Business bulletin: 30 November 2023

Construction on the Wurrumiyanga Solar Infill and Energy Storage Pilot Project has reached an important milestone, with earthworks and the installation of 1.2 MW cyclone-resilient solar arrays now complete.

Australian company 5B, has completed installation of its award-winning prefabricated solar technology, the 5B Maverick, adding 1.2 megawatts of additional solar PV to the community.

The 5B Maverick is an Australian designed ground mounted modular solar solution designed to be deployed for off-grid, commercial and industrial and large-scale power generation.

The Wurrumiyanga Solar Infill and Energy Storage Pilot Project will also add a Battery Energy Storage System of about 3 megawatt hours capacity.

Wurrumiyanga is already operating some solar PV technology, but once the new solar and battery is in operation, the percentage of renewable energy delivered to the community will increase to almost 50 per cent.

5B Chief Strategy Officer Nicole Kuepper-Russell said, “We’re proud to be part of this important project that will see the Wurrumiyanga community’s power provided by more renewables, delivering lower-cost cleaner energy, greater energy resilience, and employment opportunities”.

“We’re working to replicate this rapid deployment model across other remote communities in the Territory and we welcome the Government’s support in accelerating renewable energy projects and investments.”

The Northern Territory Government is working towards a target of 50 per cent renewables by 2030, and this includes an average of 70 per cent renewables in the 72 remote communities serviced by Indigenous Essential Services, a not-for-profit subsidiary of the Power and Water Corporation.

The Wurrumiyanga Solar Infill and Energy Storage Pilot Project is expected to be operational in 2024.

Australian owned marine infrastructure specialist SMC Marine has been awarded a $63 million tender to upgrade the Mandorah Marine Facilities.

The upgrades are an integral project within a pipeline of over $500 million worth of marine infrastructure works set to occur in the next two years.

Over 110 local jobs will be created through stage one of this project, with the detailed design expected to be completed by Q2 2024 and construction to begin shortly after.

The upgrades will provide a calmer harbour ferry berthing facility to safely accommodate the ferry vessels that operate between Darwin and Mandorah, as well as allowing for future expansion.

The project will include two breakwater structures, enhanced disability access, a redesigned and upgraded carpark, a new terminal building and a new boat ramp.

Director SMC Marine, Peter Philipp said “we are very grateful to be awarded the contract to design and construct the new marine facilities to service Mandorah and the Cox Peninsula.

“The boat harbour will greatly improve access and safety for ferry passengers between Darwin and the Cox Peninsula and provide a wide range of benefits for local recreation boat users. The works will be carefully planned and executed with our local NT partner the Ostojic Group.”

Due to the pipeline of marine infrastructure projects in the NT, the Sydney-based SMC Marine is opening a Darwin office and expanding their businesses into the Territory.

Early works to prepare the site to recycle the existing building to be used as a ferry terminal has been completed, with six local Indigenous residents contracted through the Belyuen Community Government Council working on the project.

The Institute of Skills and Training Australia (ISTA) and Charles Darwin University teacher, Brendan Reid, were named winners at the prestigious Australian Training Awards held earlier this month.

Now in its 30th year, the Australian Training Awards are the peak national awards that showcase best practice in vocational education and training (VET). The awards recognise and celebrate individuals, businesses and training organisations from around Australia for achieving extraordinary things.

ISTA were named the Small Training Provider of the Year.

Operating as a RTO for more than 20 years ISTA continues to provide high-quality vocational education and training that meets the needs of their students and industry partners.

They were the first to develop an industry qualification package, the Certificate IV in Doula Services, and are developing successful pre-employment programs for the hospitality sector.

RTO Manager Shaun Stenson said their commitment to innovation and excellence in the design and delivery of training is a cornerstone of operations.

“By continuously innovating and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the training space, we can provide our students with the best possible learning experiences and equip them with the skills they need to succeed in today’s fast-paced and ever-changing workplace,” Shaun said.

“We are incredibly proud of our student’s achievements and the role that training has played in their progress. Our success is measured by their success, and to be a winner at the Australian Training Awards is testament to all the hard work of our team and learners.”

Brendan Reid won the Excellence in Language, Literacy and Numeracy Practice Award.

Brendan has been a learner support coordinator since 2010. A dedicated and passionate individual, Brendan works with students and staff to help students overcome literacy and numeracy challenges to support them to complete their qualifications.

In addition to working closely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students who speak English as an additional language, Brendan also carefully plans strategies to meet the requirements of students from disadvantaged background and communities.

The Northern Territory had finalists represented in 8 categories:

• Apprentice of the Year – Jack Higgins
• Trainee of the Year – Thanapat (Joe) Kellie
• Vocational Student of the Year – Loan Nguyen
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year – Porsche Cahill
• Australian School-based Apprentice or Trainee of the Year – Lilly Bright
• VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year – Sharon Stewart
• Small Training Provider of the Year – Institute of Skills and Training Australia
• Excellence in Language, Literacy and Numeracy Practice Award – Brendan Reid

To find out more about the Australian Training Awards and view the full list of winners, go to the Australian Training Awards website.

A simple Territory Government program helped change Keara Baker-Storey’s life – and the lives of the kids under her care at an innovative early childhood initiative.

The Territory Workforce Program helps businesses and organisations develop ways to make the most of job opportunities for Territorians and build a skilled workforce.

Funding is available for initiatives that lead to employment and help train and skill the workforce.

The program helped Keara study, which she is doing while raising two of her children.

She has a Diploma in Project Management and a Certificate III in Sports and Recreation, Early Childhood Education and Care, and is currently studying a Certificate IV in Leadership and Management through a local NT training provider, Dovaston Training and Assessment Centre on site in Tennant Creek.

Keara started working with the highly-regarded Moriarty Foundation Indi Kindi early childhood program in August 2021 and is now a Team Leader.

“I love my job,” she says. “I get to work with families and children aged 0-5 years.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of working in early childhood education is the chance to create a positive influence in their life.”

Keara admits that studying while being a mum is not easy.

“I can’t sugar coat it, but being a mum is hard but rewarding and studying is hard but rewarding and doing it at the same time is another level, but thankfully I have support from my team, my trainer, family and friends.”

Her ambition is to help children transition into early learning education.

“I aim to achieve this by supporting them through Indi Kindi’s Walking Learning program. My desire is for our children to feel safe and comfortable transitioning from their cultural ways into mainstream education.”

To find out more about the Territory Workforce Program, go to the Northern Territory Government website.

Are you a Territory business that services and supplies the oil, gas and energy industries or looking to do so?

The department is seeking expressions of interest from local businesses to attend Australia’s most influential oil, gas and energy event being held in Perth from 13 – 15 March 2024.

The NT Government has a goal that by 2025 local participation in the gas industry supply chain will reach 50%. Growing the Territory's gas service and supply industry and maximising local content is key to building a vibrant and resilient NT economy.

AOG Energy is Australia’s leading oil, gas and energy service and supply event that showcases the latest products and services and provides opportunity for NT companies to engage and network with nationwide industry operators, sub-contractors, service providers, major operators, governments and industry representatives.

The exhibition and conference will be of interest to those companies that currently service and supply the oil, gas and energy industries or are interested in the opportunities of the sector. Showcase your latest products and services while networking with industry leaders, operators and key service providers.

For a copy of the expressions of interest, please email industry.strategy@nt.gov.au

The AgriFutures Rural Women’s Awards are calling forNorthern Territory rural, regional and remote women to nominate for this year’s award.

The annual awards acknowledge the achievements of women from rural communities and industries by identifying, empowering and celebrating rural women.

The NT winner will receive a $15,000 grant from Westpac, which will be used to support her project and complete a professional development course of her choosing, and she will go on to represent the Territory at the national awards in Canberra in September.

2023 NT AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award winner and local business women, Eileen Breen, has used her award to promote her project - ‘SustainAbility’.

Eileen lives in rural Darwin and works with her husband in a family-run civil construction, demolition and resource recovery enterprise.  She has a passion for developing the NT’s circular economy and used the awards to gain recognition for her project as well as benefited from valuable professional development and networking opportunities.

“As the 2023 AgriFutures NT Rural Women's Award winner, I wholeheartedly encourage Territory women to apply. This award isn't just a recognition; it's a platform to sow the seeds of your vision, cultivate your leadership, and grow your project or business to contribute to the future of rural, regional and remote community prosperity. "

The Rural Women’s Award is supported by the Northern Territory Government.

Nominations close on 5pm (AEDT) 26 January 2024, so get your nomination in now!

For more information on the awards and details on the application process, including eligibility, go to AgriFutures website.