Japanese Consul-General Visit to Legune

A few weeks old now but this visit occurred in late October

https://www.sydney.au.emb-japan.go.jp/document/CGKiya_27newsE.pdf



With Chief Minister Michael Gunner[4 th from left] and Deputy Chief Minister andMinister for Agribusiness and Aquaculture Nicole Manison [3 rd from right] duringthe prawn aquaculture project site visit(26 October 2020 | Photo courtesy of NT Government)

● Economy and Business

The most importantfactor in strengthening ties between the NT and Japan is theexpansion of business following the start of operations of the Ichthys LNG Project in 2018 . On 26 October, I took part in a site visit together with NT Chief Minister MichaelGunner and Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Agribusiness and AquacultureNicole Manison. We inspected the planned site of a prawn aquaculture project called“Project Sea Dragon” by the Australian company company, Seafarms Group Ltd, whichreceives investment from the Japanese company Nissui (Nippon Suisan Kaisha Ltd).
Thisbusiness is a large large-scale aquaculture project producing premium black tigerprawns . The project comprises (1) one of the world’s largest grow-out facilities atLegune Station located approximately 350km south south-west of Darwin, (2) a hatcheryfacility in Bynoe Harbour located approximately 50km south south-west of Darwin , and (3)a processing plant located approximately 110km south south-west of Legune Station atKununurra in Western Australia.
The first stage of thedevelopment (1,180ha) has already received the necessaryapprovals, and after the final investment decision is made, ex ports could start assoon as early 2023 2023.
With this project in mind, the NT Government has already completeda road upgradebetween Legune Station and the border with Western Australia, and I inspected thiswith Chief Minister Gunner from a helicopter. The Western Australian Governmentplans to upgrade the stretch of road from the border to Kununurra next year.
Being accompanied by the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister on this site visit,I was really aware of the enthusiasm the NT Government has for this business project.Moreover , taking this this opportunity, I also had time for discussion with them, and weconfirmed the future direction of cooperation between the NT and Japan.