Territory has been appointed as Chair of the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) Board for a three-year term. Ms Hayes has extensive corporate and governance experience.
A former Chair of the Darwin Waterfront Corporation and CEO of the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association, Ms Hayes also serves on the Australia Indonesia Institute Board and the National Drought and Flood Response and Recovery Agency Advisory Board.

Ms Hayes is a former Chair of the Darwin Waterfront Corporation and former CEO of the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association. She currently serves on the Australia Indonesia Institute Board and the National Drought and Flood Response and Recovery Agency Advisory Board.

Justin Mannolini from Western Australia has been re-appointed to the Board. Mr Mannolini’s acted as Chair from March – July 2021, and has extensive experience in investment banking and corporate governance. Indigenous investment and community development specialist Kate George of Western Australia has also been reappointed to the Board. Project management specialist Stephen Margetic from the Northern Territory is a newly appointed Board member, joining Ms Hayes, Mr Mannolini and Ms George for three year terms. 
(Picture: ABC)
FIND OUT MORE

Meeting the energy needs of our region

The Regional and Remote Communities Reliability Fund provides funding to undertake feasibility studies into more reliable, secure and cost effective energy supply for regional and remote communities in Australia.

These projects are located across remote Indigenous communities to rural farming communities across the length and breadth of Australia. The studies will investigate whether establishing a microgrid, or upgrading existing off-grid technologies, would better meet the energy needs of regional and remote communities.

Under round two of the funding program, the Australian Government is committing $25.6 million to back 20 microgrid feasibility studies including several in northern Australia. 

•    Wujal Wujal Community Microgrid (QLD)
•    Clairview Beach and Stanage Bay Community Microgrid Feasibility Study (QLD)
•    Hydrogen Hubs powering remote communities in Townsville and Horn Island (QLD)
•    Napranum and Muralug Microgrids Feasibility Study (QLD)
•    Borroloola Township and Outstations Microgrid Project: Feasibility Study (NT) 
•    Northern Territory microgrids– sustainable and resilient remote communities (NT)
•    Mullewa Microgrid Feasibility Study Project (WA)
•    Providing reliable energy solutions to WA Indigenous outstations (WA)
•    Transitioning Mid-West towns to 100% renewable energy (WA)

READ MORE

Developing Northern Australia PhD student competition winner announced

The CRCNA partnered with the Association of Business Sustainability to host a PhD and Masters student competition. Students were asked to submit a short video presentation about their research across northern Australia. The winner, Adriana Vega from The University of Queensland, will present her paper ‘Helping rehabilitate post-mined landscapes in Cape York by understanding how native trees use water’ at the Developing Northern Australia Conference on Tuesday 17 August.

READ MORE

Upcoming northern Australia events


16 - 18 August 2021 Developing Northern Australia Conference Darwin, NT
18 - 20 August 2021 Kimberley Economic Development Forum Kununurra, WA
22 August - 5 September 2021 Shinju Matsuri the Festival of the Pearl, Broome WA
16 - 17 September 2021 NT Aboriginal Leadership and Governance Forum Alice Springs, NT 
13 - 15 October 2021 National Economic Development Conference Mackay, QLD
20 - 22 October 2021 Tenth Aboriginal Economic Development Forum Alice Springs, NT
27 - 28 October 2021 NT Resources Week Darwin, NT
Office of Northern Australia
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Department of Industry, Innovation and Science

Office of Northern Australia

Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources

08 8923 4410 | northernaustralia@industry.gov.au

About the northern Australia agenda

 

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Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources · GPO Box 2013 · Canberra, ACT 2601 · Australia