Middle Arm, Northern Territory

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Coordinates: 12°34′00″S 130°57′00″E / 12.5667°S 130.95°E / -12.5667; 130.95
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Middle Arm is a coastal peninsula of Darwin Harbour in the Northern Territory of Australia located about 13 kilometres south of Darwin City. It is the traditional land and waterways of the Larrakia people.[1] Middle Arm includes Wickham Point, Bladin Point, Channel Island and the nearby locality of Wickham.[2]

History[edit]

Middle Arm has been a significant cultural and fishing site for Larrakia people for thousands of years, evidenced by shell middens and rock art still remaining in the area.[3]

Its colonial name Middle Arm first appeared on George Goyder's 1869 plan of the harbour.[4]

It was the site of the Channel Island Leprosarium, now a heritage listed place.[5] During World War II, Middle Arm was the location of a secret training base for Timorese and Australian personnel.[6] It was also the location of the former Wickham Point Immigration Detention Centre which closed in 2019.[7]

Environment[edit]

Middle Arm is the largest sub-estuary of Darwin Harbour's southern region and features intertwining channels, reefs, large mudflats, sand banks and mangroves. Blackmore River, also known as Haycock Reach, is the major freshwater catchment within Middle Arm.[8] Studies have identified Middle Arm as key foraging and nursery habitats for many species of fish.[9]

Development[edit]

While the area is largely undeveloped, it is the location of two natural gas processing plants, INPEX’s LNG plant at Bladin Point and a Santos LNG plant at Wickham Point as well as the Weddell Power Station.[2]

Middle Arm is also the site of a proposed 1,500-hectare industrial development called the 'Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct' that is stated to include renewable energy, hydrogen, carbon capture, advanced manufacturing and minerals processing. It is estimated to cost over $3.5 billion, double what was proposed in 2022 election.[10] The federal government has committed to $1.5 billion towards the project.[11][12]

The sustainability of the project has been called into question[13] after it was linked to the expansion of gas production in the Northern Territory through major projects in the Beetaloo basin and Barossa offshore gas field and pipeline, triggering protests.[14][15] Modelling has indicated that the project may have significant health and climate impacts. It may increase particulate emissions by 513%, triggering $75 million in additional health costs,[16][17] and be responsible for an increase of carbon emissions in the Northern Territory by as much as 75%[18] despite Northern Territory Government commitments to transition the region to net zero by 2050.[19] Traditional Owners have also expressed concerns over impacts to nearby cultural sites including one of the only remaining rock art sites in the area.[3][20]

A joint strategic environmental assessment of the project by the Australian Government and the Northern Territory Government is underway.[21]

A senate inquiry into the project began in Darwin in April 2024.[22] Chief Minister Eva Lawler revealed that the site could include petrochemical processing, as well gas production, carbon capture and storage, minerals processing and hydrogen production, triggering additional health, environment and climate change concerns. It also emerged that Charles Darwin University asked the inquiry not to publish submissions by three staff in opposition to the university’s position supporting the development oat Middle Arm.[23] Final reporting from the inquiry is expected in August.[24]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "The Larrakia People". Larrakia Nation. 2023-03-31. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  2. ^ a b Government, Northern Territory (2023-09-25). "Frequently asked questions". middlearmprecinct.nt.gov.au. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  3. ^ a b "'They need to be protected at all costs': Traditional owners fear for cultural sites at $1.5 billion industrial hub". ABC News. 2023-05-11. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  4. ^ Mutante (2012-03-04), English: a sign post with text about 'Middle Arm alias w:Wickham Point' at Bicentennial Park in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, retrieved 2023-12-08
  5. ^ "Channel Island Leprosarium: a dark chapter in Australia's history". Australian Geographic. 2022-12-07. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  6. ^ "EAW Expansion Project DEIS" (PDF). Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  7. ^ "Wickham Point Alternative Place Of Detention in Australia". Global Detention Project. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  8. ^ "The Water Quality of Five Tidal Creeks in Middle Arm Darwin Harbour". Darwin: Northern Territory. Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  9. ^ Smit, Neil; Penny, Shane; Griffiths, Tony (2012). "Assessment of marine biodiversity and habitat mapping in the Weddell region, Darwin Harbour" (PDF). Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  10. ^ "Darwin Harbour Middle Arm expansion plan slammed by critics as 'extraordinary fossil fuel subsidy'". ABC News. 2023-12-14. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
  11. ^ "Darwin Harbour Middle Arm expansion plan slammed by critics as 'extraordinary fossil fuel subsidy'". ABC News. 2023-12-14. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  12. ^ "A senate inquiry into the Middle Arm Industrial Hub begins today. Here's what to expect". ABC News. 2024-04-09. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  13. ^ "It's been dubbed a 'sustainable' manufacturing hub. But FOI shows Middle Arm was pitched as a 'new gas demand centre'". ABC News. 2022-12-28. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  14. ^ Cox, Lisa (2023-05-17). "Darwin's 'sustainable' Middle Arm development is key to huge fossil fuel projects, documents show". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  15. ^ Wind, Emily; Remeikis, Amy; Doherty, Ben; Doherty (earlier), Ben (2023-08-08). "Pocock claims Labor adopting Coalition's 'gas-led recovery' – as it happened". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  16. ^ Petroni, Michael D. (9 June 2022). "Expert Opinions Related to Potential Environmental and Human Health Impacts of the Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct as well as the Adequacy of the Draft Terms of Reference for Strategic Assessment" (PDF). NTEPA. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  17. ^ "'Toxic emissions': Health concerns over a planned petrochemicals plant three kilometres from homes". ABC News. 2022-07-28. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
  18. ^ "Fact Sheet: What is being planned for Middle Arm?" (PDF). Environment Centre NT. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  19. ^ "Analysts say NT can't reach net zero 2050 target as emissions set to steeply rise". ABC News. 2024-01-21. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
  20. ^ Cox, Lisa; Bowers, Mike (2023-05-11). "'Another Juukan Gorge': Darwin's Middle Arm hub threatens Indigenous rock art, traditional owners say". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  21. ^ "Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct Strategic Assessment". Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  22. ^ "Middle Arm Industrial Precinct". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
  23. ^ Cox, Lisa (2024-04-10). "Charles Darwin University asked inquiry not to publish staff submissions critical of its support for harbour project". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  24. ^ "NT chief minister 'won't rule out' including petrochemicals at $1.5b industrial hub". ABC News. 2024-04-12. Retrieved 2024-04-16.

12°34′00″S 130°57′00″E / 12.5667°S 130.95°E / -12.5667; 130.95

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