Development is continuing at full pace on the Tiwi Islands where the government hopes a soon-to-be-completed port and new agricultural and tourism land leases will make the remote Aboriginal community an example for the whole Northern Territory. <\/p>\n
On Thursday Chief Minister Adam Giles announced a new agreement had been signed with the Tiwis to lease up to 10,0000 hectares for pastoral or agricultural use, 20 hectares for tourism, industrial and aquacultural projects, and 10 hectares of township land. <\/p>\n
\"This is an inspirational deal, unheard of I think in Australia, but particularly in the NT where significant leadership has come from the local people ... who have the foresight to pursue economic opportunities, who have the vision to look outside the square about the way things are done, but particularly have a focus on creating jobs,\" Mr Giles told reporters. <\/p>\n
No leases have yet been signed for the new ventures, which locals hope will include oyster and fish farming. <\/p>\n
Traditional owners will need to consent, and affected communities will have to be consulted before anything can go ahead. <\/p>\n
Local member Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu said he was keen to see locals begin developing their own businesses on the two islands, about 80km North of Darwin, with a population of about 3000. <\/p>\n
\"We want to move away from welfare ... We want to encourage our young ones because they're our future,\" he said. <\/p>\n
Mr Giles also toured the $50 million Port Melville, which is still under construction despite initial forecasts that it would start shipping woodchips to Japan early last year. <\/p>\n
He said he expected that to happen by mid-year, and praised the foresight of locals and Singaporean port owner Ezion Holdings for considering the port for other uses, such as a marine supply base for the region's offshore oil and gas projects. <\/p>\n
\"The port's not going to be sustainable on woodchips alone,\" he said. <\/p>\n
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Development boom for Tiwi Islands<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Development is continuing at full pace on the Tiwi Islands where the government hopes a soon-to-be-completed port and new agricultural and tourism land leases will make the remote Aboriginal community an example for the whole Northern Territory. On Thursday Chief Minister Adam Giles announced a new agreement had been signed with the Tiwis to lease up to 10,0000 hectares for pastoral or agricultural use, 20 hectares for tourism, industrial and aquacultural projects, and 10 hectares of township land. \"This is an inspirational deal, unheard of I think in Australia, but particularly in the NT where significant leadership has come from the local people ... Continue reading