Remote workers and apprentices will be the beneficiaries of an agreement reached between the Northern Territory’s major construction unions and the developer of a multibillion-dollar gas project outside of Darwin. 

The agreement finalised after months of negotiations between the AMWU, ETU, CFMEU and AWU and project manager Kellogg’s Brown & Root (KBR) will see the maximising of opportunities for apprenticeships together with a suite of industry standard conditions.

AMWU Regional Organiser Bryan Wilkins said the agreement was an excellent outcome.

“Not only does it deliver solid pay and conditions, equal to anywhere else in Australia for a major construction project, but it will also maximise the use of apprentices.

“This will ensure that hundreds of young Territorians will be given a chance to gain a trade and skills during the life of the project.”

The project, the largest single private investment ever made in the Northern Territory, is expected to be a major driver of growth and employment in the greater Darwin region when it begins in the first quarter of 2012.

“At the peak of construction, the project will employee around 2600 workers. It will be an excellent chance for our skilled tradespeople working in remote areas to return to Darwin.”

Mr Wilkins said the AMWU had been vocal on the use of local and interstate labour on major projects – through its membership on the Territory government’s Major Projects Taskforce.

“I know many of our AWMU members who are currently working on a fly in fly out basis for major projects on the west and east coast will be pleased with this agreement.

“They will be looking to have the benefit of working on a major project with the opportunity to be with their families and communities again.”

The project will include the construction of two LNG processing facilities feeding gas from the Ichthys gas field in the neighbouring Timor Sea.