The start time for the construction of the Northern Gas Pipeline, to run from Tennant Creek to Mt Isa, has been pushed back a number of weeks.
Originally due to start in April, the company behind the pipeline, Jemena, said it needed more time to finalise outstanding land access approvals.
The jobs and training packages for Tennant Creek will be delayed also, and the company will be retendering parts of the construction contract with partner McConnell Dowell.
The news comes as Jemena confirmed it was continuing to discuss land access for the Northern Gas Pipeline project with members of the Wakaya Land Trust, who had previously expressed concern about earlier consultations with the company.
Potential workers left in limbo
Chairman of the Regional Economic Development Committee in Tennant Creek, Greg Marlow, said the delay was disappointing news.
"The potential employees who are going to be taken on by Jemena, both from Tennant Creek and outside of town, obviously won't start work for a further while.
"I guess if you're an employee, you might be desperate to start work.
"If you're then told 'sorry we don't need you for a couple of months' do you remain unemployed, do you go and pick up papers?
"What do you do? You're basically stuck waiting for work to start."
But the company said it was confident they could still deliver first gas in 2018, and the Phillip Creek Compressor Station and Mount Isa Compressor station would still go ahead in 2017 as planned.
Mr Marlow said he was also confident this uncertainty was only temporary, and hoped a resolution could be reached between all parties soon.
"There's too much demand from the eastern states for it not to go ahead. If it has to be re-routed, well so be it."
Government approvals still to come
Meanwhile the company is also awaiting government approval.
Minister for Primary Industry and Resources in the Northern Territory, Ken Vowles, said he was working through the process at the moment.
"That has to go to the Federal Government under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation act.
"They have to sign off on EIS [Environmental Impact Statement] as well as the NTEPA [Northern Territory Environmental Protection Authority] comments, as well as Environment Minister Lauren Moss's comments.
"My understanding is it's going to take a couple of weeks for that to happen.
"Any approvals won't be given until they [the Federal Government] comes back to us, around the environmental impact statement," Mr Vowels said.
Jemena, the Central Land Council and members of the Wakaya Land Trust have been contacted by ABC Rural for interviews.
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