Territory Energy Link is a Northern Territory Government initiative to establish a strategic multi-user infrastructure corridor connecting the Beetaloo to Darwin.
The proposed 670-kilometre corridor will provide a planned pathway for future gas, water, fibre and other infrastructure, helping connect one of the Territory’s most significant emerging resource regions with Darwin, industry and markets.
With the Beetaloo Basin moving into gas production, planning for the infrastructure needed to support its longer-term development is becoming increasingly important.
By planning a single shared corridor now, Territory Energy Link aims to support future private investment, reduce duplication and provide a coordinated approach to infrastructure development across the Territory.
Territory Energy Link is currently in the feasibility phase, with on-ground investigations, engineering, environmental and cultural studies, corridor refinement and stakeholder engagement underway.
Territory Energy Link on the ground
Government's role
The Northern Territory Government is responsible for planning, securing and establishing the Territory Energy Link corridor. Government is not proposing to construct the individual pipelines or utilities that may ultimately use the corridor.
Future infrastructure will be designed, funded, approved and constructed by proponents as projects progress and demand emerges. By doing the corridor planning now, government can address land, access, technical, environmental and cultural considerations at a strategic level and create greater certainty for future infrastructure investment.
For more information, download the project fact sheet PDF (1.1 MB).
Territory Energy Link preliminary alignment map
Disclaimer: this map is for illustrative purposes only. The corridor alignment and planning area is subject to further detailed technical investigations and consultation.
Cross section of Territory Energy Link
As feasibility work continues, the broader 530m study corridor will be refined to determine a preferred final corridor alignment. The illustration below shows examples of the types of services that may be located within the Territory Energy Link corridor.
What infrastructure could be accommodated?
Territory Energy Link is being planned as a flexible, multi-user corridor that could accommodate infrastructure including:
- gas pipelines
- water pipelines
- optical fibre and communications infrastructure
- other future utilities and services.
Co-locating infrastructure within one managed corridor can reduce duplication while providing flexibility to respond to the Territory’s future infrastructure needs.
Territory Energy Link is progressing through the feasibility phase, with technical investigations, engineering assessments and corridor planning activities underway.
The project team and specialist consultants are undertaking a range of on-ground investigations to better understand conditions along the proposed 670-kilometre corridor and identify any environmental, cultural, engineering and land use constraints.
This work will help refine the preferred corridor alignment, inform future land access and tenure arrangements, and support the development of a business case for government consideration.
Geotechnical investigations
Geotechnical investigations are underway along the proposed corridor to better understand ground conditions, including soil, rock and potential river crossing locations.
The investigations include targeted drilling, test pits and other assessments to identify ground conditions that may affect the design and construction of future infrastructure.
Findings will inform engineering assessments, identify potential construction challenges and help refine the corridor alignment.
Engineering and concept design
Engineering consultants are progressing the feasibility-level concept design and constructability assessment for Territory Energy Link.
This work considers how future infrastructure could be accommodated within the corridor, including potential pipeline configurations, access requirements, construction methods and infrastructure crossings.
Environmental and cultural heritage investigations
Environmental and cultural heritage investigations are progressing along the proposed corridor to identify areas of environmental, Aboriginal and historical significance.
Specialist consultants are undertaking assessments to better understand ecological values, cultural heritage and other features that may need to be avoided or managed.
Cultural heritage field surveys are being undertaken along the corridor to identify and record Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal heritage places and objects.
The project team is working with relevant government agencies, Traditional Owners and landholders to ensure investigations are undertaken appropriately and potential impacts are considered as planning progresses.
Corridor refinement
The preliminary corridor alignment continues to be reviewed and refined as technical investigations progress and new information becomes available.
Potential changes are assessed against a range of considerations, including engineering feasibility, environmental and cultural values, land tenure, existing infrastructure and impacts on pastoral operations.
Land access and corridor planning
The Northern Territory Government is progressing land access and tenure planning to support the long-term establishment of Territory Energy Link.
The project team is coordinating access to affected properties for feasibility investigations and working with landholders to minimise disruption to existing land uses and operations.
Next steps
Over the coming months, the project will focus on:
- continuing geotechnical, environmental and cultural heritage field investigations
- progressing engineering concept design and constructability assessments
- refining the preferred corridor alignment based on technical findings and stakeholder feedback
- developing the business case and supporting information for future government decisions.
The findings from the feasibility phase will inform government decisions about the future development of Territory Energy Link.
Stakeholder engagement
The Territory Energy Link team is committed to ongoing engagement with landholders, Traditional Owners, regional communities, councils and industry as the project progresses.
We recognise the importance of local knowledge and working directly with those who may be affected by the proposed corridor.
The project team is working closely with affected landholders to coordinate property access, provide advance notice of planned activities and minimise disruption to day-to-day operations.
We will continue to keep stakeholders informed through direct discussions, fact sheets and website updates. If you have questions, concerns or would like to discuss the project, we welcome the opportunity to meet with you.
Contact the project team
For more information about Territory Energy Link, or to arrange a meeting with the project team, email territoryenergylink.dli@nt.gov.au or call 1800 921 301.
Privacy
Any personal information collected through the Territory Energy Link project will be managed in accordance with the Northern Territory Information Act 2002 and the Department of Logistics and Infrastructure Privacy Policy.
For more information, go to the Department of Logistics and Infrastructure privacy policy website.