The plan reaffirms the governments commitment to transform Katherine into an agribusiness hub. 

“The Territory Labor Government will invest in Katherine as the Territory’s Logistics and Agribusiness of national and international significance,” a government spokesman has said. 

“Katherine region is one of the Territory’s brightest economic hotspots with international interest in agribusiness from soya beans through to the regions historical cattle industry.”

The plan said “agribusiness encapsulates all aspects of agricultural production including livestock, horticulture and forestry, commercial fishing (including aquaculture) and bush medicine and foods”.

“Improving access to productive land and strategically managing critical inputs, such as water and infrastructure, are critical to the agribusiness sector.

“There are also industry specific actions intended to improve agribusiness supply chains, increase the resilience of the agribusiness workforce, and enable agribusiness operators to capitalise on emerging technologies,” it states. 

Chief Minister Michael Gunner released the NT Government’s long-term work plan for the economy, which has been developed through the Economic Summit process in full consultation with all sectors and the community.

“I took a comprehensive Jobs Plans to the election to get money flowing locally, provide certainty and restore confidence to Territory businesses,” Mr Gunner said.

“The Economic Development Framework being released today is a clear, long-term work plan into the future that sets out actions to create more jobs by accelerating economic development and attracting private sector investment.

“This plan will help shape the Territory’s economic development over the next 10 years.”

Mr Gunner also released Government’s 10 year Infrastructure Plan and Infrastructure Strategy, which sets the Northern Territory’s long-term infrastructure agenda and is drawn from the NT Government’s vision outlined in the Economic Development Framework.

 “While we are planning for the future with this long-term plan for the economy, we have also addressed the urgency to get money flowing into the economy by fast-tracking projects across the NT,” Mr Gunner said.

More than 1500 Territorians contributed to the development of the EDF through a series of forums, workshops and summits across the Territory.

“This framework has been co-designed and developed with business and industry, community groups, the not-for-profit sector, Indigenous organisations and government representatives from across the Territory,” Mr Gunner said.

“The document is not an endpoint; it is one step in what will be an ongoing conversation and a rolling process of development, implementation, review and reporting on actions.”

APPEA’s NT director, Matthew Doman said the Northern Territory economy would benefit from the decades long development and production of natural gas for both domestic and export markets.

The framework highlights that the NT’s onshore basins are estimated to hold around 200 trillion feet of natural gas, enough to power Australia for 200 years.

“The oil and gas industry recognises that onshore gas development in the Territory must be done in an environmentally and socially responsible manner,” said Mr Doman.

“That is why we are working collaboratively with the scientific inquiry into hydraulic fracturing currently underway and highlighting the strong environmental and social practices the industry maintains.

“The industry also recognises the need to inform Territorians of the benefits from the development of onshore gas, including opportunities for local businesses and jobs.

“APPEA and its members operating in the Territory will once again be present at next month’s regional shows in Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine and Darwin,” he said. 

Mr Doman said a 2015 study by Deloitte Access Economics had found developing natural gas could increase NT Government revenues by almost $1 billion by 2040 and create up to 6300 new jobs, with many of these jobs created in regional areas.

The NT fracking inquiry recently commissioned independent economic modelling to further evaluate the impact of new gas development.

The framework also identifies the renewable sector as a key emerging industry in the Territory.

“With natural gas already providing over 90 per cent of the NT’s electricity, the Territory is well placed to integrate an increased share of renewables without compromising reliability of its power supply,” Mr Doman said.

To access the documents visit here