Locally based Project Management specialists Thinc and construction company Sunbuild have been contracted to manage the building of the facility.
AACo General Manager, Mr Stewart Cruden said that the expertise both companies will bring to the project was of the highest standard.
Thinc has extensive
experience in major property and capital works projects while Sunbuild
has established an excellent reputation in the Territory with award winning
projects such as Evolution, the Darwin Rail Terminal and Darwin Airport Resort.
“AACo welcomes both companies on board, their appointment is
a significant milestone and with earth works already underway, we can now start
to see how the facility will actually take shape,” he said.
“After months of careful planning it’s all systems go.”
Construction of the meat processing facility will create
around 230 jobs. It is expected much of the workforce will be accessed from
local contractors, with some specialist skills sought from outside of the Northern
Territory as required.
The Processing Facility will be developed at a capital cost
of around $85 million.
Tender documents will
also be released for drainage, concrete, steelwork, insulated panel and
specialised equipment. Facility construction and equipment installation is expected to be complete in the third quarter of next year, with commissioning beginning immediately.
Once operational, the facility will create 260 direct and a further 530 indirect jobs, including substantial new opportunities for indigenous and female workers in the region. It will inject $126 million a year into the local economy, will be efficient from a carbon emissions standpoint, and improve animal welfare outcomes.
