Major Marine Infrastructure nears Completion

22 December 2023

A key milestone has been achieved for the Frances Bay Mooring Basin project with the new lock gates successfully installed.

This is the last major step in delivering the $20 million project, which is crucial to supporting our maritime industry. The mooring basin offers 91 berths and approximately 136 vessels regularly base their operation there.

The piling works within the mooring basin are also now complete and the project is expected to be delivered ahead of schedule, in the second quarter of 2024.

The recent lock closures have been critical to maintaining the project schedule and enabled the contractor Advance Civil Engineering to reach several key achievements, including:

·         installing a new emergency sea side cofferdam gate/drop in wall

·         replacing the lock gates

·         overhauling the mechanical components

·         successfully excavating and removing tie rods.

The tie rods were substituted with innovative stabilised soil blocks and a new capping beam was built to further stabilise the lock walls and extend the lock's operational lifespan and efficiency.

When complete, the projects will deliver new lock gates, modernise the mechanical and electrical systems and provide advanced engineering solutions to help ensure the longer term sustainability, efficiency and safety of the facility.

This project has so far seen 65 jobs created with local Territory contractor Advance Civil Engineering leading the project and local fabricator SLE Engineering building the new lock doors and other fabricated elements.

Quotes attributable to Chief Minister, Eva Lawler:

“Upgrading the Frances Bay lock is integral to supporting and providing long-term infrastructure security to our commercial fishing and maritime industry, which is expected to reach a value of $346 million by 2030.

“Territory company Advanced Civil Engineering have done a commendable job minimising disruption to basin users and are on track to deliver the vital project ahead of schedule.

"Budget 2023 invested $226.5 million into upgrading existing infrastructure right across the NT, and that is exactly what this project delivers.”

Northern Territory Government