Gove Boat Club will operate the new facilities in the precinct, with support from the Ngarrariyal Aboriginal Corporation and Gumatj Corporation. Photo: NT Government.
The final construction tender to upgrade marine and landside facilities at Gunyangara Tourism Precinct has been released. It’s the third package of works for the $9 million project expected to boost tourism in the East Arnhem region.
Later this year, the upgrades are expected to be complete, allowing marine and tourism operators to better navigate the facilities. Ongoing maintenance will be done by local Nhulunbuy businesses, and the floating pontoon is detachable so it can be stored safely in preparation for a cyclone.
The tender includes a washdown bay, carpark upgrades, an entry structure, a new extended rock groyne that vehicles and pedestrians can access, and careening facilities that vessels can dock alongside for maintenance.
Northern Territory Chief Minister Eva Lawler said the government wanted East Arnhem Land and the Gove Peninsula to have a strong economic future.
“We need to diversify the opportunities available in the region and work to grow the tourism and maritime industries, as well as highlight the natural resources and strong cultural community already in place,” Minister Lawler said.
“These upgrades will bring visitation and investment to a new level, creating more local jobs, Aboriginal engagement and a stronger Territory economy.”
In 2022, the project’s first package of works was completed for $1.4m by local construction company Deltareef.
It involved building toilet facilities, shade and seating for visitors, and securing an area of significance in the carpark on the site adjacent to the Gove Boat Club. Fifteen employees, of whom seven were local Indigenous people, used locally sourced Darwin stringybark trees milled at the timber mill owned by the Gumatj Corporation for the site work.
The project has been co-funded by the Federal Government via the Aboriginal Benefit Account ($4.5m), and the Northern Territory Government ($1.5m) via Developing East Arnhem Limited (DEAL), which also contributed $2m to provide a range of major improvements to the precinct.
